It’s time for our weekly round-up, featuring a new £1.82 million decarbonisation grant for Hillingdon Hospitals FT, new fasting packs for Muslim staff at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, and a new Clinical Simulation Suite for the North West Ambulance Service, plus much more.
Read the stories down below to find out the latest updates from across health and care…
AWP recruits patients to participate in Alzheimer’s drug trial
The Kingshill Research Centre, part of Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) NHS Trust, has recruited the ‘first’ UK patient to take part in a new study which examines whether a diabetes drug can be used in the treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease, AWP says.
The clinical research trial will recruit people with vascular dementia, as well as Alzheimer’s.
On the new study, Helen Cartwright, Senior Research Nurse, Kingshill Research Centre, said: “This is great news for the team looking into potential treatments for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
“This study is looking to recruit around 1,800 people in approximately 40 countries around the world, so to have recruited the first UK participant is really exciting.”
Bradford Teaching Hospitals provide fasting packs for Muslim staff
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has launched ‘FAST’ (Fasting At BTHFT’s Supportive Trust) packs to support NHS staff who are fasting during Ramadan.
The packs will consist of water, dates, disposable prayer mat, a Ramadan payer timetable and a prayer counter.
The new support programme has been created by the trust’s SPaRC (Spiritual Pastoral and Religious Care) team.
Imam Mohammed Arshad , Head of the SPaRC team, added: “The creation of these new ‘Fast’ Packs will enable staff, who have been fasting without food or drink for 16 hours, to carry on working when the time comes to open their fast in the early evening.”
Hillingdon Hospitals secure £1.82 million decarbonisation grant
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has secured a £1.82 million decarbonisation grant to reduce activity-related carbon impact on the environment and deliver energy saving projects.
Funding will be used to upgrade energy-efficient LED lights across the trust, install double glazing within Hillingdon’s Maternity and Estate blocks, and to install solar panels on top of Mount Vernon Hospital’s medical block.
The implementation of 250 solar panels will help generate nearly 88,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and save about £11,000 per year, the trust says.
Norfolk and Suffolk FT appoint new Board member
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has appointed a new Chief People Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
Cath Byford, who is currently working as the Chief Nurse of NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group, has been chosen for the roles.
Cath said: “I am delighted to have been offered this post and really looking forward to meeting and working with staff, service users and carers to support the Trust to make dynamic and innovative changes to how the Trust works with patients to improve the lives of people in Norfolk and Suffolk.
“It’s an important time to make a positive, sustained difference and I am pleased to be able to be part of this transformation journey.”
North West Ambulance Service opens Clinical Simulation Suite
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust has opened a new Clinical Simulation Suite for clinicians in Elsmere Port.
The suite is designed to enable paramedics and emergency medical technicians to practice, revalidate and be educated in new clinical skills in an environment that focuses on patient care.
Consultant Paramedic for Cheshire Nick Sutcliffe said, “We have invested a significant amount of time and finance into the design of the Clinical Simulation Suite and I’m sure that both our teams and service users will see the benefit of such a facility.
“The educational sessions delivered within the suite will be informed by staff appraisals, learning identified at area learning forums, patient experience compliments and complaints, along with an element of a clinical contact time shift being spent in the room.”
