(page 3) insight hospitalbath - ruh

The community magazine from the Royal United Hospitals BathBaby bobble hat appeal ends

(page 3)Improving patient experience

(page 6)Healthy lifestyle choices

(page 8)

@RUHBath

RoyalUnited HospitalBathinsight

ISSUE 38 SUMMER 2018

Royal United Hospitals BathNHS Foundation Trust

Nursing times - celebrating 70 years of the NHS

insight Summer 20182

Welcome

Sharon Manhi Lead for Patient and

Carer Experience Improving patient

experience (Page 6)

Edith Kenney Nurse in 1948

NHS 70 celebrations (page 10&11)

Contributors

inside this issue4&5 News roundup

7 Urgent care – new treatment centre

9 Bright ideas

10&11 NHS at 70

12 Spiritual Care Centre opens

14 All your Membership news

Welcome to the summer edition of insight, our community magazine.

This summer we’re marking the birth of our NHS 70 years ago and joining in the national celebrations ahead of the big anniversary day on 5 July. You can find out what the RUH was like 70 years ago on pages 10 and 11 and enjoy the memories of leeches, rations and curfews from Edith Kenney, one of our very first nurses in 1948.

In our news round-up on pages 4 and 5 you can see how major development work continues at the RUH.

The new RNHRD and Therapies building, backed by the Brownsword Charitable Foundation’s pledge to match £1m of donations to The Forever Friends Appeal, is taking shape rapidly. Our new Spiritual Care Centre has been dedicated by the Bishop of Taunton and is now fully open, page 12, and work has begun to move our highly-specialised Maxillofacial Surgery and Orthodontic Department to a new and much-needed state of the art home.

With the better weather with us at last, I want to look back a few short months and to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to everyone – our staff, volunteers and our generous community – for helping us through what was a challenging late winter.

We endured the ‘Beast from the East’, two spells of heavy and lying snow and cold that seemed it would never end. But, thanks to that huge staff and community effort, we maintained a safe and professional service for our patients under very difficult circumstances. You can read more about our quiet heroes on page 4.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy summer.

James Scott Chief Executive

We’re always keen to hear your feedback about insight, or any aspect of our work. Please email [email protected]

Data protection law has changedContributed by Dominique Emmanuel, Informatics Governance ManagerYou’re no doubt aware by now that new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) came into force on 25 May, meaning that organisations like the RUH that process and control personal data now have new and additional responsibilities.

The new regulations aim to strengthen accountability, enhance individual’s rights, and give people greater control over their data.

Before 25 May the UK relied on the Data Protection Act (1998). The new legislation has superseded it and covers new and unforeseen ways of using data.

You should not notice any difference.

Please be assured that we continue to take our duty to protect your personal information and confidentiality very seriously.

What’s changed at the RUH?Registering of processing activities – We are required to document the processing of all personal identifiable data.

Openness and transparency – Privacy notices for staff and patients will be displayed throughout the hospital and on the website.

Additional rights for individuals – Expanded rights for individuals

include free subject access requests (e.g. patients requesting copies of their medical record) within one month.

Consent – Consent must be a freely given, specific and informed. The RUH does not have to rely on consent for direct care purposes (e.g. medical treatment).

Penalties and enforcement action – The regulator will have the power to fine organisations up to 4% of annual turnover for certain breaches.

Any questions?

Please email [email protected]

3www.ruh.nhs.uk

The Bath Birthing Centre at the RUH is bursting at the seams with bags of the colour coded hats, so for the time being we’re saying thank you very much – but no more please.

Rachel Coleman, Practice Development Sister, said: “We’re really grateful to all of the hard-working knitters and crocheters who have been so very generous with their time, skill and wool. Thank you to everyone who was part of this wonderful response – we’re stunned at the number of hats that have arrived.”

The Bath Birthing Centre originally asked for around 5,000 hats to help ensure that babies receive the individual care they need.

Our social media appeal went viral with knitters aged from 9 to 94 involved, sending hats from 160 different locations and from countries

including USA, Portugal, Spain, UK

and Ireland.

The white hats, with red, amber or

green bobbles, give a traffic-light

indication to midwifery staff about a

baby’s care. A green bobble means

a baby is term, warm and feeding

well. Amber indicates a baby needs

a little more help with feeding and

keeping warm. Red shows a baby

will have regular observations by a

nurse or midwife.

Rachel Coleman said: “Babies still receive

traditional midwifery care, but this is

an extra visual aid. The hats make a

real difference in further improving the

quality of care we provide and we are

extremely grateful for every hat donated.

“Our appeal really caught the

imagination of knitters across the world.

We now have enough hats for our babies

for a while to come, and we are running

out of space to store them! The hats are

in use at the RUH and some will be sent

to Gambia later this year.”

“Thank you to everyone who supported

this appeal – if more hats are required we

won’t hesitate to ask.”

Hat’s enough!It’s over – after six months of dedicated knitting by people from all over the world, our Midwives are calling time for now on our incredibly successful baby bobble hat appeal.

“Our appeal really caught the imagination of knitters across the world.”

Hat’s enough - thanks!

Midwife, Rachel Coleman and hats

Bobble hat babies


Many thanks to our staff and volunteers who battled the snow and freezing temperatures to see us through that long and harsh winter.

One member left home at 3am to walk from Bristol to Bath to reach the Cardiology department on time. Some nurses and consultants slept in on-site hospital accommodation after their late shift, to cover any staff who couldn’t make it in to work.

Many of our non-clinical colleagues stepped in to help out in unfamiliar roles. For example, colleagues from the Finance department played an essential role in delivering medicines from the Pharmacy to the wards.

Pharmacy Operations Manager Rachael Whiteley said: “I spent quite a lot of time training them on the transport and security of medicines, and they were always supervised by pharmacy staff. We genuinely couldn’t have made it through the day without them.”

RUH teams also came together to

provide accommodation, food and transport. Working with F.A.S.T Ambulance, a medical and ambulance service, they drove several vulnerable patients from their homes to the Bath Satellite Dialysis Unit at the RUH and back again for treatment.

Others helped in a range of ways, like joining our Estates and Facilities team to clear and grit the paths around the hospital, or manning the phones to arrange transport and accommodation. A Friends of the RUH volunteer kept the shop open and provided drinks, snacks and toiletries.

Community support was overwhelming. Our social media call for 4x4 drivers to help staff get to and from work went viral – the phone didn’t stop ringing with drivers offering to help. People also came to the RUH with their shovels to help clear snow from the outside main entrance and the Emergency Department.

Thank you to everyone!

Bad weather’s snow obstacle

Building progressThe building site outside the main entrance of the RUH is changing dramatically, with our new RNHRD and Therapies Centre rapidly taking shape.

Over the winter the foundations were dug and filled in and below-ground drainage runs completed. That work, including installing insulation and a Radon barrier, was finished before April.

Then, once a large tower crane was erected on site, the building’s reinforced concrete superstructure began to rise into the air.

The RNHRD and Therapies Centre will house rheumatology, therapies and pain managements services that are located at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, bringing specialist teams at the RUH and the RNHRD together.

Maxillofacial Surgery and Orthodontic Dept moveWorks starts soon to move our Maxillofacial Surgery and Orthodontic outpatients department to a brand new home in the RUH.

The department, housed in A wing, is transferring to the first floor in area C in the main body of the hospital.

The move will pave the way for the new Cancer Centre and allow the Maxillofacial Surgery and Orthodontic Department to provide improved and modern facilities with state of the art equipment.

Senior Sister Lynn Howes (left) and receptionist Lorraine Cottrell

News roundup

www.ruh.nhs.uk 5

We’ve taken delivery of 700 new state-of-the art beds to replace and upgrade our stock across the RUH.

Bettina Deacon, Medical Equipment Nurse Specialist said: “This is a further improvement in patient care and comfort. The new beds enable patients and staff to adjust

the shape of the bed electronically,

so patients can be fully supported in

a variety of positions. Patients can sit

up at the push of a button, and the

beds can be lowered and raised so it’s

easier and

safer to get

in and out of

bed, helping

patients stay

independent

and reducing

the amount

of moving

and lifting

by staff.

Thank you to the Time is Precious charity who donated a new sensory projector system to our Paediatric Emergency Department.

The sensory system offers floor or ceiling projection that responds to body movements when it is detected by the overhead camera. The interactive unit is perfect for children, physical or social rehabilitation and for people with special needs.

Sue Conway, Senior Sister said: “I do not have the words to describe how utterly fantastic this is! The children love it, as do all the adults, young and old.

“I love it because it helps us assess so many things about children – their coordination, which we have to assess after a bang to the head and whether they can put weight on their legs. Parents have been amazed how quickly their children seem to be feeling better once they arrive in our department.”

New hospital beds

Time is Precious donation a hit with staff and patients

New sleeper chairs and beds for families We’ve also taken delivery of 21 sleeper chairs and beds for patients’ families and carers, thanks to a local man who left a gift in his will towards the hospital’s charity, The Forever Friends Appeal.

The generosity of the late Harold Cary, a retired farmer, means the chairs and beds are available on wards and in departments for families whose loved ones are in critical care, at the end of life, have dementia or have a learning disability.

Helen Meehan, Lead Nurse Palliative Care and End of Life, RUH said: “The sleeper chairs and beds will really make a difference, providing comfort to families and carers who wish to stay overnight and spend precious time with their loved one.”

The William Budd ward, which cares for patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy or radiotherapy, has also received a sleeper chair. This was from a former staff member and her family who wished to support the unit in memory of their mother, Caroline Rubery, who passed away in November last year.

Her daughter Vanessa said: “My mother worked at the RUH for 16

years and was a passionate supporter of the Trust. During her illness, she received excellent care as an inpatient on William Budd, and it was her wish that any money raised through the collection at her funeral should be used to buy equipment for the ward.”

(from left to right): Helen Meehan, RUH, Rachel Davis, RUH, Vanessa Rubery, Samantha Short, RUH, Jan Witt, The Forever Friends Appeal.

News roundup


Improving patient experience is a key focus for us – it’s by asking, monitoring, and acting upon patient feedback that we can make improvements in areas that patients say matter most to them.

Our Patient Experience team, including our Patient Advice and Liaison Service, PALS for short, is a small department with a big ambition – to help. What you tell us can help shape the services we provide.

Sharon Manhi, Lead for Patient and Carer Experience, said: “We are a lot more than a first port of call for people

who have a complaint or a problem they need solving. We play a key

role in talking to patients, listening to their experience and using that information to help us to provide the best patient experience,

one that we would wish for

our loved ones.”

We collect feedback from over 32000 patients and carers every year about their experiences of the RUH. Patients and their families and carers tell us about the positive attitude and behaviour of

staff, often describing them as attentive, kind and courteous. They also share their frustrations when phones aren’t answered, when there is a lack of information about delays in clinic waiting

rooms, when there’s noise and lights on wards at night, and having to wait for medicines. We use this feedback to make improvements – like encouraging our RUH Friends shop to sell earplugs and masks so patients aren’t disturbed at night,

and providing clinic times on information screens in outpatient waiting areas so patients know how long they will be waiting.

Patient experience – helping us to help you

Our Patient Experience Team offer advice and support to hospital teams to help them improve or reshape services.

For example, we’ve conducted telephone interviews with patients on behalf of our Pain Clinic; helped produce a questionnaire for patients of our Sexual Health Clinic; and helped gather feedback from parents, children and staff in our Children’s Ward.

We worked with the Anticoagulation team to review their cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) telephone clinic by asking patients questions and gathering the feedback.

Specialist Pharmacist in Anticoagulation, Nathan Jones, said: “This data is vital to developing business cases for ongoing funding for projects. The feedback has been reassuring that the service is having a positive impact on our patients.”

Helping staff to help patients

How we gather views • Friends and Family Test (FFT) cards

• National Patient and Carer Experience Surveys

• Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and formal complaints

• NHS Choices website, Patient Opinion website and Social Media

• See it my Way programme

• Patient Stories

• Focused quality improvement projects

• RUH Patient and Carer Experience Group Assessment Visits

Contact Patient ExperiencePatient Experience 01225 821735 [email protected]

• Link to Patient Experience Matters webpages - http://bit.ly/patient_exp

Contact PALS (when you need advice, have concerns, or don’t know where to turn, PALS is a free, accessible and confidential services for patients, relatives and carers). 01225 825656 01225 826319 [email protected]

Laura Davies, Sharon Manhi and Gilly Butler – the Patient Experience Team

www.ruh.nhs.uk 7

You may remember that last year, we wanted to better understand what mattered most to those who use or work in our Maternity Services, to help us in our planning for the future.

This was an informal process, where over 800 people shared their thoughts and experiences with us.

Later in the year, all NHS maternity services were asked to develop a Local Maternity System (LMS), to bring providers and commissioners together to discuss and agree how services could be improved.

The RUH is part of the BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) LMS, and together we have produced a Maternity Transformation Plan – with a shared vision for “all women to have a safe and positive birth and

maternity experience and to be prepared to approach parenting with confidence.” Although Somerset is not part of our LMS, we continue to work closely with our partners in this area, as Somerset families make up a proportion of our births.

Any potential redesign of the RUH’s Maternity Services will now form part of this wider Transformation Plan. We continue to work with staff, commissioners, mums and others to look at the ways in which our Maternity Service could change.

Together we have developed a ‘long list’ of options, which will go through a scoring process to develop a short list of options. We expect this work to be complete in the summer. We’ll then start a process of formal consultation or engagement – asking people to share their views on the potential changes.

We know it’s important that we get this right and we are following the NHS England assurance process, so any proposed change will continue to provide choice and put mums and families first, and will have support from our clinicians and commissioners. We’ll continue to keep you updated and involved.

A new partnership began on 1 May to run the newly-named Urgent Treatment Centre – the unit at the RUH for patients who urgently need to see a GP or nurse but whose condition is not life-threatening.

The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and partner BaNES

Enhanced Medical Services (BEMS) was chosen as the preferred bidder for the centre last year, following a procurement process led by BaNES Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Urgent Treatment Centre offers urgent treatment around the clock to patients who cannot wait to be seen by their local GP or are not registered with a local practice. It opened in spring 2014 and is located next to the Emergency Department.

The RUH-BEMS partnership has worked closely with colleagues from B&NES Doctors Urgent Care (BDUC), who ran the former Urgent Care Centre, to ensure the smooth transfer of the service.

BEMS is the local GP Federation,

whose members include all General Practices in BaNES, as well as patients and staff. BEMS has been providing care for local patients since 2004 across a range of community services, including GP out of hours.

Dr Dominic Williamson, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the RUH, said: “We’re really pleased, we have an exciting vision for the future of the service and we’re confident we can further improve the way that urgent care is delivered for our patients. We’ve involved patients, clinicians and management teams in our plan and drawn on extensive experience of the needs of our local population to bring together the best of primary and secondary care in the UTC.”

Redesigning Maternity Services together

RUH and partner run Urgent Treatment Centre


Tissue ViabilityPressure ulcer preventionWe’re giving ourselves a pat on the back for big improvements we’ve made in an important area of patient care and safety – the prevention of pressure ulcers.

It’s an ongoing process with our Tissue Viability team, a small group of nurses specialising in wounds and their prevention and management, raising awareness across the Trust. It seems to be working – our Coronary Care Unit has been five years pressure ulcer free. Other wards are following suit – Helena and Charlotte are at four years, Children’s ward and ED observations at three years, Pulteney and Theatres at two years, and Respiratory, Cardiac, Cheselden, Forrester Brown and Waterhouse are one year pressure ulcer free.

What is a pressure ulcer?A pressure ulcer (also known as a bed sore or pressure sore) is damage that occurs to the skin and underlying tissue.

Who gets pressure ulcers?People may be at risk of developing a pressure ulcer depending on their medical problems, nutritional condition,

age and ability to move. Those who have a pressure ulcer or have had one in the past are also at risk of developing another one.

Nikki Heywood, Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist, said: “We can prevent pressure ulcers by being aware of the risk factors and putting prevention strategies in place. Actions like regularly assessing a patient’s risk of pressure ulcers, carefully checking a patient’s skin daily, and assisting all patients to regularly change their position can make a big difference in stopping a pressure ulcer from developing.”

They have created a simple four-step process using the acronym HEEL:

Help to prevent pressure ulcers

Elevate heels with foot protectors

Ensure you assist patients to reposition themselves every 2-3 hours

Look and feel – assist patients to check their heels every day, pull back bandages, peel back dressings, remove stockings & socks at least daily.

If you are at home and concerned about a pressure ulcer, please contact your practice nurse or GP.

Encouraging patients to make healthy choicesWe’re taking part in a national drive to help support our patients to make healthy choices.

This will include encouraging people to quit smoking and reduce the harmful use of alcohol, which are among the most significant risk factors for damaging health.

We’re committed to encouraging our patients to make the best choices to look after themselves. So to help us to achieve this we’ll be asking inpatients at the RUH a few simple questions to find out if their alcohol or smoking habits are a risk to their health. We’ll then refer them to the appropriate service if they need support to cut down.

It’s one of the ways we can help patients recover quicker, prevent ill health and reduce the time they stay in hospital.

l-r : Nikki Heywood, Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist; Michaela Arrowsmith, Lead Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist; Alexa Poppleston, Tissue Viability Nurse

Bin these

Eat these

www.ruh.nhs.uk 9

Bright ideasWe’re always looking for ways to improve the way we work and benefit our patients – and very often it’s our staff who come up with the best and brightest ideas.Which is where our Innovation Panel comes in, helping them to develop their plan and, crucially, providing the money to make it happen.

The Panel gives one-off funding for projects that will improve patient care and experience or will increase efficiency. This could be to pay for a pilot project, to test for

something new, to buy an innovative piece of equipment or to develop a new or different use of technology.

Staff can pitch to the main panel, sitting monthly, for funding of up to £20,000. Or, for smaller ideas, there’s a pop-up panel four times a year giving up to £500 of on-the-spot funding. It’s not just for managers –

anyone can pitch as long as they’re determined to own the idea if it’s approved and see it through.

Operational Improvement Lead Hester McLain said: “It’s not like Dragon’s Den, it’s nowhere near as scary. We’re

more than happy to offer advice because we do really want people to succeed.

“The funding can be made available within a couple of days, and we find that most of the projects are underway within a couple of months.”

Lisa Lewis, Sarah Cook and Ceri Lloyd run a pop-up panel session

Midwife Leticia Hatfield learns ultrasound techniques using the artificial baby bump

Baby bumpThanks to Innovation Panel support we now have our own state of the art maternity ultrasound training tool for midwives and trainee doctors – a model baby bump.

Locum Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Kate O’Brien said: “It’s so useful. It can be used to teach basic scanning techniques to midwives. This means, for example, that they can identify themselves if a baby is lying in breach rather than having to wait for a doctor. It can also be used to teach how to scan for particular anomalies and to measure growth. We use it to provide training for junior doctors, ultrasonographers and to teach advanced scanning skills for registrars.

“It’s incredibly valuable to us and we’re really grateful that the Innovation Panel saw the potential in our plans and decided to fund it.”

Sticky Feet They say that some of the best ideas are simple – and the Sticky Feet project is certainly one of those.

It’s all part of reinvigorating the Enhancing Recovery Programme, which has been practised at the RUH for many years, for Colorectal patients undergoing surgery. A fundamental part of the programme is increasing a patient’s mobility, so to help their recovery a pathway of sticky footprints will be marked out on Robin Smith Ward, encouraging post-operative patients to get up, get moving and get fit.

Sister Lisa Brown said: “The objectives set for the patient at each stage of their recovery will include following a trail of sticky feet for a prescribed distance several times a day. The great thing is that they don’t have to wait to be helped – they can own their own recovery and increase their mobility according to their ability.

“We’ll be trialling this idea on Robin Smith ward, evaluating it and, if successful will be extending to Pulteney Ward. It’s a simple idea and we didn’t have to ask the Innovation Panel for many resources or much funding. Enhancing recovery is a multi-disciplinary concept and this has been a huge team effort to come up with little changes that can make a big difference to patients’ mobility and improved care.


Leeches, rations and curfews – nursing times 70 years ago

Meet Edith Kenney – 70 years ago one of the first student nurses to join the fledgling NHS at the RUH.

Times were very different in 1948. Post-war rationing was still in force. The then Edith Barker, aged 18 and living with her family in Bath, earned just £5 a month. Part of her training included learning how to apply leeches to patients’ skin.

Edith said: “As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a nurse but my grandmother and parents were very much against it. My grandmother thought I would be a skivvy – so I shelved my ambition and worked as an office secretary at Sparrow’s Solicitors in Bath.”

Then she spotted an advert in the Bath

Chronicle looking for hospital volunteers at evenings and weekends to help out on the wards. Edith saw this as her chance to get closer to the job she always wanted.

“I was so excited when I went for my interview and even more so when I was asked to join the volunteering team. I

enjoyed every minute of it. I loved talking to the patients, giving them cups of tea and helping Sister whenever she asked me. One day Sister Hughes said to me ‘Why don’t you become a nurse Edith?

You’re a born nurse and you absolutely love it.’ This

was true but I explained my family was against the idea and she left it at that.”

But Edith persevered. Her family eventually relented and, in 1947, she was accepted on the hospital’s three-month Preliminary Training School. She was on her way to becoming a nurse.

“Our set was all female nurses – no married nurses allowed and there were very few male nurses. We lived in one of those big houses opposite the RUH and were taught the basic nursing skills from our Sister tutor, such as how to make a hospital bed, giving a blanket bath, giving injections, taking blood pressure, bandaging, preparing a poultice and even how to apply leeches. Sister told us that leeches were in fact obsolete – and now they’re in use again to prevent blood clots and in plastic surgery.

“We all longed for the day we could have our black belt, cast away our butterfly hats and have our dark blue nurses’ uniform. Our salary was £5 per month – equivalent to £180 today. But we were

satisfied because we had full board, laundry of our uniform, a maid to clean our rooms and breakfast in bed on our day off. The hours were long but we had jolly times in Bath, as long as we were back by 10 o’clock and respected the rules set out by the Sister in charge.

“You also need to remember rationing was in place in 1948. We were given two jam jars once a week – one filled with 3oz of butter and the other with 4oz of sugar. Even though there was rationing the food was good, but we were always hungry and took it in turns to scrape the rice pudding dish in the ward kitchen – only if Sister was well out of the way.”

Edith worked at the RUH for four years, spending time on different wards as part of her training and on Duncan Ward as a volunteer and as a qualified nurse. She left the RUH in 1952 to work at Winsley Chest Hospital, later becoming a midwife and also working as a District Nurse in Taunton.

She said: “When I go back to the RUH for our nursing reunions I feel just like I did when I was younger. I would like to wish the NHS a very happy 70th birthday and I hope it produces the next generation of lovely nurses like it has been doing for decades.”

“I loved talking to the patients, giving them cups of tea and helping Sister whenever she asked me.”

The NHS celebrates its 70th anniversary in July and to mark it we’ve been talking to some of the staff who were there at the very beginning.

Edith Kenney – memories of nursing 70 years ago

& THEN...

NOW...

www.ruh.nhs.uk 11

NHS70 isn’t just about the past. We’re also celebrating the future of the RUH and we’re proud to be supporting and investing in the next generation of NHS staff.

For example, we offer a wide range of apprenticeships - from Customer Service to Healthcare

Science and Engineering.

In March the RUH held a Spring Apprenticeship Conference aimed at showcasing the exciting range of roles across the Trust with a focus on apprenticeships. Over two days we welcomed 44 local school and college students.

We also have a new set of apprenticeship films that show the valuable contribution apprentices make and to encourage young people to consider a career at the RUH.

Watch the videos at: ruh.nhs.uk/careers/work_ experience_apprenticeships

NHS future

Thanks to everyone who got in touch including…

On 5 July 1948 Pamela Stockley was the first NHS baby born at the RUH. Thank you to Pamela’s sister Mavis for sending us the photo!

NHS70 – your storiesIn the spring edition of insight we asked for your NHS stories, photos and memorabilia from the past 70 years.

National celebrationsThere will be large events, including ceremonies at Westminster Abbey and York Minster which will be attended by staff from across the NHS.

People up and down the country are organising tea parties to raise a cuppa and raise funds for NHS charities. It’s called Big 7tea – why not hold an event in aid of the RUH’s Forever Friends Appeal? Find out more at: foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk

The Royal Mint has launched a special NHS 10p coin which forms part of an A-Z of what makes Britain great with the NHS being ‘N’. Other coins include ‘B’ for Bond, ‘S’ for Stonehenge and ‘T’ for Tea. Have you found an NHS 10p coin yet? Why not take a picture and share it via social media using the hashtags #NHS70 and #coinhunt?

Thank you to everyone who has got in touch. There’s still time to be part of NHS history. If you have worked for and/or been treated by the NHS get in touch to share your story – [email protected]


Dedicated Spiritual Care CentreOur new Spiritual Care Centre at the RUH is now fully open, following the official Dedication ceremony.People of all faiths and none gathered for the ceremony, conducted by The Rt Rev Ruth Worsley, Bishop of Taunton before an audience of guests including the Mayor of Bath, Cllr Ian Gilchrist.

Members of the Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Baha’i and Sikh communities presented scriptures and symbols to represent each faith.

Bishop Ruth, who also commissioned the Spiritual Care Centre Chaplains and volunteers, said: “Thank you to all for planning, designing, financing and staffing this very special place. Thank you for recognising that people need a place of sanctuary like this, offering space for prayer, healing and peace for patients, their families and staff in the busy life of this hospital.”

RUH Lead Chaplain Narinder Tegally said: “We have been on a long journey with many challenges and joys to reach this stage, which has only been possible through the enormous generosity of key individuals and the hard work of so many people. In the short time we have been open this place has already become a sanctuary and a place of reflection for many people of faith and no faith. Our hope is that this will continue to flourish and grow into a place of peace, stillness and healing.”

The new Spiritual Care Centre – a space for reflection and prayer – has been purpose-built to replace the former Chapel. It offers 24-hour access, providing room for anyone to come and sit, to talk, reflect, pray or simply gather their thoughts.

Ablution and prayer spaces are available for those who need them, as well a quiet and private area for confidential and sensitive conversations. There’s also a peaceful courtyard garden with planting, seating and sculpture, created thanks to a generous gift to the Hospital’s charity, the Forever Friends Appeal, in the will of a local Bath man, the late Mr Colston Cook.

The new building, which was designed in conjunction with members of different faiths, is located on the crossroads of Zone C&D on the hospital ground floor. It is part of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust’s ‘Fit for the Future’ development plan to transform the site and further improve services for patients.

www.ruh.nhs.uk 13

Minerva’s Owls swoop to help raise RUH funds

Heart monitor gift to RUH Cardiac ward

A new public art sculpture trail is coming to Bath this summer, and the RUH’s Forever Friends Appeal is one of four local charities to benefit from the proceeds.

Minerva’s Owls of Bath will see a giant flock of brightly-decorated owls and smaller owlets swoop into the city and surrounding towns from 25 June – 10 September 2018.

Each owl will be sponsored by a local business, school or community group, and individually painted by talented

artists and designers.

A special ‘Owls Hoot Farewell’ weekend will be held on 6&7 October in front of the Royal Crescent, before the final charity auction at The Assembly Rooms on 17 October.

Seventy per cent of the profits from the event will go to our new Cancer Centre and some of the funds may also go towards the creation of the new Therapies Centre.

For more information, visit: www.minervasowls.org

Cardiac patients are to benefit from a portable heart monitor - a generous gift made in memory of Keith Jones, who sadly passed away aged 70 in November 2017.

His son, Kane Fulbrook-Smith, from Trowbridge, said: “My father was always full of gratitude to the nursing team and surgeons at the RUH for their continued professionalism, personal care and compassion. One of his wishes

was that he’d like donations to help fund more portable heart monitors. So I took it upon myself to raise funds by doing regular car boot stalls – and raised £1,700. My dad wanted others in the same situation as him to benefit from the use of a portable heart monitor”

Marta Pargana, Junior Sister on the Cardiac ward, said: “We would like to thank Kane for this amazing donation. The new portable heart monitor will make a great difference on our ward by enabling a patient to move freely around the ward whilst being monitored.”

Donating to support patient care in memory of a loved one is a special way to celebrate their life, and for many families this can provide small comfort during a very difficult time.

If you would like to pay tribute to a loved one and support a particular RUH ward or an area of work that is important to you, please contact Jan on 01225 825819 or email [email protected].

Dates for your diary Sunday 8 July – SkydiveTake the leap for patients and help celebrate the NHS’s 70th birthday… by freefalling from the sky with us! Your one-minute adrenaline rush will help transform care for thousands of patients, when they need it most.

September - RUH Will MonthHave peace of mind by putting your affairs in order during the month of September and have your Will professionally written by a local solicitor at a reduced cost, whilst supporting the RUH.

Saturday 22 September – Newfoundland Dog DiveThis popular event will take place at Portishead Marina, Bristol and is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience an ‘at sea’ dog rescue. The event is run by the incredible team at Newfound Friends and their well-trained and beautiful Newfound Dogs, on behalf of The Forever Friends Appeal.

Interested in taking part? Find out more about our events at www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk or call 01225 825823.


Membership news

Constituency MeetingsConstituency meetings are a fantastic way for members to get to know their Governors and learn more about what’s happening at the RUH. They give members an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback about their experience of the Trust’s services.The feedback we receive from each and every constituency meeting is taken back to the Council of Governors and is used to ensure that members’ views are taken into account when the Trust is considering its priorities and future plans.

2018 Constituency Confirmed meetings:• Monday 11 June

Warminster Civic Centre Sambourne Road Warminster BA12 8LB From 1.30pm

• Thursday 6 September Keynsham Masonic Hall 99 Bath Road Keynsham Bristol BS31 1SR From 5:30pm

• Monday 10 September Melksham Town Hall Market Place Melksham SN12 6ES From 1:30pm

• Wednesday 3 October Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution 16-18 Queen Square Bath BA1 2HN From 1.30 pm

• Wednesday 10 October Neeld Community and Arts Centre High St Chippenham SN15 3ER From 1:30pm

The above events give you the opportunity to come along, have a cup of tea and meet your Governors. You will also receive an update on RUH developments from one of our Executive Directors and have the opportunity to participate in a Focus group / Q&A session. You will also learn something new with our chosen topic of speciality interest.

You can attend any event which suits you, but places must be booked by contacting the Membership Office. We will continue to keep you updated as and when more dates are added throughout the year.

Caring for YouThanks to all members who took part in our Caring for You survey at the beginning of this year. We have had a fantastic response and you have helped us shape the programme for 2018. Hopefully, you’ll agree that we’ve got some great topics lined up for you. We look forward to seeing you there.

• All about Skin Tuesday 17th July 2018

• Men’s Health Wednesday 19th September 2018

• Women’s Health Tuesday 13th November 2018

• Cancer & Survivorship Wednesday 23rd January 2019

• The Value of Therapies Tuesday 13th March 2019

• Research & Development at the RUH Tuesday 28th May 2019

The above events will be held in the Post Graduate Medical Centre (Dept. B20) from 6- 7.30pm. Places must be booked in advance, so please contact the Membership Office (details below). Non-members are more than welcome – we can sign you up on the night.

To book your place at an event, sign up as a member, or to find out more about the benefits of membership you can contact the Membership Office on 01225 821262 or email [email protected]

Contact us...

Save the date!Don’t miss our AGM Wednesday 26th September Assembly Rooms, Bath 5.30-7.30pm

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Left to right: Rachel Macmillan, Carolina Juan Chofre, Mike Coupe and Annie Taylor.

Meet the GovernorMike Coupe, Consultant Anaesthetist and Staff Governor, has worked at the RUH for 14 years.About my role I believe it’s really important that to be able to represent our members’ interests – which in my case means our RUH staff – that I’m a visible presence around the Trust. I believe it’s a bonus to be approachable and open to suggestions from anyone with a concern or an idea they’d like to share.

I’m lucky that my day job takes me to lots of departments, so I get to meet different groups of people, which is nice for me personally and good for the role as Staff Governor. Being a voice for staff and a familiar face is one part of my role – the other is holding the Board to account based on the strategy and aims of the Trust.

What I love about what I doThese are exciting times for the Trust and a great time to be part of the changes that are happening. The new Therapies building is taking shape at the front of the hospital and the new Cancer Centre will be ready in the next couple of years. As a Trust we’re really

moving forward and there is loads of great stuff going on, which I’m happy to be part of.

A moment I’m particularly proud of was when the RUH and the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) merged into one trust. This was something that the Governors were required to vote on, and I was involved in the discussions and spent time with people at the hospital, discussing the changes that were to come. As a group of governors we felt very proud of the small part we played in bringing the two hospitals together.

This is the second time I’ve served as a Staff Governor. When I took a year out from the role I found I missed it. I enjoy working with the Council of Governors – they’re a really interesting, diverse and committed bunch of people.

Challenges I faceI would say that engaging my members can prove tricky as we’re a diverse organisation with more than 5,000 staff. Trying to get round every staff

group is challenging. So I’m really focused on opening the lines of communications for people.

As a Council of Governors we’re always working on how to undertake our role to hold the Board to account in the most effective way. I’m passionate about seeing honesty from the Board and Executive Team in the way they deliver messages to the Council of Governors. I feel that’s important and I think the Board and Executive Team does that really well at the RUH.

Looking after our membersI feel it is important that staff and our members have a say in the way the hospital is run. I would tell anyone reading this who is not a member to sign up for free at ruh.nhs.uk/membership and voice your comments and concerns to [email protected]. The feedback from members gets sent to all governors and if there’s a subject that’s within my remit I’ll put that forward to the Council of Governors at our next meetings.


A r t a t t h eAs work progresses on our new RNHRD and Therapies Centre, Art at the Heart aims to bring elements of the Mineral Water Hospital’s (RNHRD) heritage to the new building.

Wallpapers will be designed by Jose Mendoza using the Mineral Water Hospital’s historic portrait paintings and artefacts as inspiration. A Thermal Waters Timeline has been designed by Ross Bennett, tracking the source and its geographical and historical journey of the thermal waters, falling as rainfall on the Mendip hills and taking 2,000 years to reach Bath. This will be installed on the external façade of the building. Stunning feature hydrotherapy pool windows will be designed by Chris Tipping.

Following patient consultation, two projects – the geographical timeline and hydrotherapy pool windows are using Flow as a key theme.

“Flow is active. It is not just the water, but it is the way our muscles are warmed and released, allowing blood to flow more freely. It is the freedom from stiffness of joints, when even a centimetre gained is a big triumph.” Patient

There will be information displays for staff based at the RNHRD and the RUH. Visit the news page on our website http://artatruh.org/news-events/ to find out more.

Draft design proposal and a model example of the Thermal Waters Timeline by Ross Bennett

RNHRD and Therapies Centre Exhibitions

The RPS 160th International Photography ExhibitionCentral Gallery: 20th June – 2nd August 2018

This Exhibition consists of a variety of genres and styles of photography, with cutting-edge prints being shown alongside traditional work – from the artistic to documentary, from portraiture to natural history. It showcases up-and-coming and more established photographers’ work.

Land + Sea: exploring the world through clayArt at the Heart teamed up with Action on Hearing Loss in Bath to display a new exhibition of ceramics in the Royal United Hospitals Central Gallery. The collection of artworks has been created in participatory workshops by adults who are deaf with additional needs.

The work looks at shells and fossils, the natural and built environment, as well as animals and plant life. Using mosaic tiles, stone and earthenware clays and different coloured grouts and glazes, they have sought to capture some of the beauty of the world around us.

Bath’s Action on Hearing Loss Projects Coordinator, Andrew Harris said:

“We believe everyone we support has something positive to bring to the world, not despite of who they are but because of whom they are. By working in partnership with such great advocate as Art at the Heart we know we can share that passion.”

The exhibition runs until 14 June in the Central Gallery. Ben’s Birds created by a workshop participant

Leah in the Backcourt, Margaret Mitchell (Gold Award Winner)

Kenana Knitter 1, Linnane Edyta

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o f t h e R U H

SoundbiteIn June we are looking forward to piloting a new music residency with the palliative care team. LMN musician Josh Doughty will spend one day a week for three consecutive weeks at the hospital. Playing the Kora, a West African harp, Josh is able to combine the traditional rhythms of Mali with modern western influences creating self-composed pieces, responding to and improvising around the environment he is playing in.

To read more about our music programme and find out when we have new Soundbite lunchtime performances scheduled, visit our website http://artatruh.org/music/lunchtime-performances/

RadiologyThe family of the late Sir George Frederick Pollock Bt 1928 – 2016 have kindly donated a series of his photographs to be displayed in the RUH Radiology Department. The artworks form part of the Radiology refurbishment and expansion programme. Radiology Department staff have been involved in the selection of the images used and felt strongly that images involving the use of light and photography were particularly relevant for a modern day imaging department.

Art at the Heart has been working with our Capital Projects team and the project manager has arranged colour scheme consultations with staff. The art scheme has been developed with the interior design team. There will be a lit ceiling showing sky and trees, also ceiling tiles in the bed waiting areas displaying a tree canopy.

Sir George was a leading exponent of audio visual work, a unique and revolutionary award-winning art photographer and a past President of the Royal Photographic Society.

It was photography in its various forms that occupied a large part of Pollock’s life. He invented a method of making abstract colour photographs using controlled light, originally through glass, in 1962, which he named ‘Vitrographs’. The following year he devised a method of making large-scale photographic murals, producing them for British Petroleum and Lloyds Bank amongst others.

RUH Consultant Cardiologist, Dr Richard Mansfield will also have photography on display, enhanced by a wall light box.

The RUH is grateful to David Pollock, Jill Hiron, and Charlotte Swift for their generous offer to donate a selection of their father’s work to the RUH’s Radiology Department.

Josh Doughty performing in the Atrium

Light on wet grass 1987 and Shaped Light on Heather 1983 by Sir George Pollock

Cornish Beach by Dr Richard Mansfield


www.friendsoftheruh.org.uk | 01225 824046 | [email protected]

The Friends of the RUH is a voluntary organisation which provides amenities and comforts for patients and relatives which could not otherwise be provided by the NHS. They also organise volunteers to work across the hospital, fundraise, and run a café and shop that are open 7 days a week.

Mayor’s Civic ReceptionMayor of Bath, Cllr Ian Gilchrist, hosted a Civic Reception for the Friends of RUH volunteers, thanking them for all their hard work, dedication and support they give to the community. Volunteers, including Fudge our therapy dog were invited to the Mayor’s Parlour at the Guildhall and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings, pictured right.

Trolley Vollies needed! Can you spare a few hours and help take our shop trolley around the wards? The trolley service provides patients, staff and visitors with a range of newspapers, magazines, drinks, fruit, snacks and toiletries. Run by our team of volunteers the mobile shop does its rounds twice a day between 9.30 am and 1.30 pm. To find out more email: [email protected] or call 01225 824046

And the award goes to...Congratulations to Sharon Burge, who was the first volunteer recognised in the RUH’s New Year’s Honours Awards. Sharon has volunteered with the Cancer Information and Support Centre for more than 10 years and is a key member of the team providing support to anyone affected by cancer. Sharon was involved in the running of a support group for patients with lymphoma – this has been very successful and a real benefit to patients.

Left, Brian Stables, Chairman, Sharon Burge, Tristan Gemmill and James Scott, Chief Executive.

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Thanks thoughts&

www.twitter.com/RUHBath www.facebook.com/RoyalUnitedHospitalBath

You can also leave feedback on the NHS Choices website. Visit www.nhs.uk and search for Royal United Hospital Bath.

Huge thanks to Medical Therapies Unit patient Tony Everett.He was so impressed with his ongoing treatment for an inherited blood disorder that he donated money for two of our nurses to attend a study day, and paid for additional equipment too. We’re very grateful.

Thank you Tony!

We love to hear from patients and their families. Every year we receive an incredible amount of thank you letters and feedback. Here’s a selection of recent thanks and thoughts, which we thought you’d enjoy reading.

Posted on Facebook:

500th 5-star RUH Facebook reviewAbsolutely amazed at the care our boy received from the staff at the RUH in A&E and on the children’s ward over an extremely busy bank holiday weekend. In particular: The radiology staff who put him at ease during a scary CAT scan, the paediatric registrars, Robert the surgeon who took time out to introduce himself late on Saturday night before performing our surgery the next morning, Lauren on ward B15 who was amazing with all the children in her care, the anaesthetists, the porters, the team in recovery - you were all fantastic and made a very scary experience a lot easier for all of us. 20 stitches later and we are home and on the road to recovery. Thank you all SO much.

“A big big thank you”I just wanted to say a big thank you to all the staff on the children’s ward over the last 4 days. All the nurses and doctors have been so caring towards my little girl and have brought her back to her old self as well as supporting and listening to me through this scary time. A big big thank you xx

Tweeted to @RUHBath:

Massive thanks to the wonderful staff at @RUHBath for their amazing care of my 93yr old grandma yesterday. No shortage of care and respect shown.

Massive thanks to the amazing midwife who safely delivered my baby two years ago. I’m sure that I’m one of a thousand ladies that you’ve supported but you’ll always have a special place in my heart. #thankyoumidwife

Posted on the RUH’s NHS Choice Reviews page:

“Every staff member we met was outstanding” We attended A&E yesterday with my elderly father who had sustained a dislocation and laceration to his hand. Every staff member we met was outstanding. The care from Reception, Radiology and Orthopaedic doctors was excellent. Thank you all, we are forever grateful.

Tony has a condition called genetic haemochromatosis, which means that his body absorbs too much iron from the diet. This can gradually accumulate in the liver, joints, heart, pancreas and other endocrine glands causing serious tissue damage. He attends MTU for a regular treatment called venesection. Usually 450 – 500ml of blood is taken at each venesection, which is about 8% of the blood volume of an average adult. This will be replaced by the body in 24 – 48 hours.


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