Follow our X account @RoyalFreeNHS to see what our patients and staff are saying about us 3 We have now passed the six-month mark from when our North Mid colleagues joined the RFL group. I’m very proud and genuinely pleased with the progress we’ve made since, not only landing safely but driving opportunities, leveraging our collective working, seeing group-wide improvements and the relationships and positivity that have been built between teams. Now is therefore the right time to collectively define who we are as a group and form a new set of trustwide values that represent how we want to be. This is a brilliant opportunity to ensure we reflect our rich culture and diversity across the trust. There will be extensive engagement opportunities coming up, so please get involved. Read more on page 10. The government recently announced the 10-year health plan for the NHS, focusing on community care, digitisation and the prevention of illness and conditions. If you’ve read the RFL’s clinical strategy, you’ll see how closely it aligns with the principles of the government’s plan. The neurological rehabilitation centre at Edgware Community Hospital is one example of how our teams support patients to receive care in the community or at home. Read this feature on page 6. You can also read about the impressive feat of our sleep and ventilation team at the RFH, who managed to get over 100 patients starting treatment within a day, on page 9. I hope you have all been able to enjoy some sunshine in recent weeks. All of you work incredibly hard to make sure our patients have the best care possible, so thank you again for everything you do. Hello and welcome Peter Landstrom Group chief executive Key to abbreviations: Barnet Hospital: BH Chase Farm Hospital: CFH North Middlesex University Hospital: North Mid Royal Free Hospital: RFH Royal Free London: RFL 2 Most of us take getting out of bed for granted, but for some of our most vulnerable patients the simple act of sitting in a chair is a vital stepping stone to recovery. Juniper, an elderly care ward at BH, has led the way with its ‘Shift Left’ quality innovation and improvement project. The goal is to help patients stay strong and active so they don’t lose their ability to do everyday activities, which can cause other health problems while in the hospital. The project has been successfully embedded thanks to the buy-in of the whole team. Naty Diamante, ward manager, says that every single member of staff on the ward being trained has been crucial to its success. Now everyone understands why getting patients out of bed, if they are judged fit enough, is so important to their recovery, because of its proven positive impact on building strength and stamina. She said: “On admission we do a risk assessment and part of that is finding out what the patient’s baseline was prior to being unwell. It includes everything from food to mobility and function, and it’s our job to work out how they can regain that.” Patients are encouraged to sit out of bed during the day unless there is a medical reason, such as a fracture, for why that’s not possible. In addition, social dining has been introduced for patients who want to eat together. Naty said: “Patients have the choice to eat together or apart, but we will aim to get them out of bed. I always want to know how many patients were deemed fit to sit Keep me active out, and compare that with how many did get out in the end.” From the doctors, therapists, nursing staff and healthcare assistants, this work is accepted as everyone’s responsibility and there is a range of activities for patients, from playing board games and puzzles, to watching TV together or listening to music. Discussing which patients can get moving is a priority in the team’s morning huddle. It won’t be appropriate for every patient, but most will be able to manage at least a couple of hours and then they can go back to bed if they tire. Staff on Juniper ward who have introduced Shift Left The project is now entering its second year and has been rolled out in elderly care wards across the trust. Naty added: “Other wards have been keen to take this up because they can see the benefits and our patient feedback is incredibly positive. Now we need to keep up the good work and continue to play our role in enabling patients to leave hospital faster.” Liz Dotingco, deputy ward manager, who led the project on Juniper, said: “Doing anything like this needs consistency, strong leadership and it has to become part of business as usual every single day. We’re proud to be showing the way.” Our patient feedback is incredibly positive “ “
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