Posted on: 18 August 2023
Bradford District and Craven hospice provision
Hello everyone, my name is Charlotte.
This week we are visiting Bradford District and Craven to learn more about diverse support provided by Sue Ryder Manorlands and Marie Curie hospices.
Hospice care is a specialised service that provides treatment and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses, combining specialist medical care for managing pain and other symptoms with emotional, practical, and spiritual support. As well as providing expert care for patients, hospices support their families and loved ones too.
Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice Breathe Better programme
The Breathe Better programme was initially aimed at patients with end-stage respiratory disease who were no longer well enough to participate in the pulmonary rehab programme but could still benefit from self-management guidance and support. However, following service user feedback, the programme’s scope was extended to included patients at the diagnosis stage.
The programme is run over a six week period, with weekly two hour sessions which can be accessed face-to face, or virtually, online. Sessions are delivered by physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nursing staff and guest speakers. Patients are encouraged to bring along a relative, carer or friend to the session to help support their journey, and session topics can include education relating to specific illnesses, exercise and relaxation techniques. During the sessions patients can learn more about techniques to manage breathlessness as well as: exercise, fatigue, anxiety, oxygen, medications/inhalers, and complementary therapies. There is also a weekly exercise session led by the physiotherapy team.
There’s been great feedback from the first programme – here are a couple of comments from our patients:
“I have anxiety, so this has helped.”
“[the sessions have] provided support for my husband.”
Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice’s Virtual Wards
Sue Ryder’s specialist palliative care virtual ward provides multidisciplinary support at home, for patients who are in crisis or who may be entering an acutely unstable phase. Through direct, timely access, Sue Ryder can provide symptom management and crisis interventions to even the most complex end-of-life patients, offering an enhanced service in the community.
Support and advice is offered to patients and their family and friends. This is provided by palliative care consultants, Sue Ryder clinical nurse specialists, therapy teams, family support teams, and physiotherapy, complementary therapy and occupational therapists.
Working in partnership with GPs and other local community healthcare providers, Sue Ryder’s virtual wards aim to reduce the pressure on these providers who are often called out to support crisis care. The focus is on providing short periods of intensive specialist support through daily multidisciplinary team (MDT) and patient reviews, to stabilise the patient. Once stable, patients will be supported through their usual community team.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie Bradford Hospice is continually striving to be as inclusive as possible. The charity recognises that Bradford is very much a multi-cultural city, with people from various faiths and backgrounds. Rather than trying to be all things to all people, staff try to listen to patients and their families and treat them as individuals to make them feel as comfortable as possible.
Aqeefah Sehsheen, Spiritual Care Lead at the hospice, said,
“Of course we want to be as inclusive as possible but when it comes to spirituality, it can mean a lot of different things to people."
“We do provide places for prayer: we have a private prayer room and a multi-faith chapel, and are supported by a team of volunteer chaplains (although we always need more!). But rather than focusing on different religions, it’s more valuable to listen to each individual and find out what’s important to them as a person, and then try to accommodate them and make them and their surroundings as comfortable as possible.”
Faith is just one aspect of the hospice’s approach to inclusivity. A Muslim women’s support group currently utilises our facilities and another will be starting in the very near future, supported by our patient and family support team. The day therapy unit recently launched ‘men’s shed’, with the aim of encouraging men of all ages and backgrounds to access therapeutic interventions.
A carer’s survival group takes place each week, where carers from all walks of life can attend in the morning. If they so wish, they can also take some time out for themselves in the afternoon, whilst their loved ones are being supported by our nursing team.
A new Pride rainbow walkway is now at the entrance to the hospice and ‘all-gender’ bathroom facilities are a strong visual indicator of the hospice’s LGBTQ+ friendly policies.
This is just a snapshot of the important work and expertise in Sue Ryder Manorlands and Marie Curie. We hope you’ll join us as we visit other hospices across the region learning about other person centred and inclusive support for people within the hospices and across local communities in West Yorkshire.
Thank you for reading and have a good weekend,
Charlotte
What else has been happening this week?
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary begins operating with next-generation surgical robot
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust has become the first NHS trust in Yorkshire to install a new surgical robot that aims to improve surgical outcomes and patient care.
Ten colorectal operations have now been carried out with the Versius surgical robot at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, marking a significant step in the Trust’s commitment to provide patients with the latest advancements in surgical care. The small, modular robot can be easily moved between theatres and integrated into existing workflows and operating rooms, so that multiple teams can use Versius.
The first wave of robotic surgery is being led by the colorectal team at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, but the surgical robot will soon be used in other specialties, including urology and gynaecology.
The robot is operated by a surgeon, who sits at a console with a 3D monitor in the same room as the patient, and controls up to five robotic arms, which operate the surgical camera and instruments.
72-year-old Ken Idle, from Cleckheaton, was the first patient to be operated on by Miss Grey and Mr Hussain (Colorectal Consultants) and said his care had been “top notch” from start to finish. He said he had been put totally at ease throughout after he came in for a removal of part of the bowel, following a cancer diagnosis. And, two weeks after the surgery, he was told he didn’t require any further treatment.
He said:
“I am very happy. I have had excellent care I could not fault in any respect. It has been brilliant. Top notch. The anaesthetist put me at ease at the start, then when Miss Grey [the surgeon who performed the operation] came to see me the next day her smile said it all. Then she said it could not have gone better and that just meant everything to me. If anyone has any qualms about having surgery with the robot, I’d tell them there’s nothing to worry about. I was up and about walking the next day."
After receiving the good news about not needing any further treatment, Ken’s mind is on the future. He said: “I feel like I can do anything now. To have a clear path forward is amazing - holidays are on the horizon.”
HSJ awards shortlist announced
Congratulations to the individuals, projects, teams, and organisations from West Yorkshire who have been named as finalists for this year's HSJ awards across West Yorkshire:
Clinical leader of the year
- Dr Alex Simms, Consultant Cardiologist - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Digitising patient care
- Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership - ASSIST BCD - Assisting Bradford District and Craven Beating Diabetes
- Leeds Children's Hospital, NHS Diabetes Programme and DigiBete CIC - The DigiBete App - 24/7 Digital Diabetes Self Management Solution for Children and Families
- The Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust - Virtual Fracture Clinic
- University of Leeds, University of East Anglia, NHS England, DiabetesTechnologyNetwork-UK, Diabetes UK and Local Maternity Systems - CONCEPTT-2-Care: Improving Pregnancy outcomes for women with Type 1 diabetes through nationwide implementation of digital continuous glucose monitoring technology
Driving efficiency through technology
- University of Leeds, University of East Anglia, NHS England, DiabetesTechnologyNetwork-UK, Diabetes UK and Local Maternity Systems - CONCEPTT-2-Care: Improving Pregnancy outcomes for women with Type 1 diabetes through nationwide implementation of continuous glucose monitoring technology
Mental health innovation of the year
- Synergi Leeds Partnership - Reducing ethnic inequalities in mental health in Leeds
Modernising diagnostics
- Calderdale and Huddersfield FT - Transforming Barrett's Surveillance: The Role of Cytosponge in Modernising Diagnostics
NHS race equality award
- Leeds and York Partnership FT, Leeds City Council, Public Health and Forum Central - Synergi Leeds Partnership
Performance recovery award
- Calderdale and Huddersfield FT - Delivering elective recovery
Reducing health inequalities for children and young people award
- Leeds GP Confederation - Leeds Community Ambulatory Paediatric Service (CAPS)
Staff wellbeing award
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals FT - Ramadan Allies
Towards net zero award
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - Decarbonising the Trust Estate
Workforce initiative of the year
- Leeds Community Healthcare - Hyper local recruitment
Huge well done and good luck to all involved. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in November.
Blog: "Why ultra processed food needs to be part of the inequalities agenda"
Is there a link between ultra processed food and health inequalities? In the UK 1 in 5 children and young people are consuming over 78% of their daily calories from ultra proceeded food and drinks. In the latest blog from Bradford District and Craven Reducing Inequalities Alliance, reducing inequalities manager Damian Reynolds takes a look at the health outcomes associated with ultra processed food and the importance of including this in our inequalities agenda.
Read the blog at https://bdcpartnership.co.uk/upf-inequalities/
Maternity Services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals rated ‘Good’ by CQC
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), has rated maternity services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as good, following an inspection in May and June.
Inspectors looked at the areas of safe and well-led in maternity services at St James’s University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary.
Following the inspection, maternity services at both hospitals have been rated as good overall and good for being safe and well-led.
Read more about the Good CQC rating on the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust website.
NHS urges West Yorkshire residents to plan ahead to stay well this bank holiday
The NHS in West Yorkshire is urging people to plan ahead for their healthcare needs in the run up to what is expected to be a particularly busy time for health and care services in the region.
NHS consultants will be striking on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 August and there is likely to be a significant impact on services and disruption to appointments during this time. The August bank holiday then falls on Monday 28 August so it’s important that you are prepared and know how to get help if needed during this time. Many health and care staff will be working over the bank holiday period, but services are likely to be extremely busy. Stay well by acting now and please choose the right service for your needs if you need support during this time.
If you or someone close to you needs medical help, please get advice about the most appropriate treatment option by using 111 online (111.nhs.uk) or calling 111 if you don’t have access to the internet. Remember 999 and A&E departments are for the most serious or life-threatening injuries or illnesses. Read more on the website.
Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub annual report published
The West Yorkshire Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub annual report provides an overview of the work done by the Hub from 2022 to 2023. The Hub has remained operational and has grown despite uncertain funding. It has now achieved permanent funding from the West Yorkshire ICS. Amongst its achievements, the therapy service has increased its uptake and capacity from 514 referrals since we last reported, to 825 referrals to end of March 2023. It has offered a total of 4,523 therapy sessions. A total of 12 Schwartz Rounds have occurred this year with average attendance growing.
Read the Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub annual report on the Partnership website.