Your Hospitals Magazine - Autumn 2022

A patient who was in so much pain that it left her housebound has had a life-changing device fitted.

The treatment Carol Mortley, 73, received at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust was so successful that she has spoken about her experience at an international conference.

Carol, from Kent, had neuromodulation therapy, where a device is inserted into the lower back and sends electrical impulses to the brain and damaged nerves to reduce the feeling of pain.

Travelling abroad is something that would not have been possible for Carol before her treatment, as she suffered with sciatica, which is where an irritated nerve causes severe pain through the legs and lower back.

But she jumped at the opportunity to speak about her positive experience, alongside the team who cared for her, at a conference in Barcelona.

Carol said: “Before I was fitted with the device, life became unbearable. I didn’t leave the house for years due to the pain, which meant my husband couldn’t enjoy life either.

“Now we can go on long walks and do the things we love again. The thought of travelling to Barcelona before with my condition was unimaginable, so getting the opportunity to go and talk about my device and share how wonderful it is was amazing. The team at Orsett Hospital have been brilliant and so supportive – I can’t speak highly enough of them.”

Angela Stark, lead nurse for pain and neuromodulation, said: “It has been wonderful to see the transformative effect on Carol - she has been like a different person. With this device she can now control the strength of the impulses with a remote, meaning she is in full control of her pain relief.”

New ideas are set to help enhance patient care thanks to a group of specially selected people working with Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Over 20 clinical and non-clinical, internal and external innovators have been chosen to join the Trust’s Innovation Fellowship, which is the largest cohort since the programme began in 2018.

The Innovation Fellowship programme was created to help advance improvements in patient care, encouraging and supporting its innovators to develop, test and advance new ideas, all designed to make improvements in care for patients, staff and communities.

Some of the highlights of this year’s innovator ideas include:

• CardMedic - an app designed to help clinicians speak to patients when there are communications barriers, such as language or learning disabilities. 
• LinkMedics - a digital platform connecting British overseas trained doctors with training and employment opportunities in the NHS, handling everything from doctor sourcing, compliance training and integration for NHS Trusts.
• Optirad by Hexarad - a workflow management tool which helps improve efficiency in radiology departments.
• DeepMedical - predicts appointment non-attendance with unprecedented accuracy. By knowing who is not turning up ahead of time, hospitals are equipped with tools that increase access to their services at no extra operational or workforce costs.

Charlotte Williams, Chief Strategy and Improvement Officer at the Trust, who leads on Innovation, said: “We are about supporting people to make these ideas a reality, discovering exciting new ways that technology can help benefit patents and support staff. We’ve an amazing group of 22 passionate and focussed Fellows and can’t wait to see how they can help make a difference in care in hospital and in the community not just across Essex, but the country and beyond.”

The group introduced their projects to one another at a recent launch event held at Broomfield Hospital, also attending was Matt Whitty, Chief Executive, Accelerated Access Collaborative and Director of Innovation, Research and Life Sciences, NHS England and NHS Improvement, who spoke about the importance of innovation in the NHS as part of an Innovation Showcase.

He said: “Through research and innovation we can improve patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities and so it is important to celebrate and spotlight their impact. It’s a great pleasure to visit Mid and South Essex and meet those helping to get some of the NHS’s most promising healthcare innovations to patients faster.”

The showcase highlighted innovations across mid and south Essex, with Integrated Care System (ICS) teams displaying robotic pets, Raizer chairs and other great ideas that have supported care for older residents and those with frailty. 

Anthony McKeever, Chief Executive Officer for Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System said, “This event was a fantastic example of the wide-reaching nature of our health and care partnership.

“It highlights how our entire system can come together to advance patient care, as well as assist clinical entrepreneurs with their ongoing work.

“I am very much looking forward to seeing how this will help make a difference to the care our residents experience through the use of exciting and groundbreaking new technology.”

Discover more of the Innovation Fellowship projects from this year’s cohort here: Our Innovation Fellowships | Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (mse.nhs.uk).

An impressive redesign of Basildon Hospital’s front entrance is offering visitors, patients and staff more facilities and a brighter welcome.

The new area includes a Costa Coffee, M&S Food, fashion retailer StockShop and WHSmith, which – from October - will deliver an onsite Post Office.

And some of those first people to use it have been impressed by the new spacious area, shops and facilities.

Cheryl Nicholls, from Corringham, was thrilled by the new facilities, she said: “Everything is so easy to find, it so much better, more welcoming as a visitor and has more choice.”

Whilst Stuart Batterham, from Norfolk, also liked the new light and bright entrance. He said: “It’s an incredible space, which is a really nice place to chill. It feels more like a mall than a hospital.”

It also offers a new bereavement and patient advice and liaison service suite, a refurbished multi-faith room, new admin space and a welcoming hub for Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jonathan Dunk, said: “The old front entrance has been here since 1972 and was in vital need of change to bring us into the 21^st century. We still have some decorative work to finish but this is an important milestone in the project which will complete this autumn, and a lot of hard work and effort has gone into getting us here.

“The new two-storey building creates a more accessible, welcoming and modern main entrance that will meet the needs of our patients, staff and the local community for many years to come.”

The scheme was created in partnership with specialist developer Noviniti, which has delivered similar projects at other hospitals - such as Colchester, Poole and Northampton - and WHSmith, which will operate the retail units.

Noviniti have funded the £7.6 million cost of the new main entrance, with rent from the retail outlets paying for the project. The full costs of the build are covered by the retailer contribution, which is also expected to provide a further financial benefit to the Trust as facilities become fully operational. No NHS capital or revenue has been used to deliver this facility.

During the second phase of work, which starts next month, the old tower block reception will be refurbished, and a pharmacy unit built within the space. Gardeners will also landscape the area to the front of the hospital, with work expected to be completed later in the autumn.

The first four of 12 new international midwives are being welcomed at Basildon Hospital.

The cohort of new midwives have been welcomed at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, from Ghana and Zambia, with eight more – four at Southend Hospital and four at Broomfield Hospital – expected to start work on maternity units over the coming months

Howard ‘Howie’ Katyamba, 30, from northern Zambia, said: “I can’t wait for my first day. It will be amazing to work in such a welcoming and diverse team. I want to give the best that I can, but also give our own perspective to the maternity team from our experience working in Zambia.”

Grace Mwanza, 27, from Lusaka in Zambia, said: “I’m most looking forward to my first delivery! Everything we need has been provided, making the transition really easy. I’ve always loved being a midwife, and hope that one day I can become an obstetrician.”

The midwives are currently undertaking training for the final examination they have to pass to gain their Nursing Midwifery Council PIN number and UK registration, which will then see them join the midwife team.

As with all newly-qualified midwives they will be on a year-long programme, which gives them additional support.

Penny Champion, Practice Development Midwife, said: “It has been a real delight to welcome Victoria, Grace, Michael and Howard into our midwifery team. They will be a huge boost and benefit to the department. We’ve really got to know them over the past few weeks and they are all so keen, enthusiastic and willing to learn and share their own experience and skills with us.”

The Trust has been offering the new midwives lots of support, organising their travel to the UK and helping them settle into hospital accommodation. They’ve also been introduced to the maternity team during walk arounds in the unit, have already made friends within the hospital and have been offered support from established midwives. 

Michael Munyenyembe, 34, from Chinsali in Zambia, said:  “We’ve had a lot of support from Penny and the team at the Trust, which has already made working here a great experience.”

Over 330 doctors are embarking on the next chapter of their medical careers at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, helping support staff and benefit patients.

This number includes 132 trainee doctors, who have all completed medical school and are ready to take on a two-year foundation programme at the Trust, where they will move across departments and wards, at Basildon, Broomfield and Southend and satellite sites, to learn all aspects of their jobs.

After the two years, they may decide to specialise in a particular area, undertake core training or become a GP. The Trust also welcomed 205 doctors who have come from other hospitals. This is part of an annual rotation that happens at this time of year, which also sees doctors who joined the Trust last year move to another Trust as part of their final training.”

Dr Johnson Samuel, Group Director of Medical Education, said: “I am so pleased to welcome our new doctors and thank them for choosing Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

“Doctors are absolutely central in making our hospitals the great places that they are by delivering excellent care to our patients.

“We hope to inspire the next generation in years to come and wish all of our doctors the very best with their careers.”

One of those who has joined the Trust this year is Dr Sumbal Bhatti. She said: “I’m so happy to be here and put my learnt skills into practice. I’m most excited to gain experience in different departments, particularly plastic surgery, which is an area I wish to specialise in.”

 For the first time since the pandemic, our Annual Members’ Meeting was able to take place in person.

The event, which took place in September was held at Southend Hospital’s Education Centre. Guests were invited to a marketplace event in the afternoon ahead of the formal meeting, where they were able to find out more about our services by speaking to staff, members of the board, governors, and representatives of partner organisations. The formal meeting began in the lecture theatre, where members heard from Nigel Beverley - Trust Chair, Hannah Coffey - Acting Chief Executive Officer, and Sally Holland - Lead Governor, about the Trust’s performance over the past year. Guests also heard from Professor Tony Young, OBE, National Clinical Lead for Innovation at NHS England, who gave an engaging and informative presentation on transforming patient care through innovation. Member Martyn Hart who attended the event, said: “I really enjoyed our Annual Members’ Meeting. It was great to learn about new projects the Trust is supporting and get the latest updates from across the Trust. At the formal meeting in the afternoon, I particularly enjoyed hearing about the Trust’s current position and areas of focus, especially around recruiting and retaining staff. I found it very positive.” 

Dedicated fundraisers took part in Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity’s Walk For Wards along Southend seafront at the weekend.

Friends, families, work colleagues, young and old, and some in fancy dress, were all helping raise money for the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust ward or department of their choice with a 7km stroll along the seafront from Adventure Island.

Some of the wards and departments benefitting from the regular fun-walk include children’s wards, early pregnancy units, dementia services, critical care units and emergency departments across Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospital sites.

One of those putting his best fundraising feet forward was Brian Gutberlet, from Southend, who received care at Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals following heart issues and a diagnosis of cancer of the oesophagus.

He said “I am so grateful for the early diagnosis and treatment of both of my illnesses.

“Every person that treated and cared for me is a hero in my eyes so this is something I wanted to take on in thanks for extraordinary people that have helped me get to where I am today.”

Hope Mulloy, from Westcliff-on-Sea, walked the 7km stretch in memory of her dad, who she sadly lost to cancer when she was just 12 years-old. Hope said “I remember the team on Eleanor Hobbs ward in Southend being a huge support to me when my dad was seriously ill, they helped me so much. Through fundraising like this, I hope that money raised will allow them to continue being there for other children in similar situations.”

Sue Clark, from Shoeburyness, walked in support of Basildon’s Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) following two heart attacks in 2020. She said: “The staff at the CTC were brilliant following both of my heart attacks, I cannot praise them enough. The walk allows me to give something back.”

Whilst Laura Mott, along with her husband, Richard and sons Freddie and George, took on the walk dressed as dinosaurs to raise funds for Southend Hospital’s children’s ward. The family, from Southend, are aiming to fund paediatric ventilator equipment.

And helping to set walkers off on their fundraising challenge was Southend’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr Stephen Habermel.

Kayley Donovan, Community Fundraising Manager, for the charity, said: “This is the ninth time we have run this event, and it is genuinely great to see so many familiar and new faces in person. For many, this is a special fundraiser as it can be completed with friends, family and at your own pace; it really is a lovely atmosphere.

“I’d also like to thank our event supporters Sea Life Adventure, their ongoing support of our charity and hospitals is something we are immensely grateful for.”

The date has already been set for the milestone tenth Walk For Wards next year, Sunday 17 September 2023, so if you fancy strutting your stuff along the seafront please contact fundraising on 01702 385337 or email mse.charity@nhs.net

Robotic pets, dementia training and improved signage have helped local hospitals gain commendation for their efforts to become accessible to those with dementia, ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day (Wednesday 21 September).

Basildon, Broomfield, and Southend hospitals, run by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, have been recognised for working towards being ‘dementia-friendly’ by local Dementia Action Alliances (DAAs). The DAAs support organisations to make their services more accessible for those with Dementia and gave certificates to dementia staff during events held at each hospital.

Staff have introduced measures, including new wall coverings in wards and improved signage, which makes it easier for patients and their carers to navigate hospital buildings. Staff have also been given materials such as dolls and robotic cats, as well as photo albums and activities such as jigsaws, to help them interact with patients.

Claire Turner, Learning Disability, Autism and Dementia Service Lead from Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Across Essex, Southend and Thurrock there are estimated to be over 22,000 people living with dementia, and so I’m proud that our work has been recognised. Our strategy sets out how we care for our patients and their families, focusing on them as people.”

Local Councillors visited the Trust’s hospitals to mark the milestone, and on World Alzheimer’s Day nurses in the dementia team provided boxes of treats and dementia resources for staff and patients on their wards at each hospital.

Diane Sarkar, Chief Nursing Officer at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This news is brilliant. I know how hard the dementia service have worked to ensure that all of our hospitals are working to be as accessible as possible to our patients with dementia, and their families. We will continue to make progress to ensure that all of our patients receive excellent care.”

As part of the accreditation process, the DAAs from Basildon, Chelmsford, Southend, and Thurrock welcomed the Trust’s dementia strategy. Mark Neville, Dementia Friendly Communities Coordinator for the Essex Community Dementia Support Services delivered by Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust ‘Working towards becoming a Dementia Friendly Community’ recognition. This annual award is given based upon what the Trust has achieved to date and more importantly what it is planning to do going forward.

“This is a vital and exciting journey, with the ultimate aim of ensuring that residents living with dementia have the best possible experience when visiting their local hospital as a patient, out-patient or visitor.”

Heart patients who are having difficulty pumping blood around their body are benefitting from nine new cardiac balloon pumps worth over £400,000.

The machines have just come into use at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) at Basildon Hospital, part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, and are already making a big difference to the lives of patients.

Ben Middleton, head of clinical perfusion science at the CTC, explained how the intra-aortic balloon pumps work. “This machine helps synchronise the heart’s rhythm by inserting the balloon into the aorta, the biggest artery in the body. It is inflated and deflated in time with the heart, helping squeeze blood into the coronary arteries.

“It’s been fantastic to have these new machines in our cardiac centre, and they have already been used to help poorly patients. Upgrading these machines is great news for our patients, because it allows our dedicated staff to continue to deliver the best care and cutting-edge support to them.”

The pumps were bought with money from a fund for upgrading Trust equipment and facilities.