The Countess' new Endoscopy Unit is helping the Trust meet an increasing demand for screening following the launch of Public Health England’s “Be Clear on Cancer” Campaign.

The Unit, which was opened by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall in September last year, has already seen a rise in referral numbers since the campaign was launched at the end of January, focusing on early diagnosis of oesophago-gastric cancers.

Dr Carol Francis, Consultant Gastroenterologist said: “Campaigns like ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ are extremely successful in highlighting the importance of an early diagnosis of cancer and raising awareness of specific cancers to the general public. An early diagnosis can result in curative treatment.   We were prepared for the expected rise in referrals which occurred following the launch of the campaign. We are well equipped to handle this demand not only because of our fantastic new Endoscopy Unit but also, and most importantly, because we have an incredibly dedicated and committed team.  Our endoscopy staff work extremely hard to ensure that we are able to cope with the increased numbers generated by this type of campaign.  Early indications are that this particular campaign has had a positive impact and is encouraging the public to get checked out if they are experiencing the symptoms highlighted.”  

Patients referred to The Countess can be reassured that the new centre meets the highest standards set out by The Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The unit has been designed in such a way as to maximise patient flow; keeping male and female patients entirely separate and ensuring privacy and dignity is maintained. 

Dr Francis commented: "We were fortunate that the operational group (including architects) tasked with building the new endoscopy unit ensured all relevant personnel were consulted, thus ensuring the required standards were met.  As such, men and women await their procedures in “all male” or “all female” parts of the unit and are able to access the endoscopy procedure rooms from separate areas of the unit.  Thus whilst a number of hospitals are in the difficult position of having to treat men and women on different days in order to maintain sex segregation, we are able to see all patients in a timely fashion without compromising their privacy and dignity.  Clearly this is also a more efficient way to work as it enables us to see more patients.”

The unit is also leading the way in decontamination standards having applied for ISO9001 De-contamination accreditation. This is a quality assurance standard specific to endoscope decontamination.

Dr Francis added: “This is the highest accreditation we can achieve and is important to us as the patient must be assured at all times that the equipment we are using, in particular the scopes, are clean and there is no risk of infection.  The equipment in our unit is of the highest quality. Our patients can be confident they are receiving a high standard of care.

“We are constantly striving to deliver high quality care and put our patients’ needs first.  As such, we now offer appointment times at evenings and weekends so that, where possible, patients have a choice and can work appointments around their other commitments. Ultimately, the more people we see and the earlier we see them, the more we will win the battle against cancer.”

By now you've probably heard of NHS Change Day.  But what is it and how can you get involved? Everyone and anyone can choose to make the NHS better. NHS Change Day is a grassroots movement that asks anyone who engages with the NHS to make a change for the better, and to then share what they have done to inspire others.  It is our opportunity to come together and harness our collective energy, creativity and ideas to make a change.

Together each of our small actions will make a big difference in improving the care and wellbeing of those who use the NHS. What will your action be? If you would like to know more visit www.changeday.nhs.uk

What is new this year?
NHS Change Day 2015 is a bit different from last year. In 2014 people were asked to pledge to make a change. This year, we’re asking you to share a change you’ve started. Most changes have got a lot of steps, so if all you’ve done is take the first step of discussing it with one other person, we still want you to share this. Through #100daysofchange we hope to connect people from across the NHS to share good ideas and inspire action. You can view the 100 Days of Change stories at http://changeday.nhs.uk/latest-stories/

What is happening on Wednesday, 11 March?
On Wednesday, 11 March we will light up the country with everyone’s actions. Local activities will take place to recognise the positive changes that have resulted due to the actions people have taken.
NHS IQ will be hosting a 12 hour, online event, called the Changeathon, which will feature events and activity from across the country, expert guests, discussions, films, lectures and presentations. For more information on what is happening on this day, keep an eye on www.changeday.nhs.uk  and the campaign's social media for further details.

How NHS Change Day can make a difference

Andy Tysoe, Dementia Specialist Nurse at The Countess is using #NHSChangeDay to raise awareness of the issues surrounding Dementia. 

Andy said: “I did it, I persuaded The Countess to share and open up our dementia sessions to other organisations, and invited members of the public and carers to come along too. Free NHS education for all!

I now work closely with our local council, commissioners and Strategic Clinical Networks as for me, what’s the point of a dementia-friendly hospital if the community in which it sits, isn’t? The session has also been run outside the hospital in banks, museums, supermarkets, schools. And that’s why I got involved in Change Day, to share further and inspire others to do the same!

I want to see the same rights and consideration for people with cognitive or thinking disabilities as there are for those with physical disabilities. I want to see ‘cognitive’ ramps alongside physical ones so that people with dementia can have equal access to services and buildings too. After all, isn’t that what the 2010 Equality act is all about?

So my call to action goes out to anyone who works in hospitals – it doesn’t matter what you do, you can all do something from becoming a dementia friend or talking to your manager about what you can do to make life better for people with dementia!

#DementiaDo
www.dementiafriends.org.uk

Every year, all NHS organisations are required to produce Quality Accounts. This important document sets out how we continue to improve the quality of care and services that we provide.

Our Quality Account should give patients, the public, and other stakeholders including local commissioners, enough information to understand:

• what we are doing well
• where improvements in service quality are required
• what our priorities for improvement are for the coming year; and,
• how we have involved people who use our services, staff, and others with an interest in our organisation in deciding on the priority areas for improvement.

Priorities for 2015/16 will be set in line with our commissioners’ intentions as well as the NHS Outcomes Framework, which will include:

• Reducing pressure ulcers
• Reducing surgical site infections
• Embedding robust processes for learning from incidents
• Reducing serious incidents and never events
• Focus on culture, values & behaviours for all staff

Please take this opportunity to give us your views on what a high quality service means to you. You can provide your comments on what quality priorities we should focus on in 2015/16.

If you would like to provide us with your feedback and comments, please contact:

By email: countess.feedback@nhs.net

By post:

Communications and Engagement Department
Education and Training Centre
Countess of Chester Health Park
Liverpool Road
Chester
Cheshire
CH2 1UL

The Countess of Chester Hospital’s newly decorated and refurbished birthing suites gained a very special seal of approval this morning, as the first Mum to give birth in the new and improved maternity facilities returned to officially open the suites.

Carla Nieman gave birth to her daughter Isla, 15 months ago when the midwives at The Countess were starting to make small improvements through their own fundraising efforts so as to enhance the experience of giving birth at the Hospital. And it was positive feedback from Mums like Carla that inspired the midwifery team to apply for funding from West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) so as to properly refurbish and decorate the two birthing pool suites and family sitting room.

Kathie Grimes, Deputy Head of Midwifery said: “Mums and their families are understandably nervous when they come into hospital to give birth and we are keen to promote ‘normality’ in our birthing suites and create a relaxing and calm environment for them to welcome their baby into the world.  Through our own fundraising efforts we had begun adding small touches such as a bubble lamp, inspiring and relaxing quotes and even a special birthing couch to our birthing pool room at the time that Carla gave birth to Isla. She and other Mums were so positive about the environment that it gave us the confidence to push ahead with our efforts to gain funding from the CCG and make further, more significant improvements.”
 
After receiving almost £150,000 to create a new birthing suite including birthing pool, en-suite facilities and birthing couch as well as completely refurbishing the original birthing suite, and redecorating a family sitting room, the rooms were ready to be officially opened by our special VIPs.  And today Carla, her partner Audley, son Rory, 3 and Isla, 15 months were all on hand to cut the ribbon and declare the unit open. 

Carla comments: “We were delighted to be asked to officially open the new birthing suites at The Countess.  I had Rory at home but he needed emergency help following the birth and the midwives at the Hospital were wonderful.  So when it came to having Isla, as much as I wanted another home birth, I was nervous and the birthing suite at The Countess seemed like the best compromise.  There was great privacy for Audley and I and it was relaxed, soothing and with lots of space.  It didn’t feel at all like a hospital room yet we had that medical reassurance that we were looking for.  Seeing what they’ve done to improve the facilities even more is fantastic.  Giving birth is such a big moment and I can’t speak highly enough of the midwives at The Countess.  They are great.”

Kathie added: “We are so pleased that Carla and her family were able to join us today.
It’s been quite a journey to get to this point and we’d like to thank the CCG for providing us with the funding to realise our ambitions.  Our initial small changes led to a much bigger commitment and we are very proud of our new facilities.  It is reflected in the positive comments we receive from our Mums on a daily basis and who seem to love the calming feel of the place. The level of care has always been excellent but now we have the physical environment to match.”

• Pregnant women attending The Countess of Chester Hospital can be assured they are receiving the best maternity care available as our Midwifery Management Team were last week crowned Team of the Year at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) 2015 Annual Midwifery Awards.
• The team also won NHS Innovator of the Year award last autumn which showcased great leadership from within the NHS in the North West and celebrated those who have ultimately improved patient experience.

Further information about the range of maternity options available visit: www.coch.nhs.uk/all-services/midwifery-services

Patients and staff at The Countess of Chester and Ellesmere Port Hospitals took part in a worldwide afternoon tea party on Wednesday. The Hospital’s catering team provided 1,500 cakes and scones as an enjoyable way to raise awareness for Nutrition and Hydration Week.

Victoria Lacey, Food First Dietitian at The Countess said: “Our catering department worked incredibly hard to provide 1,500 cakes and scones for all the wards so that we could take part in the Worldwide Afternoon Tea Party.  People might wonder why we are encouraging patients to eat cake but the reality is that 1 in 4 people admitted to hospital in the UK are at risk of malnutrition so encouraging them to eat small snacks regularly, such as a piece of cake, can go a long way to reducing this risk.

“People admitted to hospital are at an increased risk for many reasons including the illness, condition, or surgery that brought them into hospital. They may have difficulty swallowing, are confused or affected by the unfamiliar environment and need assistance. Unfortunately, this means that nationally 70% of patients discharged from hospital weigh less than on admission. So this tea party has a serious message highlighting the importance of providing good nutrition in hospital and adhering to protected mealtimes.”
 
“Here at The Countess we work hard to meet the nutritional needs of our patients and as a Food First Dietitian it is my responsibility to help us build on what do well and make it even better. I am working closely with catering, the wards and other colleagues including our dementia specialists to develop a meal service that provides a diet high in protein and calories to improve a patient’s nutritional intake during their admission.  The tea party is a fun way of shining a light on an issue that often gets overshadowed by obesity.”

The size of the problem in the UK
It has been estimated that malnutrition (or “undernutrition”) affects over 3 million people in the UK.  Of these about 1.3 million are over the age of 65.
Whilst most of those affected are living in the community (about 93% or 2.8 million people) *BAPEN’s Nutrition Screening Week surveys (2007-11) have shown that:
• 25-34% of patients admitted to hospital are at risk of malnutrition
• 30-42% of patients admitted to care homes are at risk of malnutrition
• 18-20% of patients admitted to mental health units are at risk of malnutrition
Surveys of the 700,000 people living in sheltered housing using ‘MUST’ criteria have shown that 10-14% are at risk of malnutrition.

BAPEN* is a Charitable Association that raises awareness of malnutrition and works to advance the nutritional care of patients and those at risk from malnutrition in the wider community.

How to increase your calories responsibly:

“Little and often” is the best way to increase your calories
• Have 3 small meals and 2-3 snacks per day.
• Nourishing drinks daily - full cream milk, milkshakes, milky coffee or tea.
• Some bread, pasta, cereal, rice, potatoes or chapatti at each meal.
• Meat, fish, cheese, eggs, yogurt, lentils or beans at least twice a day.
• Some fruit, vegetables or fruit juice at each meal time.
• Have a pudding daily.

The West Cheshire health system and local patients are set to benefit from a radically new model of care that will be piloted locally.

GPs have come together to form an umbrella organisation called Primary Care Cheshire, and they are among only 29 vanguard sites selected nationally to trail blaze the development of a ‘Multi-Speciality Community Provider’ as set out in Five Year Forward View for NHS England.

A Multi-Speciality Community Provider permits groups of GPs to combine with nurses, other community health services, hospital specialists and mental health and social care to create integrated care in the most appropriate place or setting. The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is backing the bid which has been recognised for its innovation.

The proposal for West Cheshire builds on work and learning to date within a cluster of GP practices that have switched their scheduling of home visits to frail elderly patients from late afternoon to early morning. This approach has enabled the GPs to send poorly patients to hospital sooner for investigations and a faster turnaround. It increases the likelihood of getting patients home safely by the end of the day with wrap-around care packages in place, instead of them needing to be admitted to hospital unnecessarily because of it being late at night.

As part of a competitive bidding process involving 269 applications, lead GP for Primary Care Cheshire Jonathan Gregson recounted the impact of the changes he was seeing for his patients to a panel of assessors in London. He talked from the heart about how he has seen a small multi-disciplinary community team and strengthened links with hospital clinicians making a difference in supporting falls patient Deirdre staying well at home and helping cancer patient Geoff die in the company of his wife at the end of his life. You can see the presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zVQOyHxQuU&list=PL9gq4FCbIiJWh7Mg2G3SEPeeMV83CWQJs&index=12   

Reflecting on the news that the West Cheshire GPs had been successful in their bid, Dr Jonathan Gregson said: “I believe that what we presented was authentic. Patient care usually falls down at interfaces or points at which the person is passed from hospital back to the GP or vice versa. This is an opportunity to focus our efforts on building personal relationships between small community teams that have easy links to hospital clinicians.

“I want us to take time to stop and think about each other more as individuals – not as faceless organisations that communicate only by letter or email. Within the last year we’ve already seen a step change in how GPs are working with community geriatricians at The Countess and the conversations we now have regularly have prompted much learning on both parts. We don’t yet know how our ‘vanguard’ vision will work in reality but the principles of healthcare professionals knowing each other, trusting each other and sharing the risk to apply common sense and do the right thing for our patients is straightforward.”    

Clinical director for urgent care at The Countess of Chester Hospital Dr Frank Joseph said: “We know that people are living longer, many with multiple complex long term conditions – and the reality is that it is getting more and more difficult to manage the pressures this places on frontline hospital services as they are currently designed.  When we admit elderly and frail patients to hospital for lengthy periods of time, they risk losing their independence and are susceptible to infection. We cannot carry on delivering healthcare services in this way. The development of a Multispecialty Community Provider presents a real and exciting opportunity to do something different, and we will do everything we can to support Jonathan and other clinical colleagues in primary and community care to make this work.”    

The changes and new models of care will build on work to date that the hospital has been developing in the following areas:
• The establishment of a summary integrated healthcare record to support improved communication between hospital clinicians, GPs, community services and social care.
• The introduction of an ambulatory care unit at the Chester site that is providing faster access to rapid clinical assessment, diagnostic services and treatment planning for patients who do not need to be admitted to hospital.
• Increased use of an early supported hospital discharge team looking after up to 100 patients in the community on a daily basis with nursing and therapy input, this is of particular benefit for patients with respiratory conditions that worsen during the cold weather.
• The opening of a new Centre for Healthy Ageing at Ellesmere Port Hospital that is running daily ‘drop in’ support for older, frail patients as part of a partnership with the voluntary sector Age UK. 
• The development of a Centre for Integrated Healthcare Science in partnership with Chester University to support research, innovation and training in service improvement methodology.

MASKED theatre characters from ‘Vamos Nursing Lives’ surprised staff and patients as they took to the corridors of The Countess on Tuesday to celebrate International Nurses Day 2015.

A range of events, promotions and activities were held at both the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospitals to mark the day, which is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale.

The Trust, which will have its Care Quality Commission inspection later this year, welcomed a surprise visit from two of the well-loved masked characters from the Vamos theatre production ‘Nursing Lives’. The Vamos creative team specially adapted their famous matron and student nurse characters, to support a comedy walkabout performance in the hospital, and remind senior nurses of important hand hygiene routines.

During the day visitors were able to view local history about the nursing profession after the University of Chester worked with Countess nurses on a display of images and memorabilia.

In addition thanks to a generous donation the 1,400 nurses working at The Countess also had the opportunity to enjoy a delivery of special cakes during their Tuesday tea break.

The run up to the 2015 Nurses Day had even seen proud Countess nursing managers contributing towards a national Royal College of Nursing campaign, showcasing inspirational personal stories about why they selected such a caring profession.

Carol Butler, who manages Ward 51 at the Chester hospital was among those profiled. She explained: “I was inspired to become a nurse after my young son died. I desperately wanted to have more children and underwent a course of fertility treatment. My fertility nurse specialist was simply wonderful. She didn't judge me in any way. She looked after me through a very stressful period in my life; so brilliant in fact that 25 years later I have a job that I wouldn't change for the world; a ward manager at The Countess of Chester Hospital.

“Nursing has allowed me to meet some special people from all walks of life and all parts of the world, both young and old. It has taught me never to judge; we all have our story to tell. When someone we love is poorly we just want to be looked after and supported by kind, compassionate people, and that’s what I hope to inspire in my team for many more years to come.”

Deputy Director of Nursing Sian Williams said: “Every year we make time to celebrate International Nurses Day at the Countess of Chester, and reflect on the pride and passion that our nurses and nursing assistants bring to work every day.

“This year, we decided to make the occasion more dramatic by getting the Vamos theatre mask nursing characters in for a visit – I am so impressed with the way Vamos Theatre remind us of the importance of non-verbal communication with patients. They take me back to how matron used to be when I started out nursing 37 years ago.”

The founder of a national social media campaign that has taken the NHS by storm visited The Countess on Monday to talk about what makes the campaign so important.

Dr Kate Granger, an Acting Consultant in Medicine for Older People in Wakefield is also a terminally ill cancer patient, diagnosed with a rare form of metastatic sarcoma in summer 2011. It was during this time that the idea for the campaign was born.

Kate said: “I started the campaign when I became frustrated by the number of hospital staff who failed to introduce themselves to me when I was an inpatient. As a doctor it felt very wrong that this basic step in communication and compassion was missing. So supported by my husband I vowed to try and bring about a lasting positive change.”

Her idea was a simple one; to use social media primarily to remind, encourage and inspire healthcare staff to introduce themselves to their patients. “I firmly believe a friendly introduction is about far more than just common courtesy but rather human connections, therapeutic relationships and building trust with patients.”

The campaign soon gathered incredible momentum and Kate, who has since been awarded an MBE for her services to the NHS and improving care was overwhelmed with the support from organisations like The Countess.

Deputy Director of Nursing, Sian Williams explains why the campaign has been adopted at the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospitals: “The Hello My Name Is campaign really struck a chord with us here at The Countess. The principles of the campaign, making a connection between patients and staff and building trust are ones that we hold dear. Yes, we are all under pressure and there is always another job that needs to be done but by taking the time to introduce ourselves properly we begin to build that valuable bond that so reassures patients and makes them feel safe in our care.”

Sian added: “We were so pleased to welcome Kate here today. She is an inspiration to NHS colleagues and we are delighted to have the chance to thank her for raising awareness of such simple but important values.”

Kate has been accompanied by her husband Chris Pointon, on her tour of 16 healthcare organisations and has covered over 1600 miles throughout England, Wales and Scotland to meet NHS staff.

To demonstrate The Countess’ commitment to the campaign, Kate kindly launched our rollout of ‘Hello My Name Is’ phone stickers reminding staff that the principle of introducing yourself applies across all forms of communication. 

To say a special thank you, Chester Zoo kindly provided Kate and her husband with tickets to the zoo which went down a storm as Chris is already the sponsor of one of the zoo’s elephants. Kate also received a hamper of regional produce from Claremont Farm which was compiled from Kate’s own blog about what she loves about life.  Asparagus and strawberries being a particular favourite! And the icing on the cake, literally, was a ‘Hello My Name Is’ cake baked by The Countess’ Head Chef and pastry expert Sue Miller.

Kate added finally: “To keep up the momentum Chris and I decided it was important that more NHS staff were able to hear my story in person, so we came up with the grand plan to go on tour. It is very exciting to be able to meet people from all over the country and spread the #hellomynameis message further. It will be an incredibly tiring but I hope productive week and I’m extremely grateful to Chris for his immense logistics skills to keep me on track!”

To find out more visit www.hellomynameis.org.uk or follow #hellomynameis @GrangerKate on Twitter.

Patients at The Countess of Chester Hospital can be further assured of receiving the best care available with the addition of a new, £1million state-of-the-art CT Scanner.

The Aquilion One CT Scanner from Toshiba is the most advanced scanner in existence and The Countess is one of only three hospitals in the country to operate one!

Consultant Radiologist and Divisional Medical Director, Dr Amer Rehman commented: “For a hospital our size to have such a state of the art CT Scanner at our disposal is a major coup. The image quality is fantastic, but the key progress is the speed with which we can capture images of the body - in particular the heart – which takes cardiac imaging to a new level. We are now able to image the entire heart and coronary arteries in one ‘cardiac cycle’ and the diagnostic quality is superior to any other scanner in operation.

“The process is also a lot kinder for many patients, as we will only rarely need to use Beta Blockers to slow the patient’s heart rate for imaging, and will, therefore, be able to complete the scan more promptly, conveniently, and at a higher quality.”

The Aquilion One is revolutionary because it’s 160 mm wide coverage eliminates the need for circular scanning when scanning the heart, brain or other organs. The short, one rotation scan not only reduces the risk for patient or cardiac movement but also lowers the exposed dose and minimizes the amount of contrast media needed.

The entire heart can be captured in one rotation and within one isotropic phase, the sophisticated software allows patients with arrhythmia to be scanned while maintaining an extremely high success rate and each scan provides incredible motion-free images of the coronary arteries.

Dr Rehman added: “The Radiology team at The Countess saw 31,000 patients last year and the new scanner will enable us to be even more efficient and accurate, whilst hopefully both improving throughput and reducing radiation dose – some of the more common follow up scans can now be performed with much less radiation and no significant compromise of quality.

“We now have some of the most advanced MRI and CT Scanners available and I hope this investment in top-notch equipment will help to demonstrate further what an attractive place The Countess is to work for future Consultant Radiologists as well as ensuring that we are always improving and providing the best standard of care to our patients.”

The Countess of Chester Hospital is inviting patients, carers and Members to stand as a Governor in its upcoming Council of Governor elections.

The Trust, which also includes Ellesmere Port Hospital, is seeking 5 new Governors: -

Chester and rural Cheshire - 2

Ellesmere Port and Neston - 2

Out of Area - 1

Governors help to fulfil a number of important roles, from representing the interests of the local community at Trust meetings to approving certain appointments to the Board of Directors.

View the Notice of Election and find out how you can get involved.

An informal drop-in session will take place in the Education and Training Centre from 11am to 12 noon on Tuesday 7th July 2015 to discuss the role.  If you are unable to make this session but would like to get involved as a Governor contact Claire Raggett on 01244 365 816 to arrange an informal chat, at a time to suit you.

Patients coming to The Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust for outpatient appointments will now receive a reminder text in a new campaign to help reduce the number of people who fail to turn up for appointments.

Over 10% of hospital outpatient appointments are currently missed which costs the Trust thousands of pounds each day. The reminder service aims to help reduce this.

Around 1,700 appointments a day are provided in the outpatient departments across both our Chester and Ellesmere Port hospitals. However, this means one in every ten patients does not attend.

Ian Harvey, Medical Director for The Countess of Chester said: “Missed appointments cost the Trust almost £3million each year and increase the length of time other people have to wait to be seen.  Rates this high mean that as many as 170 people are not turning up for their outpatient appointment each day. This is unacceptable and unsustainable for the smooth running of our healthcare services and denies an appointment to another patient.  We believe the introduction of a comprehensive reminder service will help to reduce the "Did Not Attend" (DNA) rate, save the Trust money and ultimately enable us to treat more people quicker.”

Patients will receive a text message seven days and two days prior to their appointment to remind them of the date and time.

Ian added: “If a patient has received a text and cannot subsequently, for whatever reason, attend they will be given the option to cancel or rearrange so that we can make the original appointment available to someone else.”

The service has been piloted since May and uses telephone and mobile numbers from details held for existing patients.  Patients do have the option to opt out of the service should they wish. The service is easy to use and is completely free to patients.

Appointments missed through DNA in 2013/14

Clinic                                                                          DNA Count

Ear, Nose and Throat                                              2,042
Gynaecology                                                             1,037
Ophthalmology                                                         2,982
Diabetic Medicine                                                    1,005
Trauma & Orthopaedics                                         1,554
Paediatrics                                                                1,970

A new kind of NHS care service launched in West Cheshire is helping to get elderly and frail patients out of hospital and back on their feet.  

Hospital doctors, nurses and therapists have teamed up with partners from social care and GPs to develop an alternative recuperation facility for the area – The Emerald Unit.

Many patients attending The Countess are treated and stabilised by medical teams within three days of being admitted. However, personal circumstances mean that returning home straight away is not always an option. A revamped 16 bed facility at Ellesmere Port hospital is now providing a safer alternative to help get these patients the care they need, with extra help from therapists and nursing staff who can focus on keeping them moving and hopefully getting them home within three weeks, with support where appropriate. The model is based on current best practice within the NHS, known nationally as ‘Discharge to Assess’.

Approximately one in five patients over the age of 65 who are admitted as an emergency end up staying in Chester hospital for more than two weeks. The reality is that an acute hospital environment is not always the safest place. Particularly frail patients risk picking up an infection, becoming confused, losing their mobility, developing a dependency on 24/7 care and having a general lack of confidence to return home. 

The changes at The Emerald Unit in Ellesmere Port hospital mark a step change in how NHS providers and social care work together to wrap a package of support around these vulnerable patients. The partnership delivering the new service includes health and social care professionals from The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Cheshire West and Chester Local Authority, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Partners4Health (an enhanced GP service).

Nurse Paula Forster is the lead for discharge services across hospital services in West Cheshire. She explained: “Working in the NHS we refer to this type of facility as providing ‘transitional’ or intermediate care. The setting is a much more relaxed environment for these patients who are medically stable , but in need of a further period of assessment from nurses, therapists, social workers and GPs to enable them to maximise their independence to  return home safely wherever possible. The hope is that if we transfer patients in a more timely manner to this environment then we should achieve better and more sustainable outcomes for them on discharge.”

The Emerald Unit builds on the success of other recently established Countess services that provide alternatives to hospital including: a Rapid Response Team offering two week packages of care in the patient’s own home; the extended community geriatrician services working across both the Chester hospital site and the Healthy Ageing Centre in Ellesmere Port; and a further collaboration between partner agencies with the development of 16 beds at Sutton Beeches community support centre.

Within the first two weeks of the service launching in West Cheshire, a total of 21 patients were referred to the new facility, with four people supported to return home safely. The impact of the new initiative has increased availability of beds for emergency admissions and urgent operations.    

Clinical director for urgent care services at The Countess of Chester Dr Frank Joseph said: “This service is essential for patients who need time to recuperate in a more conducive setting with the help of targeted support. We are providing it in an environment that feels more familiar, is more relative friendly and does not overwhelm the patient. There is no longer the distress or distractions of other critically ill patients in neighbouring beds, interrupting the healing of those on the way to recovery.”

“The more time an elderly patient stays in an acute setting, like our Chester hospital, the more they lose their resilience and ability to make a complete recovery. The move to a supportive environment, where their independence is encouraged will make a huge difference to the individual and to our ability to care for all of our patients in the right place.”

Matron for Ellesmere Port Hospital Clare Edwards added: “Our Ellesmere Port hospital has a proud history in the local area, delivering essential community hospital services from this site for more than 100 years now. As a nursing team it is hugely exciting to be working with GPs and other healthcare partners to play a part in developing new models of care that are more befitting of the current and future needs for the Ellesmere Port and Chester population.”

Congratulations to our 2015 Foundation Award winners (from left) Katy Sutcliffe, Joshua Lawson, Chris Murphy, Stephanie Curbishley and Shahab Razavi.  Unfortunately, Fraser Cameron was unable to attend the ceremony.

Every summer the hospital welcomes a group of newly qualified foundation doctors to the organisation, congratulates those who are moving from their first to their second year of foundation training and says a fond farewell to those who are moving on to a more senior stage in their medical careers.

These newly qualified doctors spend two years with the Trust, as they get to grips with working in the NHS and understanding which area they will further train or specialise in for the future.

With up to 24 new faces in each year, these doctors are known as Foundation Year 1 (F1s) and Foundation Year 2 (F2s) and play a key role as part of the Countess team. 

This last week (Thursday) saw our departing F2s being given a farewell celebratory send off by their peers and the team in medical education who have supported their training and clinical development over the last two years at the Trust.  The current F1s also celebrated moving into their second year of foundation training (F2).  The event included a prize giving ceremony for the following awards and individuals:

Foundation Year 1 Doctor of the year (as voted by peers, consultants, speciality and associate specialist grades and colleagues in medical education)
• Winner – Josh Lawson for being: “Polite, friendly, professional, positive, dedicated, outstanding, sociable, hard-working and approachable.”
• Runner up – Katy Sutcliffe described by nominees as:  “An inspiration to doctors everywhere, caring, compassionate, supportive and a pleasure to work with.”

Foundation Year 2 Doctor of the year (as voted by peers, consultants, SAS grades and colleagues in medical education)
• Winner – Shahab Razavi for being: “A true gentleman, happy to help, always cheerful, a model foundation doctor, polite, enthusiastic.”
• Runner up – Chris Murphy referred to by peers as: “A good representative at meetings, keen to teach, well-liked, engaged with his development, a professional and caring doctor.” 
• Runner up - Stephanie Curbishley described as: “An excellent doctor, always polite and willing to help, caring and compassionate.”

The Players’ Player Doctor of the year (as voted overall by their peers)
• Winner – Katy Sutcliffe described by peers as:  “An inspiration to doctors everywhere, caring, compassionate, supportive and a pleasure to work with.”
• Runner up – Fraser Cameron for being: “Hard-working, competent, helpful, dedicated, calm, level headed and keen.”
• Runner Up – Josh Lawson: “Polite, friendly, professional, positive, dedicated, outstanding, sociable, hard-working, approachable.”

The iTeach Award (as voted by F1s and F2s in recognition of the Countess doctor that has most supported them in their training, supervision and education)  
• Winner – Miss Nicola Eardley (general surgeon) who junior doctors described as: “Very helpful, inspiration, fab, fantastic, approachable, supportive, excellent supervisor.”
• Runner up – Dr Roger Trent (cardiology) referred to by nominees as: “Always keen, great teacher, engages in supervision, able to praise and note positives.”
• Runner up – Dr John Gibbs (paediatrics) for being: “Inspirational, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and dedicated.”

Speaking after the event, Medical Director at The Countess of Chester Hospital, Ian Harvey said: “Our junior doctors are an important part of the team in both our Chester and Ellesmere Port Hospitals and we play a key role in supporting their development and education by helping them to settle into their newly qualified positions.

“The professionalism and enthusiasm these doctors demonstrate is a credit to them and their training. We have a responsibility to harness this energy and nurture their talents – they are the future of our NHS.”       

He added: “For those new to The Countess this month, we wish a warm welcome.  To those progressing from F1 to F2, we wish you continued success.   To those leaving the Trust, it has been a pleasure working with you and we wish you all the best in your future careers.”

NHS Property Services has this week published news regarding outline plans for a housing development on land near to the hospital site. This land is not part of the Countess of Chester hospital and is not part of the hospital's assets.

Three different NHS organisations are collectively based on what is called The Countess of Chester Health Park: The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (the hospital); West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (commissioners); and  Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (mental health and community services). A small number of other independent healthcare providers are also based on the site.

The historic land ownership arrangements are complex, and are managed completely independently of The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust by NHS Property Services.

Visitors to The Countess will soon be able to take advantage of a new and improved bus service to help get to and from the hospital.

The number 15 is branded “Blacon Pointer” a Quality Partnership service operated by ARRIVA and Stagecoach bus companies, working in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council. Blacon Pointer runs from Chester city centre (Foregate Street) to the main entrance of The Countess as well as Blacon and Saughall.

Buses will begin running on Tuesday 1st September from the main door of the hospital, every 20 minutes throughout the day, Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The existing one-way-system on The Countess of Chester site will be reversed to deliver a better service route to the hospital and enable buses to enter from Countess Way and drop off at the Countess Country Park and Bache Hall before stopping at the Main Entrance. (see outline below).
All Blacon Pointer buses operate with low floor access for wheelchair users and buggies. They are equipped with low emission engines for a cleaner environment.

For up to date information on the new service download the award winning itravelsmart mobile app, available free from the App Store and Google Play, it’s the perfect Travel Companion while on the move in Cheshire West and Chester.

The Blacon Pointer advert for the new service is available to view here

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is inviting the local community to tell us what they think of our services and how we can be better.

The Trust has organised three ‘listening events’ to take place at different locations in Cheshire throughout September so that as many people as possible have the opportunity to talk face to face with senior Trust staff and give their views on our services.

Deputy Director of Nursing, Sian Williams said: “We have many ways patients, visitors and stakeholders can give us their feedback including our Friends and Family Test but we felt it was important to get out into the local community and give people the chance to meet face to face with senior staff so that we can ask them what we are doing well, what can we do better and how can we improve?

"Most importantly we are keen to hear how they have found the care they received at both The Countess and Ellesmere Port Hospital. We want the public to know we value their views and we are listening to them.”

Listening events will take place on the following dates:
• Wednesday 9th September
The Countess of Chester Hospital, Education & Training Centre, Training Room 3 & 4 - 6:30pm to 8pm

• Tuesday 22nd September
Tarporley Community Centre – 6:30pm to 8pm

• Tuesday 29th September
Ellesmere Port Civic Hall – 12:30pm to 2pm

Sian added: “We will use the listening events to provide the community with a clear picture of the challenges we face but primarily they will be for them to tell us what they think. By listening we will learn what is working well or not so well which will help us to plan for the future and to focus on the things that really matter to the people who depend on our services.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is inviting members of the public to our Annual Members’ Meeting and Marketplace event.

The event is an opportunity to learn more about our hospital and share with us some highlights from our year. The Annual Members’ Meeting is where members discuss our achievements, focus on services with an opportunity to meet the hard working staff and where the hospital hopes to be in the future in terms of finance, performance and activity.

The Marketplace event will take place between 5pm and 6pm on Tuesday, 13 October 2015 in the Education and Training Centre here at the Countess. 

Refreshments will be provided and parking will be free for those attending the Annual Members' Meeting. Places are limited, so please book your place by contacting the Countess Membership office on 01244365284 or email claire.raggett@nhs.net or Sandra.faulkner1@nhs.net

If you would like to contact your local Governor, please contact the Countess Membership office on 01244365284 / 01244365816 or email claire.raggett@ nhs.net or Sandra.faulkner1@nhs.net

The Countess of Chester Hospital’s stroke service is among the top performers in the country, following a national audit by the Royal College of Physicians.

Newly available data published last week (Thursday, 1 October)  shows the Chester stroke team as one of only 14 trusts nationally to achieve an ‘A’ score from the Royal College of Physicians as part of its audit programme, known as SSNAP.

Each year, an estimated 450 people in the West Cheshire and North Wales area will suffer a stroke and be sent to The Countess for treatment.  Over the last 12 months the Chester based clinical team has introduced a range of new approaches, expanded its team and enhanced its research facilities.

The audit looks at up to 30 different aspects of the patient journey including how quickly a stroke patient is seen in A&E, the speed with which they are transferred to a dedicated stroke unit and the amount of therapy support that is provided as part of their care.

Stroke Consultant Tim Webster explained: “We have made a number of simple, practical and effective changes. We’ve invested further in clinical staff with expertise in stroke care – including having the first advanced neuro vascular practitioner in the country following training in the Unites States. Patients now have more time with therapists especially at weekends, ensuring a faster recovery and earlier discharge home. As a team, we are getting smarter about monitoring real-time performance information on a weekly basis, so we can respond to making service improvements and changes quickly.  In addition, we have established closer working links with The Walton Centre allowing patients rapid access to their specialist services when needed. 

“Our colleagues in Accident and Emergency as well as the hospital radiology team have contributed to this success. It helps that we also have access to a good infrastructure at the Chester hospital, with a modern intensive care unit, state of the art scanning facilities and the South Mersey Arterial Centre vascular network based here.”     

Stroke survivor Trevor Jones, 65, from Connah’s Quay says the speed with which he received diagnosis and treatment meant he was back on his feet within days.  He was brought by ambulance to The Countess in July this year after collapsing while out on an early morning walk. When he couldn’t get up, a passer-by called for help. 

Trevor said: “Within minutes of arriving at The Countess I was given clot busting drugs and transferred to The Walton Centre for a specialist surgical procedure to remove a blood clot. Doctors at The Countess identified the cause of the stroke as an irregular heartbeat. The diagnosis, procedure and treatment all happened so fast. Without this I might have faced weeks in hospital and a lasting disability. Instead I was back at home with my family within the week.

He added: “My wife made me take things easy for a while, but now I am getting my life back to normal. I’m a very active person, I like walking every day and spending time with my two grandchildren. I’ve even taken up fishing again, a hobby I haven’t pursued in years.”    

Dr Webster explained: “Trevor experienced a massive stroke and has been left with almost no remaining symptoms. His total stay in hospital was five days. Without the clot busting drugs, also known as thrombolysis, it would have stretched into weeks and have left a significant disability requiring daily carers or even the need for nursing home care.

“Over the last two years we’ve placed a lot of focus on improvements to stroke care services at The Countess. This top rating in the latest SNNAP audit is truly rewarding and a credit to the hard work of a fantastic multi-disciplinary team.” 

The Stroke Team at The Countess

Celebration of Achievement Awards (CoA)

Traffic diversions will be in place around the hospital on the afternoon of Thursday 22 October.

A funeral is being held at Blacon Cemetery and a large amount of traffic is expected so diversions will be in place between 1pm and 4pm.

Buses will use the normal route until such time as Blacon Avenue is actually closed (between Parkgate Road roundabout and Blacon Hall Road junction). In the event of a full closure buses will operate via Blacon Hall Road, Saughall Road and Deva Link in both directions.

Please be aware of the potential for delays and allow extra time for your journey to the Countess.