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March 2015

Issue 12

Gateshead investing in dementia care Over the last 18 months QE Gateshead has invested around 160,000 into schemes that are improving local services for patients with dementia.

The three main projects this in-vestment funded have made a real difference to the lives of patients who use the hospital and other dedicated units in Gateshead.

The condition is a key priority for the NHS with an estimated 25% of acute beds occupied by people with dementia.

In 2013 the QE was successful in getting a grant from the Department of Health to invest more in the care of people with dementia.

The Trust has now created a dementia-friendly outpatient facility, a gym at our Woodside Unit (a de-mentia day care service for younger people) and an outdoor garden modelled on the famous Saltwell Park after research by two of our consultants showed that access to nature could help with de-mentia symptoms.

Hilary Lloyd, director of nursing, midwifery and quality at QE Gateshead said: We know that one in 14 patients over the age of 65 currently has a diagnosis of dementia and that this number will increase be-cause of an aging population. Our patients tell us that what they need from us is kindness, compassion, a smile, understanding and most importantly to be their voice when they are unable to speak.

At QE Gateshead were tackling this in a number of ways including more training for staff and changes to the way wards can be designed. After some real investment Ward 23 is now a dementia friendly unit, which has meant looking at everything from signage to lighting and working out what we can do differently.

Emergency Care Centre transfer Thank you for your help and patience during the major transfer of hospital services into the new

32m Emergency Care Centre which is now open to the public.

At the start of the

year services

including A&E, the

Emergency Assess-

ment Unit (EAU),

the walk-in centre,

GATDOC, Paediat-

rics, ambulatory

care and the short

stay unit all fully

transferred into

the new

building.

The building also includes a new main entrance for the QE with all visitors and patients coming into the

hospital through the new atrium in the Emergency Care Centre building. The process has been a

smooth and successful one so thank you for your assistance during this exciting time for QE Gateshead.

The fantastic new unit brings state-of-the-art healthcare services to people across Gateshead and the

bright, modern building includes single occupancy rooms with en suite bathrooms for all patients in the

short stay wards.

The new Emergency Care Centre building not only has a unique design and facilities, but it completely

changes the way patients are cared for during an emergency by bringing together a wide range of

services.

A new road entrance with a dedicated area for emergency vehicles is currently being installed, changing

the flow of traffic through the site. Vehicles now access the site using a new road entrance in front of

the new building (just past the existing junction which is now closed off).

You can find more information including videos and pictures on our website by visiting:

www.qegateshead.nhs.uk/emergencycarecentre

For enquiries about the ECC please contact Darren Makepeace on 0191 4453838

darren.makepeace@ghnt.nhs.uk or the ECC switchboard on 0191 445 2171.

Working together to beat Sepsis Spot it, treat it, beat it. Staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead have been looking at innovative ways to tackle the deadly medical condition sepsis which kills 37,000 people a year in the UK alone. Sepsis is a common and potentially life-threatening con-dition triggered by infection. Common signs and symp-toms are fever, increased heart rate, increasing breath-ing rate and confusion. The outcome for patients im-proves dramatically if sepsis is recognised and treated quickly. Andy Rooks, Senior Charge Nurse and Project Lead for Sepsis at QE Gateshead said: The key to treating sepsis is early recognition, using a system called the sepsis six to give effective treatment and involving senior medical staff early. No one profession can do this alone and true team work is required to save lives. Here at Gateshead were trying to raise awareness of the condition among staff. We held an event that brought together lots of staff from different wards, areas, specialties and job roles to give them a chance to think creatively about the barriers to giving great sepsis care. The staff looked creatively at how to Spot it, Treat it and Beat it. The feedback was amazing and staff can influence their own areas sepsis care.

Cancer consultant riding for funds

A surgeon from the QE is taking part in a six day bike ride in the searing heat of the Italian Dolomites mountains to raise money for his patients.

Mark Katory is a specialist in colo rectal cancers and the team of three special-ists at the QE see about 200 new pa-tients every year just from the Gates-head area. Now he is planning to raise as much money as possible to help all cancer pa-tients at the QE. He explained: I see on a daily basis both the devastating impact it can have on families and the extraordinary work being undertaken by the NHS to work with some of the major cancer charities to improve the care on offer to our pa-tients. The five year survival rate for colo rectal cancer is 50% nationally. I am hoping to raise around 5,000 to improve the facilities and experience we can offer to patients at the QE. Id like to purchase some new equipment for our theatres and we have a very good en-doscopy department at the QE but I know they need some new equipment too. Mark admitted that the six day bike ride covering 600km climbing to more than 54,000 feet is going to be a challenge.

The cycle ride sounds like a killer but I am motivated to do it because it is such a good cause and one I truly believe in. The only thing that is preventing me from not going is because I have agreed to do it for our hospital charity and that the money raised will really make a difference to help people. That is also what will stop me from giving up once I am out there. To sponsor Mark and the team you can visit www.justgiving/mark-katory and for updates on progress look out on Twitter (@QEfunds) or Facebook (QE Gateshead Charitable Funds) and look for #raiddolomites.

The Bright Ideas in Health Awards 2015 is an annual competition organised by NHS Innovations

North, which is a service delivered by RTC North Limited on behalf of the Academic Health Science

Network North East and North Cumbria.

The closing date for entries into the Bright Ideas in Health Awards 2015 has been extended to Monday

6th April 2015. The awards ceremony will take place at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel on Thurs-

day 21st May 2015.

Entries can be submitted to the Bright Ideas in Health Awards by clicking here.

Please contact sarah.black@nhsinnovationsnorth.org.uk for more information if required.

Online feedback from patients

Patients now have more ways of

providing feedback than ever be-

fore including all our social media

channels and NHS Choices.

This increased level of feedback

lets us understand what areas are

working well and helps us learn

where we can improve.

To see some examples of our feed-

back click here or find out more

about our social media by visiting:

www.qegateshead.nhs.uk/

socialmedia

BOC oxygen supply

BOCs home oxygen supply contract covers 12 North East CCGs (excluding Cumbria) and the provider

is introducing a quality programme from 1st April 2015 to ensure all oxygen patients know how to

manage their medicines and use their inhalers correctly.

If an issue is recorded BOCs patient reps will inform the patients GP to ensure action can be taken as

appropriate.

A dedicated leaflet will be left with patients for their information.

Stay in touch We hope you enjoyed reading this issue of Health Matters and would love to hear your views on the

newsletter.

If you would like to submit stories or offer any feedback on the content please get in touch with Helen

Groom (helen.groom@ghnt.nhs.uk) or Ross Wigham (ross.wigham@ghnt.nhs.uk). Thanks for reading

and please continue sending us your story ideas and suggestions.