Content originally from Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Patients benefit from improvements to care
Inspectors have today confirmed that care at hospitals across mid and south Essex has improved.
The Care Quality Commission has removed the previous inadequate ratings for medical services at our Trust and revoked the warning notice.
Inspectors visited Broomfield, Basildon and Southend hospitals in July and – in its report published today – recognised the hard work of staff and their determination to provide patients with high quality care.
The report reflected that: “Staff supported patients to make informed decisions about their care, they gave patients enough food and drink to meet their needs and improve their health, and leaders operated effective governance processes throughout the service.”
Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive at the Trust, said: “We are on an improvement journey, which has been recognised by our quick turnaround from inadequate in June to requires improvement now. This is a positive step forward and inspectors clearly recognised the raft of improvements that have been put in place.”
Rhoel Peralta, Catheter Lab Associate Practitioner, and Dr Duncan Field, Cardiology Consultant
New pacemaker is better for patients with slower heart rhythms
Patients suffering slow heart rhythm in Essex are set to benefit after local surgeons implanted a new and innovative pacemaker.
Staff based at the world-renowned Essex Cardiothoracic Centre carried out the country’s first procedure to place Abbott’s Aveir VR leadless pacemaker into a patient’s heart that suffers from a slower-than-normal rate.
A leadless pacemaker is smaller than other pacemakers and does not have electrical leads that would sit in the veins around the heart, helping to reduce the risk of lead fractures, pacemaker pocket infections, and vascular complications.
Explaining the benefits for patients, Dr Duncan Field, Cardiology Consultant at the Trust, said: “The innovations of the new device allow us to provide pacemakers to more patients, such as those who have renal dialysis, or sicker patients where there is no vascular access from the chest to the heart.”
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Training manikins helping to transform patient care
State-of-the-art manikins are the centre piece of a new simulation suite at Basildon Hospital that are improving patient care, by helping doctors better train for a range of medical situations.
The five hi-tech dummies in the suite come in a range of ages and shapes, giving life-like responses to different medical procedures which can be picked up by vital signs monitors.
This means doctors can practise a range of real-life scenarios, including life pre-cardiac arrest, ventilation, childbirth, major trauma and help the manikins ‘recover’ so they can take those skills and learning forward with real-life patients.
Wilson Alvares, Simulation and Clinical Skills Lead at the Trust, said: “I am very proud to be part of the journey in the expansion of the simulation suite and clinical skills centre. With a range of modern facilities, including a fully functional four-bedded simulated ward, the new suite will help us to enhance simulation training for our staff.”
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Bra-fitting service helps breast cancer patients after surgery
Patients across mid and south Essex who have had surgery for breast cancer can now order specially fitted bras and swimwear, thanks to a new service at Southend Hospital.
A Breast Care Specialist from retailer Nicola Jane, has started to offer monthly bra and breast form fittings and provide essential advice on suitable styles for breast cancer surgery patients at the hospital’s Macmillan Information and Support Centre on the first Tuesday of every month.
One of the patients taking advantage of this fitting clinic is Ann Newman, from Southend, who said: “I was originally measured when I was first diagnosed but haven’t had a proper bra fitting in years.
“There’s nothing else like it locally and it’s really hard to guess your own size and judge for yourself. The service here is amazing and makes a big difference.”
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Almost £40,000 of intensive care equipment to improve lives of newborns
Life-saving monitoring equipment for pre-term babies was made available ahead of the Baby Loss Awareness Week in October, following a donation of £38,380 from a charity set up by a mum and dad who lost their son, aged just 91 days old.
The new equipment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Basildon Hospital provides additional capacity for a range of treatments including resuscitation, stabilisation and temperature management.
And they’ve all been made possible by the founders of Noah’s Big Charity, Richard and Lydia Hobden from Billericay, who have supported the unit generously for many years. Their committed charitable work is inspired by their son Noah, who was born ten years ago at Basildon Hospital fifteen weeks early, weighing just 1lb 15 ounces. Despite the care given, Noah passed away at 91 days old in his dad’s arms.
Richard said: “Seeing the tangible benefits of our fundraising is phenomenal. For Lydia and me, knowing that we can contribute to improvements within the unit continues to drive us to keep raising funds and awareness.”
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Doctor given national lifetime achievement award
A Basildon Hospital doctor has been recognised during Black History Month with an award for his pioneering work in healthcare and supporting colleagues from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Professor Rotimi Jaiyesimi, Group Associate Medical Director for Patient Safety and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at our Trust, has received the National BAME Health & Care Lifetime Achievement Award.
Professor Jaiyesimi said: “I am really honoured to have won both awards, these will act as inspiration to everyone to do more impactful work for ethnic minority communities and help make a difference.
“I look forward to continuing my work for patients and the community, which translates to improved patient care.”
SWF Health & Social Care Group 