West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

A huge thank you and congratulations to our main theatres team, who have been recognised with our Putting You First award for their outstanding work 🙌 The team, together with our sterile services colleagues, pulled together to clear contaminated sets following an “enormous and unprecedented” incident - all while maintaining emergency services. Thank you to everyone involved who went above and beyond to deliver for our patients 💙

Last week we held our bi-annual cancer patient forum, which aims to support cancer patients by giving them an opportunity to reflect on their treatments and improve the experience for others in the future. The event, attended by about 120 people, was held at the University Professional Development Centre based on Western Way. After a talk by Stewart Chapman, chair of the West Suffolk cancer patient forum, Karen McKinnon, our lead cancer nurse, discussed current innovations including targeted lung cancer checks, colon cameras and personalised treatment via genetic profiling. Other speakers included Angela Jiggins, one of our oncology physiotherapists, who is sponsored by Macmillan Cancer Support, and Anna Clayton from Bury Physio who gave advice about exercise and fitness. Stewart Chapman had a powerful message for the people of Bury and beyond. He said: “It [this event] is all about making positive change for cancer patients. My message is that on the cancer journey, you are not alone. And the second message is that it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help. In fact, I would go as far as saying it is a sign of strength. “The Princess of Wales recently said: ‘to everyone facing this disease, please do not lose faith or hope – you are not alone’.” He added: “There is a need to be positive, it’s what I can do, not what I can’t do, and there is help there for people.” Karen McKinnon said: “It’s important to get feedback from our cancer patients and for us to work with them and make the experience better and improve our services. We had a number of speakers, including a talk from a physio who did a dancing exercise. We also had a marketplace with exhibitors, giving patients a chance to chat and ask questions.” Our Trust charity My WiSH Charity attended the event and funded the catering for the day. Exhibitors included Sophie’s Wish, other charities, services from our Trust and Boots. Lisa Kidd is the Bury St Edmunds Boots No 7 brand business manager. Lisa said: “We are in partnership with Macmillan, and all No 7 workers are Macmillan-trained. Today we showcased our support for any cancer patients that are linked with Macmillan. If we can help in any way and help people through their journey, that is what we are about as a company. I think the event is amazing.” Linda Tennant is an administrator for the business development and commercial training department – working for Eastern Education Group. Linda said: “The cancer forum event does so many great things that bring people together and it’s a brilliant thing to do. “I think the college is an integral part of the community and we are honoured to help with events like this. We gave up our time and we are more than willing to help this group. It’s important to let people know that we do care about them and our community, and it was a privilege to be involved in this. I’d like to thank my colleague Jacqui Holland-Jones for all her support with this event.”

It’s Occupational Therapy Week! A huge thank you to all our OT colleagues and therapy support staff who help people reclaim their independence, overcome challenges, and thrive in their daily activities 💙 #OTweek

Can you help with our Radiology Patient Survey? Please also take the time to leave a comment and repost in order to help us reach more people. Each year, the Trust takes part in the Equality Delivery System (EDS), a system which allows NHS organisations to assess the accessibility of its services for people with protected characteristics such as age, race and sexual orientation. Please note that this survey is anonymous. Anything you disclose within this survey cannot be traced to the participant nor actioned with the team concerned, and will not affect your care. This survey is expected to run until Friday 29 November 2024. This year we are focusing on the Radiology Department, and running a survey for patients to give feedback on their experiences. Feedback from surveys will allow us to see which areas we are doing well in, and where we need to improve with regards to accessibility. Please complete the survey here 👉 https://buff.ly/3Uro9BB

A big thank you to our PAT dog Chance who popped in earlier this week to share some spooky seasonal spirit with patients and colleagues. Chance had a busy morning with us, visiting wards F1, F3, intensive care and recovery.

Happy Black History Month to our colleagues and patients 🎉 This year has the theme: “Reclaiming Narratives”. Our REACH staff network has asked some of our colleagues to say what the month means to them – we’d like to thank them for their insights. Our REACH staff network is for all colleagues from a Black, Asian or other ethnic minority background, and allies. Damilola, staff nurse, Nigeria: To me, Black History Month is a time to celebrate the strength, rich history, and achievements of Black people. It's a chance to reflect on how far we've come and keep inspiring each other for a better, more equal future. Margaret, physiotherapist, Kenya: It is important to know your history: “For me… Africa is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place.” A quote by Dr Maya Angelou, author and poet. Wallace, porter, Caribbean: For me Black History Month is “The future”. I look at my kids and grandkids and see how the way they live and how opportunities are so much better than what we know from history. It warms my heart, makes me appreciate the times and how far we’ve come as people of colour. Tobi, CT radiographer, Nigeria For me, Black History Month is a time to share love and happiness for our culture and background. A genuine smile can be contagious. “The time is always right to do what is right”. So smile 😊and the world will always smile back at you. Love and Light!

Today marks the 28th day of Stoptober! After 28 days without smoking, you're five times more likely to stay smoke-free for good. You might already notice improvements, like better breathing, more energy, and lower blood pressure. High blood pressure can increase the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease, so by quitting, you’re taking important steps to improve your health in so many ways. If you haven’t quit yet, today could be your day. In just 28 days, you could be well on your way to being free from smoking. Please share this with a friend, family member or colleague who needs a little boost to keep them on the path to success. For more support, visit the NHS Better Health website. They’re there to help, and remember, you’re not alone - you can do this! https://lnkd.in/eAktXbJ

Our sterile services department is an incredible team, recognised today for the crucial role they play in supporting patient care through our Putting You First awards. Working diligently behind the scenes, they ensure that procedures in theatres, clinics, and wards can run smoothly and safely. The team was particularly commended for their exceptional efforts in managing an "enormous and unprecedented task" swiftly and efficiently, all while maintaining their usual day-to-day services, proving once again their invaluable contribution to our Trust.

Congratulations to Mary on completing her chemo 👏 We’re so glad that you’re now on your way. Thank you for allowing us to capture this happy moment and giving words of encouragement to help others. We also want to thank all our colleagues who have been involved in your care. We hope you’re enjoying spending precious time with your family and taking those walks in the countryside!

Huge congratulations to our clinical education team 🙌 We’re delighted to say that at the regional national apprenticeship and skills awards, organised by the Department of Education, our team won their category of T level employer of the year, in only their second year of hosting T Level students. They will now be going forward to the national awards involving all nine regions on 27 November, in London. Head of clinical education Diane Last said: “This is only our second year of hosting T level students from West Suffolk College, so this is a massive achievement for the organisation. This is not only a reflection of the work by the education team but also of all the wards and departments who are supporting the learners for their work placements. A great example of teamwork.” The National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards celebrates its 21st anniversary in 2024 and this is the first time it will include awards to recognise T Level students and employers. The awards are designed to recognise and reward the achievements of exceptional apprentices and T Level students, skills champions and apprenticeship and T Level employers. Meanwhile, other members of our clinical education team will find out on 28 November if they are winners in the Nursing Times Workforce Awards. The preceptorship team has been shortlisted in the category of Preceptorship Programme of the Year. We wish all our colleagues the very best of luck 💙