Glangwili Hospital General Surgery (including Colorectal) ~ Recruitment ~ October 2017
What we do General Surgery (including Colorectal) Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen There are currently seven surgical consultants based in Glangwili Hospital and they are supported by their teams of associate specialists, specialty and junior doctors. The team of surgeons provide colorectal, upper GI, venous and general surgical care to patients. Within these, the service treats a large number of cancer cases and the surgical team works closely with the Gastroenterology, Radiology and Oncology Departments in order to provide the best possible service. There is also a specialist nursing team on site and all attend the weekly multidisciplinary team meetings in order to discuss treatment options for the patient. The consultants along with the team of gastroenterologists also provide the diagnostic procedures that are required and are carried out in the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) accredited Endoscopy Department. Glangwili Hospital site has two surgical wards, Preseli and Cleddau Ward/Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU): Preseli Ward is an elective colorectal surgical ward which receives colorectal patients from three hospital sites within the health board for major colorectal surgery. The area is also the identified pathway to receive the complex surgical patients postoperatively from the Adult Critical Care Unit (ACCU) comprising of elective and emergency procedures who have had major colorectal surgery. Also, patients are admitted on the same day of surgery to the dedicated trolley bay. Following admission patients attend theatre and return post-operatively to this area and are then discharged or allocated an inpatient bed. The ward is diverse and busy offering an excellent learning environment for nurses, the ward team is motivated and dynamic delivering high standards of quality care to the patients. Preseli Ward offers a unique opportunity to experience care at all levels ranging from high acuity to dependent patients following their surgery. Enhanced recovery is being reviewed to ensure standardisation of elements are implemented across the health board. 2
Cleddau Ward/SAU is the designated surgical clinical area for all surgical emergencies across Carmarthenshire who attend the surgical assessment unit via GP or emergency unit/minor injuries unit. The unit/ward has an established skilled team of nurses with expanded role skills to care for the emergency surgical patient who working in collaboration with the advanced nurse practitioner and other members of the multi-disciplinary team so patients are seen, diagnosed and discharged in a timely manner. The unit offers an excellent learning environment for all nurses. The team are enthusiastic dynamic and motivated in providing and delivering a high standard of quality patient care. What we want to do in the future The department aims to continue to provide these services we have modernised the service over the last few years and will continue to improve the service as the need arises for the people that we serve within the health board. Why you should work for us Working within the Scheduled Care Directorate, staff are supported by a management team that consists of a service delivery manager, service manager and service support manager; these members of staff are here to provide support to the clinical teams and implement changes if and when they are needed to take the service forward. There is also a senior nurse manager based on site to manage both the nurses on the surgical wards and teams of clinical nurses specialists to implement and take the professional agenda forward. The clinical staff are supported by a well established administrative team and has offices based in a central location of the hospital. Our scheduled care senior management triumvirate consists of a general manager, head of nursing and clinical director. 3
Here s what some of our staff say about working here: Surgery within Scheduled Care in Carmarthenshire has introduced the new and exciting role of surgical advanced nurse practitioner. The primary focus of the role is to work as an advanced, autonomous practitioner providing patient-centred clinical care, encompassing the skills of assessment, examination, diagnosis and treatment of patients. It enables better outcomes for patients by improving timeliness and consistency of care, improving the patient experience and patient flow within the hospital. I am able to utilise physical assessment skills to obtain clinical history, perform physical examination, formulate differential diagnoses and devise treatment plans for patients. I have autonomy to order and interpret appropriate laboratory and radiology results, as well as prescribe drugs in accordance with independent nurse prescribing regulations. A key part of my role is responsibility for my own patient caseload, ensuring all patients have a clearly documented and accurate plan of care/transfer of care. I am also able to undertake a wide range of clinical interventions such as venepuncture and venous cannulation, 12 lead ECG interpretation, blood investigations and catheterisation to name a few, as well as providing specialist clinical advice to patients who present with surgical needs. I also receive advice and support as appropriate from other multi-disciplinary colleagues, my supervisor and professional nurse manager. Meryl Jones Surgical Nurse Advanced Practitioner, Glangwili Hospital As a colorectal clinical nurse specialist (CNS), I work in collaboration with the colorectal surgeons providing specialist care and knowledge to patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer/ benign disease, from early diagnosis right through to discharge following treatment. The CNS supports patients who require a stoma by providing physical and psychological support to enable them to adapt to a new way of life by teaching them how to care for their stoma on a day to day basis due to their altered body image, allowing them to maintain a good quality of life and independence. A patient with a stoma has ongoing open access and support from the CNS Team whilst they have a stoma. All cancer patients are followed up by a colorectal CNS in the nurse led follow up clinic five years post surgery; this involves organising surveillance scans in line with the NICE Guidelines. Student nurses whilst on their surgical placement will spend time with the colorectal CNS observing stoma care, and participating in most aspects of the care. The colorectal team is a motivated and supportive team who provides expert knowledge to the surgical ward teams. Wendy Tanner Colorectal Specialist Nurse, Glangwili Hospital 4
Come and join us! For further information about recruitment opportunities, please contact: Tina Coleman - Recruitment Campaign Specialist 01267 266292 tina.coleman@wales.nhs.uk www.twitter.com/hywelddajobs https://www.linkedin.com/company/hywel-dda-university-health-board 5