5 4 Patients receiving chemotherapy at North Mid can now get clinical massages as part of their care. The Royal Free Charity has expanded this specialist therapy to North Mid following the merger with the RFL. “The patients all seem really appreciative of what we’re doing so it’s great to be able to offer the service here,” said Teres Hosszu, the charity’s senior massage therapist. “We are often on the journey with the patients over long periods of time,” Teres added. “Being there throughout their treatment gives them a familiar face and helps them to feel more comfortable.” Delivered alongside medical care, massage therapy can help reduce stress, anxiety and pain, supporting patients through the physical and emotional challenges of treatment. Will you Brave New Heights? It’s not too late to sign up for Brave New Heights – the Royal Free Charity’s annual abseil event. This June, you can do something unforgettable and descend 90 feet down the side of the Pears Building at the RFH, guided by a team of elite Royal Marines. • When: Friday 19 and Saturday 20 June • Registration fee: £30 • Minimum fundraising target: £200 Every pound raised helps the charity provide support across RFL hospitals, including funding staff wellbeing projects and clinical research that improves outcomes for patients. Julie Hamilton, RFL group chief nurse, was the first RFL colleague to take on the challenge. She said: “I was scared, but it reminded me that the few seconds of fear I faced are nothing compared to the courage I see every day in our hospitals.” Be part of the RFL team taking on Brave New Heights: you can sign up, individually or as a team, at royalfreecharity.org/abseil It can feel overwhelming to be in a waiting room “ “ Massage therapy launches at North Mid Patient receiving a clinical massage at North Mid Could you be a hero this summer? Electronic prescribing (EPS) is being introduced across the RFL’s emergency departments and urgent treatment centres to improve patient experience and help people get home sooner. EPS enables prescribers to send discharge prescriptions electronically to a patient’s community pharmacy. This means patients have the choice to collect their medicines more conveniently from a local or nominated pharmacy, often closer to their home or place of work. Electronic prescribing to speed up patient discharges Patients will also be able to view and manage their nominated pharmacy through the NHS app, giving them greater control over where they collect their medicines. Kevin Cahill, pharmacy project lead, said: “The electronic prescribing rollout in our emergency departments is a major step forward for patient care. “It streamlines the process for clinical teams and offers patients a quicker, safer, and more convenient way to get their medicines after leaving hospital.” The dedicated work of North Mid’s paediatric ED to support children and young people with autism has received national recognition. North Mid is the first paediatric ED in the trust to receive The National Autistic Society Inclusion Award. The team are deservedly proud of their achievement in delivering a truly welcoming, inclusive and adaptive environment for patients with autism. Achieving the accreditation involved many different aspects, including ongoing staff training to improve understanding of the experiences and challenges faced by people with autism, as well as how best to support them with sensitivity and confidence. The new approach begins at the front door with reception staff identifying patients who have additional needs so their care can be tailored from the outset. The receptionist adds a blue square next to their name on the computer record so clinicians and nurses can see. The square remains attached to their hospital electronic record for further attendances. Calmness, clear communication … and cookies Katie Knight, clinical lead for North Mid paediatric ED, said: “We know for someone with autism it can feel overwhelming to be in a waiting room, even one as child-friendly as ours, so a lot of options are now available. We have quieter spaces where the patient can wait, or if they have come by car they can wait there until we phone to say the clinician is ready to see them. We also try and prioritise them so they are seen sooner if possible.” Other tools include communication pictures, which can help explain changes and next steps to patients who prefer to communicate this way. There is also the offer of ear defenders, sensory toys to provide distraction and the early involvement of a member of the play team to help minimise distress. Another important part of the journey is the new ‘All about me’ passport. This is given to parents to fill out and includes helpful information such as likes, dislikes and potential triggers. The passport is completed on the first visit and then can be used going forward so that families don’t have to keep communicating the same information to staff. Ongoing feedback is collected from patients and families using the service through QR code feedback forms. Feedback is regularly shared with staff to drive ongoing improvement. Katie explained how the hard work is paying off. She said: “We’ve noticed how everyone is more aware of our autistic patients and the adaptations we can offer. It makes things easier all round and parents have commented positively on changes we’ve made. “It’s very much about treating the individual. One boy was so anxious when he arrived that staff didn’t immediately attach him to monitors, which are very loud and beep. Instead, the team provided him with sensory tools such as an elastic fidget toy and the play specialist provided further support, bringing an iPad tablet and cookies. “In this case we were able to rule out serious medical causes, there was minimal distress to the patient, and we developed a good relationship between the family and healthcare services.”
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