August 2016
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| Annual General Meeting 2016 |
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We held our Annual General Meeting on the 19th of July which was a huge success, with a great turnout considering it was a hot evening, and everyone who came seemed both interested and impressed with what we are doing, and there was lots of positive feedback.
Finally I'd just like to share with you a short compilation video we played on that evening, which showcased a selection of programmes and achievements from last year. It really demonstrates just how much we do and how much we've achieved (and this is only the tip of the iceberg) - you can watch the video above. |
| Are you a member and interested in becoming a Public Governor? |
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Enthusiasm and support for Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals are the requirements for any would-be Governor. Would you like to have more of a say in how Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is run? Would you be interested in standing for election as a Governor of the Trust?
Our Council of Governors is made up of 25 Governors and its main purpose is to hold the Non-Executive Directors individually and collectively to account for the performance of the Board of Directors. You would have received a letter advising that we are holding elections this autumn for: Public Constituencies
You are welcome to nominate yourself to be a member of the Council of Governors as long as you live or belong to one of the constituencies above. If this does not appeal to you, we hope you will exercise your vote in the elections when you receive your ballot paper in October. For more details please click here or call the Membership Office on 01932 722063 Alternatively, you can call Electoral Reform Services for a nomination form for completion and return no later than noon 9th September 2016. |
| Dates for your Diary | |
Members' Events
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Council of Governors Wednesday 7 September 6 - 8 pm, Education Centre, Ashford Hospital Monday 5 December 4 - 6 pm, Chertsey House, St Peter's Hospital Trust Board Thursday 29 September 11 - 1.30 pm, Education Centre, Ashford Hospital Thursday 27 October 11 - 1.30 pm, Chertsey House, St Peter's Hospital Papers are available a week in advance via the Trust website. |
| Success of dedicated unit for elderly patients |
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At the end of last year a new Older Persons Short Stay Unit - named Cherry Ward - opened at St Peter's Hospital, specifically to care for patients over the age of 75. Led by Consultant Orthogeriatrician, Dr Radcliffe Lisk and his colleagues, the new unit has proved to be very successful - ensuring that patients receive a comprehensive assessment soon after being admitted to hospital by a highly specialised multi-disciplinary team, receive good continuity of care and are discharged more quickly.
Read more here. |
| How clean is your house? - The hospital version |
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As they were coming to a Members' Meeting to hear about Infection Prevention and Control it is hoped that the 50 or so in the audience had not walked past any available sanitisers without using them. Judging by one of the questions asked, and the murmurings of agreement, it would seem that the Trust's members considered this a high priority action when entering and leaving a hospital building. They were appalled at seeing how many just walked past.
This was just one simple and important action mentioned by Ann Trail, Nurse Consultant & Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control in her interesting and informative presentation on 28th June. While Ann clearly carried out her duties with the same determination as the presenters of that Channel 4 programme, the title of which appears at the top, it was quickly very clear that there was far more to keeping a hospital clean and infection free! There may be a small team of Microbiologists, Nurses and one Secretary having the designated responsibility in the Trust for this 'subject' but clearly everyone on the staff has this responsibility to ensure that they abide by simple instructions (some as simple as thorough and frequent hand washing) to minimise the risk and eradicate unavoidable infections, many of which are brought into the hospitals from outside. The responsibility also extends to visitors as indicated above. Ann explained different types of infections and how and why they are caused, and gave some statistics. Some infections were unavoidable due to patients' poor immunity mainly caused by their medical condition or age. Ann gave the good news concerning the reduction in such infections at Ashford & St Peter's and mentioned the Care Quality Commission visit in 2015 when it was declared that the Trust met all standards and was marked as 'Good' in this area. And 'Good' was the verdict at the end of this interesting presentation following which there were many questions and comments. Keith Bradley Public Governor, Woking & Guildford |
| Green fingered volunteers dig St Peter's Hospital |
| Keith Hayward, Estates Manager at Ashford and St Peter's said, "We were very happy to welcome the 18 staff from Enterprise rent a car - organised through Voluntary Support North Surrey - who kindly gave up their time in order to tidy up the courtyards in our outpatient blocks at St Peter's Hospital. I have to say the areas look fantastic, and provide a more welcoming and attractive introduction to the hospital for patients, staff and visitors." |
| Big drive against pressure ulcers at Ashford and St Peter's pays off |
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There has been a big reduction over the past year in the number of patients suffering from hospital acquired pressure ulcers - generally known as bed sores - in Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals.
The Trust is committed to zero tolerance for hospital-acquired pressure damage. Training in pressure area care and pressure ulcer prevention is mandatory for clinical staff and there is a Trust Pressure Ulcer Pledge that all staff are asked to sign up to. Read more here. |