suht Leading the way in adult cystic fibrosis care

Transcription

1 5 Swine flu jab trialled in Southampton proves effective for children Two swine flu vaccines tested on children at Southampton General Hospital provided effective protection for youngsters against the virus. Southampton study lead, said: The results of this study are exciting as they show that the new adjuvanted vaccine was highly effective even in children under three years old, which is not the case in traditional flu vaccines. Also, parents will be interested to know that the initial study data was used by the Department of Health last November to guide the national immunisation programme that offered one dose of swine flu vaccine to all children under five, so Southampton children directly helped influence national health policy during the pandemic. Results from a study published in the British Medical Journal show there was a high immune response against swine flu and that the side effects were minor. A total of 277 children from the city were involved in the trial, run at the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, during September through to early December before the Department of Health s national vaccination programme was rolled out. In total, over 900 children aged between six months and 12 years from Southampton, Bristol, Oxford, Exeter and St George s in London participated in the project. Of the two vaccines, 98% of children under three responded well to two doses of the jab containing immunity boosting agents known as the adjuvanted or split vaccine while 80% responded to two doses of the whole vaccine derived from cell culture. Although the adjuvanted vaccine was the most commonly used on children during the pandemic, it was also more likely to cause side effects such as fever. Meanwhile, 99% of children aged over three years responded well to the adjuvanted version and 95% for the whole virus type. Dr Saul Faust, a specialist in children s immunity and infectious diseases at the University of Southampton and the Doctors given prestigious national advisory posts Two doctors based at Southampton General Hospital have been selected to become part of the government Chief Medical Officer s clinical adviser scheme. Dr Duncan McPherson, specialist registrar in anaesthesia, and Dr Toni Ardolino, orthopaedic speciality trainee, will use the year-long placement, which begins in September, to develop their skills and knowledge in healthcare management, leadership and policy. Dr McPherson, who will work on projects being undertaken by the National Patient Safety Agency aimed at driving out errors in hospitals, said: These roles will give us an extremely valuable insight into major national level healthcare work, prepare us for the future and enable us to contribute to some important projects. His role will split into two sections, incorporating research and study for a higher degree with day-to-day analysis of reported clinical errors and relations with large bodies such as the World Health Organisation. Trust hosts national infection prevention conference Staff at hosted a national conference on fighting superbugs. Members of Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust s infection prevention team were joined by leading specialists to discuss the progress made in tackling infections in The Trust is one of eight Showcase Hospitals within the UK currently evaluating the implementation of new technologies and equipment with the potential to fight Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI). The event included talks by Professor Brian Duerden, the Department of Health s inspector of microbiology and infection control, and Tracey Cooper, vice president of the Infection Prevention Society. Figures for 2009/10 show cases of MRSA dropped 74% from 27 to seven, while incidences of Clostridium difficile decreased by 51% from 289 to 143. Princess Anne maternity documentary wins BAFTA A groundbreaking documentary filmed at Princess Anne Hospital was named best factual series at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards. Channel 4 s One Born Every Minute, filmed over the period of a month using 40 fixed cameras, consisted of eight one-hour episodes that took viewers into the lives of expectant mothers and their families. Among the many poignant stories of the series was that of 22-year-old Lisa Hall, whose baby Jack had to be delivered by emergency caesarean 25 days early and was immediately taken to the neonatal intensive care unit. He had to be treated for a condition called gastroschisis, where a hole in the abdomen causes some of the bowel to come through to the outside of the body. More than 3.5million people tuned in as Lisa, with her partner Will, held Jack after a ten-day wait and saw the family head back to Dorset County Hospital after a month in Southampton until he was well enough to go home. Dr Jane Rogers, consultant midwife at the Princess Anne, said: We are all absolutely delighted for Channel 4 and production company Dragonfly TV on achieving such a coveted honour for what was a truly remarkable series created on the wards of our hospital and in the homes of our patients. The series offered viewers a real insight into the birthing experience from following the emotional journeys of families, to the pleasures and challenges that staff face every day on maternity wards and feedback from people across the country has been extremely positive. Cancer centre awarded high profile status A Southampton support and information centre for patients affected by cancer and their family and friends has won national recognition for the service it provides. The Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre, based at Southampton General Hospital, has become one of only 14 sites in the UK awarded the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark for comfort and level of information. Since opening in June 2005, the centre, a partnership between Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support, has seen more than 40,000 people. The centre s manager, co-ordinator, volunteers and complementary therapists offer people opportunities to talk, access to support groups and help with practical matters. The information and support service is available by visiting the centre on B level at Southampton General Hospital from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday. The SUHT Journal is produced for key stakeholders by the communications team at Trust. Please your feedback and story ideas to sarah.cole@suht.swest.nhs.uk or telephone Hospital trust staff honoured by Queen Judy Gillow, director of nursing at Trust, has been made an MBE for services to healthcare and Suzanne Cunningham, a consultant midwife at the Princess Anne Hospital, has been awarded an OBE for services to midwifery. Since taking on her role in 2004, Judy has overseen a dramatic fall in infection rates that has recently seen SUHT named by the Department of Health as the best performing large teaching trust for reducing MRSA. Suzanne, who qualified as a midwife in 1986, was one of the UK s first two consultant midwives and performs the role of clinical director for maternity and the newborn at the South Central Strategic Health Authority alongside her day job in suht journal news from university hospitals Leading the way in adult cystic fibrosis care Patients with cystic fibrosis are living longer than ever with advances in care offered at Southampton General Hospital reflecting improved prognosis. Patient surveys give positive results Patients continue to rate the care they receive at teaching hospitals highly. Results from regular Picker Institute surveys conducted across SUHT throughout the year show 92% of patients consistently rate their care as good, very good or excellent and over 94% of patients would recommend our hospitals to their family and friends. Julia Barton, associate director of nursing, said: This year we have dramatically improved patient privacy and dignity, seen in the improving responses to questions about mixed-sex accommodation. We have also increased the amount of written information given to patients on discharge and more patients are receiving copies of hospital letters sent to GPs, while patients are also telling us that more doctors are including them in discussions about their care. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that mainly affects the lungs and digestive system, but can involve other organs, resulting in ill health from birth or a young age. Previously, treatment for the condition focused mainly on paediatric care due to shortened life expectancy, but over the last 20 years, better treatments and nutritional help for young people have led to a dramatic increase in survival. There has been a move away from sufferers dying in their teenage years to now living into their mid-30s and beyond with optimal care and treatment, it is estimated that 80% of children born today with cystic fibrosis should live into their mid-40s. This has resulted in expansion of SUHT s adult cystic fibrosis unit, which is the regional specialist centre for the disease and treats patients from as far afield as Brighton, Yeovil and Jersey. We are seeing an ever increasing number of patients with cystic fibrosis here in Southampton, with patients living longer than would have been expected in the past, so our services needed to grow to accommodate this, said Dr Julia Nightingale, clinical lead for cystic fibrosis. A specialist team comprising of consultants, specialist nurses, a psychologist, physiotherapists, a social worker, dietitians, a pharmacist and administrative staff is now able to carry out extra weekly clinics and offer emergency care to patients following the opening of four new treatment rooms. In addition, upgrading of the department has also seen the creation of a quiet room for staff to talk to patients and their families in comfort, while two larger meeting rooms have enabled the growing team to be accommodated while ensuring they operate at the heart of the unit. Dr Nightingale added: Our department is now centralised in one area of the hospital, with all our clinics taking place in the same dedicated facilities, giving patients a purpose-built environment and our team a real sense of identity. Photo Life In View

2 2 3 Online cancellation form gives patients more flexibility Eye expert uncovers effective treatment for rare genetic condition Patients at university hospitals are now able to cancel their outpatient appointments at any time of the day or night via a new online form. Available at the new web form offers patients with outpatient appointments at Southampton General and the Princess Anne hospitals, along with some clinic appointments at the Royal South Hants, an alternative to phoning the number on their letter. They can choose to cancel outright or ask to be rebooked in which case they will receive a call from the booking office to arrange a new date. The new system aims to help reduce the number of patients who fail to notify the Trust that they are unable to attend their appointments and, if submitted with enough notice, will result in a higher number of cancelled slots being reallocated to other patients. The online cancellation form provides patients attending outpatient appointments with another way of informing us that they need to cancel or rearrange, said Adrian Byrne, director of information management and technology. Thousands of patients fail to inform us they are unable to attend their appointments every year, but we acknowledge that it hasn t always been easy for people to get in touch by phone because of work and other commitments that have prevented them reaching the booking office. He added: We hope this development will make things easier for patients who would prefer to contact us via our website at a time convenient to them and improve the Trust s efficiency by filling cancelled slots that would be lost if people do not get in touch. Trust commits support to Ghanaian Health Service SUHT has teamed up with the Ghanaian Health Service and children s rights organisation Afrikids to strengthen healthcare for people in Ghana. Trust chief executive Mark Hackett, Ghana Health Service regional director Lucio Derry and Afrikids Ghana director Nich Kumah marked the occasion with an agreement signing ceremony at Along with voluntary staff society Southampton Overseas Health and Medicine (SOHMED), Trust staff will work in conjunction with Afrikids to help provide the Ghanaian Health Service with medical skills, training and guidance. Dr Ollie Ross, SOHMED lead and chair of the Southampton-Afrikids-Ghana Steering Group, said: This partnership will enable us to support hard-pressed healthcare workers, providing hospital care to the people of the Upper East Region in Ghana and we are all very excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. In my view In In a period of uncertainty, we must focus on what we know will be the important themes for our hospital in the years to come. At SUHT, we continue to look at ways of improving our systems to aid productivity, enabling us to meet our ambitious cost savings programme while driving up quality. It is not acceptable to be wasting taxpayers money on confusing, poorly managed and out of date processes for handling patient journeys. Improving our outpatient systems will be key to improving patient experience and reducing unnecessary follow-ups. IT systems are part of the solution, but cultural change to drive higher standards of customer care will also be essential. Linked to this is our consultant teams redesigning their outpatients services to avoid unnecessary appointments. The other focus, of course, is activity management. We know there will not be enough money in the local health system to pay hospitals for all the services they currently offer. We face a challenge of reducing activity by 20m from our main commissioners in Hampshire and This should not be viewed as a crisis, however, because we know we are still providing significant care that could be provided elsewhere. While the system reform board works on large-scale pathway changes that will transform care services across the area, SUHT clinicians have been working with great energy to identify patient pathways that could be remodelled for greater efficiency or transferred out of hospital. This is a significant shift in emphasis, but not an unwelcome one. When I talk to our staff, their eagerness to prevent unnecessary referrals and move more patient care out of the hospital is clear. Mark Hackett Chief Executive 4 A leading eye expert based at Southampton General Hospital has saved the sight of two patients through a groundbreaking use of the drug Avastin. Professor Andrew Lotery, a consultant ophthalmologist at Southampton Eye Unit and a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southampton, is using the drug to treat Sorsby s Fundus Dystrophy (SFD), an early onset form of macular degeneration. The rare genetic condition meant the two patients, who are both in their 30s, suffered blurred vision and a general deterioration of sight. Avastin, which halts the growth of blood vessels and stems bleeding, is commonly injected into the eyes of patients with wet age related macular degeneration (AMD) the leading cause of blindness in the western world in people over 50. When used to treat wet AMD, where new blood vessels grow in the retina and bleed, causing scarring and permanent loss of vision, approximately 90% of patients see stabilisation of vision and 30% of patients see their vision recover. Prognosis in SFD is very poor, as patients lose central visual function in the fourth or fifth decades of life mainly because of the development of new blood vessels in the eye, and it is known patients respond poorly to conventional treatments. Professor Lotery, whose findings have been accepted by US journal Retinal Cases & Brief Reports, said: As patients in the past have not responded well to treatments for SFD and because the mutations that lead to the condition are Trust medical director Dr Michael Marsh has welcomed a delegation of three leading Chinese health representatives to Mr Li, head of the Qingdao Health Bureau, Madam Song, director of international relations, and Mr Lan Junfreng, organisational director of Qingdao Health School, visited to discuss the opportunities for professionals from the north eastern region of China. They explored the idea of doctor exchange programmes in Southampton before touring the oral and maxillofacial department. Volunteer award still not yet fully understood, we wanted to investigate other methods of treatment, including the use of bevacizumab (Avastin). We have discovered that the drug has prevented loss of sight and improved vision in the younger patients suffering from SFD over a long period and this is an exciting new treatment for what is a rare condition affecting young people. A volunteer who developed a unique work experience training programme for students at has received a top regional accolade. Malcolm Kitson, who has so far helped to provide support, mentoring and supervision to 650 students looking to gain experience in the NHS, was presented with a highly commended prize at the Amazing People Awards Award for promoting career development Annual report 2009/10 available online Trust s annual report for 2009/10 is now available online at It details our performance and achievements Chinese health representatives meet SUHT staff throughout the year, including the steps we have taken to tackle infection that has resulted in us being the best performing teaching hospital in the country for tackling MRSA. A SUHT project to help clinical support workers progress in their careers has been commended by the regional health authority for its success. The widening participation team has spent over ten years developing initiatives with clinical teams to help support staff learn new skills to enable them to take on more responsibilities in the workplace. In recognition of the Trust s commitment to creating personal development opportunities, NHS South Central Strategic Health Authority presented the Developing Skills by Promoting Progression award at an event in Newbury. National pilot to get pain sufferers back to work The pain management team at is participating in a pioneering national scheme to help people with persistent medical problems remain in or get back to work. Launched earlier this year, the pilot is a combined initiative between Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, local primary care trusts and employment opportunities group Remploy, which provides support to the disabled and others who face barriers to work. The project has seen the introduction of two Department of Health-funded Remploy advisers who liaise with staff at the Trust and in primary care services to manage and support people in need of professional healthcare advice and treatment. Patients suffering from chronic pain are referred by GPs, paper triaged and offered an assessment appointment. They are then either cared for by community pain teams or referred to specialists at Southampton General Hospital in a bid to get them fit for employment. Whether a patient is seen in the community or in hospital, the two Remploy advisers work closely with each individual to create a tailored package of support during treatment for those who have stopped working or are unable to find positions due to their medical conditions. As well as helping to search for jobs and conducting work and skills assessments to develop personalised action plans, the advisors provide access to local job vacancies and offer an in-work support service for as long as required. Dr Jane Hazelgrove, director of medical education and a consultant in pain medicine, said: This pilot project is an excellent opportunity for us to highlight how we use our links with primary care to give patients the tailored treatment pathway they need, while also offering patients employment support through our dedicated Remploy advisors something that hasn t been available to chronic pain sufferers in the past. Advanced SpyGlass speeds up diagnosis A new hi-tech endoscope being used by doctors at Southampton General Hospital is revolutionising diagnosis for patients with liver and gallbladder conditions. The SpyGlass system, which consists of a fibre optic probe attached to a camera head, allows gastroenterologists to explore the tubes inside the liver and visualise what they previously would only have been able to look at on x-rays. The advanced tool enables biopsies to be taken from inside the bile ducts during the examination, improving the doctor s ability to make an accurate diagnosis of or exclude cancer without the need for repeat scans and testing or surgery. Dr Mark Wright, consultant in liver medicine, said: Until the introduction of this technology, if patients scans showed any abnormalities, surgery would often be the only option as there was not enough detail available to rule out cancer. News in brief Heart specialists reach 20,000th milestone Cardiac experts in Southampton have performed their 20,000th lifesaving angioplasty. The procedure, where cardiologists open the arteries of heart attack patients with a balloon, clear them and insert a permanent stent, was first performed at Southampton General Hospital in 1983 as an elective treatment for stable angina. Immediate angioplasty with a stent, known as primary percutaneous coronary intervention (primary PCI), is now recognised as the best treatment for heart attack patients and cardiac centre is the only one in the region to offer the treatment round-the-clock. Presidential role for child health specialist A top child health expert based at has been appointed as president of the British Association of Paediatric Endoscopic Surgeons (BAPES). Henrik Steinbrecher, a consultant paediatric urologist at Southampton General Hospital, will take up his two-year post in November. Hospital prepares for open day SUHT will be holding an open day for members of the public on Saturday, 2 October from 11am to 3pm. Following last year s event, which saw more than 1,000 people visit a range of stands following an A to Z theme, visitors will this time be able to find out about the patient journey through our hospitals.

3 2 3 Online cancellation form gives patients more flexibility Eye expert uncovers effective treatment for rare genetic condition Patients at university hospitals are now able to cancel their outpatient appointments at any time of the day or night via a new online form. Available at the new web form offers patients with outpatient appointments at Southampton General and the Princess Anne hospitals, along with some clinic appointments at the Royal South Hants, an alternative to phoning the number on their letter. They can choose to cancel outright or ask to be rebooked in which case they will receive a call from the booking office to arrange a new date. The new system aims to help reduce the number of patients who fail to notify the Trust that they are unable to attend their appointments and, if submitted with enough notice, will result in a higher number of cancelled slots being reallocated to other patients. The online cancellation form provides patients attending outpatient appointments with another way of informing us that they need to cancel or rearrange, said Adrian Byrne, director of information management and technology. Thousands of patients fail to inform us they are unable to attend their appointments every year, but we acknowledge that it hasn t always been easy for people to get in touch by phone because of work and other commitments that have prevented them reaching the booking office. He added: We hope this development will make things easier for patients who would prefer to contact us via our website at a time convenient to them and improve the Trust s efficiency by filling cancelled slots that would be lost if people do not get in touch. Trust commits support to Ghanaian Health Service SUHT has teamed up with the Ghanaian Health Service and children s rights organisation Afrikids to strengthen healthcare for people in Ghana. Trust chief executive Mark Hackett, Ghana Health Service regional director Lucio Derry and Afrikids Ghana director Nich Kumah marked the occasion with an agreement signing ceremony at Along with voluntary staff society Southampton Overseas Health and Medicine (SOHMED), Trust staff will work in conjunction with Afrikids to help provide the Ghanaian Health Service with medical skills, training and guidance. Dr Ollie Ross, SOHMED lead and chair of the Southampton-Afrikids-Ghana Steering Group, said: This partnership will enable us to support hard-pressed healthcare workers, providing hospital care to the people of the Upper East Region in Ghana and we are all very excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. In my view In In a period of uncertainty, we must focus on what we know will be the important themes for our hospital in the years to come. At SUHT, we continue to look at ways of improving our systems to aid productivity, enabling us to meet our ambitious cost savings programme while driving up quality. It is not acceptable to be wasting taxpayers money on confusing, poorly managed and out of date processes for handling patient journeys. Improving our outpatient systems will be key to improving patient experience and reducing unnecessary follow-ups. IT systems are part of the solution, but cultural change to drive higher standards of customer care will also be essential. Linked to this is our consultant teams redesigning their outpatients services to avoid unnecessary appointments. The other focus, of course, is activity management. We know there will not be enough money in the local health system to pay hospitals for all the services they currently offer. We face a challenge of reducing activity by 20m from our main commissioners in Hampshire and This should not be viewed as a crisis, however, because we know we are still providing significant care that could be provided elsewhere. While the system reform board works on large-scale pathway changes that will transform care services across the area, SUHT clinicians have been working with great energy to identify patient pathways that could be remodelled for greater efficiency or transferred out of hospital. This is a significant shift in emphasis, but not an unwelcome one. When I talk to our staff, their eagerness to prevent unnecessary referrals and move more patient care out of the hospital is clear. Mark Hackett Chief Executive 4 A leading eye expert based at Southampton General Hospital has saved the sight of two patients through a groundbreaking use of the drug Avastin. Professor Andrew Lotery, a consultant ophthalmologist at Southampton Eye Unit and a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southampton, is using the drug to treat Sorsby s Fundus Dystrophy (SFD), an early onset form of macular degeneration. The rare genetic condition meant the two patients, who are both in their 30s, suffered blurred vision and a general deterioration of sight. Avastin, which halts the growth of blood vessels and stems bleeding, is commonly injected into the eyes of patients with wet age related macular degeneration (AMD) the leading cause of blindness in the western world in people over 50. When used to treat wet AMD, where new blood vessels grow in the retina and bleed, causing scarring and permanent loss of vision, approximately 90% of patients see stabilisation of vision and 30% of patients see their vision recover. Prognosis in SFD is very poor, as patients lose central visual function in the fourth or fifth decades of life mainly because of the development of new blood vessels in the eye, and it is known patients respond poorly to conventional treatments. Professor Lotery, whose findings have been accepted by US journal Retinal Cases & Brief Reports, said: As patients in the past have not responded well to treatments for SFD and because the mutations that lead to the condition are Trust medical director Dr Michael Marsh has welcomed a delegation of three leading Chinese health representatives to Mr Li, head of the Qingdao Health Bureau, Madam Song, director of international relations, and Mr Lan Junfreng, organisational director of Qingdao Health School, visited to discuss the opportunities for professionals from the north eastern region of China. They explored the idea of doctor exchange programmes in Southampton before touring the oral and maxillofacial department. Volunteer award still not yet fully understood, we wanted to investigate other methods of treatment, including the use of bevacizumab (Avastin). We have discovered that the drug has prevented loss of sight and improved vision in the younger patients suffering from SFD over a long period and this is an exciting new treatment for what is a rare condition affecting young people. A volunteer who developed a unique work experience training programme for students at has received a top regional accolade. Malcolm Kitson, who has so far helped to provide support, mentoring and supervision to 650 students looking to gain experience in the NHS, was presented with a highly commended prize at the Amazing People Awards Award for promoting career development Annual report 2009/10 available online Trust s annual report for 2009/10 is now available online at It details our performance and achievements Chinese health representatives meet SUHT staff throughout the year, including the steps we have taken to tackle infection that has resulted in us being the best performing teaching hospital in the country for tackling MRSA. A SUHT project to help clinical support workers progress in their careers has been commended by the regional health authority for its success. The widening participation team has spent over ten years developing initiatives with clinical teams to help support staff learn new skills to enable them to take on more responsibilities in the workplace. In recognition of the Trust s commitment to creating personal development opportunities, NHS South Central Strategic Health Authority presented the Developing Skills by Promoting Progression award at an event in Newbury. National pilot to get pain sufferers back to work The pain management team at is participating in a pioneering national scheme to help people with persistent medical problems remain in or get back to work. Launched earlier this year, the pilot is a combined initiative between Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, local primary care trusts and employment opportunities group Remploy, which provides support to the disabled and others who face barriers to work. The project has seen the introduction of two Department of Health-funded Remploy advisers who liaise with staff at the Trust and in primary care services to manage and support people in need of professional healthcare advice and treatment. Patients suffering from chronic pain are referred by GPs, paper triaged and offered an assessment appointment. They are then either cared for by community pain teams or referred to specialists at Southampton General Hospital in a bid to get them fit for employment. Whether a patient is seen in the community or in hospital, the two Remploy advisers work closely with each individual to create a tailored package of support during treatment for those who have stopped working or are unable to find positions due to their medical conditions. As well as helping to search for jobs and conducting work and skills assessments to develop personalised action plans, the advisors provide access to local job vacancies and offer an in-work support service for as long as required. Dr Jane Hazelgrove, director of medical education and a consultant in pain medicine, said: This pilot project is an excellent opportunity for us to highlight how we use our links with primary care to give patients the tailored treatment pathway they need, while also offering patients employment support through our dedicated Remploy advisors something that hasn t been available to chronic pain sufferers in the past. Advanced SpyGlass speeds up diagnosis A new hi-tech endoscope being used by doctors at Southampton General Hospital is revolutionising diagnosis for patients with liver and gallbladder conditions. The SpyGlass system, which consists of a fibre optic probe attached to a camera head, allows gastroenterologists to explore the tubes inside the liver and visualise what they previously would only have been able to look at on x-rays. The advanced tool enables biopsies to be taken from inside the bile ducts during the examination, improving the doctor s ability to make an accurate diagnosis of or exclude cancer without the need for repeat scans and testing or surgery. Dr Mark Wright, consultant in liver medicine, said: Until the introduction of this technology, if patients scans showed any abnormalities, surgery would often be the only option as there was not enough detail available to rule out cancer. News in brief Heart specialists reach 20,000th milestone Cardiac experts in Southampton have performed their 20,000th lifesaving angioplasty. The procedure, where cardiologists open the arteries of heart attack patients with a balloon, clear them and insert a permanent stent, was first performed at Southampton General Hospital in 1983 as an elective treatment for stable angina. Immediate angioplasty with a stent, known as primary percutaneous coronary intervention (primary PCI), is now recognised as the best treatment for heart attack patients and cardiac centre is the only one in the region to offer the treatment round-the-clock. Presidential role for child health specialist A top child health expert based at has been appointed as president of the British Association of Paediatric Endoscopic Surgeons (BAPES). Henrik Steinbrecher, a consultant paediatric urologist at Southampton General Hospital, will take up his two-year post in November. Hospital prepares for open day SUHT will be holding an open day for members of the public on Saturday, 2 October from 11am to 3pm. Following last year s event, which saw more than 1,000 people visit a range of stands following an A to Z theme, visitors will this time be able to find out about the patient journey through our hospitals.

4 2 3 Online cancellation form gives patients more flexibility Eye expert uncovers effective treatment for rare genetic condition Patients at university hospitals are now able to cancel their outpatient appointments at any time of the day or night via a new online form. Available at the new web form offers patients with outpatient appointments at Southampton General and the Princess Anne hospitals, along with some clinic appointments at the Royal South Hants, an alternative to phoning the number on their letter. They can choose to cancel outright or ask to be rebooked in which case they will receive a call from the booking office to arrange a new date. The new system aims to help reduce the number of patients who fail to notify the Trust that they are unable to attend their appointments and, if submitted with enough notice, will result in a higher number of cancelled slots being reallocated to other patients. The online cancellation form provides patients attending outpatient appointments with another way of informing us that they need to cancel or rearrange, said Adrian Byrne, director of information management and technology. Thousands of patients fail to inform us they are unable to attend their appointments every year, but we acknowledge that it hasn t always been easy for people to get in touch by phone because of work and other commitments that have prevented them reaching the booking office. He added: We hope this development will make things easier for patients who would prefer to contact us via our website at a time convenient to them and improve the Trust s efficiency by filling cancelled slots that would be lost if people do not get in touch. Trust commits support to Ghanaian Health Service SUHT has teamed up with the Ghanaian Health Service and children s rights organisation Afrikids to strengthen healthcare for people in Ghana. Trust chief executive Mark Hackett, Ghana Health Service regional director Lucio Derry and Afrikids Ghana director Nich Kumah marked the occasion with an agreement signing ceremony at Along with voluntary staff society Southampton Overseas Health and Medicine (SOHMED), Trust staff will work in conjunction with Afrikids to help provide the Ghanaian Health Service with medical skills, training and guidance. Dr Ollie Ross, SOHMED lead and chair of the Southampton-Afrikids-Ghana Steering Group, said: This partnership will enable us to support hard-pressed healthcare workers, providing hospital care to the people of the Upper East Region in Ghana and we are all very excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. In my view In In a period of uncertainty, we must focus on what we know will be the important themes for our hospital in the years to come. At SUHT, we continue to look at ways of improving our systems to aid productivity, enabling us to meet our ambitious cost savings programme while driving up quality. It is not acceptable to be wasting taxpayers money on confusing, poorly managed and out of date processes for handling patient journeys. Improving our outpatient systems will be key to improving patient experience and reducing unnecessary follow-ups. IT systems are part of the solution, but cultural change to drive higher standards of customer care will also be essential. Linked to this is our consultant teams redesigning their outpatients services to avoid unnecessary appointments. The other focus, of course, is activity management. We know there will not be enough money in the local health system to pay hospitals for all the services they currently offer. We face a challenge of reducing activity by 20m from our main commissioners in Hampshire and This should not be viewed as a crisis, however, because we know we are still providing significant care that could be provided elsewhere. While the system reform board works on large-scale pathway changes that will transform care services across the area, SUHT clinicians have been working with great energy to identify patient pathways that could be remodelled for greater efficiency or transferred out of hospital. This is a significant shift in emphasis, but not an unwelcome one. When I talk to our staff, their eagerness to prevent unnecessary referrals and move more patient care out of the hospital is clear. Mark Hackett Chief Executive 4 A leading eye expert based at Southampton General Hospital has saved the sight of two patients through a groundbreaking use of the drug Avastin. Professor Andrew Lotery, a consultant ophthalmologist at Southampton Eye Unit and a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southampton, is using the drug to treat Sorsby s Fundus Dystrophy (SFD), an early onset form of macular degeneration. The rare genetic condition meant the two patients, who are both in their 30s, suffered blurred vision and a general deterioration of sight. Avastin, which halts the growth of blood vessels and stems bleeding, is commonly injected into the eyes of patients with wet age related macular degeneration (AMD) the leading cause of blindness in the western world in people over 50. When used to treat wet AMD, where new blood vessels grow in the retina and bleed, causing scarring and permanent loss of vision, approximately 90% of patients see stabilisation of vision and 30% of patients see their vision recover. Prognosis in SFD is very poor, as patients lose central visual function in the fourth or fifth decades of life mainly because of the development of new blood vessels in the eye, and it is known patients respond poorly to conventional treatments. Professor Lotery, whose findings have been accepted by US journal Retinal Cases & Brief Reports, said: As patients in the past have not responded well to treatments for SFD and because the mutations that lead to the condition are Trust medical director Dr Michael Marsh has welcomed a delegation of three leading Chinese health representatives to Mr Li, head of the Qingdao Health Bureau, Madam Song, director of international relations, and Mr Lan Junfreng, organisational director of Qingdao Health School, visited to discuss the opportunities for professionals from the north eastern region of China. They explored the idea of doctor exchange programmes in Southampton before touring the oral and maxillofacial department. Volunteer award still not yet fully understood, we wanted to investigate other methods of treatment, including the use of bevacizumab (Avastin). We have discovered that the drug has prevented loss of sight and improved vision in the younger patients suffering from SFD over a long period and this is an exciting new treatment for what is a rare condition affecting young people. A volunteer who developed a unique work experience training programme for students at has received a top regional accolade. Malcolm Kitson, who has so far helped to provide support, mentoring and supervision to 650 students looking to gain experience in the NHS, was presented with a highly commended prize at the Amazing People Awards Award for promoting career development Annual report 2009/10 available online Trust s annual report for 2009/10 is now available online at It details our performance and achievements Chinese health representatives meet SUHT staff throughout the year, including the steps we have taken to tackle infection that has resulted in us being the best performing teaching hospital in the country for tackling MRSA. A SUHT project to help clinical support workers progress in their careers has been commended by the regional health authority for its success. The widening participation team has spent over ten years developing initiatives with clinical teams to help support staff learn new skills to enable them to take on more responsibilities in the workplace. In recognition of the Trust s commitment to creating personal development opportunities, NHS South Central Strategic Health Authority presented the Developing Skills by Promoting Progression award at an event in Newbury. National pilot to get pain sufferers back to work The pain management team at is participating in a pioneering national scheme to help people with persistent medical problems remain in or get back to work. Launched earlier this year, the pilot is a combined initiative between Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, local primary care trusts and employment opportunities group Remploy, which provides support to the disabled and others who face barriers to work. The project has seen the introduction of two Department of Health-funded Remploy advisers who liaise with staff at the Trust and in primary care services to manage and support people in need of professional healthcare advice and treatment. Patients suffering from chronic pain are referred by GPs, paper triaged and offered an assessment appointment. They are then either cared for by community pain teams or referred to specialists at Southampton General Hospital in a bid to get them fit for employment. Whether a patient is seen in the community or in hospital, the two Remploy advisers work closely with each individual to create a tailored package of support during treatment for those who have stopped working or are unable to find positions due to their medical conditions. As well as helping to search for jobs and conducting work and skills assessments to develop personalised action plans, the advisors provide access to local job vacancies and offer an in-work support service for as long as required. Dr Jane Hazelgrove, director of medical education and a consultant in pain medicine, said: This pilot project is an excellent opportunity for us to highlight how we use our links with primary care to give patients the tailored treatment pathway they need, while also offering patients employment support through our dedicated Remploy advisors something that hasn t been available to chronic pain sufferers in the past. Advanced SpyGlass speeds up diagnosis A new hi-tech endoscope being used by doctors at Southampton General Hospital is revolutionising diagnosis for patients with liver and gallbladder conditions. The SpyGlass system, which consists of a fibre optic probe attached to a camera head, allows gastroenterologists to explore the tubes inside the liver and visualise what they previously would only have been able to look at on x-rays. The advanced tool enables biopsies to be taken from inside the bile ducts during the examination, improving the doctor s ability to make an accurate diagnosis of or exclude cancer without the need for repeat scans and testing or surgery. Dr Mark Wright, consultant in liver medicine, said: Until the introduction of this technology, if patients scans showed any abnormalities, surgery would often be the only option as there was not enough detail available to rule out cancer. News in brief Heart specialists reach 20,000th milestone Cardiac experts in Southampton have performed their 20,000th lifesaving angioplasty. The procedure, where cardiologists open the arteries of heart attack patients with a balloon, clear them and insert a permanent stent, was first performed at Southampton General Hospital in 1983 as an elective treatment for stable angina. Immediate angioplasty with a stent, known as primary percutaneous coronary intervention (primary PCI), is now recognised as the best treatment for heart attack patients and cardiac centre is the only one in the region to offer the treatment round-the-clock. Presidential role for child health specialist A top child health expert based at has been appointed as president of the British Association of Paediatric Endoscopic Surgeons (BAPES). Henrik Steinbrecher, a consultant paediatric urologist at Southampton General Hospital, will take up his two-year post in November. Hospital prepares for open day SUHT will be holding an open day for members of the public on Saturday, 2 October from 11am to 3pm. Following last year s event, which saw more than 1,000 people visit a range of stands following an A to Z theme, visitors will this time be able to find out about the patient journey through our hospitals.

5 5 Swine flu jab trialled in Southampton proves effective for children Two swine flu vaccines tested on children at Southampton General Hospital provided effective protection for youngsters against the virus. Southampton study lead, said: The results of this study are exciting as they show that the new adjuvanted vaccine was highly effective even in children under three years old, which is not the case in traditional flu vaccines. Also, parents will be interested to know that the initial study data was used by the Department of Health last November to guide the national immunisation programme that offered one dose of swine flu vaccine to all children under five, so Southampton children directly helped influence national health policy during the pandemic. Results from a study published in the British Medical Journal show there was a high immune response against swine flu and that the side effects were minor. A total of 277 children from the city were involved in the trial, run at the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, during September through to early December before the Department of Health s national vaccination programme was rolled out. In total, over 900 children aged between six months and 12 years from Southampton, Bristol, Oxford, Exeter and St George s in London participated in the project. Of the two vaccines, 98% of children under three responded well to two doses of the jab containing immunity boosting agents known as the adjuvanted or split vaccine while 80% responded to two doses of the whole vaccine derived from cell culture. Although the adjuvanted vaccine was the most commonly used on children during the pandemic, it was also more likely to cause side effects such as fever. Meanwhile, 99% of children aged over three years responded well to the adjuvanted version and 95% for the whole virus type. Dr Saul Faust, a specialist in children s immunity and infectious diseases at the University of Southampton and the Doctors given prestigious national advisory posts Two doctors based at Southampton General Hospital have been selected to become part of the government Chief Medical Officer s clinical adviser scheme. Dr Duncan McPherson, specialist registrar in anaesthesia, and Dr Toni Ardolino, orthopaedic speciality trainee, will use the year-long placement, which begins in September, to develop their skills and knowledge in healthcare management, leadership and policy. Dr McPherson, who will work on projects being undertaken by the National Patient Safety Agency aimed at driving out errors in hospitals, said: These roles will give us an extremely valuable insight into major national level healthcare work, prepare us for the future and enable us to contribute to some important projects. His role will split into two sections, incorporating research and study for a higher degree with day-to-day analysis of reported clinical errors and relations with large bodies such as the World Health Organisation. Trust hosts national infection prevention conference Staff at hosted a national conference on fighting superbugs. Members of Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust s infection prevention team were joined by leading specialists to discuss the progress made in tackling infections in The Trust is one of eight Showcase Hospitals within the UK currently evaluating the implementation of new technologies and equipment with the potential to fight Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI). The event included talks by Professor Brian Duerden, the Department of Health s inspector of microbiology and infection control, and Tracey Cooper, vice president of the Infection Prevention Society. Figures for 2009/10 show cases of MRSA dropped 74% from 27 to seven, while incidences of Clostridium difficile decreased by 51% from 289 to 143. Princess Anne maternity documentary wins BAFTA A groundbreaking documentary filmed at Princess Anne Hospital was named best factual series at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards. Channel 4 s One Born Every Minute, filmed over the period of a month using 40 fixed cameras, consisted of eight one-hour episodes that took viewers into the lives of expectant mothers and their families. Among the many poignant stories of the series was that of 22-year-old Lisa Hall, whose baby Jack had to be delivered by emergency caesarean 25 days early and was immediately taken to the neonatal intensive care unit. He had to be treated for a condition called gastroschisis, where a hole in the abdomen causes some of the bowel to come through to the outside of the body. More than 3.5million people tuned in as Lisa, with her partner Will, held Jack after a ten-day wait and saw the family head back to Dorset County Hospital after a month in Southampton until he was well enough to go home. Dr Jane Rogers, consultant midwife at the Princess Anne, said: We are all absolutely delighted for Channel 4 and production company Dragonfly TV on achieving such a coveted honour for what was a truly remarkable series created on the wards of our hospital and in the homes of our patients. The series offered viewers a real insight into the birthing experience from following the emotional journeys of families, to the pleasures and challenges that staff face every day on maternity wards and feedback from people across the country has been extremely positive. Cancer centre awarded high profile status A Southampton support and information centre for patients affected by cancer and their family and friends has won national recognition for the service it provides. The Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre, based at Southampton General Hospital, has become one of only 14 sites in the UK awarded the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark for comfort and level of information. Since opening in June 2005, the centre, a partnership between Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support, has seen more than 40,000 people. The centre s manager, co-ordinator, volunteers and complementary therapists offer people opportunities to talk, access to support groups and help with practical matters. The information and support service is available by visiting the centre on B level at Southampton General Hospital from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday. The SUHT Journal is produced for key stakeholders by the communications team at Trust. Please your feedback and story ideas to sarah.cole@suht.swest.nhs.uk or telephone Hospital trust staff honoured by Queen Judy Gillow, director of nursing at Trust, has been made an MBE for services to healthcare and Suzanne Cunningham, a consultant midwife at the Princess Anne Hospital, has been awarded an OBE for services to midwifery. Since taking on her role in 2004, Judy has overseen a dramatic fall in infection rates that has recently seen SUHT named by the Department of Health as the best performing large teaching trust for reducing MRSA. Suzanne, who qualified as a midwife in 1986, was one of the UK s first two consultant midwives and performs the role of clinical director for maternity and the newborn at the South Central Strategic Health Authority alongside her day job in suht journal news from university hospitals Leading the way in adult cystic fibrosis care Patients with cystic fibrosis are living longer than ever with advances in care offered at Southampton General Hospital reflecting improved prognosis. Patient surveys give positive results Patients continue to rate the care they receive at teaching hospitals highly. Results from regular Picker Institute surveys conducted across SUHT throughout the year show 92% of patients consistently rate their care as good, very good or excellent and over 94% of patients would recommend our hospitals to their family and friends. Julia Barton, associate director of nursing, said: This year we have dramatically improved patient privacy and dignity, seen in the improving responses to questions about mixed-sex accommodation. We have also increased the amount of written information given to patients on discharge and more patients are receiving copies of hospital letters sent to GPs, while patients are also telling us that more doctors are including them in discussions about their care. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that mainly affects the lungs and digestive system, but can involve other organs, resulting in ill health from birth or a young age. Previously, treatment for the condition focused mainly on paediatric care due to shortened life expectancy, but over the last 20 years, better treatments and nutritional help for young people have led to a dramatic increase in survival. There has been a move away from sufferers dying in their teenage years to now living into their mid-30s and beyond with optimal care and treatment, it is estimated that 80% of children born today with cystic fibrosis should live into their mid-40s. This has resulted in expansion of SUHT s adult cystic fibrosis unit, which is the regional specialist centre for the disease and treats patients from as far afield as Brighton, Yeovil and Jersey. We are seeing an ever increasing number of patients with cystic fibrosis here in Southampton, with patients living longer than would have been expected in the past, so our services needed to grow to accommodate this, said Dr Julia Nightingale, clinical lead for cystic fibrosis. A specialist team comprising of consultants, specialist nurses, a psychologist, physiotherapists, a social worker, dietitians, a pharmacist and administrative staff is now able to carry out extra weekly clinics and offer emergency care to patients following the opening of four new treatment rooms. In addition, upgrading of the department has also seen the creation of a quiet room for staff to talk to patients and their families in comfort, while two larger meeting rooms have enabled the growing team to be accommodated while ensuring they operate at the heart of the unit. Dr Nightingale added: Our department is now centralised in one area of the hospital, with all our clinics taking place in the same dedicated facilities, giving patients a purpose-built environment and our team a real sense of identity. Photo Life In View