Page 5

Making our hospitals better for you

F1 driver in pole position at NUH

NUHonours Awards 2010nominations - open now

Page 5

Page 14 Stay safe in the sun

Page 7

Not already

a member?

It’s easy to sign up.

Call free on

0800 7310319

or register online at

www.nuh.nhs.uk/ft

NUHorizonsJune 2010Issue Two

for membersJune 2010Issue Two

2

Recruiting our members

Turn to page 11 to fi nd out more regarding the subsequent governor elections and proposed timetable.

Since announcing our fi rst membership milestone of 10,000 public members in the fi rst issue of NUHorizons for members, our membership recruitment efforts have continued and are an integral part of our plan to achieve NHS Foundation Trust status.

Update on our NHS Foundation Trust application

To make sure our NHS Foundation Trust application is successful we want to make sure our membership is representative of the population we serve. Over the coming year, we will be attending various events that proved successful for recruitment during 2009. These include the Nottingham Carnival and Nottingham Pride.

We are always looking for volunteers to help at events. Please get in touch with our membership team on 0800 731 0319 if you are interested in getting involved.

As well as monitoring our membership representation we are also setting healthy goals which aim to keep our membership growing and involved. Our goals are ambitious. We anticipate:

Staff Public

Membership at April 2011 12,000 12,000

Membership at April 2012 12,000 14,000

Celebrating the 10,000 member milestone

3

Welcome from the ChairmanWelcome to the second issue of our magazine for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust members.

This issue is packed with information about our application to become an NHS Foundation Trust. There is also information about how to elect our Board of Governors and how our members can stand for election. We’re encouraging as many of our members as possible to get involved. Becoming an NHS Foundation Trust means we are accountable to the community we serve so if you are interested in making a difference to the provision of healthcare in Nottinghamshire please register your interest in becoming a governor.

If you’d like to get involved but can’t commit to becoming a governor then why not come along to one of our medicine for members’ events?

We held the fi rst event earlier this year and it was an overwhelming success. At each event we focus on healthcare issues – so far we’ve covered cardiac care and a tour of the Clinical Skills Centre.

We’ve also launched a major project to improve the way our services are delivered – you can read more on page eight. The ‘Better for you’ programme aims to make our hospitals even better places for patients to be cared in and for staff to work. To achieve this, we need to make sure our processes are effi cient, that we don’t duplicate effort and that systems are designed for and around you.

Finally, to make sure you make the most of the summer we’ve included some summer health tips. Turn to page 14 to fi nd out more. Have a wonderful summer and thanks again for your continued support.

Dr Peter Barrett, Chairman

ContactsNUHorizons, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust’s members’ magazine, is published by the Communications Team. Comments and story ideas are welcomed.

Contact the Communications Team on ext 63562 or email nuhcommunications@nuh.nhs.uk.

Extracts from NUHorizons should not be reproduced without prior permission from the Communications Team.

The opinions expressed in NUHorizons are not necessarily those of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

This publication is available in other languages and formats. For further information please contact 0115 924 9924 ext 63562. A plain text version is available.

Contents

Page 5

Page 14

2 What’s next for our NHS Foundation Trust application?

4 Patient feedback shows privacy and dignity improving at NUH

5 Formula One star gets pole position at NUH

12 Election – could you be a governor?

14 Stay healthy this summer

15 Meet our new apprentices as they start their new jobs

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4

NUHNews...

A pilot study carried out in Nottingham and Germany has found that breast cancer patients being treated with beta-blockers leads to a signifi cant reduction in the spread of the cancer and better survival rates – meaning the treatment could potentially save many thousands of lives.

In a controlled study Dr Des Powe, a Senior Healthcare Research Scientist at QMC, and his collaborators found that the group of patients treated with beta-blockers showed a signifi cant reduction in metastasis (spread of cancer to a secondary location) and up to 71 per cent reduced risk of dying.

The scientists believe that they are the fi rst in the world to have investigated the effect of beta-blockers in breast cancer patients.

Beta-blockers are traditionally used to lessen the risk of strokes and heart problems by reducing blood pressure and the amount of work the heart does. This new fi nding may assist breast treatment in two ways, say the researchers. It appears to slow down tumour growth and invasion and could be used to target those patients who have an increased risk of developing secondary cancers.

Dr Powe said: “We are very encouraged by these fi rst results which have already shown that by using a well-established, safe, and cost-effective drug, there appears to be potential for improving targeted therapy in breast cancer.“

Beta-blockers help improve survival in breast cancer patients

eening: Study shows reduce spread of cancer

The annual inpatient survey results for 2009 show a real improvement in what patients think of Nottingham’s hospitals.

Approximately 440 patients who have had inpatient stays at either Nottingham City Hospital or the QMC took part in the survey, which covered topics such as arrival at hospital, the ward environment, care and treatment and staff.

The survey highlighted that NUH performs better than other trusts when it comes to ensuring patients are cared for, where appropriate, in same-sex accommodation.

The Trust was rated better than the national average in ensuring patients didn’t share sleeping areas with members of the opposite sex, either on one ward or at times where patients needed care on more than one ward. The Trust also performed better in providing same-sex bath or shower facilities.

After securing £2.2 million in 2009 to improve provision of same-sex accommodation, the

Trust was selected by the Department of Health as a best practice example to feature on its ‘delivering same-sex accommodation’ website.

Compared to the national average, the survey results also revealed that patients found that infection prevention and control was a high priority. Ninety-nine per cent of the time hand gel was available for people to use, and opinions on the overall cleanliness of wards have improved since the previous survey.

However, the latest patient satisfaction results show we still have further work to do. Two areas where we didn’t do so well were: patients being bothered by noise at night and talking across patients as if they are not there. Over the coming year we will be focusing on these areas and seeking to improve the quality of information for patients, another area that was highlighted by patients in this year’s survey.

The full survey results are available on our website at www.nuh.nhs.uk/about/national.aspx.

NUH scores well on privacy & dignity inpatient survey

5

Be part of our readers’ panel Are you interested in information for patients? Would you like to help us to improve information that we produce for our patients and the public?

It is important that we communicate clearly to our patients, visitors and members of the public. A lot of communication is through written information that we hand out to patients or that is downloaded from our website. We need to ensure that all our publications are easy to read, well-designed and of good quality.

We are currently have a good internal review system in place for all information that we produce. To improve this system, we will be setting up a readers’ panel in the summer of this year, which will consist of volunteers representing patients and the general public.

If you register as a volunteer on the panel, you will be contacted from time to time and asked to complete a short questionnaire on your views about a new publication. This will include feedback about how the documents are worded and whether you feel the document answers all of your questions.

We will then incorporate the feedback in the publication before it is fi nalised.

Dame Ellen MacArthur visits NUH Dame Ellen MacArthur MBE visited NUH to talk about her experiences as one of the world’s most celebrated sailors.

Dame Ellen, who became a household name in 2005 when she broke the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe spoke, gave a public lecture at QMC on high sea sailing.

More than 300 people attended the event which was part of a short series of guest lectures organised through the activities of the Nottingham Medico-Chirurgical Society and the Pickering Association.

The money raised from the event has been donated to the Ellen MacArthur Trust to help childhood cancer and leukaemia survivors.

The Australian-born driver spent a morning at the City Hospital recently to watch a heart operation and talk to doctors, surgeons, nurses and governance staff about risk management and the similarities between life as a racing driver and that of a cardiac surgeon and theatre team.

Formula One racing driver Mark Webber met staff at NUH when he spent the day in theatre at the Trent Cardiac Centre

If you are interested in joining the readers’ panel

or would like any further information, please

contact our Patient Information Offi cer by email at

charu.rai@nuh.nhs.uk or by telephone on

0115 9249924 ext 67754.

Consultant Cardiac Surgeon Raj Jutley & Mark Webber

6

The number of hospital associated infections continues to fall at our hospitals.

From April 2009-March 2010 there were 40 cases of MRSA bacteraemia.

Of these, 21 were NUH-acquired and 19 were recorded as community acquired MRSA. This total

of 40 was fi ve below the Health Protection Agency’s ‘maximum target’ of 45.

During April 2009-March 2010 there were 201 cases of NUH-acquired Clostridium diffi cile. This is against a target of no more than 20 cases per month, a maximum number of 240 cases during the year (we averaged 16.75 cases a month over the year).

We know from what our patients tell us that they are most concerned about getting an infection in hospital. These latest fi gures go some way to reassuring everyone our hospitals are safe and demonstrate we are making continued progress.

Our aim for this year is zero tolerance to poor practice and behaviours which contribute to hospital associated infections. We know that if we do the right thing fi rst time, every time, in every procedure, variation in the delivery of care is minimised and the likelihood of infection is reduced.

Praise for hand hygiene awareness at NUHWork to raise awareness of infection prevention and control best practice at our hospitals has been highlighted in a National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) report.

The NPSA’s report, called ‘Stopping infection in its tracks - the story of the cleanyourhands campaign’, explores how the awareness raising campaign has been implemented by NHS Trusts.

Mitch Clarke, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Infection Control, at NUH, leads on the project. He said: “The campaign has triggered interest in hand hygiene and has raised its profi le within the Trust. It is all about making gradual improvements over time and persevering while not losing sight that at the heart of what we are trying to achieve is the safety of all patients.”

NUH N URS Commitment to reducing infection rates continues

Quality Accountfor

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

2009/10

Quality Account OUT NOWNUH’s fi rst Quality Account has been published and is now available online at www.nuh.nhs.uk.The Account covers the progress the Trust has made in three key areas over the last year – patient safety, clinical effectiveness and improving patient experience - and looks ahead to priorities and areas of focus for 2010/11.

If you would like to receive a hard copy of the Account or would like to receive the publication in another language or format please contact Laura Skaife on 0115 9249924 ext 63562 or email nuhcommunications@nuh.nhs.uk. An easy read version of the Account is also available upon request and on the website.

Quality

OUT NOW

7

NUH held its fi rst ever patient and public involvement (PPI) conference last month. It was attended by over 160 NUH staff, patient representatives and local community organisations.

The event was organised to enthuse frontline leaders, managers and staff at NUH about the important role that PPI can play in helping to improve services for patients and empower staff to deliver PPI activities themselves to develop their skills and confi dence.

Speakers at the conference included Jenny Leggott, Director of Nursing, Cath Lovatt, Director of Communications and Engagement, Trish Cargill, Chair of the NUH Patient Partnership Group and Alec McKee, Non-Executive Director. There were videos shown throughout the day including patient stories and feedback and views from representatives at partner organisations.

A new PPI toolkit for staff was launched at the conference which provides a step-by-step guide and hints and tips that staff will fi nd helpful in their day to day work. The toolkit is a resource pack which covers the importance of PPI, tools for how to do focus groups, consultations and surveys and guides on how to use each tool.

Awards 2010NUHNUH N URSURS

Launch of NUHonours Star & Diamond Awards 2010NUHonours is an opportunity to recognise the very best that NUH has to offer. The awards recognise staff for achievements in innovative ways of working, improving patient care, supporting colleagues and helping us all show our patients that ‘we are here for you.’

There are two types of awards available – NUHonours Diamond Awards and Star Awards.

NUHonours Diamond Awards: nominating othersDo you know someone who has gone the extra mile and made a real difference to the lives of patients, visitors or staff? Please complete a Diamond Award nomination form and tell us why you think this individual or team deserves to be recognised for their achievements during the last year.

NUHonours Star Awards: enter yourselfThese awards are an opportunity for staff to nominate themselves for an award and tell us why they think they or the team they work in deserve to be recognised.

Nominations for NUHonours Star & Diamond Awards 2010 are now open. You can nominate your healthcare hero by completing the nomination form on our website at www.nuh.nhs.uk. Alternatively, if you would like to receive a hard copy of the form or any other information about the entry process, please contact 0115 924 9924 extension 66016 or email nuhcommunications@nuh.nhs.uk.

Nominations close on 17 September and this year’s award ceremony and dinner will be held at the East Midlands Conference Centre on Friday 19 November 2010.

NUHonours Star & Diamond Awards 2010 is possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of our own Nottingham University Hospitals Charity, which is working in partnership with the Trust to organise the awards.

Supported by

First ever PPI conference big success

Coming soon – a new PPI handbook for members which will help members, volunteers, user groups and other patients to carry out

simple PPI activities such as how to communicate service developments to meetings of patients and collect feedback. More information to follow in future updates from NUH.

Conefowvgp

simple PPI activ

8

We’re making the hospitals even better places for patients to be cared in and for staff to work. We want staff to always have the ability to provide caring, safe and thoughtful treatment.

To achieve this, we need to make sure that our processes are effi cient, that we don’t duplicate effort and that systems are designed for and around our patients.

Any changes we make will be founded on thorough research into patient and staff experience. We’re now in the process of collecting that information.

Your views will make a difference. If you’ve had an experience at the hospitals which you would like to tell us about or if you’d be interested in getting involved with the programme, please email laura.skaife@nuh.nhs.uk.

What’s ‘Better for you?’ The NHS faces increasing challenges from economic cycles, from the pressures of changing demographics and from our ambitions to excel in the delivery of healthcare.

In June 2009, we undertook to deliver a wholesale programme of change to make the improvements and savings that would enable us to rise to each of those challenges.

For the fi rst time in the history of the Trust, we are embarking on detailed reviews of internal processes, systems and operations across all departments, services and specialties.

The change programme, ‘Better for you’, will make the hospitals more effi cient and effective; it will enable us to reduce our costs, raise our productivity and maximise revenue; it will increase levels of staff confi dence and satisfaction in leaps and bounds; and it will enable us to deliver consistently caring, safe and thoughtful treatment for patients.

Making the hospitals better for everyoneNUH has launched a major initiative to improve the way our services are delivered.

9

How ‘Better for you’ will benefi t staff and patients

1. Clear and logical processes will make work more straightforward and easier to manage

2. Swifter processes will improve communication with patients

3. Solving common problems and issues will make for happier patients and staff

4. The ability to change things will help us to feel more in control of our roles and responsibilities

5. Staff will be able to go home more frequently with the feeling that we have been able to do a good job

‘Better for you’ is being rolled across the hospitals in three stages:

Projects underway What comes next...

And thereafter…

Emergency Department

Elective Pathways

Imaging

Corporate Services

Nottingham Children’s Hospital

Emergency Pathways

Discharge

Productive Ward

Pharmacy

Procurement and Inventory Control

Bed Management

Endoscopy

Major Trauma

Stroke

Heart Services

Outpatients

Pathology

Prescribing

Care Records

Medicines Management

Workforce Processes

Research Processes

Project insight: Emergency DepartmentThe fi rst to launch, the Emergency Department (ED) is the most developed project. Planning and set up took place in September last year and discovery stage quickly ensued. ED is now undertaking trials to test out some of the new processes it has designed.

Amber Bristow, ‘Better for you’ ED project leader, said: “One of the areas we’ve been focusing on is reducing the length of time people spend waiting in the department. We’ve been mapping out our processes, we’ve identifi ed where things could be made more effi cient, we’ve designed new systems for those steps and we’re now trying them out.

Some of the trials have been really successful. For example, during one trial we equipped staff with computers on wheels so ED Assistants could book patients in at their trolley side rather than relying on the ambulance staff to relay information. The change cut down ambulance hand-over times to below ten minutes. This means we could send more ambulances out to where they are needed most – attending to new emergencies.”

See page 11 for • more information about how you can get involved in ‘Better for you’• how to sign up to our ‘Better for you’ medicine for members’ event in July

1010

New dialysis clinic opens at NUH

New £3.5m research unit for digestive diseases at QMCA new research unit to improve care for patients with digestive diseases has opened at QMC.The Biomedical Research Unit (BRU) focuses on stomach, bowel and liver diseases.

Nottingham is the only city in the country to be awarded three BRUs, which will enable research into hearing, digestive and respiratory diseases. It means patients will benefi t more quickly from scientifi c breakthroughs.

The unit has a laboratory, tissue culture

room, consulting rooms, interview rooms and an inpatient area for intensive studies on up to four volunteers.

Research will focus on healthcare associated infections such as Clostridium diffi cle and MRSA. There will also be extensive research into many other areas, including the Hepatitis C virus, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the stomach germ Helicobacter pylori which causes ulcers and stomach cancer.

The unit was opened last month by actress Leslie Ash, the patron of the Centre for Hospital Acquired Infections in Nottingham.

The BRU is a joint venture between the National Institute of Health Research, NUH and the University of Nottingham.

Dr John Atherton, Sister Lisa Chalkley, Dr Guru Aithal, Leslie Ash and Professor Robin Spiller

Care closer to home and increased patient choice are the key benefi ts of a new 10 station dialysis clinic which has opened at the QMC.

The clinic provides care for patients who have transferred from existing facilities. It helps the Trust to meet the increased demand for dialysis; provide patients with better access to services closer to their home; and increase patient choice. Around 40 patients a week use the facility.

The unit comprises 10 dialysis stations, a nurse’s station, utility rooms, reception and waiting area, staff room, offi ce and storage area.

Dr Donal O’Donoghue, National Clinical Director for Kidney Care offi cially opened the unit last month. He said: “Dialysis is one of those areas where the experience

of care actually is the outcome. What I have learned about the culture here today is that the patient is at the centre of this. Transport in this new unit is incredibly well looked after and that is very unusual.

“We are all heading into a very challenging time fi nancially. We have an ageing population, we have new technology and we have aspirations to improve the quality of care. Here in Nottingham you are extremely well placed to manage these challenges and come out on the other side with an even better service for people requiring kidney dialysis.”

The new clinic supplements existing dialysis facilities at Nottingham City Hospital and satellite units at King’s Mill Hospital and Ilkeston Community Hospital. This interim facility will be in use for approximately two years until a permanent facility is in place at QMC.

11

Events and benefi ts… for you!

Follow us on Twitter You can follow us on Twitter and keep up-to-date with news and happenings at NUH at

www.twitter.com/nuhft.

NHS Discounts Members can register with NHS Discounts to receive discounts on top brand goods and services, including gas and electricity as well as discounts at other retailers such as Currys, Apple, Radley and BHS.

To register visit www.nhsdiscounts.com. When completing the ‘your job’ section answer ‘yes’ to working for the NHS and then select ‘Foundation Member’ as the job category.

Your feedback is important to usWe are currently organising more medicine for members’ events for the remainder of 2010/11. The details and dates will be published soon.

Let us know if you would like us to arrange a talk or tour on a specifi c issue or area that is of interest to you by calling 0800 7310319 or emailing ft@nuh.nhs.uk. We also welcome feedback on our magazine. Is it providing you with the information and updates you need and do you fi nd it an interesting read? We look forward to hearing from you.

Diary dates for 2010 Medicine for membersOur medicine for members’ events are an opportunity for you to fi nd out more about a range of medical and healthcare topics.

The next event, called ‘Better for you for members’ will take place on 22 July between 6-8pm at the QMC campus.

Members will get a chance to fi nd out more about what the ‘Better for you’ programme is all about and will be taken on a tour of some of the project ‘hubs’ by members of the ‘Better for you’ team. Each project has a ‘hub’. ‘Hubs’ are drop in areas that are open to everyone in the department to share ideas, make comments, bring information forward, ask questions, fi nd out about ‘Better for you’ and join in with the programme. Patients and visitors are also welcome to drop in.

Members will have a choice of which hub to visit. The options are: Emergency Department, Imaging, Nottingham Children’s Hospital, Theatres and a visit to a Productive Ward. We will try our best to ensure you get to visit your fi rst or second choice. Please contact the membership team on 0800 731 0319 or email ft@nuh.nhs.uk to confi rm you will be coming along. Booking is essential as places are limited.

Annual Public MeetingWednesday 22 September 2010

5-7.30pm at the Cityside Restaurant, Nottingham City Hospital campus

Visit our marketplace stands, fi nd out about the progress we have made and our many achievements during 2009/10 and learn more about our plans for the coming year. Please let us know if you will be coming along by calling 0800 731 0319.

Annual Report & Summary Financial Accounts 2009/10Will be available at the Annual Public Meeting in a range of different formats, including full version, summary and easy-read. Other formats such as an audio version, will be available on our website from 22 September.

12

Board of GovernorsAs a member YOU get to elect the Board of Governors to represent your constituency.

It is a legal requirement that over half the governors will be the representatives of local people. The rest of the governors will be elected by our staff or will be appointed from local organisations who work in partnership with us.

Governors act as representatives of their respective areas and provide a link with the wider community. They work in partnership with the Board of Directors by giving support and advice in relation to future services and strategic direction. Governors also appoint the chair and Non-Executive Directors of the Board of Directors.

Governors must be aged 16 years or over. Any member is eligible to become a governor as long as they are not disqualifi ed on statutory or other grounds. These rules will be clearly set out in the Trust’s Constitution.

Elected public governorsThese governors will be elected by members who live within the public constituency that they represent. (The constituency for public members depends on the address provided when signing up, for example if you live in West Bridgford your constituency would be Nottinghamshire County).

There will be four public constituencies consisting of:

• Nottingham City (9 seats)

• Nottinghamshire County (9 seats)

• Derbyshire County (including Derby City) (2 seats)

• Rest of England and Wales (2 seats)

Elected staff governorsStaff governors are divided into classes and are elected by the group of staff they represent.

There will be six staff classes consisting of:

• Medical and Dental (1 seat)

• Nursing and Midwifery (including unqualifi ed) (2 seats)

• Scientifi c, Professional and Technical/Allied Health Professionals (1 seat)

• Admin and Clerical and Senior Managers (1 seat)

• Ancillary/Maintenance (1 seat)

• Clinical Support (1 seat)

Appointed governorsThese governors will be nominated by the Trust’s local partner organisations:

• NHS Nottingham City (1 seat)

• NHS Nottinghamshire County (1 seat)

• Nottingham City Council (1 seat)

• Nottinghamshire County Council (1 seat)

• University of Nottingham (1 seat)

• Nottingham Trent University (1 seat)

• Nottinghamshire Police (1 seat)

• The Skills Funding Agency (1 seat)

• Greater Nottinghamshire Partnership (1 seat)

• East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (1 seat)

• NUH Staff Side (representing Trade Unions and Professional Organisations) (1 seat)

The Board of Governors will be made up of 40 members, as follows:

13

Election timetableIt is important to us that you are fully equipped for voting in our fi rst governor elections and have the adequate information at your fi nger tips to make a decision as to whether you wish to stand for election yourself.

The exact timings for the election process will be confi rmed later in the year. The timetable below is therefore provided as a guide to the election process. Once the election timetable has been agreed we will send details to all members.

We look forward to

hearing from you.

If you are interested in becoming a governor please consider attending one of our governor awareness sessions being held later this year:

A new governor handbook is currently being developed and will be launched soon. It will contain information which we hope will help you to decide if you would like to put yourself forward for election. All members who have previously expressed an interest in the position will receive a copy in due course.

If you have not previously expressed an interest but would like a copy please contact:

• The membership team on 0800 731 0319

or

• Email ft@nuh.nhs.uk to request a copy

Alternatively, visit our website www.nuh.nhs.uk/ft for latest news.

November 2010Governor awareness sessions will be held for members who want to fi nd out more about the governor positions.

Early January 2011 Electoral Reform Services (ERS)/NUH issue the notice of election. Nomination forms will be made available to Trust members interested in standing for election.

Mid February 2011Voting packs despatched by ERS to all members (staff and public).

Mid March 2011Closing date for election.

April 2011Expected to be authorised as an NHS Foundation Trust.

Interested in standing as a governor?

Wednesday 10 November12.30 – 2pm, City campus

Thursday 18 November6 – 7.30pm, City campus

Tuesday 23 November6.30 – 8pm, QMC campusExact venues to be confi rmed

14

Stay safe in the sunMore than 75,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with skin

cancer each year – make sure you protect your skin and eyes whether

you are at home or on holiday.

Sun damage can happen even when the sun doesn’t feel very hot – the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays go through the skin and damage cells. Sunbeds are just as dangerous as lying in the sun and accelerate the skin’s natural ageing process.

• Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm

• Make sure you never burn

• Wear a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses

• Use a factor 15 or higher suncream

• Protect children – sunburn can be very harmful in children and young people

HeatwaveIn a heatwave it is essential you take steps to keep cool. Severe heat can affect your health more than you might think – sometimes leading to worsening of heart problems, respiratory diffi culties and serious health problems including heatstroke.

In a heatwave it is essential you take steps to keep cool.

• Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water

• Avoid unnecessary travel

• Check on people who are vulnerable – older people living on their own or people with health conditions

• Stay inside in the coolest room in your home

• Splash yourself with cool water

• Avoid going outside between 11am and 3pm

• Stay in the shade and avoid strenuous activity

A leafl et which provides information on how to look after yourself and others in the sun is now available on our website at www.nuh.nhs.uk.

Summer health

15

Four NUH apprentices are celebrating after being offered full-time positions with the Trust. Bridgette Crabbe, Jaye Humpherson, Kate Roelich and Chloe Berresford have been offered positions at NUH after successfully completing a two-year advanced apprenticeship to qualify as pharmacy technicians.

It’s been a hectic couple of years as the students juggled working full-time at NUH with two college courses to qualify as technicians. Their hard work has now paid off and they qualify with a Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) National Certifi cate and NVQ level three in pharmacy services.

Jayne Marsden, who is NUH’s lead for the training of pharmacy technicians, said: “They have all done very well and worked very hard – we are very proud of them. As apprentices they worked hard to demonstrate their ability in the workplace. We’re delighted to have them on board and wish them every success in their new jobs. I’m sure they will do very well.”

Chloe said: “I’ve really enjoyed the course. It’s been a great opportunity to learn a new skill on the job. There is so much more to it than you’d think – the course covers so much including looking at the different drugs, how they work, and how they are made. It’s hard work and there are lots of assignments but it’s worth

it. It’s great to be offered a job at NUH and we also have nationally recognised qualifi cations.”

Kate said:

“We’re all really pleased to be offered full-time positions at NUH. I’d recommend the apprenticeship scheme – you have to be committed to it but it’s a great opportunity”

Success for NUH pharmacy apprentices

The pharmacy technician modern apprenticeship • The NUH advanced apprenticeship

for pharmacy technicians was launched in 2002

• We have had 32 apprentices working at both QMC and City Hospital campuses since then

• We are currently recruiting for the 2010 intake of apprentices – for more information please contact Jayne Marsden on ext 54935 or 65780

16

Sudoku

Our competition winner Jean Alexander (pictured) was the winner of the £50 Marks & Spencer voucher from the fi rst issue of NUHorizons for members.

Jean entered the competition by signing up her husband at the fi rst medicine for members’ event earlier this year. She is looking forward to treating herself to something new in time for the summer.

Where are my personal details held?We have employed Membership Engagement Services (MES), an external database

company, to manage our membership database. All information is kept strictly

confi dential in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. If you would like to fi nd

out more about MES please visit their website www.membra.co.uk.

Get in touchIf you have an enquiry about any aspect of your membership please contact:

Our membership team on 0800 7310319 (open between 8.30am–5pm Monday to Friday).

Alternatively visit our website www.nuh.nhs.uk/ft for more information and the latest news.

4 6

8 9 6 7 1

1 4 3 8

9 6 4 3 8

3 6 2 9

8 2 3 1 5

4 5 8 7

5 3 7 4 8

7 1

If you’ve got a spare fi ve minutes, why not try and complete our sudoku puzzle?

Trust Board meetingsOur Trust Board meets each month to discuss a wide range of issues. The meetings are held in public and begin at 10am. They take place at the fi rst Thursday of every month at alternate campuses.

At the end of the meeting members of the public can raise points or ask the Board questions related to the business discussed at the meeting.

The papers and further details are available on our website at www.nuh.nhs.uk/about/meetings.