Memberlink

Memberlink

For members Spring 2013

New changes herald greater openness

www.homerton.nhs.uk

New statutory changes are being introduced this spring to enhance the role of Governors and also the way the Trust conducts its business.The changes have been brought about by the introduction of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

One of the key changes will be that the Trust will be holding open board meetings from April this year. This means that members, staff, patients and members of the public can attend full Trust Board meetings.

Prior to the board meetings, board papers will be placed on the Trust website and a copy of the agenda will

be sent to the Council of Governors. Subsequent minutes from the meetings will be sent to the Council of Governors.

Other additional roles for Governors include:

• making the final decision on any mergers, acquisitions, separations and dissolutions planned by the Trust

• approving (or not) increases of more than five per cent a year to the Trust’s private income

• holding Non-Executive Directors individually and collectively to account for the Trust’s performance.

For more on changes to the Trust’s constitution, see pages 6 and 7

Chief Executive Tracey Fletcher, said: “The Trust Board will be holding open meetings from April. We welcome this chance to offer members of the public an opportunity to attend and listen to discussion and debate

about issues relating to local health care in Hackney and the City. Open meetings will also allow Governors to better appraise the performance of the Board and be better informed on the workings of the organisation. These changes in April have been planned for some time and also support a move to being more open and transparent in line with the Francis Report into the failures of Mid Staffs Hospital.”

Getting an inside view

New unit opens for endoscopy

patientssee page 4

2

Dame Nancy bows outNancy Hallet became a Dame in the New Year Honours List which were announced on January 1, the day after she formally retired from the NHS.

Below is a potted history of Nancy’s time at Homerton.

Nancy Hallett trained at the Bart’s School of Nursing in the 1970s. She specialised in cancer care, training at the Royal Marsden before taking up a Sister’s role at Bart’s. She later worked at Cancer BACUP before becoming lead nurse for cancer services at Bart’s.

She joined Homerton as its first Director of Nursing in 1993 and was soon developing nurse-led clinics and clinical site managers at the hospital. She also led in the development of a new children’s unit.

In 1998, she was seconded to work on the new Labour Government’s review of health services for East London and was instrumental in laying the foundations for new investment in health services across the patch.

She returned to Homerton management as Acting Chief Executive and was made substantive in 1999. She led the full integration of Hackney’s elderly services under the wing of Homerton with the introduction of the Bryning day hospital on the hospital site. Homerton

also took on the management of Mary Seacole Nursing Home in the Borough.

Homerton fast gained a reputation for innovation and efficiency achieving consecutive ‘three star’ ratings and was one of the first 10 hospitals in the country to gain foundation trust status in 2005.

Under Nancy’s leadership, the hospital continued to record high scores for performance and effectiveness and in the Health Care Commission’s ratings achieved the rare accolade of being recognised as ‘excellent’ in both quality of services and financial management and then in 2009, becoming the only acute hospital in London to retain the double excellent score.

The Trust has always developed new facilities in anticipation of increasing demand and in 2009 was able to use surplus funds to complete the construction of a new £10 million Mother and Baby Unit with home birth centre and state of the art NICU.

Nancy also encouraged clinicians to develop new services and, as well as obstetrics and paediatrics, the hospital has a leading reputation in foetal medicine, fertility, laparoscopic surgery, obesity surgery, allergy treatment, HIV services and neuro-rehabilitation.

Two years ago, the Trust was successful in bidding for the management of local community services, and in April 2011, all NHS services in Hackney and The City came under the Homerton banner.

In 2012, Homerton was the designated hospital for athletes and officials taking part in the London Olympic and Paralymic Games. Steering the Trust through that memorable month of sporting greatness was a fitting climax to Nancy’s career.

As part of the Games legacy, the hospital has received over £4 million worth of imaging and scanning equipment for paediatrics and x-ray donated by GE Healthcare.

Introducing our new ChairmanTim Melville-Ross

Tim has had a long and distinguished career in commerce.

He started his career as a “commercial apprentice” at BP, a four year sandwich programme doing a degree course alongside significant work experience in the company.

After a short period working in the City of London, he joined Nationwide Building

Society and stayed for 20 years, the last 10 as Chief Executive.

He was then Head of the Institute of Directors for five years, a very key role in trying to influence Government on behalf of the business community.

He has since been chairman of a number of organisations, including a house builder, a taxi manufacturer, a property company, a university, a couple of national public sector bodies, and an insurance company.

Tim will take over as Trust Chair on 1 April 2013.

Dame Nancy running with the Paralympics torch last summer

3

‘Come gather round people wherever you roam And admit that the waters around you have grown And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone If your time to you is worth saving, then you better start swimmin’ Or you’ll sink like a stone, for the times they are a-changin’.’

Bob Dylan wrote this song 50 years ago in 1963.

It was a protest song at the time but the words still resonate as the challenge of change is always with us. The words seem particularly appropriate at the moment for Homerton, the Trust Board, Governors, members and patients.

We need to start ‘swimmin’ for we face immense challenges over the next few years. But meeting challenge is one of our strengths.

Recently the health manager’s magazine, the Health Service Journal spelt out the problems facing the NHS.

Money for health and social care is limited and the NHS faces a struggle to meet demand. There will be greater numbers of older people requiring services and pensioners pay less tax. The NHS has difficulty in keeping pace with the needs of an ageing population, the changing burden of

disease, and rising patient and public expectations.

Hackney is, comparatively, a deprived population with substantial needs. It is great that the NHS, particularly in London, is getting better at treating cancer, heart disease and strokes, but this means that people come back with more and multiple diseases requiring our care.

Health service gurus say that we must find new ways of working, and changing who does what. Nurses may be better than doctors at looking after some sick people. At Homerton we should be grateful that the community nursing services are part of the Trust, for these nurses can sometimes help to avoid the need for people to be admitted, and help their care after discharge.

With the Health and Social Care Act 2012 the new clinical commissioning groups will be focused on the outcome of treatment, with an emphasis on the integration of health and social care.

The quality of our care as well as keeping within our budget is crucial. Homerton aims to increase the number of people choosing us, and that means every patient must feel their experience here is not just good, but memorably good.

Locally, four hospitals, St Bartholomew’s, The Royal London, Whipps Cross and Newham, have merged into a single organisation. We have always worked closely with these hospitals and will continue to do so. We wish the merger

all success, but the existence of such a large organisation nearby poses challenges for us.

At just this time of change, we have new people at a senior level joining us. Dame Nancy Hallett, whose name appeared in the New Year’s Honours List, has retired after 20 years with us. She has been replaced by Tracey Fletcher, previously our Chief Operations Officer. We also have a new Chairman in Tim Melville-Ross who is featured elsewhere in this newsletter. Our thanks to Michael Cassidy, who has been our Chairman since 2006.

Tim and Tracey will be leading the Trust through this time of turbulence. Our senior management remains of the highest quality. It can also be said that the quality of the Governors working for the Trust has never been higher.

So we look to 2013 and the challenges with confidence. Homerton will continue to serve Hackney and surrounding areas with an ever improving service and from April Board meetings, like the meetings of the Governors, will be open to the public. As Dylan says, we must start swimming. But swimming is good exercise and exercise is good for us.

For the times they are a-changin’Geoffrey Rivett

Chief operating officer appointed

Tracey Fletcher is the new Trust Chief Executive having taken over from Dame Nancy Hallett at the beginning of this year

Tracey, who was previously the Trust’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “I am now settling into my new role and am working with colleagues in shaping our vision for the organisation, a vision which envisages our direction of travel for the next three to five years. The NHS faces many challenges and opportunities in these next few years and we want to

ensure that Homerton remains at the forefront of change and innovation. I shall ensure that members are kept informed and up to date with this vision and our plans for the future. I shall also be making it a priority to meet as many members as possible over the forthcoming months by attending members’ events at the Trust. I look forward to meeting you.”

Dylan Jones was appointed Chief Operating Officer in January 2013. Previous roles at the Trust include Divisional Director of the Integrated Medical and Rehabilitation Services Division (2011 to January 2013) and General Manager for the General and Emergency Medicine Division (2008-2011.) Before coming to Homerton, Dylan worked at Barts and the London and NHS Trusts in South Wales.

4

A newly spruced up specialist Endoscopy Unit has opened at the hospital providing individual patient cubicles in a welcoming bright environment. The unit also gives Homerton an additional endoscopy procedure room and new state of the art endoscopic and decontamination equipment.

Feedback from a patient survey shows that initial impressions from patients using the unit are “very positive”.

One feature of the service, which is not common in many hospitals, is the ability to provide female patients with female-only delivered care. The Trust has five consultant gastroenterologists, of whom three are women, a female nurse endoscopist and the service also works closely with a female colorectal surgeon.

Dr Eleanor Wood, Consultant Gastroenterologist said: “This means that women can, if requested, be reviewed in clinic and undergo endoscopy by a female consultant, which to many women is an important aspect of their care.”

The unit has short waiting times, and the unit’s staff are keen to continue improving the quality of services even further.

“The consultants are very passionate about the service and keen to improve and develop it,” says Dr Ray Shidrawi, Lead Consultant Gastroenterologist.

Getting an inside view New unit opens for endoscopy patients

The endoscopy team (top), Consultant Mr Sanjaya Wijeyekoon carries out a procedure (middle) and bottom left, nurses Vincenta Lazarescu and Mulikat Onile-Ere

5

A new day care centre for sickle cell patients recently opened at Homerton.Staff were joined by patients and supporters as Consultant Haematologist Dr Roger Amos formally opened the Centre in the Medical Day Unit (Bryning).

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of the red blood cells which predominately affects people of African Caribbean heritage. Homerton manages over 300 local people with the condition and also provides advice and support for those who aren’t themselves affected but ‘carry’ the gene, and could pass it on to their children.

Consultant Haematologist Dr Roger Amos said: “Sickle cell disease and thalassaemia are common problems in our local

As new day care centre opens, we continue...Developing services for sickle cell patients

community and patients are frequent users of our health care services. Homerton is committed to providing first class care for patients with these disorders. The new expanded day care facility offers immediate access to expert doctors and nurses, together with all the other innovations which have been put in place over the past 12 months.

“These include a psychology and social care liaison service, together with equipment to deliver efficient automated red cell exchange blood transfusions which, I believe, will make a global impact on our patients’ quality of life.”

The Day Centre operates from 9am to 7pm and patients registered with the hospital can come directly to the Centre as soon as they suspect a problem. The Centre offers powerful pain relief, oxygen therapy and intravenous therapy.

As well as medical and nursing care, the team also offers counselling and psychological support, advice and help about employment and applications for welfare benefits, and assistance with specific housing needs.

Added Dr Amos: “Homerton has for some years provided limited day care but the new expanded Day Centre, with its philosophy of seeing and treating people rapidly, avoiding where possible admission to hospital, and helping those affected to be more in control of their lives will, we truly hope, make a big difference for our patients.”

Eunice Louison, Chair of the Hackney Sickle Cell Support Group said: “It is wonderful to see this Centre at the hospital; it has taken a lot of hard work. We thank Dr Amos and Nancy Hallett for their support.”

Dr Amos with the sickle cell team

Happy patients and staff

6

Annual members’ meeting discusses...Changes to the Trust constitutionThe proposed changes to the Constitution were spelt out by Charlie Sheldon, Chief Nurse and Director of Governance. Firstly he explained that the Trust is required to ensure the Constitution is updated and in line with current legislation and Monitor’s model constitution.

Secondly the Trust is required to review the implications of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 reforms on details in the Constitution. The requirements under the Act are statutory and need to be in place by March 2013.

Additionally members were asked to consider three other amendments to the Trust Constitution. Charlie explained that the Board of Directors and the Council of Governors had considered the amendments at their respective meetings and supported the proposed amendments.

Information on the three amendments had been set out in the recent edition of Memberlink and all public members had received further detail with their AMM invites. Charlie provided a summary of the amendments and the rationale for considering them for change.

Members were given the opportunity to give their points of view and ask any questions regarding the proposed amendments. Each amendment was considered in turn.

Clause 8 Staff to be automatic members of the Foundation Trust unless they choose to opt out.

A number of members spoke in favour and supported the amendment.

Following consideration of the views of a number of members the Chairman called for members to vote by show of hands on the proposed amendment.

The results of the vote were 49 in favour and 1 against with 9 abstentions. The motion to amend the constitution to allow staff to automatically become members was therefore carried subject to review by the independent regulator.

Clause 12 To alter the number of Governors present at the Council of Governors’ meetings forming a quorum to nine Governors including not fewer than four public Governors.

This clause prompted a robust debate between members and although some members spoke in favour, others raised concerns regarding the amendment and did not support the amendment.

Following consideration of the views of a number of members the Chairman called for members to vote by show of hands on the proposed amendment.

The results of the vote were 9 in favour and 35 against with 3 abstentions. The motion to amend the constitution to alter the quorum for Council was therefore not carried.

Clause 23 To allow constitutional amendments to be made by more than half of the Council of Governors voting to approve the amendments and more than half of the Board of Directors voting to approve the amendments.

Given the issues raised in the debate around the previous Clause amendment, it was decided to take both amendment proposals back for further consideration.

It was agreed that the Trust would write to Monitor the independent regulator of Foundation Trusts to seek final approval of the single amendment to the Constitution.

Membership priorities for 2012/13:

• redesign membership publicity material

• increase the number of places where membership information is available

• continue to hold recruitment sessions at Homerton and community sites

• involve members to assist in recruitment and health and social care events.

7

Nancy Hallett, Chief Executive presented her final review of the year and future developments and the Board of Directors plans to hand over running of the Trust to Tracey Fletcher.

She informed the members present that the Trust continues to “do the day job well” that is, treating patients & promoting health, teaching healthcare staff, undertaking research, running a business and responding to regulators.

A significant event during the year was the Trust’s role as designated hospital for the Olympic and Paralympic games. This had gone very well and staff worked hard to ensure that this had minimal impact on the ‘normal’ running of the Trust. She provided a summary of the total number of patients seen.

She highlighted some of the development work that had taken place within the Trust.

The Trust continues to work closely with a wide range of partner organisations including Commissioners, Hackney GPs, Hackney LINk, London Borough of Hackney, the City of London Corporation, voluntary sector organisations and universities.

Nancy conveyed her thanks to the people of Hackney and the City, the Trust’s patients and members, Council of Governors and the many people who work for the Trust.

Reviewing the year and looking to the future

Members were given the opportunity to ask the Governors and Board members present any questions.

Q. Where are the minutes of the previous Annual Members Meeting?

A. Minutes of the Annual Members Meeting are taken and presented to the Council of Governors. Summary information is included in the Memberlink newsletter.

Q. What is the Trust doing to increase research at the Trust?

A. The Trust has an active research programme particularly in specialties such as respiratory medicine, HIV, Urology and Neuro Rehabilitation. The Trust is not in a position to carry out technical laboratory based research as it does not have the necessary facilities.

Q. What will happen with the change in the law regarding the increase to the private patient cap?

A. At the moment the Trust only has a small amount of paying patient services. The Trust will consider what opportunities the change in law offers in future.

Q. Regarding the merger and creation of Barts Health, has this had any impact on the Trust?

A. The Trust has not yet seen any impact of the merger. We understand the merger itself is still developing through the integration of clinical services.

Q. What is happening regarding the changes at John Scott Health Centre and the impact this is having on voluntary sector services run there?

A. John Scott is undergoing much needed major refurbishment which will require temporary relocation of some services. This clearly needs to be communicated across all sectors.

Q. What is the reason for the Trust not achieving green for governance in all four quarters?

A. This was due to the Trust not meeting the cancer services 62 day referral to treatment target in one quarter. The Trust has reviewed the reasons for this and has plans in place to ensure it does not happen in future.

Q. What is the reason for the restatement of the accounts last year and is the Trust monitoring its QIPP programme?

A. The Trust needed to restate the accounts owing to the application of international accounting standards. All QIPP savings are being regularly monitored.

Q. Why are results of elections not sent out to members?

A. The Trust presents the results of elections at the Annual Members Meeting but will review how individual results of the elections are distributed.

Q. Why does the Trust hold elections over the summer when many people who may want to become Governors may be on holiday?

A. This is largely a result of the timing of the Annual Members Meeting for which the elections are timed to coincide with. We will review the timings of elections and see if they can be altered.

The session was finished with a tribute to Nancy Hallet from Geoffrey Rivett who said he was both ‘happy and sad’ to see that Nancy Hallett was retiring; he formally thanked her for her service to the people of Hackney.

Questions from members to the Board of Directors and Governors:

8

Homerton is taking a leading role in developing learning opportunities and apprenticeship schemes for young people in Hackney.Recently the hospital was host to students from Hackney University Technical College who had the opportunity to hear from hospital staff about working in a health care environment, tour parts of the hospital, and also ‘Have a Go’ at taking blood pressure and carrying out breathing tests and body fat tests.

Mary Jones, Learning and Development Manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome 30 students to the hospital over two days. The ‘Have a Go’ sessions were particularly popular with the young people as they were able to take an active part along with nursing and other health care professionals in some of the testing activities carried out every day in a hospital and community health care setting.”

Carol Britton, the widening participation lead for NHS London and Skills for Health, who attended the ‘Have a Go’ said: “It is extremely gratifying to come along to Homerton and see the staff working alongside the students in encouraging interest and participation.”

The Learning and Development Team at Homerton ensured that the ‘Have a Go’ sessions complied with the students’ syllabus at Hackney UTC. Added Mary: “What they learned with us during the sessions would help them in their coursework back at college.”

Student Thaslima Bibi said: “When we first arrived at Homerton Hospital we were greeted by our guide who introduced us to the fantastic people who work there and this gave me a clear idea of which path to follow in the future.

“I really enjoyed the experience because at Homerton the skilled practitioners taught me how to take blood pressure - this

amazing experience has made me really want to make a difference in medicine!”

Student Deise Dombala said: “Health trips have been brilliant. It’s helped me with my teamwork because I never knew how much of healthcare was run by teams of people - it’s really made me want to be a paediatrician - because it’s not just about bookwork!”

The Trust is also working closely with Hackney Council and Lambeth Careers College on an innovative apprenticeship scheme which will be offering opportunities for up to 30 youngsters to gain their first step on the career ladder.

Homerton was successful in its bid for over £150,000 from NHS London to support the new schemes which will assist the apprentices in becoming health care assistants (HCAs) or operatives in the Trust’s Estates and Facilities Department.

Offering youngsters a jobs’ lifeline

Taking blood pressures - Kayleigh Morris, Thaslima Bibi and Melisa Karakas (above) and (left) Shammell Gosling and Deise Dombala with nurse educator Sheila Jones

9

Homerton is preparing the ground for the introduction of the Government’s new ‘Friends and Family Test’.Results from the new test will be introduced into hospitals in April with all adult patients, their friends and their families being offered the opportunity to have their say in how they rate their hospital stay before they are discharged home.

Hospitals which gain positive responses from patients will be given financial awards whilst those with low or negative responses will be scrutinised by their commissioners and called on to make urgent improvements to the quality of service on the wards or in the departments.

Margaret Howat, the Head of Patient Experience, said: “The Government has made it clear that hospitals should be able to pass the friends and family test.

“We have been making real progress into improving the patient experience in recent year at Homerton. The Picker handset computers offer patients the ability to provide us with instant information on what we are getting right and what we need to improve on. We have also run a ‘Message to Matron’ campaign and last year, we launched our Homerton Welcome project with patient champions and volunteers adding to the positive patient experience.

“We are confident that we shall continue this good work in gaining positive feedback to the friends and family test.”

Protecting the dignity of patients is a key component of improving the patient experience. Following the success of the “Quiet, patients sleeping” blind on the ward entrances, the Trust has introduced new blinds (right) which are pulled down when it is patients’ mealtimes to allow them to eat in peace.

Every patient is being asked to rate the quality of the care they have received during their stay or visit to the hospital. They are asked if they would be extremely likely to recommend the hospital to friends and family through to very unlikely. An example of the card being given to patients is shown (this is the card for use by A&E patients. The ward ones are the same with the addition of a box showing the name of the ward).

Margaret Howat said: “Question 3 is the important box to see filled as it gives patients a chance to give real input and feedback of their experiences and will lead to improvements and initiatives on the wards and in departments.”

Homerton University HospitalNHS Foundation Trust

Do notenter.Patients’mealtime.

You have urgent clinicalbusiness on the ward

You want to help patientsto eat their food

Please recognise protected mealtimes anddo not enter unless:

A56323 HUH Night Time BLIND 60x110 P1:A3 Poster 4 Col XP6.qxd 14/1/13 11:48 Page 1

We would like you to think about your experience in the

A&E department during this visit.

Q1. Please enter your date of discharge.

dd / mm / yy

Q2. How likely are you to recommend our A&E

department to friends and family if they

needed similar care or treatment?

Extremely likely

Likely

Neither likely nor unlikely

Unlikely

Extremely unlikely

Don’t know

When you have completed the card, please

drop it into the box provided. Thank you.

Q3. Please can you tell us the main reason for

the answer you have given?

Q4. Are you male or female?

Male Female

Q5. What age are you?

16-24 35-44 55-64 75+

25-34 45-54 65-74

Or complete online. Use your Smartphone

to scan the QR code or go to

www.smartfeedback.org.uk/A&E

Online IDAAA0001

Improving the patient experience

10

New 3D technology is helping Homerton Fertility Centre to improve the success of fertility treatments.

The machine allows clinicians to gain a far more accurate assessment of the ‘ovarian reserve’ – the number of eggs in a woman’s follicles that are available for stimulation at the beginning of a cycle with the potential to ovulate in that cycle.

Consultant Mr Amit Shah said: “Knowing the number of eggs enables us to decide on the proper medication to stimulate the ovaries and increase changes of pregnancy. This unique scan offers us up to 50 per cent increase in effectiveness over a routine 2D scan thus giving us a far better chance of successful fertilisation.”

3D vision boost fertility success

Consultant Mr Amit Shah with the new machine

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter recently visited Homerton to launch an online system to identify children who may be in danger of abuse or neglect and is being developed for use in hospitals across England.The £9m Child Protection Information System will alert doctors and nurses in accident and emergency departments if children are known to be at risk or had urgent treatment at other hospitals. It will be rolled out from 2015. Ministers say abuse will be identified earlier.

Under the new system, children arriving at a hospital accident and emergency or urgent care centre will be checked on the NHS computer system.

Dr Poulter said the scheme should give professionals “the best tools for the job”.

“Up until now, it has been hard for frontline healthcare professionals to know if a child is already listed as being at risk or if children have been repeatedly seen in different emergency departments or urgent care centres with suspicious injuries or complaints, which may indicate abuse,” he said.

“Providing instant access to that information means vulnerable and abused children will be identified much more quickly - which will save lives.”

Dr Simon Eccles, consultant in emergency medicine at Homerton Hospital, who helped set up the scheme, said innocent parents or carers would not come under suspicion.

Dr Eccles said that if a member of the clinical team - a nurse, doctor or paediatrician - made a judgement call and believes a child could be at risk, they could each escalate it “up the ladder”, which could ultimately result in a visit to the home.

Launch of major new initiative to protect children as... ‘Dr Dan’ visits Homerton

Dr Poulter with local MP Meg Hillier and young patient Leo Ashmore (9)

11

The Trust is tightening its no smoking restrictions.The ‘stamp it out’ campaign has been launched to remind people that smoking is banned in all Trust buildings and only permitted in shelters.

Chief Nurse Charlie Sheldon said: “It is extremely inconsiderate for people to be smoking cigarettes near the hospital building or outside open windows. Staff and patients are having to put up with the smoke getting into wards and offices producing a very unpleasant environment.

Smoking is banned in and around the hospital site except in the designated areas, and new posters and signs are being put up to remind people of the restrictions.”

Contact our stop smoking service for • more information about

stopping smoking:• www.homerton.nhs.uk/our-

services/stop-smoking-service• NHS Stop Smoking service:

0800 169 1943, www.cityandhackney.nhs.uk

The Children’s Integrated Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service for Hackney and the City works to support all children and young people in the development of speech, language and communication skills. We work jointly with parents and health and education professionals.

All adults have a role in supporting children and young people in developing and using their communication skills. Talking is the most common form of expressive communication, but signing or using a device (e.g., pictures, objects, symbols) will be a highly successful choice for some children and young people.

Children may develop at different rates and some have specific difficulties that need support. For example, they may not start talking at the same time as their peers, find it hard to follow instructions or have difficulties with social interaction.

The service operates open-access. Pre-school children can access SLT in Children’s Centres through monthly ‘Talking Walk In’ sessions. No referral is necessary, simply arrive on the day. School age children are seen in school. A named SLT is attached to every school in Hackney and visits regularly; fortnightly for smaller schools and up to two days each week for larger schools.

A time limited project is occurring until July 2013, to pilot using a school based model in independent schools.

SLTs also support children and young people with eating and drinking difficulties.

Members’ Matters…Caroline Jones, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, explains the work of the speech and language service...

Communication can be thought of as a pyramid with the following layers:

New clamp down on smokingStamp it out!Stamp

Do notsmoke here

If parents, carers or other professionals have concern about a child the service can be contacted via 020 7683 4262 for advice.

12

Do you want to be a Governor?In early spring and late summer there a number of Governors who have completed their terms of office therefore we will be seeking nominations from eligible members who would like to stand for election as a Governor.

We will be seeking Governors to fill the following vacant seats:

• Public - City – one vacancy• Public - Outer – one vacancy• Staff - Non Clinical – one vacancy

In order to stand for election you must be a member of Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the constituency and class for which you are standing and must be 16 or older at the time of nomination.

The constituencies are as follows:

Public - City, members residing in the City of London.

Public - Outer, members residing in the London Boroughs of Enfield, Haringey, Islington, Camden, Westminster, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest, Newham, Redbridge, Barking and Havering and also Epping Forest District.

Staff - Non-Clinical Staff, staff members employed by Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and working in a non-clinical position.

If you are a member of one of the above constituencies you will be receiving more detailed information in the post regarding these elections.

Nominations will be open from 28 February 2013.

The closing date for nominations is 15 March. Voting will finish on 24 April.

If you do not receive any information; or if you wish to request nomination papers, please contact John Box at Electoral Reform Services on 020 8365 8453 or email John.box@electoralreform.co.uk

Our thanks go to Governors John Bootes and Robert Duke who will soon be completing their three year terms of office.

Further elections will be held over the spring for seats within the Hackney constituency (4 seats), City constituency (1 seat) and the clinical staff constituency (1 seat) replacing Governors whose term of office completes in September 2013.

As a member of Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust it is vital that we hold all of your correct contact details. We are currently updating our membership database and would like to ensure that these are accurate.

We look forward to receiving your confirmation or updated address, and email address. You can do this by telephone: 020 8510 5144, email: members@homerton.nhs.uk or by posting details to the PALs Office, Homerton Hospital, Homerton Road London E9 6SR. Please remember to include your name and date of birth.

Topics for Members’ Matters

All you need to know about the Integrated Diabetes Service speaker Lianne Jenkins, Lead Nurse for Diabetes on Wednesday 20 March 2013.

The Integrated Sexual Health Service speakers Margaret Fadojutimi, Service Manager and Martin Lincoln, Lead Nurse for Sexual Health on Wednesday 26 June 2013.

Public constituency (Hackney)

• Sarah Weiss

• Suri Friedman

• Patricia Bennett

• Clyde Baker

• Eli Kernkraut

• Jude Williams

• Talaat Qureshi

• Joe Lobenstein MBE

• Julia Bennett

• Stuart Maxwell

Public constituency (City)

• Geoffrey Rivett

• John Bootes

Public constituency (Outer)

• Vacancy

• Eric Sorensen

Staff constituency Clinical

• Val Dimmock

• Andrew Ezsias

• Katherine Coyne

• Ros Constable

Staff constituency Non-Clinical

• Henry Muss

• Robert Duke

Partner governors

• Gareth Moore (Corporation of London)

• vacancy (Queen Mary College, University of London)

• Prof Stanton Newman (City University)

• Councilor Jonathan McShane (London Borough of Hackney)

• Dr Lesley Mountford (ELC)

Here to help all enquiries to PALs:

enquiries@homerton.nhs.uk or call 020 8510 5144

www.homerton.nhs.uk

Meetings

The Council of Governors’ meetings are held in the Education Centre at Homerton Hospital on Thursdays 5.30 - 7.30pm.

2013

• 14 February (joint meeting with Board of Directors)

• 28 March

• 23 May

• 18 July (joint meeting with Board of Directors)

• 3 October Annual Members Meeting

• 24 October

• 12 December

2014

• 20 February (joint meeting with Board of Directors)

• 27 March