News

• Fire crews train in tunnels under hospital

  by Phillipa Davies | May 27, 2016

  Firefighters in Wisbech are being given the opportunity to take part in more realistic training opportunities thanks to a partnership with a local hospital.

  

   

  Crews from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, used the tunnels under North Cambs Hospital in Wisbech (run by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust) to practise a multitude of skills in two training exercises this month.

   

  Mandy Cuckow, patient and admin services manager for Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust organised the crews visit.

   

  She said: “We are delighted to be able to support Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service crews and provide them with a realistic training environment. This was a great opportunity and we look forward to further joined up working between our organisations.”

   

  Crew Commander Robert Wabe, from Wisbech, explained the training with North Cambs Hospital enabled firefighters to hone their skills in an unfamiliar setting.

   

  He said: “We focussed on confined space and underground tunnel training when we used the hospital site, which also involved things like laying guidelines and retrieving casualties.

   

  “Having the chance to partner with local businesses and organisations gives us much more opportunity to develop challenging training exercises for crews, to test staff and keep it interesting to ensure we get the best out of one another.”

• Working above and beyond wins Trust Award

  by Kirstie Flack | May 10, 2016

   

   

  Beverley Rogers, HCP admin assistant, based in King’s Lynn, was awarded the Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust’s Shine a Light award after being nominated by one of her colleagues.
  
  Julie Williamson, health visitor said: “Beverley always works above and beyond her duties as a HCP admin assistant.
  
  “She is extremely efficient, uses her own initiative and is always completely work focussed. If you ask her to do something, you can trust that it always gets sorted. She is so willing to help, organises us all, in a good way, and is a great asset to our team. We would be lost without her.”
  
  The “Shine a Light” scheme allows members of the public to nominate staff who have delivered a fantastic service and made a real difference to their lives. Trust staff are also encouraged to nominate their colleagues.
  
  On winning the award Beverley said: “It was a surprise to have been nominated and to win the Trust’s Shine a Light Award. I do not see myself as exceptional in my duties but thank you Julie for the recognition of what I do.
  
  “Six years ago I was employed as a health visitor assistant in order to support the health visitors in their line of work, to leave the administration to me, so they could concentrate on their professional role. I hope that I have achieved this, in fact, as I have a tendency for high standards I gained a reputation of being 'a bit of a nag!'
  
  “However, apart from keeping them in line, I enjoy supporting the teams with my other HCP admin colleagues, as I feel we are all efficient in what we do and together we offer and operate a great service. I look forward to future developments within the Trust and shall endeavour to continue supporting all the teams.”
  
  Every month a member of staff or a team are selected from a list of nominations as the “Shine a Light” award winner. If you would like to nominate a member of staff or a team who has gone the extra mile for you, you can nominate online at www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk
  
  (Photo left to right: Matthew Winn, Chief Executive and Beverley Rogers, HCP Admin Assistant).

• Junior doctors strike Tuesday 26 April and Wednesday 27 April

  by Kirstie Flack | Apr 26, 2016
  Nationally junior doctors are taking industrial action on 26 and 27 April.
  
  We have introduced our tried and tested contingency plans to ensure that patient safety is maintained and can confirm that the vast majority of services provided by the Trust are unaffected by the industrial action, including urgent inpatient admissions to our Children’s Unit based at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.  A small number of outpatient appointments within our Children’s services at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and iCaSH services in Norfolk have been cancelled and rearranged.  Where this is the case, patients will already have been contacted to arrange alternative dates.
  
  General advice from the NHS about how to access services during the industrial action is available here: Industrial Action Leaflet.  

• Cancer patients benefit from more than £2.2m

  by User Not Found | Apr 21, 2016

  Last year Luton cancer patients were helped to claim just under £2.3 million worth of benefits through Luton Cancer and Palliative Care Service’s Macmillan Welfare Rights Service. During the same period, more than £20,000 Macmillan Grants were awarded.

   

  The service received 522 new referrals and a total of 550 claims were submitted. It handled 175 telephone assessments, 223 clinic appointments and 301 home visits.

   

  The figures and more information about the service’s activities over the last year can be found in its annual service report for January – December 2015 which can be accessed here: 

• Over 70 years of volunteering celebrated with a tea party.

  by User Not Found | Apr 15, 2016

  Volunteers from the Princess of Wales Hospital, Ely, celebrated over 70 years of service on Friday 15 April, at a tea party held in their honour.
  
  Kathy (Kath) Flack , Mary Cornwall and Norman Lee, who are all in their 80’s, received gifts and flowers from Matthew Winn, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, at a celebration that included family, friends, and colleagues that they have worked with past and present.
  
  Kathy and Mary both started volunteering at the hospital back in the 1990’s, with Norman joining them a few years later.  Between them they have worked in the medical records department, the Art Project, and manage The Thrift Charity Shop were they raise around £1200 per year for the hospital.

  

  Mary, 87, said:  “I been here for 23 years, so it’s been a lot of years, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, and it’s kept me going”.
  
  In addition to the long serving volunteers, Mary Johnson, Mavis Matthews, Sue Starling and Felly D’Souza, also volunteer at the hospital, regularly working on the reception and in the medical records department, they also received recognition for their work and dedication.
  
  Matthew Winn said: “It gives me great pleasure to celebrate with the fantastic Princess of Wales volunteers.  They are an integral part of our local community hospital in Ely and their contribution is absolutely priceless. We thank them for their dedication and devotion to the community hospital and the patients who use it.”
  
  The celebration tea party, which was organised by Gillian Leeper, Estates Site Manager at the hospital, said: “We are immensely grateful for all the support our volunteers give the hospital – they are a very special group of people.”

  More photo's from todays celebration can be found on our facebook page, click here:  http://is.gd/yjWbDf

   

• Invaluable support wins Trust’s award

  by Kirstie Flack | Apr 06, 2016

  Katie Neate, Project Manager, based in St Ives, was awarded the Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust’s Shine a Light award after being nominated by one of her colleagues.

  
  

  Sarah Saul, DynamicHealth Manager said: “As a project manager, Katie is second to none. I know it is not just DynamicHealth (MSK) she works for and I am sure other unit managers and services find her skills and knowledge and support invaluable. She has tenacity, determination, seeks to understand fully, and is very organised and methodical.

  
  

  “Katie also displays a calm, unflappable nature and reassures all she works with that all is "going to plan." I am indebted to her for her support and she continues driving MSK projects forward with the teams across the unit with great success. We wouldn't be as far forward as a unit if it wasn’t for Katie. She is such an asset to the Trust and goes out of her way to help and support in whatever way she can.”

   

  
  

  The “Shine a Light” scheme allows members of the public to nominate staff who have delivered a fantastic service and made a real difference to their lives. Trust staff are also encouraged to nominate their colleagues.

  
  On winning the award Katie said: “I was really surprised and delighted to have been nominated for the award and feel honoured to have won. It is an absolute pleasure to work with Sarah and the MSK teams.
  
  “It’s a privilege to work with Ambulatory Services and see the difference that our work can make to service users and staff.  I hope I can continue to support these services in the future as they develop innovative ways to improve the care we provide.”
  
  Every month a member of staff or a team are selected from a list of nominations as the “Shine a Light” award winner.  If you would like to nominate a member of staff or a team who has gone the extra mile for you, you can nominate online at www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk

   

  (Photo left to right: Matthew Winn, Chief Executive, presenting Katie Neate, Project Manager with her award certificate and Sarah Saul, DynamicHealth Manager).

• Junior doctors strike 8am Wed 6 April - 8am Fri 8 April

  by User Not Found | Apr 05, 2016

  Nationally junior doctors are taking industrial action from 8.00am on 6 April to 8.00am 8 April 2016, providing emergency care only during this time. 
  
  We have introduced our tried and tested contingency plans to ensure that patient safety is maintained and can confirm that the vast majority of services provided by the Trust are unaffected by the industrial action, including urgent inpatient admissions to our Children’s Unit based at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.  A small number of outpatient appointments within our Children’s services at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and iCaSH services in Norfolk have been cancelled and rearranged.  Where this is the case, patients will already have been contacted to arrange alternative dates.
  
  General advice from the NHS about how to access services during the industrial action is available here

• Fundraising trio’s marathon challenges for children’s charity

  by Kirstie Flack | Apr 05, 2016

   

  A trio of fundraisers are about to tackle more than 100 miles of marathon challenges to support Huntingdon’s children’s ward and the special care baby unit.
  
  Samantha Wool, Tina Lambert and Nick Jones all have personal reasons for supporting the dreamdrops charity, which fundraises for Holly Children’s Ward and the Special Care Baby Unit at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
  
  Samantha, of Chatteris, is undertaking the London Marathon on Sunday, 24^th April and chose to support the charity as both her children have spent time on the ward.
  
  She said: “Although I’ve been running for about ten years, this is my first marathon and I’ve been massively supported by my running buddies at Bodymode Running Club.
  
  “Grace and Noah have both been admitted to Holly Ward in the past and received such excellent care. When I received a place for the London Marathon I knew I wanted to support a local charity and dreamdrops is a very worthy cause.”
  
  With the support of her employer, Lightning Recruitment, Samantha is hoping to raise £750 and plans to complete the course in four and a half hours.
  
  Tina Lambert, of March, will be pounding the pavements a week earlier at the Brighton Marathon on Sunday, 17^th April. Tina has been running with March Running Club for two years and this will be her first marathon.
  
  Tina is raising funds specifically for the special care baby unit; in 2014 the unit had cared for a friend’s baby who sadly died of Edward’s Syndrome.
  
  She said: “I’m doing this for my friends who lost their little girl and had received care and support from the special care baby unit.
  
  “I’ve done a couple of half marathons before, but never a full one. I’ve raised just over £300 so far and my employer Royal Mail has pledged to match £200.”
  
  Taking on a much longer challenge is Nick Jones of Somersham, who will be tackling Trekfest in the Brecon Beacons in June. Trekfest is a 24 hour, 75km (54 miles) demanding trek through the Welsh National Park and Nick is taking on the challenge in memory of his daughter Olivia, who passed away three years ago.
  
  Nick said: “Olivia had spent time on Holly Ward and I wanted to give something back. Two years ago I did Trek 50 over the Pennines, so I’m under no illusions as to how difficult it is. Last time I think I got through on pure determination, but I’ve got a full training regime, dietary plan and am putting in regular 15-20 mile walks to prepare.”
  
  Nick, who owns Dream Clean Services, is hoping to raise £2,000 for dreamdrops.
  
  Mike Andrews, dreamdrops Deputy Chairman, said: “We’re a local charity which makes a real difference to children in Huntingdonshire who need emergency or specialist community care by providing those extras which can make a hospital stay more comfortable or equipment to enable a sick child to be cared for at home.
  
  “On behalf of the charity I would like to say thank you to Sam, Tina and Nick for choosing dreamdrops to be the beneficiary of their fundraising efforts.”
  
  You can support Sam, Tina and Nick through their Just Giving pages:
  Sam: https://www.justgiving.com/Samantha-Wool2
  Tina: https://www.justgiving.com/Tina-Lambert2
  Nick: https://www.justgiving.com/Nicholas-Jones20
  
  Photo: Preparing for their marathon efforts: (L-R) Dreamdrops Deputy Chair Mike Andrews, Tina Lambert, Nick Jones, Samantha Wool and Acute Children’s Services Matron, Sarah Hughes.

• Children’s Market Place proves a huge success

  by User Not Found | Mar 24, 2016
  Professionals working with children across Luton took the opportunity to showcase their services at a hugely successful Children’s Market Place on Tuesday, 22 March.
  
  

  Children’s service providers were invited to exhibit at the event to share knowledge, skills and best practice.

  The Children’s Market Place was organised by Luton Children and Adults Community Health Services – part of Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust – in collaboration with Luton Borough Council.
  
  

  Professionals working in children’s services and head teachers were also invited to drop in to the event at Futures House, The Moakes to find out more about the work taking place.

  

  Service Director, Linda Sharkey (right) and exhibitors celebrate the success of the Children’s Market Place.

  Linda Sharkey, Service Director of Luton Children and Adults Community Health Services said: “Our Children’s Market Place was a huge success. We had stands from more than 20 businesses drawn from across the wide variety of services available across Luton.

  “We are already working closely with children’s teams in the borough and our Children’s Market Place gave everyone the chance to build on those relationships by getting to know each other better and share advice. It was good to see so many businesses and individuals taking the opportunity to find out more about children’s services.”

• Phone lines at Wigmore Lane Health Centre - Issue resolved

  by Phillipa Davies | Mar 22, 2016

  The phone lines at Wigmore Lane Health Centre in Luton are now back on line.

  Apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.