Author: Amy

Staff at University Hospitals of North Midlands have been recognised for driving forward cultural change and improvements in their department.

The Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) from Royal Stoke University Hospital has been awarded Team of the Month for their collaborative approach to improving their department.

The team were nominated for implementing Improving Together, a Trust-wide, long term culture transformation journey giving responsibility and decision making back to staff within their own areas.

The improvements have included daily huddles where the team can share problems, ideas, views and celebrate success to benefit patient care. Examples of changes and improvements include the introduction of different coloured mop caps for airway trained staff making handover more efficient for both teams and safer for the patient and installing POD (Patients own drugs) locker on wards. This has meant that patients have safe and timely access to their routine medication, whilst cutting down on medicine waste and rework for doctors and the pharmacy team.

Lorraine Whitehead, UHNM Director of Estates, Facilities and PFI, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to present the Team of the Month award to PACU. The team are such worthy winners of this award due to the positive changes the team have implemented to ensure patient care is the best it can be. A big congratulations to everyone!” 

Claire Brooks, Acting Nurse in PACU, said: “I am very proud of all the work that the improving together team have done so far and we just have to build on what we have already achieved to drive practice forward for the best of our patients.”

The Stoke on Trent School of Anaesthesia team were very pleased to get their Transfer Training Course back on the road following the disruption to face-to-face teaching over the past couple of years. The school has provided Transfer Training to Doctors for a long time.  But, this is the first time its worked with the Staffordshire University Simulation and Patient Safety team to provide a working ambulance, technician, manikin, kit bags, defibrillator and portable ventilator for a hi-fi experience.

Consultant Anaesthetists Dr Felicity Avann and Dr Ben Taylor ran the one-day Course at Stafford Post Graduate Medical Centre (making use of the new Extended Reality Laboratory) and received great feedback: 

• Really good hands-on experience with the ambulance and sim suite!
• Fantastic session, led by expert faculty. Very much appreciated! Well organised and great facilities.
• Really enjoyed the day. Enthusiastic, proactive, approachable teachers. So many hands on tips!
• The session was excellent, in part because of the high quality of trainers and their experience level/background. Use of the ambulance and sim lab added to the experience.

It looks like everyone enjoyed the day!

The school aims to provide an annual Transfer Training Session, so if you are interested in attending the next one, make sure you are signed up to the mailing list on this website.

The GAS our popular Trainee newsletter is looking for new articles from Trainees around the country.  Please see link below for the guidelines for articles:

The Gas Newsletter | The Royal College of Anaesthetists (rcoa.ac.uk)

If any Trainee’s are interested in having an article published in Gas to email gas@rcoa.ac.uk or kmorris@rcoa.ac.uk

Karen Morris​  |  Regional Representatives Coordinator Royal College of Anaesthetists Churchill House | 35 Red Lion Square London | WC1R 4SG Email: kmorris@rcoa.ac.uk Direct Line: +44 20 7092 1573 Switchboard: +44 20 7092 1500 Web: www.rcoa.ac.uk  |  Twitter: @RCoANews

Anaesthetic staff at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) are now able to improve their skills thanks to a life-size robotic patient. Staff in the Royal Stoke University Hospital’s Anaesthetic Academic Unit can now simulate procedures and practice on the SimMan 3G, which was funded thanks to a grant from the Denise Coates Foundation to UHNM Charity. 

Dr Lloyd Craker, UHNM Consultant Anaesthetist, said: “SimMan 3G is able to display a wide range of physiological and neurological symptoms as well as pharmacological responses to almost 150 different drugs. It enables us to provide simulation training on specialities including point of care ultrasound, advanced ventilation management and patient monitoring.” As well as being able to talk through microphones, SimMan has eyes that open and close with responsive pupils and it is able to cry, sweat and pass water. It has realistic cardiac and abdominal sounds, and can also simulate bleeding and convulsions.

The funding has also enabled the Anaesthetic Department to purchase a range of respiratory and ultrasound training equipment.

Dr Craker added: “The response to the pandemic means different ways of working to protect the safety of our patients in these high-risk environments. This training equipment is essential for that. Much of our previous training equipment was old, outdated and very much overused. This new equipment provides our staff with experience, competence and confidence.”

The Denise Coates Foundation’s generosity in providing the funds for this state of the art training equipment will benefit the training of many junior anaesthetists and other healthcare staff for years to come and we thank them most sincerely.

If you would like to fundraise for UHNM Charity visit www.uhnmcharity.org.uk for more information, or call 01782 676444 to speak to one of the UHNM Charity team.

Effective analgesia or pain relief is crucial to patient outcome following surgery or trauma, to ensure comfort and to aid rehabilitation.

Local Anaesthetic (LA) infusions for the management of acute pain in trauma patients and more recently groups of post-operative surgical patients have been implemented in the Trust. Local Anaesthetics are a key part of acute pain management and has benefits of reduced strong pain-relieving drugs requirement and consequently a reduction in opioid related side effects.

Local Anaesthetic catheter insertion to enable the infusion relies on skilled clinicians and the Medical Devices Team along with the Acute Pain Team have been training nursing staff on Ward 223 to ensure staff have an understanding  of both the theory and  practical aspect.

Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Lead for the Acute Pain Service Lotta Blake-Jansson focuses on the theory and competence of knowledge surrounding LA infusions and Mandy Wilkes, Medical Devices Trainer develops and assesses competence with the infusion device.

Despite the pandemic ward 223 have managed to support their staff to receive the training package and are 100% complaint ,meaning as a cardio thoracic ward  they can lead the way to take patients with the LA infusions improving patient outcome.

Lotta Blake-Jansson said: “This demonstrates the good work that has been going on during the pandemic but also raise awareness of Local Anaesthetic infusions and the positive impact it has on patients.

“Nursing , medical and other disciplines use a wide variety of infusion devices on a daily basis to deliver safe and effective care and to minimize risk to our patients , it is important that all staff are trained and competent with all the devices they use.”

Mandy Wilkes added: “My role sits within Quality, Safety and Compliance and the monitoring of compliance, planning and facilitating medical device training is a fundamental part of my role.

Collaborative working is essential especially when a new device is being launched, this ensures staff are receiving a structured, streamlined approach to training that incorporates both theory and practise. The Local anaesthetic training is a prime example of how collaborative working has excellent benefits for both staff and patients.”

The Bodyguard 595 infusion device is specifically for Local Anaesthetic infusions and is for the management of acute pain in Trauma patients and more recently groups of post-operative surgical patients.

If you require more information or training on Local Anaesthetic infusions please email

Mandy.Wilkes@uhnm.nhs.uk or Lotta.Blake-Jansson@uhnm.nhs.uk

Dr Pradeep Ingle, Consultant in Chronic Pain and Anaesthesia, has co-authored a critically acclaimed book: ‘Chronic Pain Management’. The book was written alongside other clinical experts and was released last month in a charity event organised by ‘RISE’ foundation, which helps children in the UK who suffer from chronic pain.

Chronic or persistent pain is defined as pain which carries on despite medication or treatment. Most people recover following an injury or operation, but sometimes pain can carry on for longer or come on without any history of an injury or operation. Chronic pain can also affect people living with diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel and back pain.

Dr Pradeep Ingle said: “This book will help medical professionals gain a sound understanding of chronic pain and advises on the diagnosis and management of various pain conditions they are likely to encounter in their practice. The book also discusses pain management in special populations and challenging situations and it covers other important topics in pain medicine, including issues relevant to primary care, pain medication, pain interventions and pain management in difficult times such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I’m really pleased that the book has been so well received. Reviews mention that it contains a good range of topics which are succinct and easy to understand and which have concise evidence-based practice recommendations. All the main authors of this book are involved in conducting various educational courses related to pain and anaesthesia in the UK, so I’m hopeful that it will be a very useful tool for anaesthesia trainees and that the simple and consistent style will make it an easy read.”

UHNM consultants Dr Harry Murally, Dr Rajini Sundararajan, Dr Ashok Puttappa and Dr Vanja Srbljak also contributed to the book, which covers topics relevant in day-to-day practice for various healthcare professionals such as Anaesthetists, ITU professionals, General Practitioners, Rheumatologists, Physicians, Surgeons, Junior Doctors involved in community and hospital pain management settings, Physiotherapists and Musculoskeletal Pain Practitioners, nursing staff and medical students.

Copies of the book can be ordered here.

To keep your Education Supervisor Training up-to-date you can enrol onto the modules (7 for each domain) here:

http://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/educator-hub/how-to-access/

A Consultant Anaesthetist from the Royal Stoke University Hospital is taking on Wales’ highest point just three months after surviving COVID-19.

Dr Murali Vallabhaneni, Consultant Anaesthetist from the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) found himself needing the care of colleagues after becoming ill with the virus at the beginning of May.

After spending two weeks in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) at Royal Stoke, Dr Vallabhaneni will be scaling Mount Snowdon on Saturday 15 August to raise funds for UHNM Charity and thank the staff who saved his life.  

Dr Vallabhaneni said: “At the beginning of May I started to feel unwell with severe head and body aches, so went into self-isolation. Around a week later my condition deteriorated, and I started to develop severe shortness of breath, so called for an ambulance.

“I was considered to be very poorly, so was admitted to the CCU at Royal Stoke, where I was given hi-flow oxygen. Unfortunately my oxygen levels became dangerously low, so it was decided to put me on a ventilator.”    

Dr Vallabhaneni, who provides anaesthetic services to Critical Care, Oncology and Vascular patients, spent five days on the ventilator before being considered well enough to be weaned off it.

He said: “My condition had deteriorated significantly, enough so to give my colleagues a very anxious three days. When I woke up I was very weak and unable to perform even simple tasks, so was totally reliant on the care of the Critical Care staff. I stayed on CCU for a further four days before finally being discharged from hospital after three weeks.”

Speaking about his recovery, Dr Vallabhaneni said: “During the same period my wife also tested positive for COVID-19 and started to self-isolate, so it was very challenging for my two children who had to look after themselves more. When I got home I was very short of breath, even walking short distances left me breathless. I’d lost 10kg and had severe muscle wasting.

“My Critical Care colleagues said it would take up to four months to get back to normal and return to work, but I was determined to work hard and make an early recovery. The support I received over the next few weeks from my wife, children, friends and colleagues was immense and invaluable, and I made significant improvements. 

Dr Vallabhaneni is planning to make the 3,559 foot trek to the summit of Snowdon with his 13-year-old son Rohan and colleagues from UHNM.

Dr Vallabhaneni added: “Throughout my Critical Care stay, the staff on the Unit were incredible. Despite working in difficult conditions wearing full PPE, they continued to perform their duties and provided the highest quality of care to all patients, including myself. I decided to attempt my Snowdon climb as wanted to challenge myself and raise as much money as possible to improve the working environment and patient experience on the Unit that did so much for me.”  

Donations to Dr Vallabhaneni’s appeal can be made online here.

If you would like to fundraise for UHNM Charity visit www.uhnmcharity.org.uk for more information, or call 01782 676444 to speak to one of the UHNM Charity team.

UHNM’s post-graduate team have been busy rewarding colleagues who ‘stepped up’ during the pandemic. There was an overwhelming response to the plea for nominations and trainers and trainees from across the Trust have been recognised.

More than 20 nominations were received in the trainee teams category, with a further 15 individual trainees nominated for their hard work and dedication during the last five months.

Dr Will Carroll, Consultant Paediatrician, said: “The last four months have been extraordinary and we wanted to do something to recognise our trainee doctors and congratulate them for their immense efforts in supporting the hospital.  I have been overwhelmed by the response, particularly from our consultants, who have expressed how grateful they have been to the teams.”

He added: “Our trainees, together with FY1 medical students, gave up their time and came in early and they deserve to be given recognition for the quality patient care they have been able to provide at such a challenging time.”

Dr Prabhjoyt Kler (pictured below) received numerous nominations and was recognised for her work ethic and compassion.

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She said: “I would like to thank every person who took the time to nominate me for this award. I am amazed by the kindness that has been shown. I am only a small part of the amazing teams I have worked with and they have been inspirational in their efforts to get through this pandemic. It has been a pleasure to work alongside so many fantastic colleagues and consultants who are the true winners of this award.”

See the full list of winners …

Trainee Prize

Haematology middle grade
Ward 14
Infectious Diseases
Cardiology Registrars
Cardiology Junior Trainees
Paediatric Trainees
Cardiology Juniors
Critical Care Trainees
Anaesthetic and Critical Care Trainees
Paediatric Middle Grade
Cardiology Trainees
ED SHO group
Ophthalmology Trainees
Anaesthetic Trainees
Elderly Care
Neurology
PICU Juniors
Harplands Ward 5
Urology and Vascular Registrars

Individual Trainees

Hinesh Patel: Anaesthetics
Helen McCreedy (FiY1)
Jaimie Marchall (FiY1)
Andrew Dickson (CT2)
Prabhjoyt Kler (ST5 anaesthetics)
Mohanad Elhassan
William Osborne
Laura Kocierz
Steve Lord
Edwin Halliday
Rosa Sun
Freya Dulson
Benjamin Rowlands
Ben Clarke

Trainer Team

COVID-19 Taskforce – Theatres
PICU and General Consultants
Anaesthesia and Theatre PDT
Jointly awarded: PICU, COVID Taskforce

Trainers

Dr John Alexander
Dr Diane Barker
Dr Duckett
Dr Adam Farmer
Miss Aideen Walsh
Dr Zia Din
Mr Jinesh Shah