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Membership Matters
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
February 2022
Specialist scanner for East Coast cancer patients
Cancer patients on the East Coast are being saved a 90 mile round trip for a crucial scan with the launch of a specialist mobile scanner at Scarborough Hospital.
The PET-CT scanner produces detailed three-dimensional images of the inside of the body to determine how far the cancer has spread and how well it’s responding to treatment.
Previously all cancer patients from York, Scarborough, Malton, Bridlington and Selby needed to travel to other hospital sites to get access to this essential diagnostic test. The closest PET-CT scanners are located at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull, St James in Leeds and James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.
The specialist scan means that clinicians can more quickly identify the presence, location and severity of cancers and the information is used to help ensure patients receive the right treatment.
Currently the scanner is on site one day a week and can complete 14-16 scans per day. The service is being run in partnership with the UK’s specialist provider of diagnostic and healthcare solutions, Alliance Medical Limited, whose mobile unit will be located in a newly created area on the ambulance roadway near the current A&E department.
Christine Norris, Cancer Improvement and Performance Manager, who has led the project, said: “I’m thrilled to be able to deliver services more locally and avoid patients and their families having to travel long distances for a diagnostic test, which will hopefully make things a little easier for them.”
Read more online.
Child health services among top 20
A national survey by the CQC has placed the Trust in the top 20 percent in the country for how well children felt they were looked after when they had to stay in hospital.
Results of the ‘Children and Young People’s Patient Experience Survey 2020’ saw the Trust in the top 20 percent for more than half of responses from parents, carers and children and young people aged 0-15.
The wards came out top for being quiet enough for patients to sleep easily and children liked the food provided as well as being happy with the hospital Wi-Fi. Crucially the 12-15 age children felt the ward was suitable for their age group.
Nicola Lockwood, Matron for Child Health, said: “Not only are we in the top 20 percent of trusts for more than half of the survey, the results are an improvement on the previous year so we are delighted. It is very satisfying to see that children and their families reported they were happy with the way staff talked to them about their care, and that staff were available when a child needed attention.
“It’s really important that we treat our patients as individuals and we scored well on children feeling as though they were being given enough privacy when they were receiving care and treatment and that they were able to talk to a doctor or nurse without their parent or carer being there.
Community Partnership set to improve patient care
A new partnership between York Hospital, GPs and community services is improving care for patients in the Vale of York.
Dr Emma Olandj and Dr Daniel Kimberling have been appointed as Clinical Directors for Adult Community Services at the Trust, with support from Nimbuscare and the Vale of York clinical commissioning group.
The clinical leadership role is aimed at supporting teams in the community to provide the best service to local people and initial focus includes improving wound care, care for people living with frailty and respiratory conditions and access to community diagnostic services, all areas that have been identified as important for patients in our communities.
Planning for a patient going home from hospital is of vital importance and needs to be safe and well supported for patients. Being able to safely and efficiently discharge patients home plays a crucial role in being able to admit new patients to hospital and the new role will strengthen links between community and hospital based teams.
Dr Emma Olandj, said: “It is a true example of integrated care, hospital and community teams working together with primary care clinicians to focus on patient care in community. We are here to help the community team, provide a fresh perspective but also to listen to new ideas and see examples of good practice.”
Both GPs have had an interest and admiration for the community team since spending time with them as part of their training to become a doctor and are delighted to join the team.
Quality of Life survey
The Quality of Life survey aims to find out how quality of life may have changed for people diagnosed with cancer, by asking all patients about their overall emotional, physical and social wellbeing, 18 months post diagnosis.
This is an ongoing survey and to ensure the information collected fully represents our population, Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance is encouraging as many people as possible to complete the survey.
As well as helping the NHS to understand the impact of cancer, anyone who completes the survey will also be provided with a copy of their answers to show how their quality of life compares to others in a similar position. It is hoped that this will prompt helpful conversations with cancer care teams and other health care professionals. Find out more about the Quality of Life survey here.
The first set of Quality of Life survey results, which captured feedback from respondents living with or beyond prostate cancer, bowel cancer or breast cancer, was released in November 2021. Find out more about the results here.
Visiting restrictions eased
Visiting restrictions in our hospitals have been eased in response to recent falls in the number of Covid cases in the community.
The Trust is now allowing different family members or friends to visit patients, although this must be on a separate day and still only one visitor per day, for a maximum of an hour, and visiting slots must still be booked with the relevant ward.
Exceptions will be made for end-of-life situations, patients who are vulnerable such as a learning disability or dementia/cognitive impairment or other extreme circumstances where the Nurse in Charge deems this as suitable such as discharge planning arrangements or sensitive conversations where support is required. Full guidance is on our website.
New challenge event for 2022!
10k Any Way
Can you go ‘10k Any Way’ to raise money for York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity and to support our incredible staff and patients? Simply register today for just £10 and receive an event t-shirt, certificate and special 10k Any Way medal for taking part! More information at www.york.nhs.uk/10k.
Lottery
York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity is delighted to have launched their first ever weekly lottery to help support local hospitals. You can join the weekly lottery for less than £5 a month, with the first 500 people to join receiving one of our brand new charity pin badges as a thank you! For more information including how to sign up, full rules and conditions visit www.york.nhs.uk/lottery.
Get involved
Public Council of Governors meetings
These meetings are held throughout the year and give you the chance to see first-hand the workings of the Council of Governors speaking up and representing the views of their constituents.
Public Board of Directors meetings
These are held every other month and give you the opportunity to observe the Board of Directors on how decisions are made and what the challenges are of managing a NHS Trust. Details for both meetings are available on our website. Everybody is welcome.
Star Award finalists
All our staff and volunteers deserve recognition - but there are many that go above and beyond the call of duty to make the Trust a better service - with hard work, exciting new ideas and simply by putting patients first. Click here to read why they were nominated and learn how they made a difference. If you would like to nominate someone for a Star Award complete the online form.
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