Glasgow’s leading the way in reducing medicine’s gender gap
Glasgow is leading the way in closing medicine’s gender gap, thanks to a new initiative which was jointly launched on Wednesday 5th June by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the University of Glasgow. Despite the fact that over half the UK’s medical graduates are women, a significant gender gap remains in senior medical leadership roles. Currently only around 25% of medical directors and 36% of NHS Chief Executives are female, while women only represent approximately 40% of lecturers, 30% of senior lecturers, and only 15% of professors in UK medical schools. That’s why these institutions have joined forces to launch a new leadership development programme to help to nurture female leadership in the medical field. Their new Developing Female Medical and Academic Leaders Scholarship Programme has opened today (Wednesday 5th June). Successful applicants will receive: Complimentary access to a range of non-clinical skills and human factors learning and development opportunities Speaking today as she launched the programme at an event at the University of Glasgow, Professor Jackie Taylor, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow said: “I’m proud that our College is taking action today to help close medicine’s gender gap and assist women to reach their full potential as leaders. Our NHS is currently facing a range of significant challenges, so it’s essential that we tap into the widest possible pool of talent and utilise the skills that women have. This isn’t just the right thing to do for women, equality benefits everyone in our health service. Research has shown that greater gender diversity can improve financial and organisational performance and decision making and increase productivity. I look forward to working with our successful applicants when they are announced later this year”. Professor Anna Dominiczak, Vice Principal and Head of College, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow said: “The University of Glasgow is pleased and proud to be involved in this scheme with the RCPSG to reduce medicine’s gender gap. Gender equality is an issue of great importance to the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences. 50 percent of our medical graduates are women, and yet they are underrepresented in leadership roles within our health service, to the detriment of the public and profession alike. We look forward to welcoming applicants to this very important and exciting initiative as we strive to redress the gender gap in our health system. Hopefully, with the right support and guidance, we can nurture talented female clinical academics into the world-changing healthcare leaders of tomorrow.” For other informative articles like the gender gap please view our articles section.
Local care workers honoured at annual awards ceremony
Social care provider, Optalis, honoured dedicated care workers for their outstanding performance at the annual Star Awards ceremony, held at Easthampstead Park Conference Centre. The Star Awards Ceremony, which took place on 12 June, celebrates the exceptional work delivered by Optalis staff providing all levels of care and support and highlighting those who had been short-listed in different categories. Employees were nominated in nine individual categories, which include, among others, awards in communication, respect, and continuous development. The awards are an opportunity to praise all individuals who have consistently exhibited empathy, a positive attitude, and dedication to the work offered to customers supported by Optalis’ services. Jeanette Crisp, Optalis HR Manager, commented: “These awards allow us to take a moment to celebrate the enormous amount of excellent work that goes on at all levels, so congratulations to all the winners and finalists and to every individual and team that have attended the event.” The event consisted of an awards section followed by an afternoon tea and was attended by all short-listed candidates, their nominators and senior managers from Optalis. Categories were based on a series of criteria, such as exceeding customers’ expectations and being nominated by customers themselves. Despite specific workers being short-listed and awarded for their contribution, the Star Awards is a chance to honour every individual and team who are always attempting to provide the best possible service to customers who choose Optalis for support. Jeanette added: “We know that the winners and short-listed candidates who are celebrated at the Awards are by no means the only ones that have made a difference to our customers. We value every individual and team, who constantly thrive in the work they deliver, and the effort that all support workers continuously put into everything they do.” For a full list of winners of the Star Awards, visit https://www.optalis.org/star-awards-pictures.
Norovirus Outbreak Closes Hospital Wards In Cornwall
An outbreak of the Norovirus has forced medics to close hospital wards in Cornwall this morning. People are being urged to avoid the Royal Cornwall Hospital after three wards have been contaminated with the vomiting bug. Senior staff at the hospital have issued a “Black Alert”, known as an “OPEL 4” which the NHS classifies as a “serious incident”. Norovirus is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK. You are likely to have caught Norovirus if you experience a sudden sick feeling, projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea. Other symptoms can include a slight fever, headaches, painful cramps and aching limbs. Symptoms generally only last for about two to three days. If you think you have contracted it contact NHS direct but stay at home, as you could put others at risk by being in hospital. Symptoms do not last long, however, you’re actually contagious for up to three days after you’ve recovered – and some people may even be contagious for two weeks. (source: NHS) Johanna Floyd, general manager for urgent emergency care at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, tweeted: “Royal Cornwall Hospital Opel 4, three wards closed with Norovirus. Staff are working extremely hard. The hospital is under significant pressure this morning”, adding: “Take advice from your GP to manage any Norovirus symptoms at home.”
Local MP officially opens SRS Care Solutions’ new Carluke office
A Scottish company specialising in providing home-based care solutions has opened a brand-new office in Carluke to reach people requiring help outside of hospital in the region. SRS Care Solutions, a complimenting business arm of Group SRS (Scottish Recruitment Solutions), welcomed Angela Crawley, local MP for Lanark and Hamilton East, along with local businesses, members of the community and service users for the special opening. During her visit, Ms Crawley judged a ‘Bake Off’ competition which was embraced by several businesses in the area, including Carluke Development Trust, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and LG Lash & Wax, who brought their bakes to the event. Providing exceptional home-based care services across Carluke and the surrounding area, SRS Care Solutions’ new Carluke team is already providing over a thousand hours of home care to service users in Carluke and the surrounding villages every week, from Lesmahagow to Forth. The new team have plans to continue to grow the number of hours of care provided over the coming months. Led by Service Manager and trained nurse Lisa Milne, the new premises will act as a base for a group of Team Leaders who are reaching people with a range of care needs in the area. With word spreading about the home care provision offered by SRS Care Solutions, Lisa has plans to keep building on the number of hours of care provided in the region and reach more service users. Lisa said: “As someone who is Carluke born and bred, it is wonderful to ‘come home’ and work closely with so many people in the local community and make a real difference to our service users, helping many of them regain some of the independence which they could lose without the option of home-based care which we can help with. I’m delighted to be leading our newly formed Carluke team who are doing a fantastic job delivering the highest standards of care. “It’s been lovely officially opening our new office and welcoming so many people from the local community, including Angela Crawley MP, who very generously has taken the time to meet us and judge our highly competitive ‘Bake Off’ competition.” Angela Crawley, Member of Parliament for Lanark and Hamilton East, commented: “I am delighted to welcome SRS Care Solutions to my constituency and wish them every success in their new office. “They have a great track record of supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society and I look forward to working with them in the future.” Employing 180 staff, SRS Care Solutions is the largest arm of Group SRS providing 4000 hours of care every week across Scotland. Group SRS also includes SRS Training which specialises in training staff in multiple sectors including the care industry, and SRS Partnership which provides recruitment solutions. To find out more about SRS Care Solutions visit www.srscaresolutions.com For more information about Group SRS visit http://www.groupsrs.com
TV licence shock as millions of over 75s will lose out
The BBC has scrapped the free TV licence for all over 75s, meaning only those who receive Pension Credit will be exempt from paying the fee from next year. There has been widespread criticism of the move to means test the concession, which was announced days after the D-Day anniversary coverage on the BBC and will affect millions when it comes into effect on June 1 2020. The licence fee, which currently costs £154.50 a year, had been free to all over-75s since 2000. Now up to 3.5million over 75s will be hit with a bill and only 900,000 households which receive Pension Credit – a benefit given to the lowest-income households – will continue to get their licence for free. The Government criticised the BBC’s move, after it reached an agreement with the broadcaster in 2015 that said the cost of providing free licences to the over 75s would be taken over by the BBC – at a cost of £745m from 2020-2022. In addition, the Tory Manifesto of 2017 stated that the free licences should continue to be given to all over 75s. Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesperson said: “We have been clear that we expected the BBC to continue this concession. We want the BBC to look again at ways of supporting older people. “As part of the long-term funding agreement, the BBC agreed to take on responsibility for this concession in 2020 and we have been clear that we expected the BBC to continue this concession. “In 2017/18, it received over £3.8 billion in licence fee income – more than the year before – and we have guaranteed the licence fee will increase with inflation until 2022. “They are also making over £1 million a year from commercial work, such as selling content abroad, which can be reinvested. “It is the BBC’s responsibility to ensure its substantial licence fee income is used in an appropriate way so that it can deliver for UK audiences.” TV licence move is “shocking” Care & Nursing editor Victoria Galligan said: “The free TV licence for over 75s was one of the few remaining perks of getting older. Many people face isolation and loneliness in their later years and the television is a companion to them – their window to the outside world. “With pensions barely covering living costs, rising food and utility bills and in-house social care adding to elderly people’s outgoings, another unforeseen charge is the last thing that the older generation needs. “To remove a benefit from the most vulnerable in our society, which has been in place for nearly 20 years, is shocking. I think many people will be left questioning whether the BBC is using the licence fee wisely and whether it should still be mandatory for people to pay the fee – even if they don’t use the BBC’s services – when there are over 70 channels available for free viewing and so many rival subscription services like Sky, Netflix and Amazon Prime on offer.” As a boycott was called for by campaigners, BBC chairman Sir David Clementi said: “This has been a very difficult decision. We’ve obviously thought about it extremely hard. We think that it’s fair to those over 75 but fair all to all our audiences for whom there was no appetite for the level of cuts that would have been necessary if those concessions had been extended to everybody. “But there are a number of people for whom this will be unwelcome news.” Sir David added that a BBC consultation had found that a large number of over 75s said they were prepared for means-testing to be brought in or to see the free TV licence abolished completely, if it meant that at-risk services – such as BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC News Channel, the BBC Scotland channel, Radio 5live, and some local radio stations – would be kept. For more information on the changes, see the BBC News website.
Sherwood Lodge and Sherwood House rated ‘Outstanding’
Cygnet Health Care’s Sherwood Lodge and Sherwood House rated ‘Outstanding’ by Care Quality Commission Sherwood Lodge rated ‘Outstanding’ across all five CQC categories.Cygnet now has the only two learning disability hospitals in the country to have achieved this extremely rare accolade Cygnet Health Care is delighted to announce that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated the care provided by Sherwood Lodge, Cygnet’s specialist learning disability hospital and Sherwood House, Cygnet’s specialist rehabilitation mental health hospital as ‘Outstanding’. The services provided by both hospitals, near each other in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, have been rated as ‘Outstanding’ overall, and Cygnet Sherwood Lodge has achieved the extraordinary accolade of being rated as ‘Outstanding’ across all five of the CQC’s assessment categories for caring, safe, effective, responsive and well-led services. The hospital joins Cygnet Elms as the second of only two learning disability hospitals in the country to have achieved this extremely rare honour. The CQC’s report for Sherwood Lodge praises the hospital’s ‘innovative and pioneering approaches to care’ and highlights how employees treated service users ‘with kindness, respected their privacy and dignity and understood the individual needs of patients’. The efforts of all staff are commended in the report for the ‘compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership’, to the staff in general who empower patients ‘to have a voice and realise their potential.’ The CQC also commended the ‘highly motivated’ team at Sherwood House with carers informing the CQC inspectors that ‘staff went the extra mile and their care and support exceeded their expectations’. The specifically tailored nature of the care was singled out in the report which describes the ‘proactive approach to understanding the needs of different groups of people’ and how care was delivered to meet those needs. Claire Griffiths, Hospital Manager at Cygnet Sherwood Lodge said: “I am incredibly proud of the entire Sherwood Lodge team. To achieve an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating in all five assessment categories is a fitting testament to the excellent care and support we provide. “This report is a welcome acknowledgement of the commitment of our staff to ensure patient-centred care, quality and innovation are at the heart of our service.” Nita Roper, Hospital Manager at Cygnet Sherwood House said: “The team at Cygnet Sherwood House already had a strong belief that we were an outstanding service so this report is a fantastic recognition of our hard work and dedication to providing the best of care to our service users. “This is a remarkable achievement for everyone involved and we are proud to have set the standard for mental health services across our region.” Tony Romero, CEO of Cygnet Health Care said: “Many congratulations to all staff at Cygnet Sherwood Lodge and Sherwood House, who thoroughly deserve this fantastic acknowledgement. The dedication and enthusiasm they show in caring for some of society’s most vulnerable people is an inspiration to us all. “Cygnet Health Care is proud to run the only two learning disability hospitals in the entire country to be rated as ‘Outstanding’ across all five assessment categories.”
Hartlepool nursing home provider prosecuted by CQC for failing to provide safe care
A care provider that failed in its duty to provide safe care and treatment has been fined £24,000 and ordered to pay £14,000 towards the cost of the prosecution, and a £170 victim surcharge, by North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court. The Care Quality Commission brought the prosecution following the death of an 83-year-old woman at Gretton Court care home in Hartlepool. The provider, The Hospital of God at Greatham, previously pleaded guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, on 13 March 2019, to two offences: failing to provide safe care and treatment resulting a resident being exposed to a serious risk of avoidable harm, and a failure to provide safe care and treatment to the residents of Gretton Court from being exposed to a significant risk of avoidable harm. The court heard how a new resident was admitted to Gretton Court on 25 November 2015. Due to them being at risk of falling from bed when resting, it was decided that they needed bed rails and passive infrared sensors (PIR), that sound an alarm when they detect movement. The resident’s need for bed rails was reassessed throughout 2016 and they were found to be of low risk of falling from bed. However, the provider had failed to ensure that staff, responsible for assessing these needs and the safe use of bed rails, had received appropriate training. A relevant safety policy was also not available. The bed rails remained in use. In the early morning of 25 December 2016 the resident was found, having passed away and trapped between their bed and bed rails, the infrared sensors had not activated. A post mortem revealed they did not die as a result of the incident but had suffered a heart attack due to severe coronary artery disease. On 30 December CQC conducted a comprehensive inspection, in response to concerns raised. The inspection found that health and safety checks were not always completed and the management of risks at the home was poor. Care plans were also not being updated and the provider was not ensuring improvements were identified or addressed. The service was rated Requires Improvement overall. Two requirement notices were issued, meaning the provider was required to report back to CQC on how it intended to make improvements to the service. Investigations conducted by CQC after the resident’s death confirmed that the bed rails had been previously broken between October and November, and the provider had repaired them. However, evidence collected showed that the bed rails were again broken during December 2016 but went unnoticed and therefore remained unrepaired for a number of weeks. Prosecuting Counsel Ryan Donoghue, acting for CQC, told the court that The Hospital of God at Greatham failed to provide safe care and treatment and exposed the concerned resident, and other people in the home, to a significant risk of avoidable harm. The failures were due to the provider not ensuring staff were competent in their roles and supported by relevant safety policies. There were additional failures in correctly using and maintaining the PIR sensor system and the safe use and maintenance of bed rails. The combination of which led people to being exposed to significant risk of harm. The Hospital of God at Greatham was fined £24,000 for failing in its duty to provide safe care and treatment to residents in the home and ordered to pay £14,000 towards the cost of the prosecution and a £170 victim surcharge. Sue Howard, Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, said: “Everyone who depends on services is entitled to safe high-quality care and to be protected from harm. We found this provider had failed to ensure risks to people had been fully assessed or actions taken to prevent people from being exposed to avoidable harm. “The combination of a lack of the home assessing risk and its poor governance meant that it failed to identify where improvements were needed and ultimately resulted in CQC taking this action. “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to everyone concerned with the death of the resident. “Where we find poor care, we will always consider using our enforcement powers to hold providers to account and to ensure the safety of the people using services.” CQC returned to Gretton Court in March 2018 and rated it Good overall, and in each of the key questions we ask: is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?
Oakham Grange, named Ardale’s first nursing home
Ardale, a new name to the residential and nursing care sector have named Oakham Grange as their first home. This 9 million bespoke 60 bed new build home is planned to open in early 2020, creating 200 new jobs. ‘Ardale may be a new name to the healthcare sector’ said Lesa McAnulty, Ardale’s Chief Operating Officer ‘but behind the name is a senior team with many years nursing care and expertise. Ardale are on a mission to deliver care and support that is meaningful to each individual; with the warmth and personality that only a family owned company can create.’ Ardale will provide nursing care and support underpinned by a care ethos of; promoting independence while maintaining friendships and interests. One of Oakham Grange’s first visitors was Brabham, Ardale’s Therapy Dog. ‘My pets are really important to me’ said Lesa ‘so Brabham represents Ardale’s home from home, family approach to nursing care. Oakham Grange is going to our resident’s home, for them to live their lives as they want, enabled by our well trained care team. Oakham is a new place for me and I am really looking forward to meeting local people and learning more about the uniqueness of Oakham and Rutland. Oakham Grange is certainly going to be a special place and I am very excited about Ardale’s ability to create a very different kind of care service.’
Five ways to celebrate International Nurses Day 2019
As the world marks International Nurses Day on Florence Nightingale’s birthday this weekend (Sunday 12 May), editor Victoria Galligan takes a look at five ways that nurses around the country are celebrating… 1. The Royal College of Nursing is encouraging members to organise a get-together as part of the UK’s Biggest Nursing Party and offers a free party pack to help get planning started on your event. 2. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) commemorates International Nurses Day each year by producing and distributing resources and evidence to support nurses globally. This year’s theme is Nurses: A voice to lead – Health for All and looks at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) adopted by the UN in 2015. 3. Coventry Cathedral is hosting an event on Friday 10th May, which will see nurses (including retired nurses and students) mark the fourth annual International Nurses’ Day and International Day of the Midwife celebration. Nurses from across Warwickshire will take part in a procession through the city, and a ceremony will then be conducted at the cathedral. 4. Westminster Abbey will host a Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service which will feature a lamp given to the foundation by the family of Kathleen Dampier-Bennett, a trustee and supporter of the Foundation. The lamp has become the international symbol of nursing after Florence carried hers at night around the wards, visiting wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. The Chelsea pensioners will take part in the ceremony and a Nurses’ Roll of Honour is carried which honours those killed in conflict. 5. NHS Trusts in Cumbria are celebrating the range of nursing roles across the region and are looking at the different routes into a nursing career. System chief nurse Alison Smith said: “Every year the 12th May gives us a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of our nursing staff. There are so many different nursing roles each one making such a difference to the lives of our patients; in the community, in people’s homes, in the community hospitals and in the main hospitals, nurses are a huge part of our workforce. “Please help us celebrate our wonderful nurses and if you have a particular story about how a nurse has helped you or you would like to share your nursing story please get in touch. Personally I would like to thank all of our nursing staff for the phenomenal role you play in improving the lives of our patients.” Email your pics to communications.helpdesk@cumbria.nhs.uk Tag @carenursingmag on social media and we will share your International Nurses Day posts!
