Page 3 MORE TO BE DONE IN BID TO CELEBRATE PLAUDITS Page 5 - Heartbeat Q&A IF THE CAT FITS WEAR IT, SAYS HR SUPREMO KIM! Heartbeat KEEPING YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF DEVON DOCTORS’ HEALTH SERVICES DECEMBER 2014 Access Health Care to run new practice Dr Terese Tubman is involved in our bid for the Cornwall OOH contract THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER IAN PARSONAGE LOOKS BACK ON 2014 F IRSTLY, I must take this opportunity to wish everyone connected with Devon Doctors a very merry Christmas and thank all our staff for their commitment and effort throughout 2014. This has been a challenging year, with the introduction of NHS111 heralding a shift in the way the urgent healthcare system works and significant change in the way patients act and use their healthcare facilities. However, the adaptability of Devon Doctors has shone though and the much closer working relationship between us and SWASfT – to the benefit of the healthcare system and, more importantly still, the patient – is testimony to this. The biggest challenge of the last 12 months has been to plot a successful course though a financial challenge not dissimilar to the one being faced by the entire NHS at the minute. The good news is that our hard work and perseverance throughout the course of this year leaves us much better placed to secure financial sustainability into the future. Despite all the challenges we face, the commitment shown to patient care by our clinicians, not to mention all of their support colleagues, remains outstanding and has led to heaps of praise from commissioners, partner organisations, practice members and, most pleasingly of all, our patients. Indeed, this was highlighted when we were visited by the Care Quality Commission who commented that the caring part of the report they were compiling would ‘write itself’. Once again, the next 12 months looks like being a particularly important period for Devon Doctors with the outof-hours contract in Cornwall being decided and continuing work into the retendering of the urgent care system in Devon, alongside the ongoing management of a large financial deficit for the wider healthcare system. Nevertheless, we will continue to look for opportunities to support the local healthcare system and our partner organisations, whilst the Senior Management Team work hard to affect the retendering design in order to ensure that Devon Doctors continues to be at the heart of any future urgent care system. DEVON Doctors’ sister company Access Health Care has been awarded the contract to operate a new GP surgery. Cranbrook Medical Practice will serve the 3,000-plus residents of the rapidly expanding new town on the border of Exeter and East Devon when it opens in March of next year. “We are delighted to have won this contract and look forward to working with the local community to provide a first-class service to the residents of Cranbrook,” said Access Health Care manager Mark Knight. The practice will be located in premises at the East Devon District Council-owned Younghayes Community Centre, pending the development of a health & wellbeing hub at some point in the future. Wide variety of vacancies DEVON Doctors is recruiting for a variety of roles. Details of a number exciting new opportunities to work for us, or sister company Access Health Care, are now available on SharePoint and at www.devondoctors.co.uk Alongside vacancies for drivers / operational assistants at our treatment centres in Honiton and Tiverton, we are also looking for receptionists and administrators for the new GP surgery at Cranbrook and experienced nurses. PAGE 2: NEW DEVON LATEST PAGE 4: PALLIATIVE CARE COLUMN Heartbeat NEWS in brief Green Party candidate at Devon Doctors HQ THE Green Party’s candidate for the Exeter Constituency in next year’s General Election visited our Manaton Court HQ earlier this month. Diana Moore enjoyed a tour of the buildings and the opportunity to learn more about our work in a 60-minute meeting with chief operating officer Ian Parsonage. “I’m always very happy to meet anyone, such as Diana, who is as passionate as I am about the NHS and the role notfor-profit organisations, such as Devon Doctors, can perform within it,” said Ian afterwards. “It’s great that Diana get’s what Diana Moore we’re all about and I was delighted to have the opportunity to answer her questions and, at the same time, explain in a little more detail exactly what it is we do. “ Afterwards Diana tweeted to say how impressed she had been and how she had no idea Devon Doctors was involved in quite so many different services. Date is set for Devon Doctors AGM DEVON Doctors’ AGM will coincide with the away day, scheduled to take place at the Hartnoll Hotel in Tiverton on February 11. As the organisation’s owners, every GP practice in the county is entitled to nominate a representative to attend and mandate them to vote on their behalf. The AGM will receive a report from chief operating officer Ian Parsonage, who will outline his plans for the year ahead. If your practice would like to be represented at the meeting then please advise us as soon as possible as space at the venue is relatively limited. Non-executive directors Dr Bruce Hughes [North Devon] and Dr Simon Murray were due to step down at the AGM but will now stay on having offered themselves up for re-election and no other candidates coming forward. If you would like any further information, please contact stuart. [email protected] who will be happy to respond to any queries. NEW Devon to revisit its initial proposals for bridging financial gap Bid to recruit GPs for mentoring scheme THE Tamar Faculty of the RCGP and GP School at Health Education South West has set up a mentoring scheme to support GPs in their first five years following completion of training. “Supporting new GPs as a mentor can help them to develop professionally and personally, help them to grow in confidence, and sustain them as they develop their skills in the workplace,” said Devon Doctors Head of Operations [Treatment Centres] Jane Moxon, who is keen to encourage GPs working for the organisation to participate. Training, for which places are limited, will be held on March 5, 2015, at The Arundell Arms, Lifton. For further information, please contact Dr Susanna Hill, Associate Dean, GP School, HEE South West via drsrhill0@ btinternet.com or, alternatively, email [email protected] Few places remaining on next GP study day THERE are just a few places remaining on the GP study day to take place at Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre on Thursday, January 29. Speakers will include consultant psychiatrist Colm Owens, who will talk about the mental health capacity act, and doctors Jemma Cooper and Fay Murray-Brown who will discuss pain relief in the terminally ill. More details are available from Linda Ward on lward8@ nhs.net. NEW Devon is revisiting its plans to reduce its deficit N ORTHERN, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group [NEW Devon CCG] has announced a review of the ‘urgent and necessary measures’ it had been proposing to address its financial issues. The proposals would have seen the introduction of a series of measures alongside a temporary reduction in services, with a focus on planned operations and treatments. For instance, there would have been an immediate requirement for those with a BMI over 35 to have lost weight and for those who smoke to quit prior to routine surgery. However, following feedback from healthcare professionals, experts and patients over the course of November, the CCG is now looking again at how the range of measures might best be implemented. “Prioritising the requirements of the NHS Constitution and encouraging those who smoke, or are overweight, to quit smoking and lose weight remain a priority,” said a spokesperson for NEW Devon. “However, while patients will be encouraged to lose weight and quit smoking they will not be required to do so.” Local clinicians will be leading the process of deciding which proposals should progress to the development of formal commissioning policy for implementation in 2015-16. These proposals will be subject to an assessment and, where appropriate, formalised into policy through the Clinical Policy Committee [CPC]. At the same time, there will be opportunities for the public to feed back their views about this work and ask questions throughout the course of the process. The CPC is made up of local clinicians, lay representatives and patient safety and quality, public health, contracting, finance, clinical effectiveness, medicines optimisation and secondary care representation. It is charged with assessing each proposal, including evidence, the reasons for any proposed change, the number of patients affected, safety, stakeholder engagement [including the public] and costeffectiveness. While the CPC process is ongoing, no changes to the services or treatments under review will take place. l Devon Doctors is one of a number of organisations in the county, such as NEW Devon CCG, committed to working together under the Financially Challenged Healthcare Economy [FCHE] banner to address the issues faced by the county’s healthcare providers. Heartbeat Devon Doctors set to do more to celebrate any plaudits received Devon Doctors will do more to celebrate any plaudits D EVON Doctors chief operating officer Ian Parsonage, inset, has launched a new initiative to celebrate any plaudits received by the organisation or any of its subsidiary companies. “So exceptional is the job our staff do day in day out, it’s all too easy to take their excellence for granted,” said Ian. “While it’s fantastic they routinely go the extra mile, I think it’s important that we do more to recognise this and, with this in mind, as of now we will be putting aside a space in every edition of Heartbeat to share some of the exceptional feedback we receive. “Of course, lots of this comes from patients but, at the same time, we should not overlook the results of, for instance, the IPSOS Mori GP survey which also provide a glowing endorsement for Devon Doctors efforts. “What is more, I often hear exceptionally positive things from those who commission our services and, moving forward, I will be making it my mission to share any feedback of that nature with staff.” A cross-section of some of the organisations most recent plaudits can be found elsewhere on this page. As you will see, adjectives such as excellent, fantastic, helpful and wonderful are not uncommon when describing the services we provide. Indeed, one patient opines: “It is very reassuring to know that it [Devon Doctors] is run by local doctors for the people of Devon and the range of services provided is remarkable, including the Clock Tower Surgery for homeless people, the end-of-life register etc. “I think it would be a disgrace for such a brilliant service to be farmed out to the private sector.” PLAUDITS It’s very reassuring that it’s run by local doctors lI “I USED the Devon Doctors Service for the first time this morning at Totnes Hospital. I found this a positive experience for the following reasons: I was rung by the doctor approximately one hour after contacting NHS111 which was well within the set two-hour time slot. The receptionist and the nurse on duty were friendly and helpful, as was the doctor who gave clear information & advice. I waited one hour to be seen and received an apology for this from the doctor but I did not think the waiting time was unreasonable for a walk in appointment. lI “I WOULD like to say that any dealings I have had with Devon Doctors have been very positive. It is very reassuring to know that it is run by local doctors for the people of Devon, and the range of services provided is remarkable, including the Clock Tower Surgery for homeless people, the end-of-life register etc. I think it would be a disgrace for such a brilliant service to be farmed out to the private sector. My elderly neighbour has recently been quite poorly over a weekend and was very pleased with the treatment she received. PLAUDITS Eternally grateful for relieving me of pain lI I JUST wanted to express my thanks to everyone who helped me. I had a very painful night and in the morning called NHS. Although I had to wait some time to be connected with the service thereafter everything was excellent – the nurse was very comforting, efficient and everything ran smoothly. I was called back by the Devon Doctors team, my thanks to the driver, the doctor at the hospital and especially the doctor who visited my home. She administered to me in a very friendly, professional manner and more importantly relieved my pain for which I am eternally grateful. From start to finish everything was done within one hour. Excellent! I consider myself very fortunate that there are people who work within the NHS that are exceptional. lION behalf of my family, I would like to express my thanks for the care you and your colleagues provided for our mother, over several years and especially during the last weeks of her life. With your support, she was able to stay at home and be nursed there, which was her express wish and hope. Your consistently courteous support was much appreciated, as was your prompt attendance to every query or problem. We felt we were part of a team that provided excellent and compassionate endof-life care. Please pass our thanks to all members of your dedicated team who were involved by telephone or by visiting, day or night. lITHE doctor on call till 10pm was excellent. Very reassuring, calm and explained all very clearly and with great compassion. He referred to a similar personal experience which made my feel understood. I was going through a miscarriage. He called back twice to check on me through the evening. I really appreciated his care, medical explanations and advice. He also got me an emergency appointment which reassured me too. I wish I could thank him in person for the great medical care I received over the phone. Thanks Devon Doctors! lI I WOULD like to give you some feedback about my contact with out of hours over the weekend. Contact was made with the patient who has on-going issues which are complicated. I would like to feedback very positively as to the way this was handled by the doctor. I think this exemplary considering that she would not be in possession of the patient’s full medical history. This sort of out-of-hours management which is above and beyond tidying someone over for the weekend is greatly appreciated by us in practice and primary care. lI I WOULD just like to say how grateful I am to the doctor who visited my mother. She was very thorough, honest and open, listened to our opinions and gave my parents a lot of confidence in the GP service. I could have easily lost my mother that day but I am pleased to say, that although very poorly, she is still with us. Thank you. Heartbeat PALLIATIVE CARE Nausea and vomiting in a palliative setting SOMETIMES it is not clear what to do, especially when first-line treatment doesn’t work, in the treatment of nausea and vomiting. On occasions there is no one clear cause and it seems to be just the disease burden causing the problem. Other times there are potentially treatable causes such as drug side effects, UTI, hypercalcaemia, constipation, reflux, dyspepsia, cough and anxiety though even then the nausea and vomiting needs controlling while specific treatments, such as antibiotics, have time to work. One way to look at anti-emetics is to group them by cause: l Gastric stasis: Tumour infiltration of stomach or oesophagus, ascites or hepatomegaly and strong opioids such as morphine can all contribute to this. A prokinetic, for instance Metoclopramide, 30-100mg / 24hrs, oral or sc, perhaps via a syringe driver, can help. This works both peripherally – increasing gastric and intestinal movement – and crossing the Blood Brain Barrier [BBB] to work centrally. But obstruction is an absolute contraindication to prokinetics; pain will increase and they may cause perforation. Dystonic side effects are occasionally a problem and then Domperidone 30mg / 24hrsoral only can help. It does not cross BBB much so it causes less side effects but has less central antiemetic effect. l Unknown or multiple causes: Metoclopramide 30-100mg / 24hrs, oral or sc is helpful here too. Second choice [either added to, or in place of, Metoclopramide] is Levomepromazine [Nozinan] 6.2512.5mg sc or oral [can cause drowsiness]. At higher doses it is very sedative but can have a place in managing delirium although there is rarely much more anti-emetic effect at higher dose. l Renal failure / Chemical – Haloperidol 1.5-5mg/24hrs oral or sc. Second choice Levomepromazine but drowsiness may be limiting. l Raised Intracranial Pressure: Cyclizine 100-150mg / 24hrs, oral or sc – this is a useful drug but is irritant in sc injection and incompatible with some other syringe driver medications. The prokinetic action of Metoclopramide is antagonised by cyclizine so illogical to use them both together, but not dangerous. Second choice – Levomepromazine. Dexamethasone 8-16mg can be very helpful combined with anti-emetic. l Radiotherapy or chemotherapy: Ondansetron 8-24mg / 24hrs oral or sc is good for nausea and vomiting associated with tissue damage. Adding in Metoclopramide or Haloperidol second line can also prove beneficial. l Bowel obstruction: This may need more specialist advice and we would be pleased to discuss such cases, or any other intractable symptom, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on 01392 688 044. with Dr Tim Harlow of Hospiscare Valuable training on offer for carers OUR friends at Living Options Devon are offering some free training sessions for personal assistants / carers. First Aid Training from the British Red Cross is taking place at Cranmere Court, Exeter, on Monday, January 26, Monday, February 6, and Monday, February 9, from 9am to 5pm. Topics to be covered will include managing first aid in an emergency and administering first aid to a casualty who is unconscious / choking / bleeding / suffering from a burn or shock or injuries to bones. A course devoted to Principles of Moving and Handling will take place at the same venue between 9am and 2.15pm on Tuesday, January 20. Topics covered will include assessing the risk and understanding your back, anatomy and physiology. Anyone interested in attending is asked to contact Living Options by phoning 01392 459222 or emailing [email protected] Initiatives to support primary care through community pharmacy It is felt community pharmacies are an under-utilised resource D EVON Doctors is working closely with Northern, Eastern and Western [NEW] Devon and South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Groups to promote a number of community pharmacy initiatives to relieve winter pressures. The recent NHS England Review of Emergency Care recognised that: “Community pharmacies are an under-used resource... we [the NHS] can capitalise on the untapped potential, and convenience, that greater utilisation of the skills and experience of the workforce can offer.” And Head of Operations [Treatment Centres] Jane Moxon is asking all clinicians to familiarise themselves with the initiatives and, where appropriate, promote them to patients. Devon Local Pharmaceutical Committee [LPC] has been awarded Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund cash to deliver three services to support urgent care: l Winter ailments scheme: NHS-funded supply of a limited range of over-the-counter medicines for people exempt from prescription charges to support self-care [across all localities in NEW Devon CCG and South Devon and Torbay CCG]. l Minor ailments scheme using Patient Group Directions: Supply of a limited range of Prescription Only Medicines [POMs] to treat urinary tract infections, impetigo, nappy rash and bacterial conjunctivitis [across all localities in NEW Devon CCG and South Devon and Torbay CCG]. l Emergency supply service: Provision of emergency supplies of repeat prescriptions and medicines at the expense of the NHS [across all localities in NEW Devon CCG and South Devon and Torbay CCG]. All of these services are now in place and community pharmacists are consulting patients and supplying medicines where appropriate. More details of each of these services are now available at the following location: SharePoint >>> Treatment Centres >>> Pharmacy Services >>> Emergency services - Pharmacy First Services [December 2014 FINAL]. If you would like further information about the services please contact the Devon LPC on 01392 834022 or email suet@devonlpc. org. Heartbeat Q&A: HR TEAM LEADER KIM PEGMAN What is your position within Devon Doctors and what does this involve? I am HR Team Leader which involves looking after the HR team as well as reception. And in April this year I was given the GP Lead Employer contract to implement so I also look after 240 trainee GPs. Jimmy Choo shoes, cat Esmé and husband Andy put sparkle in Kim’s life How long have you worked for the organisation and what roles, if any, have you performed previously? I have worked for Devon Doctors for around four and a half years now and for most of that time worked alongside Sara Graham looking after the company’s payroll. What do you enjoy most about working for Devon Doctors? I enjoy the diversity of my role and all the challenges that come with it. I actually do learn something new every day. Where do you live and with who? I live with my husband Andy and cat Esmé in Axminster in East Devon. How do you relax? I love spending time with friends and family. My sister had a daughter, Abigail, last year and she certainly manages to fill lots of my spare time. Where is your favourite holiday destination? My sister-in-law lives in Mexico City with her family so I have been over there quite a few times. My favourite place is Isla Holbox off the Gulf of Mexico because I got to swim with whale sharks and there are no cars on the island – the only mode of transport is golf buggies. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I’m not a fan of the cinema. Why do they provide such noisy food? If you had to choose a single HR team leader Kim with her husband Andy and cat Esmé ‘Desert Island Disc’ what would it be? The song I can listen to again and again is Frontier Psychiatrist by The Avalanches, it never gets boring and puts a smile on my face. What is your favourite book? Jayne Eyre by Charlotte Brontë What is your greatest extravagance? My Jimmy Choo wedding shoes, but they are fabulous! What television programme do you always switch off? The X Factor, having loved it once I think it’s definitely had its day. Which living person do you most despise and why? Gordon Brown – nothing good came from that political era. If you could invite four celebrities / historical figures to a dinner party who would they be? Let me think... Michael Caines to cook, Jake Gyllenhaal to look at, Steve Jobs to teach me something and Ricky Gervais for the comic value. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? None spring readily to mind but I’m sure there are one or two; you will have to ask Charlotte and Sophie who work with me in HR. What is the most important Chef Michael Caines would be a guest at Kim’s dream dinner part y lesson life has taught you? There will always be someone who knows more that you, don’t be afraid to ask questions. How would you like to be remembered? As thoughtful, honest and always trying my best. Jimmy Choo shoes EMAIL [email protected] IF YOU’D LIKE TO APPEAR IN THE HEARTBEAT Q&A Heartbeat Staff get into festive mood to raise cash for charities D EVON Doctors employees have been going the extra mile for charity over the course of the last month, with a series of Christmas-themed fundraising initiatives. Staff at our Manaton Court HQ were only too happy to don their favourite item of festive knitwear, on December 13, to raise cash for Macmillan’s Christmas Jumper Day. Unfortunately, IT technician Liam Wakefield wasn’t able to lay his hands on the colourful Christmas suit which caused such merriment last year but instead sported a fetching blue and red Santa shirt. More cash was raised through the Christmas hamper draw organised this year by rota team member and OTM Jane Wills. As ever the money raised from this initiative, as well as the cash donated by some staff members in lieu of giving Hamper winner Charlotte Christmas cards to their colleagues, will be matched by Devon Doctors, meaning a cheque for almost £500 will be winging its way to Little Bridge House Childrens’ Hospice in North Devon. Payroll administrator Sara Graham and HR administrator Charlotte Wilson were the lucky winners of the two hampers. It was fitting that Charlotte should win one of the hampers, as she had been responsible for coordinating an appeal to staff for coats to redistribute to clients of the Devon Doctors-run Clock Tower Surgery for the vulnerably housed in Exeter city centre. END OF THE DAY with Damien Mills I want to ride my bicycle Inspired by the article in the last edition of Heartbeat, Government bike scheme offers a great way to get fit, not to mention my partner continually telling me my face was getting fat, I am now the proud owner of a cool silver mountain bike and all the paraphernalia that goes with it. What is more, if you’ve been contemplating taking advantage of the scheme – which not only offers big savings on the cost of a bike but spreads it over the course of a year – I’d heartily recommend doing so. Simply go the www. benefitsbrochure.com, type GP Devon Doctors in the Find Your Employer box, and you’re well on your way to getting a new bike! A word too for the Bike Shed in Exeter – the guys there were a fantastic help when it came to choosing the right bike and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough. Separated at birth? A colleague of mine at Manaton Court was the lucky recipient of a Little Miss Princess mug in her department’s Secret Santa shenanigans. She voiced the opinion the gift had probably been chosen as she was widely regarded as Manaton Court staff resplendent in their finest Christmas knitwear a princess, while I dared to suggest it might have been because of the uncanny resemblance she bore to the Roger Hargreaves character! So, the $64,000,000 question is, on the basis of the image below, can you guess who was the lucky recipient of the mug?! Satnav leaves us confused Earlier this month, myself and a photographer friend travelled down to Cornwall to get some photos to accompany our bid for the OOH tender. Having set the satnav to take us to Bodmin Hospital, we were a little perturbed when driving down the A30 it kept insisting we should do a U-turn. No matter, we thought, it will probably put itself right in due course. Needless to say, it didn’t, though we did eventually manage to find the hospital. It was only when I went to key in the postcode of our next destination that I realised what the problem had been – I’d omitted to hit enter when I put in the previous postcode and so, throughout the course of our journey, the satnav had been doing its damndest to direct us not to Bodmin Hospital but to the address of my photographer pal, no more than five or six miles from Devon Doctors Exeter HQ! Heartbeat If you’ve got something you’d like to see included in the next edition then contact [email protected] Images credited to NKZS, www.sxc.hu, Microsoft clip art & Devon Doctors’ own collection. Items advertised or promoted on this page are not endorsed by Devon Doctors or its subsidiaries. Contact the editor: [email protected] Unit 5, Manaton Court, Matford Business Park, Exeter, EX2 8PF www.devondoctors.co.uk
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