£1m for Royal Glamorgan Hospital

Carers’ Champion conference 2014

New medical education facility in Merthyr Tydfil

Goodbye Anne after 52 years in the NHS

State-of-the-art renal unit opens

For Welsh language translation

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April 2014

WE ARE A NO SMOKING HEALTH BOARD

PLEASE DON’T SMOKE AT ANY OF OUR HOSPITALS

CONTENT

3.£1M FUNDING FOR THE ROYAL GLAMORGAN HOSPITAL

4.FINALISTS IN NHS WALES AWARDS

5.CARERS’ CHAMPION CONFERENCE 2014

6.NEW MEDICAL EDUCATION FACILITY IN MERTHYR TYDFIL

7.GOODBYE ANNE AFTER 52 YEARS IN THE NHS

8.COLIN PIKE RETIRES AFTER 38 YEARS

10.STATE-OF-THE-ART RENAL UNIT OPENS IN MERTHYR TYDFIL

£1m funding has been awarded to develop an innovative psychiatric liaison service and acute assessment service at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.

During a joint visit by Finance Min-ister, Jane Hutt and Health Minis-ter, Mark Drakeford to the Mental Health Unit at the Royal Glamor-gan Hospital in Llantrisant, it was announced that Cwm Taf Univer-sity Health Board is to be awarded £1m from the Welsh Government’s Invest-to-Save Fund.

In making the announcement Finance Minister, Jane Hutt said: “Through Invest-to-Save, we are pro-viding short-term funding to enable transformational change to happen in public services that will lead to long-term benefits.”

An outcome of the recently con-cluded South Wales Programme was to recognise the Royal Glamorgan Hospital as a ‘beacon site’. This is a special status awarded to a small number of hospitals across the UK who have been formally identified as leading the way in developing new models of care that others can learn from.

Allison Williams, chief executive at Cwm Taf University Health Board, said: “We’re delighted to be awarded

this funding from Welsh Govern-ment.

“The South Wales Programme has concluded and we’re in to the next phase. Our task now is to innovate and to do it quickly.

“This funding gives us opportuni-ties to innovate with new models of care which will serve our communi-ties better in the future and to be a beacon not only for the rest of NHS Wales but across the UK.“

£500,000 of funding will be used to establish a consultant-led psychiatric liaison service for people with men-tal health needs.

Dr Mark Winston, clinical director for adult mental health at Cwm Taf University Health Board, said: “In Cwm Taf around one third of all inpatients have mental health prob-lems, and they currently receive no service to meet their mental health needs while in an acute hospital.

“The psychiatric liaison service will provide evaluation and treatment of patients who present with physical symptoms but who also have psychi-atric and emotional ones.

“This will help to improve both physical and mental health outcomes for patients.”

Talking about the new acute assess-ment service Dr Ruth Alcolado, clin-ical director for acute medicine and A&E at Cwm Taf University Health Board, said: “Many of our patients require rapid assessment, investiga-tion, diagnosis and follow up but not necessarily a hospital admission.”

“The availability of early assessment and senior decision making when patients arrive at hospital is widely recognised as being the most ef-fective way to manage emergency pressures and ensure the patient is seen by the right person at the right time.”

“The new acute assessment service will help reduce the time people spend in hospital.”

Health Minister, Mark Drakeford, said: “Invest-to-Save funding is helping the health board to accel-erate key elements of its three-year plan and to respond to the realities and opportunities of the South Wales Programme.

“The improvement initiatives being taken forward by Cwm Taf have po-tential across the whole of the NHS in Wales and I look to other health boards considering and possibly adopting similar approaches.”

£1m funding announced for the Royal Glamorgan Hospital

page 3

Cwm Taf University Health Board is celebrating after being selected as a finalist in this year’s NHS Wales Awards.

Its project to improve patient flow and outcomes is up for the Improving Patient Safety Award (supported by the Health Foun-dation).

Staff identified delays within the system and looked for ways of improving the flow of the patient’s journey in acute, community and primary care services.

This included reducing the length of time patients waited in acci-dent and emergency, improved discharge times from hospital and daily ward rounds to en-sure all staff are informed about next steps needed for individual patients.

Kath McGrath, assistant director of operations for unscheduled care said: “We are delighted that our work on improving patient flow within our hospitals and the community has been recognised by the judges of the NHS Wales Awards.

“To be selected as a finalist is a great achievement and shows that Cwm Taf University Health Board is dedicated to delivering new ways of working that are trans-forming healthcare services for patients.”

The annual NHS Wales Awards celebrate the work of organisa-tions and teams across Wales in delivering excellent care and the

winners will be announced in a ceremony on July 2, 2014.

This year the Awards received more than 140 entries and the judging panel of NHS experts had the tough task of selecting the 24 finalists in each of the eight award categories.

The next stage is for the judging panels to visit each finalist to find

out more and see first-hand the benefits they’ve brought to pa-tients.

Each judging panel is made up of experts drawn from across NHS Wales, the public sector and pro-fessional bodies.

Welsh Health Minister Mark Drakeford said that the standard of entries demonstrates the pro-fessionalism, dedication and skill of NHS Wales staff.

He said, “I am always impressed with the high quality of entries to the NHS Wales Awards. They demonstrate the commitment of our staff to provide safe, efficient and compassionate care.

“This annual event is a great oppor-tunity to celebrate excellence and showcase the talents of teams across Wales who work continuously to make im-provements that benefit patients in hospital and the community.

“I would like to thank everyone who entered and wish good luck to all those who have made the finals.”

The NHS Wales Awards are

organised by 1000 Lives Im-provement, part of Public Health Wales, which supports organisa-tions and individuals to deliver improved health, healthcare outcomes and user experience in NHS Wales. They were launched in 2008 to celebrate the 60th an-niversary of the NHS.

The winners of the NHS Wales Awards 2014 will be announced in a ceremony at the Swalec Sta-dium, Cardiff on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

For a full list of finalists please visit www.nhswalesawards.org.uk

For the latest news follow us on Twitter @NHSWalesAwards

Cwm Taf University Health Board is finalist in NHS Wales Awards

“To be selected as a finalist is a great achievement and shows that Cwm Taf University Health Board is dedicated to delivering new ways of working that are transforming healthcare services for patients.”

page 4

The first Carers Champion Con-ference was held by Cwm Taf University Health Board in March at Ty Dysgu, Nantgarw to launch the Carer Awareness e-learning toolkit which will be used to train staff across the health board as well as Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and the third sector to raise awareness of carers. One of the key aims of the Carers Mea-sure is to identify carers ensuring they have access to relevant and timely information.

The conference showcased carers and carers champions and the many local support services avail-able. Partners, champions and carers themselves were able to visit information stands to gather information which would help their knowledge of the services that can be provided.

The day got off to a fantastic start with Dr Chris Jones, chairman at Cwm Taf University Health Board inspiring the audience with his personal experience of caring for a relative and how difficult but rewarding it can be.  He said: “Without carers the health service wouldn’t be as it is today, they play a huge part in caring for peo-ple at home.  We must support these people whenever possible. 

The e-learning kit is an excellent tool that is easily accessible and has a wealth of information to help staff ”.

Professor Donna Mead, dean of faculty of health sport and science at the University of South Wales spoke about working together for the carer.  She shared her per-sonal experience on being a carer for members of her family and the problems she faced within the system.  She said: “The care of patients and their families is paramount.”

Her colleague Ian Mansell, student support adviser at the university who works in part-nership with the health board on raising awareness of carers to student nurses also spoke. He said: “Students will have access to the e-learning toolkit in their first year of studying and will have hands on experience when they go out on placement on what different care individuals require. 

“Carers workshops will be held where carers convey their needs. This will provide students with the necessary knowledge of the importance of identifying car-ers at an early stage. They will speak to the students about what a patient would expect, how they behave, dignity and respect

and many other issues that arise when caring for someone.   The students respond much better to someone who has actual person-al experience rather than being lectured to by a tutor.” 

One of the carers Ceri Higgins who was at the conference spoke of caring for her parents. She gave an excellent account of a carers perspective on the day to day of caring for someone and the difficulties she faces.  She said: “I care for my mother who suffers with depression and my father who has dementia.  The ‘profes-sional’ people that we’ve seen have on many occasions misin-terpreted what care is actually needed for my parents.  I want basic human rights for them and good support. I want the knowl-edge that these people can give us - the correct help and advice. This is essential.”

Throughout the day two DVD’s were shown highlighting the problems that people can face whilst caring.  The first one ‘Who Cares for the Carer’ and the second ‘Young Carers’.  The young carers DVD will be incorporated into schools to help raise aware-ness of young carers. 

Mark Harris, Telecare Manager, Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council also presented at the conference. Mark demon-strated the equipment available to people to be safe at home. The last presentation of the day came from Ken Davies who works for The Department of Works and Pensions.  He gave the latest information on what benefits are available for carers and the people they care for.

There were stands from many organisations with up to date

Carers Champion Conference 2014

page 5

information to share. Grayson Jones from Rhondda Cynon Taff Social Services who works for the short term intervention team said: “It was great to come and see the information that is available for people to access.  The display stands had excellent information on them and Ceri’s story was in-spirational.  It gives you an insight into how carers feel about the support they receive.  This knowl-edge can help us improve the care we provide for the future.”

Maria Thomas, associate board member and champion for carers at the health board, Anne Morris, carers champion for Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council and Sarah Bowen, carers champion for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council all gave information on caring in the community, ways to improve and developments that have been made, showing a positive way forward.

Caroline Roberts, staff nurse for the health board and carers champion said: “It’s been a very informative day and it’s helped me have a better understanding of what information I can access.  Relatives ask me regularly for information to help their families. The conference has raised my awareness and the e-learning tool is an excellent idea.”

The day ended with closing remarks from Ruth Treharne, director of planning and perfor-mance and Councillor Mike Fo-rey, independent member.  Ruth thanked everyone for coming, saying:  “I’m amazed by all the information that is available.  The e-learning toolkit is a fantastic way of gathering the information into one area where staff can access.” Mike Forey spoke about

the importance of carers and the role they carry out. He said: “Vulnerable people and their car-er need help and support and the e-learning toolkit is an excellent way of having very important in-formation to hand.  I pay tribute to the carers and champions as they have worked together with partners. There’s been a huge

achievement in helping raising awareness of carers.”

To access the e-learning toolkit use https://learning.wales.nhs.uk/ If you have any queries please contact David Watkins, cwm taf carers measure co-ordinator on 01443 744800.

Work has started to build a new £2.8m undergraduate medical ed-ucation facility in Merthyr Tydfil.

Due to open in January 2015, the new education facility will provide medical students with practical learning experience as part of the new C21 curriculum developed by Cardiff University.

The new curriculum places a greater emphasis on theoretical learning combined with direct patient contact in the early years of doctors in training.

In the first two years of the new curriculum, students from Car-diff University will be placed with the health board for com-munity based learning.  During the course of their placement, students will attend case-based teaching sessions at Keir Hardie University Health Park, applying their learning to real NHS situa-tions, involving real ‘volunteer in-

structor patients’.   This teaching is supplemented with visits to GP surgeries and patients at home, drug and alcohol teams and care of the elderly community teams. 

Dr Christopher Jones, chairman of the health board, said: “This is just the beginning of our medical

teaching unit. When it is com-pleted, the whole building will form the foundation for encour-aging young people to come and work in this area and be the doctors of the future.”

The Dean of Medicine at Cardiff University, Professor John Bligh said: “This building is a sign of the enthusiasm and commitment of the health board to encourage young people to take up a career in medicine and to ensure that the health board area attracts the very best doctors in the future.”

“This is just the beginning of our medical teaching unit. When it is completed, the whole building will form the foundation for encouraging young people to come and work in this area and be the doctors of the future.”

Work commences on the new undergraduate medical education facility in Merthyr Tydfil

page 6

AFTER 52 YEARS of working in the NHS Anne Roberts has decid-ed to start taking life a little easier and retire. Anne from George-town in Merthyr Tydfil has two children, two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Anne started her working life in 1957 as a shop assistant for W H Smith but after a few years she realised that it wasn’t the career she wanted and decided to follow her heart. What she really want-ed to do was nursing. Starting in Merthyr General Hospital not long after as a trainee was very different. Anne said: “In those days you would do your nurse training at the hospital and you had no choice but to live in the residences -you also had to be in your room every night by 10 o’clock as the matron would do her rounds checking you were in your bed. However, we found a way round that by climbing through the window.

“Another stipulation was that you didn’t get married while training. I remember asking the matron if I could get married before my two years of training was up. I didn’t wait for the reply.”

Once qualified Anne contin-ued to work at Merthyr General Hospital on the surgical ward as a staff nurse and she absolutely loved it. She knew she had found the career she wanted and loved. Anne recalls the tragic day of the Aberfan disaster. She says: “It’s something I’ll never forget, it was so sad and devastating for so many families and the communi-ty. I was pregnant at the time so while the other nurses went down to see if they could help, my job was making sure the ward was ready for any survivors. No one ever came.”

Anne took a short career break of around 18 months to start her family and had two sons Huw and Geraint. She then returned

to Merthyr General to work as a night sister which was very different in those days says Anne. “You were expected to multitask in quite a few different areas. I remember a patient saying to me: ‘I have seen you in scrubs for theatre, cooking food for staff, covering for the receptionist as well as being the sister in charge’. I didn’t think about it said Anne, that’s how it was in those days; you just got on with it.

Wanting to work days to spend time with her family Anne fin-ished as a night sister in 1981 and continued the next 15 years as a health visitor. Anne says: “I loved the idea of working with families and working on the preventative aspect of nursing. This new chal-lenge based me in Hollies Health Centre and later Pontcae Surgery which was the first purpose built primary care centre in the area. Having all of the services under one roof was fantastic and the communication between services

52 years of working in the NHS

Picture courtesy of www.cofiophoto.com

page 7

After nearly 38 years service, Col-in Pike, 59, the health board’s lead nurse for infection prevention

and control is retiring.

Colin didn’t always want to work

in the NHS! Following his atten-dance at Hendrefadog secondary modern school in Tylorstown and Llwynypia technical college, he went to the college of food tech-nology in Cardiff in 1973 where he completed a three year course.

In early 1976 Colin decided to head for the bright lights and started his working life in London in a bread-making research unit where he undertook technical analysis and research for bread products.

After a short spell in London, he returned to Wales to work in a restaurant in Llwynypia but in August 1977 he left the restaurant to take up an auxiliary nursing post in the mental health unit at East Glamorgan Hospital whilst waiting for a date to commence nurse training.

He didn’t have long to wait be-

Some things will never be the same – Colin retires after 38 years

was excellent. It definitely benefit-ed the patients care.”

The following eight years saw Anne becoming a senior nurse in primary care. This was for North Glamorgan NHS Trust, which was previously the Merthyr and Cynon Health Unit. Anne man-aged health visiting and she also worked in partnership with other organisations to help set up Mer-thyr’s first school nursing service.

She said: “We trained the school nurses and saw them go into the schools in the area. It was so rewarding and a huge achieve-ment for us as a team”. Although enjoying her job, an opportunity came up for Anne to work as head of children and young peo-ple’s services for Cwm Taf Health

Board. Anne applied and got the job and although a huge challenge with NHS financial pressures and different ways of working she rose to the challenge as she knew she could make a difference to the Merthyr, Cynon and Rhondda community.”

In May 2007 Anne was awarded an MBE in the New Years Hon-ours list and attended the Lanes-borough Hotel for a champagne afternoon tea where she received her award for her services and time in the NHS. This Anne describes as the highlight of her career.

Anne finishes her career as head of paediatrics, neonatal and com-munity services and says she will still look for opportunities where

she can influence the health agen-da in the future.

Anne says: “Working and liv-ing in the area and serving the community of Merthyr Cynon & Rhondda Valleys has been a great privilege for me and I hope I have made a difference to the families in the area.

“My plans for the immediate fu-ture include a trip to Mexico with some friends and then spending time with my grandchildren as well as walking my lovely dog Charlie.

“All that’s left to say is a huge thank you to all the people I have worked with in my long career, it has been a pleasure to work with you all and I truly believe togeth-er we can make a difference.”

page 8

cause he started his training in the school of nursing at the hospi-tal in 1978.

It was at that time Colin left home and moved into the nurses’ resi-dence.

He has happy memories of ‘corridor’ parties and bus trips to bier kellers and of being a keen supporter of the East Glamorgan rugby team.

He also remembers fondly cooking on an electric ring in the residences and says that on Shrove Tuesday there’d be a long queue down the corridor for his pancakes!!

Italian and Indian food are Colin’s favourites and he says that the wife of a doctor at the hospital showed him how to cook Indian food properly, something he’s never forgotten.

Colin says he made lots of friends during that time with whom he still keeps in touch.

After qualifying in 1981, Colin worked as a staff nurse in ITU in East Glamorgan Hospital. Over the following three years he also worked in general surgery, urol-ogy, ENT, ophthalmology and acute medicine.

In 1984 he became a charge nurse on the general surgery/urology ward and stayed there until 1991 when he wanted a change in career. He applied for the post of infection control nurse and the rest, as they say, is history!

The new post supported the con-trol of infection doctor, who at that time was Dr Boyce, consul-tant pathologist.

Colin says he had a desk and tele-phone on his first day in the office but no pad or pen! The role was new and very challenging and in the early days he read lots of books to improve his knowledge and attended a 12 month infec-tion control training course in Manchester University in 1992.

As well as working in East Glam-organ Hospital he also worked in the community looking after resi-dents of Taff Ely and the Rhondda before moving to the Royal Glam-organ Hospital in Llantrisant.

Colin has been a member of the infection prevention nurses asso-ciation, and supported organising the Welsh branch study for over ten years. He has also contributed to national groups across Wales in the development of guidance, policy and advice. During this time he became a member of the editorial board for the infection prevention and control journal, following publication of several of his articles.

Thinking back on his career, Colin said: “I have been very lucky in my career and with staff in the team over the years. I have always felt a general feeling of support and commitment.

“Hopefully I have listened to their suggestions and have tried to be flexible with new ways of working to develop IPC services.”

Colin added: “The profile of IPC over the years has significantly increased the awareness of how important infection control is in the healthcare environment. This has been supported by the health board, and national organisa-tions.”

Over the years, the team has

grown and now includes 8 nurs-es and 2 administrative support officers.

On a personal level, Colin has a twin brother Jeffery and a sister Helen who have both retired. There’s only eleven months be-tween them and in March every year they are the same age!! What a challenge for his mum, Mair, who is 90 years old and still lives in Tylorstown.

Colin enjoys cooking, dining out, and visiting the theatre. The team has also enjoyed Colin’s culinary delights over the years – their favourite being roast beetroot! He said: “They also like my soups and casseroles in the winter”.

Holidays and travelling are also on his list during retirement but before he jets off he will have to make arrangements for his two pets – Soffy a three year old cavachon and cat Willow.

After having been in post for ap-proximately 22 years, Colin is the second longest serving infection prevention and control nurse in Wales.

Colin said: “I have enjoyed the diversity of the role with no day being exactly the same.

“I will miss working with friends and colleagues when I retire but I am hoping to replace some of those challenges in my retirement with voluntary work and learn-ing a language, and being more active.”

Friends and colleagues said their farewells to Colin on March 21 at Caesars Arms, Creigau.

page 9

Health Minister Mark Drakeford has been joined by Welsh legend Max Boyce to open officially a state-of-the-art renal unit, in which the Welsh Government has invested over £2m in capital.

Built to replace the old unit in Prince Charles Hospital, which has been experiencing mainte-nance problems with the fabric of the current building, air condi-tioning and water supply, the new facility will improve the patient experience in a number of signifi-cant ways, such as: It has more capacity than the old-er unit, an additional 17 stations, allowing all suitable patients to be treated locally, rather than face the need to travel,

There will also be cubicles for increased privacy for patients,  The unit can provide local treat-ment for a wider range of patients than the original unit, such as those with, or queried to have, a blood borne virus,

The space around each dialysis station has been increased, reduc-ing the risk of cross infection or contamination and making possi-ble the use of mobile hoists.The unit also contains a self care area, which once in use will further encourage greater inde-pendence, a key factor in manag-ing long term conditions such as Chronic Kidney Disease. It also contains a training area for home dialysis, providing a helpful tran-sition between unit and home.

Pictured left to right: Mark Drak-eford AM, Minister for Health, Max Boyce and Dr Shafi Malik, locum consultant nephrologist.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Even in these financially challenging times, we are serious about investing in infrastructure, technologies and services to help support the NHS in Wales to deliver essential services to pa-tients. At a time of such perceived uncertainty, we are committed to improving services in Wales to

make them safe and sustainable for now and into the future.  “We want to con-tinue to modernise facilities and increase capacity for dialysis in a number of sites across Wales as part of a pro-gramme of development in renal dialysis care. “Above all else, this new unit has more space, greater opportunity for privacy, more light and is a welcoming area, all of which will help improve the patient experi-ence.”

Max Boyce MBE, Patron of Kid-ney Wales Foundation said: “State of the art facilities are es-sential for the patients here today. Patients deserve the best and everyone from the Welsh Govern-ment to the patients to the staff of Cwm Taf University Health Board should be congratulated as we improve services and facilities for dialysis. It is so important to mark the success of this opening together.”

Dr Chris Jones, chairman of Cwm Taf University Health Board, said: “I am sure all of us would want to give our best wishes to the dialy-sis patients and their families who will use this wonderful facility.  “This will be of great benefit to the community and I want to thank the staff for their profes-sionalism and hard work.  “Well done to all involved.”

State-of-the-art renal unit opens in Merthyr Tydfil

page 10

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