Inside the vaccine story - Plus: Your lockdown living - staff magazine | Spring 2021 - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
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staff magazine | Spring 2021 Inside the vaccine story Plus: Your lockdown living
Contents | www.leedsth.nhs.uk
4-5 Making the most of now – Your
lockdown hobbies
6 Excellence in Practice graduates
7 The story of the vaccine roll-out
8-9 Reasons to be cheerful – award-
winning LTHT
10 Latest from Building the Leeds
Way
11 New Ambulatory Surgical Centre
opening
12-13 Stress less – colleagues share their
health and wellbeing tips
14 In the spotlight: Clinical Educators
4
Making the most of now 7 International team
– Your lockdown hobbies The story of the vaccine
15 Staff celebrate AHP Day
16–17 BME Allyship – Meaningful
actions
18 Leeds Cares corner
19 My Job – Andrew Price
20 Lockdown Kitchen
21 Organ Donation Week
12
8 Stress less – colleagues share health
Reasons to be cheerful – Award-winning LTHT and wellbeing tips
22–23 Farewells
24 StaffConnect // Staff Lottery
25 60 Seconds – Victoria Cranston
Bulletin is produced quarterly by
the Communications Department.
Photography by Medical Illustration
Design by Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd
Send your feedback, ideas and suggestions
for the next edition to
communications.lth@nhs.net
or call exts. 64303/66494/66244.
Copy deadline is 1st May 2021
For more news on a daily basis from LTHT
please follow us on social media:
14
Team spotlight: Clinical Educators 20
International team Lockdown Kitchen – Your new favourite recipe
search for ‘Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’
@LeedsHospitals
Cover photo by Simon Hulme. Thanks to
The Yorkshire Post for use of the picture.
2
www.leedsth.nhs.uk | News
Historic moment for
Leeds as first Covid-19
vaccines delivered
It was a historic moment for LTHT, the housekeeper, Bridget (Marie) Kelly,
city, and even the world, as St James’s the Trust’s oldest nurse, and 89-year
became one of the first hospitals in the
country to deliver the very first Covid-19
old medical secretary (still in active
employment) Connie Bray.
Welcome
vaccines on 8 December. Welcome to the Spring issue
Sylvia joined LTHT when she was 26 years of Bulletin!
The landmark date saw Leeds old and has been shielding at home
Teaching Hospitals selected as one of during the pandemic. She said: “I miss all A year ago, in my editorial message in
the first 50 ‘hospital hub’ sites to take the people I work with. I’m so glad I’ve the first Bulletin of 2020, I asked you
delivery of the Pfizer vaccine and start to consider making the year about
got it done.”
providing vaccinations to the initial you – about your health and wellbeing
priority groups. Dr Phil Wood, Chief Medical Officer, and putting your needs first. What
said: “The work involved in bringing I don’t think any of us realised then
Frontline health and social care staff
this moment together is a tremendous was just how important this would be
from across the city were among the
achievement and another example of throughout the rest of the year.
first to receive the vaccine, along with
care home staff and patients aged 80 partners across the city working together This issue of the Bulletin gives us
and above who were already attending to ensure we are ready to deliver the a timely opportunity to reflect on
hospital as an outpatient or being biggest immunisation programme in the the past twelve months, and the
discharged after a hospital stay. history of the NHS.” adjustments we have all had to make
through repeated lockdowns, social
Amongst those vaccinated on the day Read the behind-the-scenes story of the
distancing, and restrictions, not to
included Sylvia Harris, 80-year-old ward Covid vaccine roll out in Leeds on p. 7.
mention the enormous amount of
hard work from everyone.
All of this takes its toll. And so this
issue is all about the ways we’ve
been coping – from new hobbies
taken up during lockdown to ways of
recharging and tips for de-stressing
during difficult moments – we’re
hearing from colleagues across LTHT
about how they have coped and made
the most of things.
With so much disruption, isolation
and uncertainty in our lives, it is more
important than ever that we are taking
time to look after ourselves and look
out for each other. There are some
great contributions from colleagues in
this issue, so do please enjoy reading
them. Who knows? Maybe you’ll read
something that might make you think:
“I’d like to try that.”
We’re all in this together – looking out
for one another and staying true to our
Leeds Way values will help us all get
through this.
Kind regards
Julian Hartley
Chief Executive
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Feature | www.leedsth.nhs.uk
Making the most of now
– your new lockdown hobby
The pandemic has forced us to look at life in new ways. With lockdown restrictions
curtailing socialising and making some past-times impossible to enjoy as we once did,
many people have been picking up new hobbies or learning new skills to make the most
of living through these strange times.
Carol Scholfield I’ve been going to to a local lake through
the summer with my son and his lovely
girlfriend. We stopped as the weather
got colder but on Christmas Eve my
son announced we were going to the
lake the following morning. There was
sparkling ice and bright sunshine. We
broke the ice all the way down to the
lake and, once in the water, lasted about
five minutes. We couldn’t have been
colder, but the feeling of elation lasted
throughout the whole of Christmas Day,
which we spent in the garden, with a full
Christmas dinner in a tinsel-clad gazebo
with log fires going around us and had
the merriest Christmas possibly ever.
“I realise I am luckier than most but
my time at home has made me realise
the value of having a workplace to Kate Davies, Patient Admin
go to. For many of us, our boundaries at Wharfedale Hospital –
between work and home have been homegrown food:
eroded with workspace taking over
our living space so that there’s no way “We were fortunate to have amazing
Carol Scholfield, Chief to ignore it. It has been so important weather during the first lockdown, this
to me to have something far removed brought out the inner gardener in me.
Dental Technician, and Anna It’s always been there but with the added
from work and home when our world
Edgren-Davies, Senior HR has shrunk so much. Wild swimming and tension from the pandemic gardening
Manager – wild swimming: the possibilities it opens up all over the helped me to de-stress and take time out
country, when we’re allowed to travel, on my days off. The kids got involved
Carol: “A life-changing accident and, gives me some hope. so it meant we were outside more and
further to this, a life-altering illness enjoying the simple things in life. We
has meant that for many years I have “We’re looking at running some wild managed to grow a variety of things:
struggled to find an activity I could do swimming starter sessions for staff who courgettes, carrots, potatoes, broccoli,
that wouldn’t leave me gasping for air. are interested in testing this hobby out. lettuce, spinach, raspberries (these
Sarcoidosis has meant I’ve been unable If you would like to register your interest were gobbled up in seconds), tomatoes,
to walk far or use equipment safely. please email anna.edgren-davies@nhs. peppers and peas.
It wasn’t until earlier last year when a net and when local restrictions permit we
lovely friend of mine - who shares my will arrange a session.” “My gardening skills and knowledge
diagnosis – encouraged me to join her in have grown, it’s been lovely speaking to
her new hobby of wild swimming. older members of the family to get hints
and tips. There’s nothing more satisfying
“I have always loved water, and so one then when you get a basket full of
afternoon in May I visited my friend at produce to have for a meal. I’m already
her canal boat near Manchester and we planning what to grow this year!”
dipped into the river alongside the canal.
I was absolutely hooked from there. I
could swim, I didn’t need any aids or
assistance, and I felt empowered as I Janette Gibson
hadn’t done for the past five years. It was Administration Manager,
thrilling, and the fear of the cold water
made it even more so - but all we did was
Organisational Learning –
laugh and squeal like kids. crocheting:
“My family have been so supportive. We “I picked up crocheting again and found
came up with a rule not to go alone, so I love making blankets. I first learnt when
4
www.leedsth.nhs.uk | Feature
I was 10 (over 50 years ago!), my friend’s Tom Dickie, Head of Podiatry
mum taught me. I have been watching
YouTube videos to learn, they are one – wildflower gardening:
of the best sources of inspiration and “I started a vegetable plot in my front
learning again has been brilliant. garden some years ago, and we found
“Making these blankets gives me a that we didn’t really need it any more.
chance to put thinking about work to So I planted a wild garden. It all started
one side, I go off into my own world with the chairs, as we wanted something
where Covid doesn’t exist. I’d recommend nice to look at as we sat of a summer’s
it to anyone, it’s a skill you can take with evening. The garden has included
you through life.” bee bombs to attract insects and wild
bees and striking poppies, it was a real
talking point during the nicer weather.
Neighbours would stop as they passed by,
or have a drink at the other side of the
poppy, it kept us in (socially distanced)
contact with people.”
Bradie Page
Bradie Page, Graphic
Designer - mixology:
“The idea to try Mixology was a bit
of fun really. I love going out for a
cocktail, so when we couldn’t go out
because of lockdown, I ordered a
Andy Bennett, Estates
cocktail making kit! Initially I started Officer – ballroom dancing:
looking up my favourite recipes online, “I love to go and watch Leeds United,
but as lockdown continued one of my take foreign holidays and socialising
favourite cocktail bars started doing live with friends and family in the pub.
Sarah Rogers, Volunteer mixology classes via social media, so you Basically, everything that has been
Services Manager – from would buy the ingredients in advance banned recently. So our latest adventure
and then make the cocktails alongside
roller skating to house them on the video.
is learning ballroom dancing via Zoom.
Every Monday night for 45 minutes my
plants: “This has made me feel like I wasn’t wife and I dance around our front room
“I love roller- missing out by being locked in, and it was with Rise Dance from Farsley.”
skating. The just something fun to do during a tough
lockdown meant time. I can’t wait to host a celebratory
that I couldn’t do cocktail party when we are able to!”
some of my usual
skating classes or
activities but forced
me to find new
places to skate. One
spot was an unused
car park, a factory that had been closed
for business. If it was dry I’d spend a
couple of hours just rolling around or
practising new things.
Georgie Duncan, Deputy
“Sadly, if it was bad weather, skating was
off. So, I turned my attention to house
Chief Clinical Information
plants. I acquired a couple of plants in Officer – mini market:
April time, since then my collection has
“I have an allotment where I grow veg
grown to around 40 plants of varying
and flowers. During the pandemic, I’ve
sizes. I am constantly tinkering with
created a mini market stall at the end
them. I have watering regimes, window
of my drive, raising over £400 for J54
sills full of propagating plants and an
(Intensive Care Unit). This ‘seedling’ of
endless supply of spider pups. I think
an idea - pun intended - has turned into
I prefer my house plants to actual
a real community project, with other
gardening. It feels a bit less daunting
people also contributing produce and
than tackling the shrubs in the garden!”
plants to sell.”
5
News | www.leedsth.nhs.uk
Excellence in Practice programme sees
first cohort graduate
The Excellence in Practice programme of the Nurse and Midwife, the year-long Chief Nurse Lisa Grant
introduced by Chief Nurse Lisa Grant effort to raise awareness of their valuable
and her team in July 2020, focuses on work, and celebrate the positive impact
demonstrating excellence across Nurses, they make on the lives of so many, has
Midwives and Operating Department been embraced all over the world.
Practitioners (ODPs) at LTHT
In December last year, the very first
Lisa joined the Trust in 2019 and clearly cohort of the Leeds Excellence in Practice
set out her vision for a nationally programme were celebrated, as an
recognised programme that values, impressive number of nurses, midwives
supports and recognises the workforce, and ODPs completed their programme
whilst also attracting the very best in just 12 weeks, during one of the most
people into the organisation. Ensuring challenging times the NHS has faced.
that we provide the right education Whilst the celebrations were moved
and skills for staff in their clinical areas, online, it was a grand event nonetheless,
built on evidence based practice and kindly supported by Leeds Hospitals
research, whilst also undertaking areas Charity with ‘live’ performances from
of development that are at the heart of solo singer and Associate Community back to the late 19th century. The
the Trust’s aims, was a key priority for Matron, Zoe Dunphy from Leeds Leeds Excellence in Practice badge
the programme. Community Healthcare NHS Trust was inspired by the Leeds Owl and the
kicking off the event and Shire Oak C Yorkshire Rose. The Leeds Owl was
The programme was developed and
of E Primary School Choir ending the chosen because of the Greek Goddess
delivered in collaboration with Leeds
proceedings and congratulatory speeches Athene who is often depicted as an owl
Beckett University, University of Leeds,
led by Dame Linda Pollard, Chair of LTHT for her wisdom, courage, inspiration,
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust,
and Julian Hartley, Chief Executive. skill and strength. The badge symbolises
organisations in the Leeds Academic
recognition of our staff, pride in our
Health Partnership. Core elements of the Excellence
professions and in LTHT.
in Practice programme include
It was launched as an important part of
Compassionate Leadership and the Leeds The 201 participants of this first
the celebrations around the International
Improvement Method, and taking part cohort are a shining example of their
Year of the Nurse and Midwife,
embodies the Leeds Way Values and professions and it is hoped that they
which began in January 2020 for the
Respectful Behaviours. Nurses, Midwives will share their experiences and learning
bicentenary of the birth of the founder
and ODPs receive a specially designed with their colleagues, and encourage
of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.
badge, created to echo the traditional others to take part. Thanks to Leeds
Designated by the World Health Nurses badge worn with pride on Hospitals Charity for charitable funding
Organisation as the first ever global Year completion of training and dating that supported the initiative.
The launch of the Excellence in Practice programme in July last year.
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www.leedsth.nhs.uk | News
Innovation through collaboration:
The story of the Covid vaccine rollout
At the end of 2020 and earlier this year, in January, the Elland Road vaccination
across a matter of weeks, extraordinary centre is now open as an additional
measures were undertaken to create option for the general public.
two high functioning vaccination
Sue Peak, Senior Sister, said: “For me
centres in Thackray Medical Museum
personally, being part of this programme
and Centenary Pavilion Elland Road, in
has been a real privilege. I am a neonatal
addition to other vaccinating locations
nurse by background moved to a very
across West Yorkshire.
different environment but the teamwork,
Opening one of the very first Covid-19 positive atmosphere and endgame that
vaccination hubs in the world, the we are all working towards, has made it
Thackray Medical Museum vaccination all worthwhile.”
centre was up and running within just
Dr Phil Wood, Chief Medical Officer
two weeks. The centre began operating
and Senior Responsible Officer
out of six pods with a cross-functional
for the vaccination programme
team of professionals including
said: “There have been incredible
pharmacists, nurses, doctors, health
achievements in science over the
professionals, and administration staff,
past year and we have been witness
who were recruited and mobilised from
to some landmark moments in
LTHT and partner organisations across
medicine. As a doctor and scientist
the city.
myself, it has given me great pride
Tim Hiles, Director of Operations of and inspiration to see not one, but
the vaccine programme in Leeds, said: several vaccines approved for use
“Collaboration is the word repeated here in the UK, and our vaccination
most frequently when talking about rollout programme is one of the
the vaccination programme and this leading programmes in the world.
is perhaps one of the most impressive, It’s a leading programme because
cooperative and forward-thinking of the partnerships we have built,
collaborations we have seen in a long across all areas, including healthcare
time, bringing together medical and non- organisations, construction, IT,
medical organisations and individuals in operations and those who staff
the fight against the global pandemic.” the centres from all backgrounds
of healthcare What an impressive
Underlying this ambitious project
operation.”
from the start has been the Leeds
Improvement Method. The Kaizen On 20 January, the first health and
Promotion Office (KPO) team have been care staff from Leeds came through
involved helping observe, measure and Road vaccination centre had a strong the doors to Elland Road for their
shape the project as it developed using foundation of learning on which to build vaccine, with Dawn Boyle the
the tools of the Leeds Improvement on, and was set up with the potential first person to receive the Oxford
Method. Over the space of a week in to operate at a maximum capacity AstraZeneca vaccine. A housekeeper
December, the Thackray Medical Museum of 10 pods through the Centenary in neurology for the last four years,
was transformed into an operational Pavilion. Joining forces with the Dawn said that she was incredibly
vaccination centre, fully staffed, and Quality Improvement team from Leeds excited by the moment: “I like looking
ready to open for the first uptake. Community Healthcare, the KPO team after people. When not working, I
were able to bring significant experience have been shielding at home with my
Through changes to processes, to the project so that the centre could husband, who has had two strokes,
observations of patient flow, and open rapidly with an efficient process and so this means a great deal to me
improvements to communication refined ready to go. to get this done.”
over the intervening weeks, the Elland
Suzanne Slater, Quality Improvement
practitioner from Leeds Community
Healthcare, said: “We are building on
what we have learned through process-
mapping the experience of our health
and care staff and looking at the
operational processes and the patient
journey to ensure the highest standards
of care for our patients.”
Initially opening as an extension of the
hospital hub for health and care staff
7
Feature | www.leedsth.nhs.uk
Reasons to be cheerful
2020 had plenty of awards to celebrate Dame Linda Pollard
and be proud of – here are just a few
Year in November. The Dezeen Awards
celebrates the world’s best architecture,
interiors and design, as well as the
studios and the individual architects
and designers producing the most
NHS Parliamentary Awards outstanding work.
shortlist announced The centre also won the 2021 Civic
Trust Awards Orange heart award
In November, LTHT was represented in January. These awards recognise
in three categories for the NHS architectural projects that offer a
Parliamentary Awards after making the to the community. It also recognises positive cultural, social, economic
regional shortlist thanks to nominations her tireless commitment to address the and environmental benefit to their
put forward by Rt Hon. Hilary Benn MP. under-representation of women in senior local communities.
The Health Equalities Award: The Viral roles across corporate Britain and in
Maggie’s Centre Leeds is the cancer
Hepatitis team, for their work with the public services.
charity’s twenty-sixth care centre in the
Street Outreach Initiative for Hepatitis UK and was designed by Heatherwick
C, a collaborative project during the first Studio. The centre is built a short walk
Covid-19 national lockdown between HTN Awards Highly from Leeds Cancer Centre. Drawing upon
the Bevan outreach team, the Hepatitis C
Trust, and the LTHT team. Commended the philosophy of Maggie’s and the
belief that great design can help people
The NHS Rising Star Award: Emily LTHT was Highly Commended in feel better, the building’s design draws
Lane, Apprentice Nurse on Ward J20, the ‘Excellence in engagement and heavily upon a natural aesthetic and a
who was nominated for her courage communications’ category at the sustainable outlook.
and compassion during the testing of Health Tech News Awards 2020 in
drive-through patients for Covid-19 November.
earlier in 2020. The commendation recognises the Jonny Gamble named
work of the Trust’s Critical Care and
Wellbeing at Work Award: The Future
Digital IT teams in converting paper
HFMA’s Deputy Finance
You programme team, for their
work in developing a programme of to digital e-forms, supporting a safe Director of the Year
apprenticeships enabling people from and effective delivery of the service Jonny Gamble, Deputy Finance Director,
all walks of life to get into healthcare at during Covid-19. The team worked was awarded the Deputy Finance
their own pace. collaboratively to develop a suite of
critical care documents that could be
The nominees have made a shortlist used within the Trust’s own electronic
selected from more than 700 entries health record, PPM+, focusing
submitted by almost half of all MPs on patient safety, assurance and
in England. The winners of each supporting remote working.
category will be announced and
presented with a national award at The Trust was also shortlisted for
a special ceremony in the Palace of its Paper Lite approach, which has
Westminster in July 2021. delivered significant efficiencies and
has also played an important role in
supporting the Covid-19 infection
prevention programme.
Trust Chair Linda Pollard
awarded a damehood
Trust Chair Linda Pollard was awarded Maggie’s Centre Leeds
a damehood in the Queen’s Birthday scoops architectural awards
Honours announced in October. The
award was for her services to healthcare, Maggie’s Centre Leeds based at St
which span almost 30 years, and in James’s won the Dezeen Awards 2020
recognition of her unbroken contribution Public vote for Civic Building of the Jonny Gamble
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www.leedsth.nhs.uk | Feature
Director of the Year Award at the in anaesthesia. In one year, the Trust
Healthcare Financial Management reduced carbon emissions from
Association (HFMA) National Healthcare anaesthetic gases by 52% through
Finance Awards in October. the use of Sevoflurane in favour of
Desflurane. A saving of 4,044 tonnes
The award reflects Jonny’s work as
of CO2e has been made through this
Director of Finance at NHS Nightingale
scheme, with the scope to reduce
Yorkshire and the Humber in
these emissions even further.
Harrogate through the pandemic,
along with his work supporting the The Dermatology team was also
achievements of the finance team at shortlisted for the Teledermatology
LTHT over the last year. Initiative as part of the Leeds Cancer
Programme. This initiative has improved
the waiting time for skin cancer diagnosis Strictly come LTHT
and patients with benign moles have Five LTHT colleagues were announced
received speedier reassurance after as part of the final twelve of dance
the introduction of new cameras at GP competition Strictly NHS in November.
surgeries. The LTHT finalists include Karen Sykes,
Nilam Jadav-Patel, Andrew Viggars,
Adam Wilson, and Lauren Pickup.
Prestigious accreditation for The competition will see each contestant
Anaesthetists training with a professional dancer for six
weeks before performing together in front
The Anaesthetists department, headed
of an audience at the Empress Ballroom at
by Dr Moira O’Meara, achieved the
the Winter Gardens, Blackpool in February.
prestigious Anaesthesia Clinical Services
The competition aims to raise £10,000 for
Accreditation (ACSA) from the Royal
NHS Charities Together.
College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) in
November. This recognised their work
in providing the highest quality care to
their patients.
Starlight Children’s
To receive this accreditation, departments
Foundation Play Team of are expected to demonstrate high
the Year/Play Specialist of standards in areas such as patient
the Year experience, patient safety and clinical
leadership.
Starlight Children’s Foundation,
working with the National
Association of Health Play Specialists
named Leeds Children’s Hospital Play Partnership working
Team as Health Play Specialist Team commended at Health
of the Year 2020. It’s the first time this
national accolade has been awarded
Business Awards
and, in addition, Lisa Beaumont, The Trust’s partnership working alongside
Therapeutic and Specialised Play Yorkshire Ambulance Service was
Procurement Team win
Manager, was named as Health Play commended in two categories at the HCSA Award
Specialist of the Year 2020. Health Business Awards 2020, announced The Leeds eProcurement Team, won
in December. the Health Care Supply Association
Lisa has dedicated 32 years of her life to
helping children in hospital, by providing LTHT and Yorkshire Ambulance Service (HCSA) Technology Award, at what
play and distraction to support young were commended in two categories - was the Diamond Jubilee anniversary
patients in the medical setting. The Play the Patient Data Award, recognising of the HCSA in November. This award
Team’s win for recognises how they innovative ways to store, retrieve celebrates a team or project for creating
have gone above and beyond to provide and distribute data, and the NHS an innovative, new or improved solution
play for their patients under difficult Collaboration Award, recognising that supports procurement value delivery
circumstances. effective partnership working and the digital transformation agenda.
with other public/private sector The Leeds eProcurement Team together
organisations. with Connexica Ltd. developed a
Teams shortlisted for The commendations recognise work platform which allows for near real-
time visibility on procurement metrics
BMJ Awards to automate the electronic transfer
through its synchronisation with other
of ambulance care records directly
Two LTHT teams shortlisted in the into LTHT IT systems. This ensures procurement systems.
BMJ awards held virtually in October. clinical and care teams are provided The project team included Mark
The Sustainability and Anaesthetics with up to date information at Songhurst - Scan4Safety, Ketan Chauhan
teams were shortlisted for the the right time, and speeds up the - Product Support, Charlie Marsh - Project
Environmental Sustainability and patient transfer process, reducing Manager, Jordan Hope - Product Owner,
Climate Action Team award, for their manual effort and saving valuable David Berridge – Sponsor, and Chris Slater
work to reduce the use of desflurane clinical time. – Sponsor.
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News | www.leedsth.nhs.uk
Hospitals of the Future
Moving ahead in 2021
This year promises to be another
exciting year for our Hospitals of the
Future programme. Readers may already
know that this is the project to build a
new adults’ hospital, and a new Leeds
Children’s Hospital on the Leeds General
Infirmary site.
If you’ve walked up Calverley Street in
Leeds recently, you won’t have failed to
notice that work has definitely begun
on the new hospitals’ development. In
December, young patient Violet Grace and
former nurse Pat Taylor joined our Chief
Executive Julian Hartley and Chair Dame
Linda Pollard to mark this huge milestone
by waving the green flag to start the
demolition of the Old Nurses’ Home.
This was the first visible sign that the
project has begun and attracted a great
the hospitals’ design further and ensure it known as Building the Leeds Way, will also
deal of media interest, including in the
reflects their needs. see some significant progress this year. In
Yorkshire Evening Post and BBC Look North.
January, demolition starts at St James’s
Demolition on the Leeds General Infirmary The views of patients and staff are a vitally
to make way for the building of a new
site in preparation for the development important aspect of the development, to
Pathology laboratory that will serve the
continues this year. ensure the hospitals work in the best way
Trust and hospitals across West Yorkshire
possible for them.
and Harrogate. This is a really exciting
In Spring, our focus will be on appointing
development that will benefit patients
the architects and specialist contractors who
across the region.
will work on the new hospitals. Over the
summer, the architects and design teams
Building the Leeds Way Building work on the new laboratory is
will work closely with us as we continue to The Trusts’s wider programme to transform expected to begin later this year and be
engage with patients and staff to develop healthcare facilities for patients and staff, completed in 2023.
10www.leedsth.nhs.uk | News
A new service set on easing pressure
in Leeds Teaching hospitals
One of the positives from 2020 was clinically and academically.” positive effect on the surgical
the opening of a pioneering new assessment unit, with reduced numbers
In the first two months since opening,
consultant-led outpatient surgical attending this care stream each day.
the team took 465 triage calls from
facility at St James’s in Leeds in October,
various primary care operators, of Similar work in other centre models
the Ambulatory Surgical Centre (ASC).
which 51% were seen in ASC and 17% has demonstrated a reduction in
Two years in development, the unit were either given advice or re-directed waiting time to see a senior decision
was created to reduce high pressure based on the triage process. Pathways maker from just over four hours to
impact on other key units of LTHT, continue to be developed but of 22 minutes, and similarly for access
providing innovative and streamlined those patients referred from primary to acute theatres the project has
new pathways for same day emergency care, 73% have been managed on an demonstrated an improvement from
surgical care, GP advice and guidance, ambulatory pathway with only 128 an average waiting time of 29 hours
and straight to test diagnostics, patients requiring inpatient treatment. to same day surgery and discharge for
primarily for general surgery patients. The new service has had a significantly day cases.
The Acute General Surgical unit at LTHT
is the busiest in the UK (NELA Data) and
the unit is one of only a few centres
in the country, with its own dedicated
team of Emergency General Surgeons.
The centre has been designed to
improve patient experience for those
well enough to walk into the unit,
with a triage facility providing rapid
senior assessment of cases, leading
to a higher percentage of same-
day discharges and fewer overnight
stays. When fully up and running, the
ambitious unit will have a dedicated
12-person team of Emergency General
Surgeons, efficiently working to
deliver ambulatory assessment and
surgery preventing patients needing
hospital admission.
Says Dr Phil Wood, “We fully believe
that this service places Leeds at the
forefront of acute general surgery both
11Feature | www.leedsth.nhs.uk
Stress less – your best ways of
unwinding, recharging and coping
during uncertain times
Never before has the word ‘wellbeing’ the blinding sun shining on it, children immediate success was several staff
been so widely used as it has this past playing and laughing, or a beautiful accessing their phone health app at
year, as the global pandemic has spread smelling flower garden. I absorb my the end of the day and seeing they had
adding to pressures on jobs, family, surroundings. covered several km just from being at
friends and our general mental health. work, one Consultant managing 10Km
“My four-year-old cat, Gordy, plays an
Many have taken inspiration to focus on in a day! Another success was teams
important role in keeping me calm, he is
making time for their own wellbeing, across the CSU bringing colleagues on
so fluffy and cuddly like a teddy bear. I sit
so we asked colleagues what they do board with up to 40 staff members
with him and really look at him and take
to decompress and recharge. Got a top submitting from across the city for each
note of his features and yes, I talk to him
tip you want to share? Let us know at challenge. As Christmas approached
– I’m sure he has no idea what I’m saying
communications.lth@nhs.net and we had some torrential rain, we
and he does seem to look disapprovingly
did slow up a little, and fear grew
at me most of the time!
we would be stuck in Humberside.
“I think what has helped, is to stop or However, ACC pulled together and with
slow down and breathe. I have also the final submissions on Boxing Day we
found that if you wait a while, sometimes happily rolled into Robins Hood’s Bay.”
the worrisome things don’t need as
much of your precious time as you might
previously have given them.” Ester Jamera, Senior Project
Nurse for Diversity and
Mike Adlam, Consultant in Inclusion – Spectator sports
Intensive Care Medicine and for the whole family:
Anaesthesia, and health and “I have been Ester Jamera
watching a
wellbeing consultant lead – lot of sports,
Sarah Dodsworth, Assistant Team exercise challenges: in particular
football, darts,
Patient Services Co- “After wave one
golf and snooker.
we organised a
Ordinator in Pre-assessment summer health
Football is a
family favourite,
at Wharfedale Hospital – and wellbeing
however, we all
fortnight across
Slow down, pay attention: the Adult Critical
support different
“To help me cope, I have continued to teams. You can
Care CSU. There
have lots of walks outdoors and I take imagine how
were sessions
the time – real time – to slow down and heated things
across the city
really look at, listen and smell things get when these teams are playing. I am a
on mindfulness,
around me, whether it’s a frosty leaf with big fan of Leeds United. I am very happy
dignity at work,
they are in the Premier League after 16
chair yoga, and Mike Adlam
years of hard work!
more besides. Over
the fortnight we asked staff to submit “We like watching sports because
their stairs climbed from health apps anything can happen and it engages your
to see if we could collectively climb the emotions especially when the score-line is
equivalent height of Mount Everest. tight and everything is at stake. The Darts
It proved extremely popular and we World Championships were particularly
managed to summit Everest three times. inspiring.
“In the run-up to Christmas we wanted “We are also really impressed by Marcus
to set a challenge that would give a Rashford’s courageous End Child Food
good guide of our progress each time Poverty Campaign where he called on
we updated. I also thought a calming the government to support vulnerable
picture would help. So, we settled on children with meals and activities during
walking the coast of Great Britain – all holidays. I respect that a lot because
10,600km – in just over four weeks. We sometimes, as we live in a developed
set off on 25th November from Robin country like ours, it is difficult to imagine
Hood’s bay and headed North. One families going to bed hungry.”
Gordy
12www.leedsth.nhs.uk | Feature
Nicola Nicholson, General Sam Bacha “Doing something creative is a really
effective coping mechanism, but it’s
Manager, Medicines important to realise that you don’t
Management and Pharmacy have to be good at what you do to get
something out of it – just let yourself
Services – Real crime go and see what comes out. You never
podcasts and soft toy know, you might even surprise yourself!”
sewing:
Nick Clark
“I enjoy spending my free time listening
to podcasts and audiobooks whilst
sewing. During lockdown, I have started
to learn how to make soft toys whilst
listening to real crime podcasts. It’s quite
a contrast of interests I realise, but it
makes me calm and gives me satisfaction
- I am quite proud of my monkey.”
Fiona Dickie, Operating
Department Practitioner -
Dogwalking:
enjoyed getting into various different TV
“I love my dog Brodie, not only does he shows on Netflix and relaxing with my
give us unconditional love, he provides family instead of rushing around trying
us with a need to get out in the fresh air to fit outdoor activities in on an evening.
and move. He’s a 3 ½ year old German Anna Winfield, Associate
Shepherd dog and when I’m not working I have done more yoga practice during Specialist in Elderly Medicine
my shifts, we walk around ten miles a the pandemic than ever before, and
have re-joined Duo-Lingo language app – Running and hiking:
day, once in the morning and once in the
evening. Standing for ten hours doing to progress my French. And I have also “In the summer months I found running
my job can be hard and stressful, I find now perfected my maltester cheesecake really helped me relax and blow off
getting outside and walking in nature a without needing the instructions” steam – I was running daily off road in
great stress relief.” my local area. Over the colder months
I re-discovered a love of hiking; I found
you can more-or-less forget about
everything when you are in the middle
of nowhere in beautiful surroundings!
Pictured is one of my favourite places
that I can run or walk to from my house –
Almscliffe Crag.”
Nick Clark, Senior
Communications Officer –
Creative writing:
“I’ve always found creative writing
cathartic but the pandemic was the
first time I really relied on my writing
to get to grips with the disruptions and
Brodie
anxieties of everyday life.
“I poured a lot of what had built up into
Sam Bacha, Senior Oncology a short story I wrote over about four
months. The first draft had a lot going
Occupational Therapist - on, but in the second draft I was able
Family, food, and French: to take a step back and craft what was
there into something more effective on
“I relax and switch off by choosing to
the page. It’s now out for initial feedback
park my car a lot further than I need to
from my writing group, so it will be
so that work is further behind me by the
interesting to see whether it resonates
time I get to driving home. I have also Anna Winfield
with others.
13Feature | www.leedsth.nhs.uk
Team Spotlight:
International Clinical Educators
We’re getting to know teams across the
Trust in a new feature, ‘Team Spotlight’
where we find out about teams and the
many different ways that LTHT people
work together to make sure hospitals
in Leeds are working. Want to put your
team in the spotlight? Get in touch via
communications.lth@nhs.net
In this issue we are meeting a small team
of three, who work within the wider
Education Practitioner team supporting
international nurses at the Trust.
In October last year, LTHT welcomed
Adam Tucker, Hannah Chapman and
Iris Bituin who started in a new clinical
education role supporting International
Nurses with their transition to UK
practice. All three are keen advocates
of education and are delighted to work
with the Education Practitioner team from a care assistant to ward manager; for their clinical exams by teaching either
supporting over 100 international nurse from critical care to rehabilitation in the work setting or at University. We
trainees who have travelled to work in settings and most recently worked in may be greeting trainees at the airports
Leeds from countries around the world. infectious diseases and travel medicine. as they land or ensuring that they are
attending their exams in another city. We
Hannah has worked in healthcare since
act as a point of advice for ward staff and
2012 and has a passion for helping
have to keep abreast of a wide range of
Meet the team others. As a registered nurse, Hannah has
world news. We work in a pastoral and
worked across different trusts in surgery,
Iris qualified 26 years ago in the supportive role too.
theatres, and emergency medicine.
Philippines working in ophthalmology How do the team make a difference
and urology departments before at LTHT?
moving to the UK and basing herself
in Birmingham, where she continued Q&A We make a difference by helping the
her career as a surgical nurse. Iris then international nurses settle into Leeds.
What happens on an average day?
relocated to Leeds where she has recently All of the nurses are an asset to the
There is no average day for an Leeds hospitals family. We make a
become a surgical sister.
international clinical educator! We spend difference by supporting the nurses to
Adam has provided healthcare for 27 time supporting International nurses in pass their clinical exams and progress
years, in a variety of roles and settings clinical practice, helping prepare them into independent practice within the
workplace team by achieving their goals
and we provide additional support for
the clinical areas and ward staff.
What do you enjoy about working in
the team?
Over a very short time we have evolved
as a close-knit team that shares skills
and supports each other. We share
common experiences with a varied and
diverse group of learners. Each individual
has their own unique personality and
strengths that enhances the team.
Any recent achievements?
We are overjoyed to share the news that
all Cohort 3 international nurses have
just passed their clinical examinations.
We have also welcomed another cohort
of 60 international nurses to Leeds over
December and January.
14www.leedsth.nhs.uk | News
Celebrating Allied Health Professional Day
Allied Health Professionals (AHP) make
up the third largest workforce in the
NHS, and there are more than 1100
AHPs working across many professional
groups at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
During AHP Day, on 14 October, Chief
Nurse Lisa Grant met virtually with a
representative from each professional
group to discuss their reasons why it’s
great to be an AHP. Lisa was delighted to
be part of the celebration and recognised
the contribution AHPs make to patient
pathways and experience. She was very
keen that AHP voices were heard and
offered her support to ensure AHPs’
contributions and value are represented
in the organisation.
Although the group couldn’t meet in
person as they have done in previous
years, AHPs across the Trust connected
with each other and with colleagues
across the country using social media to
share and celebrate their profession.
This year a competition was also held,
where AHPs were asked to design a
poster or take a creative photo that
best represents their profession. There Leeds Way values. 2nd Place - Paed Radiographers
were some great entries which showed (“Funnybones”)
not only the pride AHPs have for The top three entries in the
3rd Place - Orthoptics (“Rainbow vision”)
their profession, but also the care and competition were:
respect colleagues have for their team Thank you to Leeds Hospitals Charity
members - truly representative of the 1st Place - ODPs (“Who you gonna call”) who funded prizes for the winners.
Paper Lite delivers Trust-wide benefits
Along with many other teams across involves digitising paper Medical Covid Infection Prevention regime by
the Trust, the Covid pandemic has Records, which are scanned and significantly reducing the volumes of
seen the Corporate & Health Records uploaded into ppm+. Paper Lite is a key documents and people moving around
team completely change the way step in our digital journey, providing the Trust.
they work. With restrictions around many efficiency and sustainability The team run a comprehensive Pick-up
document handling in place, they have benefits, and also building upon the & Scan Service for all in-patient and
quickly adapted to a different way of investment made in ppm+, contributing outpatient areas, and the Clarendon
delivering their service, using digital to an increasingly rich electronic patient Wing Library, which was previously full
solutions to help.
record. Paper Lite has also played of paper records, has now been closed
This approach, known as Paper Lite, an important role in supporting our down.
15Feature | www.leedsth.nhs.uk
George Floyd and me: What can I do to
eliminate racism in the workplace?
Ester Jamera Nick Clark racism in the workplace, and see how
you can join in.
• Take a look at the I-APPLAUD initiative
in full by searching for BME Staff
Network on the Trust Intranet
• Join the BME Staff Network (it is open
to all LTHT staff and volunteers) and
attend their regular meetings where
possible to connect and hear the latest
news and issues.
Initiate a conversation with a
BME colleague
Why not step outside your comfort zone
Ester Jamera, Senior Project Nurse for In October last year, the Trust launched and talk to a BME colleague and ask them
diversity and inclusion and Co-chair of the the I-APPLAUD BME allyship initiative. about their experiences in and out of the
BME Staff Network, and Nick Clark, Senior The initiative aims to encourage and workplace? Here are some ideas for the
Communications Officer, explore how support White colleagues to actively best way to do this.
White colleagues can use allyship to make participate in the equality, diversity and No one likes being put on the spot. And
a meaningful difference to the everyday inclusion of BME staff across all levels this is even more likely to be the case
experience of their BME colleagues and of the organisation. Allyship is a role when it comes to talking about race. So
help make LTHT the best place to work and a choice we step into. We can be an on your initial conversation with BME
for all. ally behind the scenes or choose to be colleagues avoid the ‘Where do you come
very visible in our support. Being a BME from? No, where are you really from?’
When the video of George Floyd’s brutal ally doesn’t necessarily mean you fully
arrest and killing was shared online in questions. Asking ‘Where do you really
understand what it feels like to be on the come from?’ implies that you do not think
May 2020, it sent shockwaves around the receiving end of race inequality. It means
world. The incident cast a harsh spotlight they come from the UK and are not British
you’re taking on the struggle for equality, simply because they are not White. For all
on the discriminatory treatment faced by diversity and inclusion as your own to help
Black people in America and gave a new we know they could have been born here
create just systems and workplaces. including their parents and grandparents.
urgency to the messages championed by
the Black Lives Matter movement. Why not offer up some insight on your
own cultural heritage first? You could
For many BME staff at LTHT, racism Simple Actions - Big follow this up with where your own
and discrimination often impacts their family originate from. This sets a pattern
everyday experience at work. Many
Difference
for the depth of response you’re looking
people from a White background have • Be observant and aware of for, rather than the awkward situation of
now started asking questions about their discrimination and harassment in the hearing about where someone lives right
own beliefs and views on race and racism, workplace. If you observe discrimination now when what you are really interested
privilege and discrimination, and what or harassment: in is their cultural heritage.
they can do to make a difference.
- Check in with the victim For BME staff - If you are keen to share
-C
hallenge and call out the offence if your story and no one has asked you, be
safe to do so courageous and create opportunities for
What is allyship and why is it yourself to share.
important? - Report the incident and seek support
Allyship is a process of building • Attend personal development
relationships with marginalised groups opportunities that aid your Listen carefully and
understanding and equip and empower
or people based on trust, consistency and
you to contribute to the Equality,
acknowledge what your BME
accountability. Allyship encourages one
to understand the experience of others,
Diversity and inclusion agenda. You can colleagues are saying
access a number of these opportunities
especially those who don’t look or sound When BME colleagues are sharing their
via ESR. The Equality and Diversity Team
like us. In order to create a workplace with experience, seek to understand and
can also deliver bespoke sessions for
equity we must be intentional in bettering not dismiss or attempt to explain away
your team if needed.
ourselves and each other for the common their lived experience. At this point
good. Allyship is a one of the concepts • Look out for trustwide, citywide, resist the temptation to share your own
that supports us in this endeavour. regional and national campaigns to end story as it risks undermining the story
16www.leedsth.nhs.uk | News
your BME colleague is sharing and will
negatively affect the level of trust you
can build. Check for clarity about what
you have heard or play it back to confirm
Leeds goes live - scaling
up digital pathology
understanding and ask the impact of their
experience on their life.
It is also important to be mindful that
across the country
whatever we are hearing, the individual
will be speaking from their own
experience and not on behalf of everyone
from a similar ethnic origin. Appreciate
and acknowledge what you hear, even
if you don’t relate to the experience
that has been shared or don’t feel that
you really ‘get it’. It’s the individual’s
experience - they have lived it, so it is vital
to accept what you hear on that basis.
Always thank the person for sharing their
story – it is likely it has taken them a lot of
effort to open up to you.
What’s next?
LTHT’s digital pathology journey has pathology and artificial intelligence.
There’s plenty more you can do to be a
reached new heights of achievement NPIC will also provide a platform to
meaningful ally to BME colleagues at the
as the National Pathology Imaging run clinical trials and build diagnostics
Trust, with many resources available at
Cooperative (NPIC) launched on 1 capability in collaboration with the
the LTHT library and online. For a starter,
January. Its mission is to create the life sciences industry.
search online for Sandra Kerr’s ‘Let’s Talk
infrastructure and knowledge for
About Race’ handbook, which helped Director of the programme, Dr Darren
the NHS to be a global leader in
inform this article, and has some good Treanor, Consultant Pathologist
digital pathology and artificial
pointers for getting past the starting at LTHT, said: “This significant
intelligence (AI).
blocks in talking about race and racism in investment allows us to use digital
the workplace. A new £20m investment will enable pathology to help diagnose cancer
NPIC to deploy scanners across 15 across the NHS and provides a large
hospitals in the North and a further platform on which we can develop
25 hospitals throughout England. artificial intelligence tools to be used
Contact details: around the world.”
The high-tech, data-driven artificial
BME Staff network:
intelligence initiative is led by the Since the latest funding
leedsth-tr.BME@nhs.net
Trust and includes the West Yorkshire announcement was made a £1m
E& D: Leedsth-tr.editeam@nhs.net
NHS Trusts, the Northeast pathology refurbishment of the National
LTHT Libraries: www.leedslibraries.nhs.uk
network, York, and Hull Hospitals. Training Centre for Digital Pathology
It also funds two national networks at St James’s was carried out, which
in childhood tumours and in bone will accommodate training and
and soft tissue tumours, led by workshops, dedicated resources and
Great Ormond St Hospital and Royal expertise in digital pathology and AI.
National Orthopaedic Hospitals.
Dr Phil Wood, Chief Medical Officer
at LTHT said: “Digital pathology is
“This significant investment becoming a key enabling technology
allows us to use digital for both clinical delivery of cancer
and wider disease diagnostics. In
pathology to help diagnose
addition to improving patient care
cancer across the NHS and in our hospitals, this programme
provides a large platform will also teach others how to use
on which we can develop this technology and report cases
artificial intelligence tools to remotely, an area that has increased
in importance during the COVID-19
be used around the world.” pandemic.”
NPIC is one of the centres to receive
NPIC will have the capacity to scan
funding as part of a £50 million
over 2.3m images per year, creating 3
investment in innovative technology
Petabytes of data, and spans across all
for Data to Early Diagnosis and
29 pathology networks in the country,
Precision Medicine announced on by
propelling the NHS to the leading
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt
position internationally in digital
Hancock in August 2020.
17News | www.leedsth.nhs.uk
Leeds Hospitals Charity - news and donations
In 2020 our supporters Clinical Psychology
helped fund… Programme
Thanks to our amazing supporters, We’ve invested £900,000 for a clinical
we helped provide an additional £6 psychology programme for frontline
million worth of projects to support health workers during the second wave
staff, patients and families across Leeds to support staff, including those who are
Teaching Hospitals. From a specialist treating patients with Covid-19.
incubator on the Neonatal Unit to help
premature babies like Archie, to a clinical
psychology programme for frontline NHS
staff and a brand-new surgical laser to
treat lung cancer patients like John.
Leeds Hospitals Charity
shop…opening soon! Archie’s Story
This year, we’re opening our first Thanks to
community based charity shop in the amazing
Crossgates, Leeds! generosity and
Please watch this space for updates on kind donations
when our charity shop will be open and of the local
Jenny Lewis, Director of HR and
accepting donations. people of Leeds,
Organisational Development, said “Over
we’ve been able
If you’re interested in volunteering in the last nine months we’ve had the most
to buy a new
the charity shop, you can find out more amazing support from people across
state-of-the-art ‘baby Leo’ incubator
and apply on our website: Leeds who have put on public displays of
for the Neonatal Unit at Leeds
https://volunteers.leedshospitalscharity. appreciation for our NHS staff, donated
Children’s Hospital.
org.uk/opportunities to our causes, and raised money.”
New parents, Chris and Emma were in
You can read our latest news and
hospital with their one-month old baby
funding projects here https://www.
Archie when we launched our Urgent
leedshospitalscharity.org.uk/Pages/News/
Equipment Appeal. Archie spent two
weeks in an incubator on the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit and grew from
strength to strength until the family John’s Story
were able to return home together in
Thanks to donations to our Limax Laser
time for Christmas.
appeal, a brand-new £138,000 surgical
Chris said: “We’re absolutely over the laser is now in use at Leeds Cancer
moon that the appeal has raised enough Centre. The laser is a small but extremely
to buy a new incubator for the ward! precise hand-held device that is used by
We see the nurses, doctors and surgeons surgeons on patients with primary and
Leeds Parks Challenge as Archie’s first family, Emma and I will metastatic cancer in the lung.
forever be in their debt. Only really now
In partnership with Great North, Leeds that Archie has grown to a ‘normal birth
Hospitals Charity are excited to share weight’, we realise just how vulnerable
our first event of 2021 – the Leeds he was when he was born at 2lb 12oz,
Parks Challenge! 10 weeks prematurely back in August.
The challenge, starting on 1 We are so lucky to have the unbelievably
February, is to complete ten 5k (runs, skilful and knowledgeable NHS staff
walks or hops!) around your local looking after our little boy.”
park or even up and down your
stairs and help raise funds for your
local NHS hospitals.
You have 12 weeks to complete the John, a lung-cancer patient from
challenge, whether you do one run a Grimsby, had surgery using the laser in
week or decide to run a marathon 2016. He said, “I really don’t think I’d
a week! be here now if it wasn’t for the team at
Leeds using the laser. It gave my family
Register for just £10 on our website: hope for the future and meant I was
https://www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk/ able to have more surgeries and further
Event/ten-parks-challenge treatment if needed.”
18You can also read
