News

• Homeless people in Luton to receive flu vaccinations

  by User Not Found | Nov 07, 2018

  A project to help homeless people in Luton receive flu vaccinations commences this week, when a team of health care professionals join forces to hold flu prevention drop-in clinics at a welfare centre for the homeless.

  Following the success of last year’s flu prevention clinics, this year’s drop-in sessions are being held at the NOAH Welfare Shelter in Luton on Tuesday 6 and Tuesday 20 November from 9am to 4pm.

  Nurses from Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust (CCS) are administering the flu vaccinations and carrying out a mini health assessment to homeless people who attend the drop-in clinics. This winter service is being carried out alongside the weekly health clinic provided to Luton’s homeless by GPs from the Larkside Practice, which is commissioned by NHS Luton Clinical Commissioning Group(LCCG).  Luton Total Wellbeing Service will also be in attendance between 11.00am and 1.00pm to offer advice in relation to services available within the community.

  Together the four organisations aim to help prevent the most vulnerable people who live on the streets of the town, from contracting a serious illness over the winter period.

  Dr Chirag Bakhai, GP and Luton CCG’s Deputy Clinical Chair, said: “When the weather turns cold, the consequences can be potentially life threatening for Luton's homeless. By working closely together, we can offer our vulnerable homeless population flu vaccinations along with their weekly health assessments, which will help towards protecting their health this winter.”

  Linda Sharkey, Service Director of CCS, said: "Last year I had the flu and it was awful - but I was in a warm comfortable home with support. It would be unimaginable for the majority of us to consider being ill and being homeless. We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable people in Luton and will be also running our annual 'warm coats' scheme to support homeless people.”

  Paul Prosser, Head of Welfare Services at NOAH Enterprise, said: “NOAH seeks to alleviate poverty for the most disadvantaged people in society. Facilitating access to primary healthcare such as flu vaccinations can reduce emergency admissions and is often the start of a journey of recovery which can help people move away from homelessness into sustainable living’.

  For more information visit: www.noahenterprise.org

• Louis Rolfe MBE Opens Our New Children's Centre

  by Kirstie Flack | Oct 23, 2018

   
  Louis Rolfe MBE, GB Paralympic Champion opens children and young people’s community health services centre
  
  Louis Rolfe MBE and Paralympic Champion was given a warm welcome by children, families and staff as he officially opened the Peacock Centre on the Brookfield's campus in Cambridge today.
  
  Dr Alison Sansome, Clinical Director for Children & Young People’s Services, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust explained: “We have completely refurbished the Peacock Centre, creating bespoke accommodation for a wide range of community health services, ensuring children and their families can be cared for in a holistic way with all their needs met under one roof.  I cannot think of anyone more fitting to open the Centre than Louis who, as a GB Paralympian, is an inspiration for every child who is living with a disability or health condition to reach for their dreams; exactly our ethos at the Centre.”
  
  Speaking at the opening, Louis said: “I know from first hand experience the difference that skilled and compassionate community health clinicians can make to a child and their ability to maximise their potential.  I have so many positive memories of how local services made a difference to me and my family and I cannot commend these wonderful staff enough. 
  
  "I am extremely proud to have been asked to officially open the Centre today and I wish you all – children, families and staff – the very best for the future.”
  
  Services provided from the Peacock Centre include: 

  • speech and language therapy,
  • occupational therapy,
  • physiotherapy,
  • community paediatrics,
  • audiology,
  • family nursing partnership,
  • health visitors,
  • school nurses,
  • community nursing,
  • early support services.

• New State-of-the-art Physio Facility Open to Patients

  by Sarah Turner | Oct 22, 2018

  CCS NHS Trust is delighted to announce that the first phase of its £8 million redevelopment of the North Cambridgeshire Hospital in Wisbech is now complete.

  This means the Trust’s DynamicHealth musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy services have moved from their previous location on site to newly-refurbished accommodation within two ‘arms’ of the formerly vacant Rowan Lodge and will open to the public on Monday 22^nd October 2018.

  The exciting development will vastly improve facilities for patients, visitors and staff by offering:

  • Light and airy accommodation
  • Private clinic rooms to provide privacy and dignity
  • A spacious, well-equipped gym for classes, one-to-one rehabilitation and self-directed gym sessions
  • Increased class capacity
  • A dedicated Physio Advice Line room where patients who have self referred can speak to physiotherapists
  • A new disability-friendly reception with self check-in
  • The latest technology to enable patients to view their x-rays/scans
  • Meeting areas for patient education sessions
  • A media screen in the waiting area with patient information
  • Water coolers
  • Accessible toilets

  Sarah Saul, DynamicHealth Manager, explained: "We’re thrilled to be moving our musculoskeletal physiotherapy and specialist service into Rowan Lodge. This provides a state-of-the-art, modern and fit for the future department for both staff to work in and patients to receive treatment."

  Steve Barclay MP said: “It is a very welcome development to see the new physio services at North Cambs Hospital as part of the first phase of this £8million improvement. It is important that we continue to increase the number of services offered to treat people locally at North Cambs, Doddington and Ely rather than requiring journeys to large hospitals.”

  Raj Thirunageswaram, MSK Physiotherapist and Operational Team Lead for Peterborough and Wisbech, said: “I’m delighted with the development of these new DynamicHealth facilities at Rowan Lodge for our growing musculoskeletal service. This will enable us to continue providing a high level of MSK physiotherapy and specialist care to the patients in the local Wisbech and surrounding areas. Our new facilities now also have a spacious gym and therefore we can offer more classes and manage our patients more effectively. I feel very excited for the team as they have these new premises and more modern infrastructure which gives them a better environment to work in.”

  Fiona Bennett, Team Lead Physio, added: “We’re thrilled to be moving into such a light, modern space after trying to make the most of our current space for so long. Our new home will allow us to continue to provide excellent care to our patients and have the space to develop our service in the future, incorporating classes and education sessions to further promote self-management of MSK conditions.”

  
  

• Staff turned to pedal power to raise money for ill children

  by User Not Found | Sep 25, 2018

  NHS workers turned to pedal power on Sunday, 23 September to raise money for seriously ill children in Luton and Bedfordshire.

  Staff got on their bikes for a 50 mile ride to fund the launch of the Beads of Courage initiative which supports children living with long term life-limiting conditions and marks each milestone in their treatment with a bead.

  The bike ride, hosted by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust – delivers community health services for young people and children in Luton and Bedfordshire.

  The bike ride started at 9.30am at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire and finished at Bedfordshire Football Association in Luton. 

  The event was held in memory of our colleague Mick Birch who died suddenly last year and was a great supporter of the Beads of Courage initiative, and we worked with Mick’s family, friends and former colleagues from 360 Sqn RAF to arrange this event.

  The Beads of Courage initiative gives children a bead for each procedure or milestone in their treatment. As their string of beads grows, they can use it to remember and retell the story of their treatment to friends and family. It is also about taking control of a tough situation. Each bead is their way of saying: “this isn’t easy, but I did it.”

  The beads also help to decrease illness related distress, increase the use of positive coping strategies, help children find meaning in illness and restore a sense of self in children coping with serious illness. 

  We exceeded our fund raising target for this bike ride of £3,500, which will provide sufficient beads for approximately 70 children.

  
  

• "SCBU saved my brother’s life"

  by Alex Keep | Sep 13, 2018

  Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust’s charity ‘dreamdrops’ received a donation of £100 for the Special Care Baby Unit at Hinchingbrooke Hospital along with £100 for the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge.

  The money was raised by Ilaria Di Rita (aged 9) whose brother was cared for on the unit.  Ilaria arranged for her class mates to meet at the park near Wheatfield’s School, in St Ives, where they did a sponsored danceathon and run to raise money for the unit.  Ilaria said: “I wanted to raise money for the unit who work hard every day and who saved my brother’s life.”

  Merinda Di Rita, Ilaira’s mother said:  "Luigino was extremely poorly when born. He had to have an emergency blood transfusion and was then rushed to the Rosie and put onto a life support machine. We were told after my C section that we only had around an hour to have him delivered otherwise it would have been a very different story.

  “That night we had consultants working on Luigino giving him blood transfusions. They worked quickly and ultimately because of this they saved his life.”

  Dr Nik Johnson, Consultant Paediatrician said: “We provide a high quality of care to all the children on the unit, and we are delighted to hear how well Luigino is progressing.  We are extremely grateful to Ilaria for raising this money which will greatly benefit the children in our care.”

  Anne-Marie Hamilton, Chairman of Dreamdrops said: “A huge thank you to Ilaria and her friends and what a wonderful way to raise money for the Special Care Baby Unit.  The money raised will be used to purchase baby massage mats. The unit offers mums and their babies the opportunity to come back to a massage class to help with their bonding and attachment. These will help to make the experience of baby massage much more comfortable.”

  For more information about our charity dreamdrops please visit:

  http://dreamdropschildrenscharity.org or email dreamdrops.dreamdrops@nhs.net.

  
  

• Quality is at the heart of all we do

  by Phillipa Davies | Sep 13, 2018

  We are proud to provide high quality services that enable people to live healthier lives and receive care closer to home.

  A few highlights include:

  • Launching iCaSH Express Test in Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk where anyone aged over 16 with no symptoms, can test quickly and easily for sexually transmitted infections, using an online and postal service, without the need to visit a clinic.
  
  • Successfully completing two ‘Primary Care Home’ projects in Luton in partnership with GPs to improve clinical outcomes. The first involved comprehensive medication reviews for patients over the age of 75 taking more than 10 medications. The second engaged diabetic patients, particularly of South
  East Asian origin, in structured education programmes.
  
  • Introducing the Norfolk Just One Number single point of access and care co-ordination hub. This new approach enables parents and professionals to speedily access consistent and evidence based services, from the right healthcare professional within our Healthy Child Programme services.

  • Redesigning, with partners, a new integrated community musculoskeletal (MSK) model, which will bring together closely related MSK specialities - orthopaedic, pain management, rheumatology and spinal.
  
  • Introducing Chathealth in Cambridgeshire, a text based service that allows young people to seek advice and guidance on a range of issues from local health professionals.
  
  • Supporting staff at our Oliver Zangwill Centre for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation and within our iCaSH service, to complete the Health Education East Quality Improvement Fellows Programme. This will result in the design of a client evaluation system for neuro-rehabilitation patients and improve the
  wellbeing of people living with HIV through clinical psychologist-led support groups.

  To read more about our achievements, please see our latest Annual Report 2017-18.

• Fantastic achievements raise £1,500 for local children’s ward

  by Kirstie Flack | Aug 28, 2018

  

  In Spring 2017 Jonathan Smith, from St Neots, started a 100 mile coastal trek from Hunstanton to Lowestoft, the most easterly point in Great Britain. Jonathan’s epic walk was to raise money for the dreamdrops charity and Holly children’s ward run by Cambridgeshire Community Service NHS Trust.
  
  Jonthan’s son was taken very ill after two weeks of having an everyday cold, followed by sinusitis.  Jonathan said: “My son was diagnosed with orbital cellulitis putting him at high risk of blood poisoning, losing his eye or hearing or, even worse, meningitis. 
  
  "After two weeks of intensive drug treatment, he thankfully recovered. Having spent every day and night by his side and feeling totally helpless, I decided to raise money to buy more toys, computers and iPads having seen how those already on Holly ward provided a welcome distraction, enabling the kids to just be children again, irrespective of their illness or condition.”
  
  Jonathan planned to walk nearly 100 miles continuously, day and night but after 56 km his walk was cut short at Sheringham due to a reoccurrence of a back injury.  After extensive physiotherapy to cope with his chronic back condition Jonathan embarked on the remaining 80km of his route on 21 June.  After staying in Sheringham overnight Jonathan started the final leg at 3am, aiming to finish by 9pm that night. 
  
  Jonathan said: “The night before the walk was terrible with very high winds rocking the caravan from side to side. I left after 3am and had to take it steady as the wind was really strong walking along the open cliff top.
  
  “But after a full day of trekking through different terrains and beautiful scenery I completed the walk at 10pm. This was a huge challenge for me and one that has had its ups and downs but I am pleased to have been able to raise money for this worthy charity.”
  
  Anne-Marie Hamilton, chairman of dreamdrops said; “Jonathan showed real grit and determination as part of his walk was over soft sand dunes, which must have been hard to walk on, when you are already feeling exhausted. 
  
  “It has taken real courage to go back to where you had to leave off, in order to complete the challenge that he set himself as this was over some desolate and isolated areas.  He has raised a fantastic £1,500 through his walks and his night trek up Snowdon.  We cannot thank him enough for his continued efforts in raising money for dreamdrops.”
  
  Jonathan added: “I really cannot thank the doctors and nurses enough for all they did for our family. Whilst the challenges I have faced have been daunting, raising funds is incredibly rewarding and I’d encourage others to do so; it doesn’t have to involve physical challenges, just donating whatever you can afford makes a difference.  It’s great to see that the money raised is being used to benefit the children on the ward.”
  
   If you would like to donate to Jonathan’s fund-raising coastal walk visit: https://www.justgiving.com/Jonathan-Smith57 or for more information about our charity dreamdrops please visit: http://dreamdropschildrenscharity.org or email dreamdrops.dreamdrops@nhs.net.

   

• 'Trailblazing role’ in improving patient experience

  by Phillipa Davies | Aug 16, 2018

  Visitors, patients and staff can use our new accessibility tracker to find out about access to the service they are visiting, thanks to a partnership with DisabledGo.com.

  This resource will be a great help to disabled people, their carers, friends and family. It will equally be of help to people who would just like to know more about areas and facilities at these sites, such as parking, walking distances, main entrances and toilets.

  Matthew Winn, Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be working with DisabledGo.com to ensure there is now a huge amount of readily available information about the accessibility of our health premises. The Trust delivers care across four counties to some of the most vulnerable in our communities and they will now be able to see information that will allow them to plan their visit in advance. The detail they find will hopefully make them feel more confident, especially if visiting for the first time; improving their experience of our services.”

  Most importantly, all the details have been checked in person, so you can be sure you’ll get all the facts.

  Commenting on the new service, Anna Nelson, Executive Director at DisabledGo.com said: “It was clear from today’s launch that the Trust is committed to inclusion, improving patient experience and delivering quality care. I believe the DisabledGo initiative has a really important part to play and will only strengthen the wider programme of work already underway.

  “The service is for anyone who needs to know more about accessibility, but is equally helpful for people who may be feeling anxious about visiting an unfamiliar place.

  “The Trust is one of the first community health providers to work with DisabledGo and I hope that this trailblazing role will be recognised and emulated in the future.”

  To find our available access guides simply visit the our site page or go to: www.disabledgo.com/organisations/cambridgeshire-community-services-nhs-trust

• Beads of Courage 3rd Year Anniversary Tea Party

  by Kirstie Flack | Aug 06, 2018

   

  
  
  
  The Bridge Church, St Ives, was the place to be for local families celebrating the Beads of Courage third anniversary.
  
  Children living with long term life-limiting conditions and their families celebrated with a tea party along with members of staff from Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.
  
  Mags Hirst, play specialist, children's community nursing team said: “We have been incredibly blessed to have an amazing support network of fundraisers who have thrown themselves into a huge array of events to enable us to not only expand the number of children who have beads of courage but also to future proof the programme for many, many years to come – we cannot thank you enough.
  
  “A huge thank you to everyone who helped plan this year’s party by providing ideas and feedback, also a huge thank you to all the children who lent us their beads to show the fundraisers.  They have inspired our many fundraisers to throw their all into raising loads of money, as your beads have shown them just how brave and courageous you all are.
  
  “Today there are some very special youngsters here who are the unsung heroes who help out at home, making sure their brother or sister are ok and often spending hours hanging out in hospital.
  
  Today we salute; Mollie, Alfie, Jack, Charlie, Dan and Abbie.  Thank you all for coming along today to help us celebrate our 3^rd birthday!”
  
  Claire Reece, Hugo’s mum said: “It’s great to have a chart of Hugo’s journey over the years, showing the medical treatments he has had.
  
  “Hugo is nine now, and so far we have beads up to his 4^th birthday.  I have also written dairies since he was born so we can go back and find out what beads he needs.
  
  “Mags is wonderful and we were really pleased when children in the community could collect the beads as well. Martha my daughter puts all the beads together for Hugo and she really enjoys being part of his journey as well, it’s fantastic and all the children enjoy it.”
  
  The Octagon Cycling Club in Ely cycled 200 miles and raised £5,000 for Beads of Courage!  Andy Thomas and Geoff Wilkinson presented the cheque to Sarah Hardman, children’s community nurse.  Andy said: “The team go out and ride two or three times a week and through the connection of one of the riders, Neil Bowman, whose sister Sarah Hardman works at the Trust, we decided that the Beads of Courage would be one of our chosen charities this year.
  
  “We wanted to support a local charity where you can see the money being used.  We were delighted to raise the money for such a worthy cause.”
  
  Matthew Winn, Chief Executive for the Trust thanked everyone for coming: “All of you here today work hard as parents and families throughout the year but our team, especially Mags, in terms of her role and the rest of the community nursing role, spend 365 days a year supporting people across the county so can I just say a huge thank you to the team who do such a fabulous job!!
  
  If anyone would like to donate to this worthy cause the charitable fund for donations is TSC13 /1108920/Cambs mental health and primary care trust charitable fund.

  
  
  
  

• Luton health visitors international Baby Friendly Award

  by User Not Found | Jul 31, 2018

  Our Luton health visitors are proud to hold the prestigious UNICEF Baby Friendly Award – international recognition for their work promoting and supporting breastfeeding.

  The Baby Friendly Initiative, set up by UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, is a global programme which provides a practical and effective way for health services to improve the care provided for all mothers and babies.rganis

  In the UK, the charity works with public services to protect, promote and support breastfeeding and to strengthen mother-baby and family relationships. The award is given to show that recognised best practice standards are in place.