Incontinence
Q&A
Everything you
wanted to know
(but were afraid
to ask)
heart
disease
myths
Positive reactions
Page 14
Diabetes
Looking
after your
feet
Inside REACT, our service in
the Bristol Royal Infirmary’s
Emergency Department
Page 8
Diabetes
Page 11
Community
Looking after your feet
Page 12
Winter 2017
health news
FREE
What’s cooking?
We brought together local migrant communities to share
some tasty traditional dishes and healthy eating tips.
Read more: News, page 4
Eight steps to stay steady
More people fall in cold weather. Age UK shares
some things you can do to stay on your feet this winter.
7. Check for home hazards
Make sure your home is hazard-free
and well lit.
1. Exercise regularly
Focus on activities within your capability
that challenge your balance and
strengthen your legs and upper body,
like gardening, dancing or tai chi.
8. Visit your GP
If you’ve had a fall or are worried about
falling, tell your GP. There are many
ways to help you feel confident again
– for more information visit nhs.uk or
ageuk.org.uk.
2. Check your eyes and hearing
Go for regular sight tests and report
difficulties you have with
hearing in order to identify
problems affecting
your balance.
3. Eat a calciumrich diet
Calcium also helps to
keep your bones
strong. Good
sources are dairy foods, fortified soya
products and canned fish, eg sardines.
4. Look after your feet
Wear well-fitted shoes and slippers,
and report any foot problems to your
GP or chiropodist.
5. Ask about your medicines
Certain medicines can make you feel
faint or affect your balance. Let your
GP or pharmacist know if you ever feel
like this.
6. Get enough vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for keeping your
bones strong – the best source
is sunshine.
All Bristol Community Health services
supporting older people can identify if a
patient needs a falls risk assessment and
advice. We also deliver strength and balance
exercise sessions (referral by a clinician). For
more information visit briscomhealth.org.uk/
our-services/falls-in-older-people
Steps kindly reproduced from Age UK’s free
information guide ‘Staying steady’ – call 0800
169 65 65 or visit ageuk.org.uk.
The latest news from your local community healthcare provider
Working together:
the future of your
health services
Healthcare organisations throughout
England have been asked by NHS
England to develop a Sustainability
and Transformation Plan (STP). These
plans set out practical ways to improve
NHS services and health outcomes for
people in every part of England. They
are being produced collaboratively
by local NHS organisations, councils
and communities.
Over the past few months we’ve
been working closely with our partners
across Bristol, North Somerset and
South Gloucestershire to develop our
local vision. The draft proposal of the
STP has been published and is now
available for public, service users and
carers to contribute.
Read more: Editorial, page 2
briscomhealth.org.uk
|1
briscomhealth.org.uk
News
News
W
elcome to the winter edition of Community
Health News. In this issue we meet Hazel
(page 8), a patient we helped to bring
home from the Emergency Department of the
Bristol Royal Infirmary, avoiding an unnecessary
hospital stay. Our REACT team – made up of nurses,
physiotherapists and occupational therapists –
does everything it can to find a safe alternative
to hospital. This is best for patients, avoiding
risk of infection and speeding up recovery in a
familiar environment with the support of family,
friends and community services. And this is never
more important than over the winter months when pressures build on the local
health system. In this feature we’ve taken the opportunity to shine a light on our
occupational therapists who work in different teams around the city on a tireless
quest to get our patients moving again. They make up a lot of our workforce and
it turns out that they can turn their hand to most things!
Speaking of avoiding hospital admissions: over the past few months, I have
joined colleagues from the local health and care community to develop ideas
for creating a sustainable future for the local NHS. It’s called the Bristol, North
Somerset and South Gloucestershire Sustainability and Transformation Plan. It
sets out a vision for the future of healthcare for our region’s population for the
next five years. It includes a drive to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions
and provide more specialist care in the community and at home. There is also
an emphasis on prevention of ill health, promotion of health and wellbeing and
self-care. The plan recognises the need for much greater integration between
physical health, mental health and social care, and between primary and
community health, providing seamless services tailored around the ‘whole
person’ needs of people and families.
But we want your ideas too. Read the plans,
watch the videos and send your comments via
bristolccg.nhs.uk/about-us/sustainability-andtransformation-plan. We’ll keep you updated in the
next edition of the newspaper, but in the meantime
please stay in touch with us on Twitter and Facebook
– just search ‘briscomhealth’.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2017.
Julia Clarke, Chief Executive
Bristol Community Health
Bristol Community Health:
who are we?
We are a not-for-profit social enterprise, which
delivers publicly-funded NHS services.
We were five years old in October 2016.
We are proud to be 100% owned by our staff.
There are over 1700 of us working here in over 35 different
services, and we serve Bristol and the surrounding areas.
Over the last five years:
We’ve supported 100,000 adults and children
through 1.2 million moments of care.
We’ve prevented 34,574 hospital stays,
saving £20 million.
We’ve worked with over 50 local partners.
Joining the Brizzz 2016
Sleep Out
Swapping their cosy beds for the
pavement, our Chief Executive Julia
Clarke and Clinical Director Aileen
Fraser joined around 150 people to
‘sleep out’ in November. They raised
over £2000 for the Bristol-based
charity 1625 Independent People,
which helps young people affected
by homelessness.
L-R: Clinical Director
Aileen Fraser and CEO Julia Clarke
News in brief
Occupational Therapy Week
Our OTs were out and about in the
community, talking about their passion
for their work and what a career in OT
is really like.
Learning disability nurses
continuing professional
development day
Our team took part in a good practice
sharing day for learning disability
nurses in the region, which we hosted
with Sirona care & health and 2gether
NHS Foundation Trust.
The Accessible Information
Standard is here
On 16 January 2017, we implemented
the Accessible Information Standard.
This means we’re committed to
ensuring that patients who have a
disability, impairment or sensory loss
are provided with information that
they can easily read or understand
with support.
2 | briscomhealth.org.uk
Community Navigator
service to connect older
people to the community
Diabetes conference
We held our annual diabetes
conference in November, where
we shared ideas and good
practice. Our Diabetes and
Nutrition Services, Podiatry and
Diabetic Eye Screening teams
took part.
Social Enterprise UK Awards
We were selected as 2016 finalists for
the Health and Social Care Award and
for Social Enterprise of the Year.
97% of
patients would
recommend us
to family and
friends
Bristol Community Health, in partnership
with the Care Forum, Barton Hill
Settlement and Southville Community
Development Association, has been
chosen to provide a Community
Navigator service for older people in the
south, east and centre of Bristol.
Funded by Bristol Ageing Better, the
service will help to reduce isolation and
loneliness for people aged 50 and over.
Trained ‘community navigators’ will help
individuals receive the best support from
local voluntary and community services
to meet their needs.
The service will be launched in 2017,
so watch this space!
Healthy Cities Week 2016
Local communities
have their say on the
future of healthcare
We brought together local people
and partners in October to talk about
ways of working to create healthier
communities. Held at the Trinity Centre
during Healthy Cities Week, the
conference included a panel debate
about patients providing elements of
their own care at home, with clinical
support. The debate was broadcast live
on Ujima Radio.
The day also included discussions
about how we can better collaborate
with the voluntary sector; the lifechanging impact our volunteers have on
the community; and the different ways
we engage with our patients to shape
care. Bristol mayor Marvin Rees also
popped in to visit and chat to our Chief
Executive, Julia Clarke, on Ujima Radio.
“It was fantastic to bring together so
many people to think about how we
can build a healthier community in
partnership,” Julia said.
(L-R) Questions for the panel at our self-care debate;
Fiona Spence, from our Patient and Public Empowerment team
It’s not too late to donate...
Text BRZZ88 £2/£5/£10 to 70070
Get involved
Party time at the BOSCAs
Our staff celebrated last year’s
hard work in style at our annual
staff recognition awards.
Competition was fierce, with staff
nominating over 300 of their
colleagues. Ten winners held a
trophy on the night.
Find out how you can get
involved in our patient
participation community
briscomhealth.org.uk
/patients-and-carers
Supporting local young people:
working with Babbasa
At our Healthy Cities event we also hosted a
photography exhibition showcasing our staff and
patients, taken by some local young people.
The photographers – Osob Elmi, Elmi Elmi
and Myles Hoo – were from Babbasa, a
social enterprise which finds work experience
placements for young people who come from
disadvantaged communities.
They also put together a film about our work
which you can see at bit.ly/birthdayfilm
What is Healthy Cities?
Health checks at
the Wellspring
Checklist pilot launch
In partnership with Bristol Ageing Better
and other organisations, we helped
launch a ‘First Contact Checklist’ which
helps our clinicians refer patients
to partners in the voluntary and
community sector more effectively.
Our clinicians and Health Links
champions, who help local migrant
communities access the healthcare
they need, helped to kick off Healthy
Cities Week in Barton Hill. They
provided free health checks and
healthcare information to people
dropping in.
Healthy Cities is a network
for UK cities and towns
that are tackling health
inequalities and striving to
put health improvement
and health equity at the
core of all local policies.
healthycities.org.uk
briscomhealth.org.uk | 3
News
News
What’s
on?
Free activities in Bristol
Bristol shares reading
What: A trained facilitator reads aloud
great stories and poems. You can
relax, listen and join in the conversation
about what we have read.
When: Tuesdays 2-3.30pm
Where: Public Meeting Room, Bristol
Central Library, College Green, Bristol,
BS1 5TL
How: Contact Samantha Weaver on
[email protected] or
call 07812 238 532
Drum music, song and rhythm
What: Explore rhythms from the
Caribbean, Africa and South America.
Over 55s particularly welcome.
When: Wednesdays 10.30am-12.30pm
Where: St Paul’s Learning Centre, St
Paul’s, Bristol, BS2 8XJ
How: Contact Richard on 0117 955 1508
/ 07828 072070 or email richard@
worldjungle.org.uk
Bristol adult ADHD support group
What: A free group to exchange
information, talk about issues related to
adult ADHD and have a good time
When: Second Friday of the month
from 7-9pm
Where: Bristol Mind, 35 Old Market
Street, Bristol, BS2 0EZ
How: Email bristoladhdadults@
googlemail.com to find out more
Hot off the press
Find out how we’ve made a real and
lasting difference to the lives of people
in our community in our 2016 impact
report and our Patient and Public
Empowerment Annual Report. Our
business plan for 2016-2017, which
maps out our work over the next few
years, is also available.
Read these and more at briscomhealth.
org.uk/about-us/our-publications or
contact [email protected]
or call 0117 900 2198 if you’d like them in
another format or language.
Patient and Public Empowerment
Annual Report 2016
r our
ring fo
Delive nities
u
16-17
Comm ess Plan 20
sin
u
B
r
u
O
Impac
t Repo
rt 2016
How w
e’ve m
ade a
differe
nce in
our co
mmun
ity
4 | briscomhealth.org.uk
In autumn last year, we recruited a
group of diverse, engaged people
with experience of Bristol’s healthcare
provision who will work with us and
our partners (North Bristol NHS Trust
and University Hospitals Bristol NHS
Foundation Trust) to create real change
in the healthcare sector across Bristol.
They are already halfway through
their training programme, which will
equip them with the skills they need to
collaborate effectively with decisionmakers within the NHS.
But what will being a healthcare
change maker really achieve? “We
know that those people who have
experience of healthcare in Bristol,
whether as a patient or carer, have the
best understanding of what could be
done better,” says Nick Dean from our
Don (centre) with
fellow healthcare
change makers
Patient and Public Empowerment Team
and the programme’s coordinator. “By
bringing these 17 individuals together,
and equipping them with the tools they
need, we can finally implement change
that will have real positive impact for
patients who access healthcare in
Bristol.” And what kind of ideas do
our change makers have? “We want
to encourage health commissioners,
line managers and any professionals
to reflect and explore thinking outside
of their comfort zone,” Don, who is on
the programme, explains. "I hope we
can influence more joined-up support
between heath and social care."
Cooking up
a storm with
Health Links
Women from local migrant
communities came together to
share some tasty traditional dishes
at our lunchtime event in September.
We also shared some nutrition advice
to help guests cook more healthily
with their families and reduce the
risk of conditions like diabetes and
heart disease.
Guests brought along some of their
own traditional Pakistani, Bangladeshi,
Indian and Somali dishes, which
they cooked with healthy techniques
and ingredients. Jackie and Jo, from
our Diabetes and Nutrition Services,
shared some of the main principles
of a healthy diet, which includes
plenty of fruits and vegetables, beans
and pulses, oily fish, wholegrain
carbohydrates, reducing saturated fat,
and sensible portion sizes.
“It was great that everyone was
able to taste each other’s recipes,
learn from each other – and to talk
about healthy eating over real food!”
says Jackie.
“It was a really interesting event,”
says one of the guests, Lila (above
right), who comes from India. “I’ve
learnt to cook with less fat, and to
Carers’
news
Our partners and
collaborators
Bristol Community
Health leaders
awarded for
diversity work
Kick-starting
change with our
new patient leaders
Two of our organisation’s leaders have
been awarded an NHS South West
Leadership Recognition Award for their
work to increase diversity at Board level
in our city.
Chief Executive Julia Clarke and NonExecutive Director Poku Osei
were awarded the Inclusive Leader
Award at a ceremony in Bristol Pavilion
in November.
The award recognises their work in
creating a development programme
to support aspiring Non-Executive
Directors from diverse backgrounds,
run in partnership with the University
of West of England’s ‘Diversity
Advantage’ project.
Poku Osei was the first aspiring
Non-Executive Director to benefit
from the programme in 2015, when
he was appointed to a two-year
long development post on Bristol
Community Health’s Board.
Over the long term the programme
will create a pool of experienced
candidates from diverse backgrounds
available to take up Board-level
Poku and Julia collect their award
We are supported by many partners in
our community. Here are just a few...
positions in other organisations
across the city.
Julia and Poku say: “We believe
that taking steps to diversify
thinking at the highest level in
our organisation will benefit our
communities and patients, so we’re
delighted to win this award.”
Community Children’s Healthcare
Partnership (CCHP)
We work alongside Sirona care &
health (lead provider) and Avon and
Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership
NHS Trust to deliver the Community
Children’s Health Partnership (CCHP).
Working with Barnardo’s, CCHP
provides child healthcare and child and
adolescent mental health services across
Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
Our flu fighters
cchp.nhs.uk
This winter we have been busy getting
our staff vaccinated with the flu jab. We
wanted to keep them healthy and stop
us passing on flu to the most vulnerable
people in our community. Many of our
patients have lung and heart conditions
and diabetes, and we also work with
families with very young children.
All are at a higher risk of developing
complications from the flu.
use a handful of my five a day in my
meals. It’s also been really nice to
have someone else cook for me!”
The event was organised by our
Health Links Service, which provides
language support and advocacy
services to local migrant communities.
It was sponsored by the Bristol
Commonwealth Society.
BBC Radio Bristol: Discussing our
exciting new healthcare change
makers programme (see page
4), Matthew Areskog and Nick
Dean from our Patient and Public
Empowerment Team caught up with
Dr Phil Hammond.
BBC’s Inside Out West spent some
time with our Diabetes and Nutrition
Services and sat in on one of our
education courses for patients.
Sue Murphy, Wound Care Nurse
••
••
Health Links, Charlotte Keel Health
Centre, Easton, BS5 0UA. Call 0117 902
7145 or email [email protected].
Our Diabetes and Nutrition Services
provide education, information and
support on diabetes and nutrition
to patients, carers and healthcare
professionals in the Bristol area.
Call 0117 959 8970 or email
[email protected].
Have you got your
Emergency Carers’ Card?
The Emergency Carers’ Card means
that if you are taken ill or injured, shortterm alternative care can be provided
for the person you care for. It is walletsized, with a unique identification
code and 24-hour emergency contact
number. Don’t forget to update
your information to make sure that
any alternative care is appropriate.
In the
news
Real flu is nasty. Seeing
how debilitated my
husband was with it
made me even more aware of
how dangerous it can be – not
just to our patients but to staff
and their families as well.”
Lila, who comes from India,
learned how to cook traditional
dishes more healthily
Get your card from Care Direct
(carerssupportcentre.org.uk; 0117 922
2770). Available to carers looking after
people over the age of 18.
Getting the vaccine to our staff – who are
based all over Bristol and beyond – was
no mean feat. Jane Grey, our Resilience
Manager, has been ferrying the portable
fridge with the vaccine all around the
city, racking up nearly 900 miles! “It’s
been a busy time,” says Jane, “but it’s
worth it to know it’s helping keep people
well over the winter months.”
News
Tayo
Oladapo,
one of our
nurses at
HMP Bristol,
featured in
our flu jab
campaign
for staff
Free flu jabs for carers
Carers’ experience group
Flu jabs are available each year for
the main carers of elderly or disabled
individuals whose welfare is likely to
suffer should their carer become ill. This
includes both parent carers and young
carers. You are entitled to the free jab
whether or not you or the person you
care for is in a specified ‘at risk’ group.
You can request the jab from your GP
or local pharmacy.
Our new group brings together
three carer representatives who
are helping us provide more
support to carers.
To find out more or join the group,
contact our Patient and Public
Empowerment Team: feedback@
briscomhealth.nhs.uk.
We were featured in a spotlight
article on healthcare in the south
west in Bristol 24/7.
Ujima Radio 98FM broadcast live
from our Healthy Cities event in
October, with live panel debates and
interviews (see page 3).
Carer health: look
after yourself
Don’t forget to register
yourself with your GP. You are
entitled to an annual health
review as a carer to keep
on top of your physical and
mental health.
InspireBetterHealth: prison healthcare
Our new prison healthcare service is
based in HMP Bristol, HMP Eastwood
Park, HMP Ashfield, HMP Leyhill and
HMP Erlestoke. As prime providers,
Bristol Community Health works
alongside Avon and Wiltshire Mental
Health Partnership NHS Trust, Hanham
Health, GP Care, Time for Teeth,
Homecare Opticians, Day Lewis
Pharmacy and Sirona care & health.
briscomhealth.org.uk/ourservices/prison-healthcare
inspirebetterhealth.org.uk
Carers Support Centre
Information and advice to carers
of any age living in the Bristol and
South Gloucestershire area.
0117 965 2200
carerssupportcentre.org.uk
WE Care and Repair
WE Care and Repair helps people over
60 and disabled people of all ages in
Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol
and North Somerset with advice and
home repairs, equipment or adaptations.
0300 323 0700
wecr.org.uk
If you work with us and you’d like
to appear in this section, please contact
[email protected]
briscomhealth.org.uk | 5
Feature
Face to face with
community nursing
Feature
Nadia Tavana
goes on the road
with one of our
Integrated Community
Healthcare teams.
Could you
benefit from
pulmonary
rehab?
Do you have breathing
problems which affect your
day-to-day life? Pulmonary
rehabilitation could help you.
Above: Renuka (right), Associate Community Matron, visits Joyce who has COPD
Opposite page: Sarah, a community nurse and team leader
“I
t’s a bit of a disjointed day today,”
says Elaine as she ushers me
into the Integrated Community
Healthcare office. Elaine explains that
one of the team’s chronically unwell,
long-term patients sadly passed away
last week and a couple of the team are
going to his funeral today.
Colleagues from the Community
Therapy Service are also hoping to
attend, as the two teams worked
closely together to make sure Fred*
could receive a holistic and integrated
service in his home. It’s no surprise
that our community healthcare teams
build genuine relationships with their
patients – especially with someone
like Fred,* whom they had known for
two years.
I’m spending the day with a
community healthcare team based
at Amelia Nutt Clinic in south Bristol.
The team is made up of community
matrons and nurses, healthcare
assistants and admin support, working
with four GP practices, serving over
32,000 local patients.
Meeting the team
When I arrive, I’m shown around the
office by Renuka and Elaine, part of the
Community Matron Team.
Together with their colleagues,
associate community matrons Sarah
and Kath, the team has a busy
caseload for the day.
Before we leave the quiet early
morning office, Renuka shows me
the ‘t-card’ system, which manages
the working day of the nursing team
within the office. The system is a bright
pattern of coloured card and dots, all
indicating different types of nursing
needs for patients and those with
long-term conditions, or those in need
of injections, syringe drivers, wound
dressings or catheter changes.
6 | briscomhealth.org.uk
Quick pitstop
later arrives at her first patient’s
team provides a nursing support
home. On the way, she explains
service from 8am until 8pm on
The office is even quieter during
her role as matron: offering holistic
weekdays, and 8.30am to 5pm on
mid-morning as all the nurses and
care for patients, many of whom are
weekends and bank holidays.
matrons are out on visits. Renuka is
housebound and have long-term
Sarah is quick to point out how
attending the funeral with Kath, and I
conditions like heart failure or chronic
important her administrative support
say goodbye.
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
team, Lucy and Julie, are to their work.
Community matron Elaine takes me
The ultimate goal, Renuka tells me,
“We wouldn’t cope
on another visit. It’s
I couldn’t wish for
is to enable patients to manage and
without them,” she says,
just a few minutes
understand their health by working
before we are with
anyone better. I can and it soon becomes
closely with them – hopefully reducing
apparent why. The
Sue and her husband.
really talk to her.”
unnecessary hospital admissions in
variety of tasks that they
Sue has multiple
the process.
both manage is widehealth problems,
Maureen, patient
The first patient of the day is Joyce,
ranging – from setting
including COPD,
who has COPD and lives with her
up all the paperwork for new patients
heart failure and a bowel condition.
husband, Mylo the dog and a collection Elaine’s planned visit is to check she is
to coordinating the ‘lone working’
of carp. Renuka is well-known here,
mobile.
managing her conditions well.
and they start to talk about how Joyce
It isn’t long before Sarah leaves
Elaine’s skills and expertise have
is feeling and how she is managing
the office, paperwork in hand, to see
helped prevent Sue from being
her condition. As Renuka makes the
her first patient. Maureen has leg
admitted into hospital in the past. She
necessary medical assessments, she
reviews Sue’s medication and performs ulcers and benefits from the expert
offers advice on
compression therapy the community
the necessary physical
We wouldn’t cope
the ailments Joyce
assessments. Sue is full of nurses perform to help her wounds
without our admin
describes. Joyce
heal.
praise for the community
team.”
sings the praises of
Sarah gently assesses and monitors
matron service and the
Bristol Community
the wounds, taking photographs and
amazing job they do,
Sarah, Community Nursing
Health’s pulmonary
carefully documenting them. Then
and speaks of them with
Team Leader
rehab exercise
the compression therapy is applied
genuine affection.
course (see box, right), which helped
– a complicated but effective regime
Nurses on the road
her improve her overall health. She
of bandages which Sarah performs
hopes to re-join the classes when her
with skill. The team also works with
Later on, I spend time with Sarah,
condition gets a little better.
colleagues in the Wound Care Service,
who leads a team of 15 highly skilled
Before leaving, Renuka makes sure
where there are dedicated wound care
nurses and healthcare assistants at
the couple know what to do if Joyce’s
nurses, to ensure optimum healing.
Amelia Nutt. Together, they serve the
condition worsens over the weekend.
It’s easy to see that the nursing
community of housebound patients
After a quick peek at the fish, we’re
assessments and needs performed
with complex nursing needs such as
escorted out by Mylo and are back in
by Sarah and the other clinicians
catheter management, wound care,
the car.
are vital. But what is perhaps most
and palliative care and support. The
striking are the relationships Sarah,
Renuka and Elaine have built up with
their patients. It’s the essence
Community nursing
of community healthcare.
Our dedicated community nursing teams provide healthcare and
While Maureen is talking about some
tough
things she has gone through,
support to housebound patients in the home 24/7, 365 days a year.
she
holds
Sarah’s hand for comfort. “I
The teams work in partnership with local healthcare professionals to
couldn’t
wish
for anyone better,” she
improve the health and independence of patients. Community nursing
says.
“I
can
really
talk to her.”
is our largest service, with 281 matrons, nurses and administrative
Matrons on the move
staff based in teams around Bristol.
After gathering a bag full of medical
equipment and her notes, Renuka is
quickly out of the door and 10 minutes
Find out more at briscomhealth.org.uk/our-services/communitynursing-healthcare-teams/
*Name has been changed
It’s a free programme for people
Fromlong-term
left: Sarah; Joyce,
patient; Renuka
with
lung aconditions.
It
combines a personalised exercise
programme and education.
We’ll work with you to improve
your breathlessness and help
you to understand more about
how to manage your condition.
How does it work?
The six-week programme includes:
• An exercise plan, tailored
to your needs
• Supervision from specialist
respiratory physiotherapists or
respiratory nurse specialists
• The opportunity to ask
questions and attend talks
on topics like medication,
managing shortness of
breath and healthy eating
How could it help me?
Research shows that there
are lots of benefits to coming
to a pulmonary rehabilitation
programme. These include:
• Being able to do more
before your shortness
of breath stops you
• Feeling that you have
more energy
• Having fewer flare ups
of your condition
• Feeling more in control
of your condition
Interested?
Call our Community
Respiratory Team on
0117 961 7159, or speak
to your doctor, nurse or
healthcare professional.
briscomhealth.org.uk | 7
Feature
Feature
Where do our occupational
therapists work?
Bristol Community Health employs OTs in:
• Community Therapy
• Specialist Community Neurology
Service
• Community Rehab Team
• Rapid Response
• Rehab Centres
• Respiratory Team
• Children's Services
• Learning Difficulties
• Macmillan Cancer Rehabilitation
and Support Service
In their own words…
OT magic
Turn to the back page for more
information about our services.
Positive reactions
Our team of occupational therapists, physiotherapists
and nurses, the Rapid Emergency Assessment Care
Team (REACT), works with emergency staff at the Bristol
Royal Infirmary to support patients to go home instead
of being admitted to hospital. By Amy Holgate
T
here is a traffic jam in the bustling
at Southmead Hospital. This team is
corridor of the Emergency
made up of occupational therapists
Department at the Bristol Royal
(OTs), physiotherapists and nurses,
Infirmary (BRI). A patient is being
with support from Advanced
carefully pushed in a wheelchair to the
Practitioners. They work closely with
observation room; an empty trolley
emergency staff to assess patients and
is on its way to a new patient; and
establish whether they are able to go
there is a cleaning trolley going…
home, rather than be admitted to a
well, everywhere. With a bit of expert
hospital ward.
manoeuvring, a few chuckles and
Amanda Bennett is REACT’s
a lot of coordination everyone goes
manager and an OT. “Turning up
on their way. It’s a
in the Emergency
small moment of
We are the patient’s Department can be a
collaboration but a sign
stressful experience
bridge from the
of the huge mutual
for patients,” she
hospital back into
respect between these
says. “Often they have
the community.”
multi-skilled clinicians
experienced trauma
who work together
and don’t know what
Amanda Bennett, REACT
Team Manager and
to give the very best
to expect. We support
occupational therapist
emergency care for
them and help them
their patients.
understand what’s
Most staff in the Emergency
happening.” Together with the patient,
Department are employed by University REACT makes a plan for the next step,
Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust,
whether it’s returning home, referral
but Bristol Community Health has a
to a community or voluntary support
multi-disciplinary team called REACT
service or admission into hospital. As
which is based here at the BRI and also Amanda puts it, “We are the patient’s
8 | briscomhealth.org.uk
‘mechanical’ fall, which means there
wasn’t an underlying health reason for
it, thankfully.”
But there are some other things
Amanda needs to see to before Hazel
Helping Hazel
can go home. She has tried to contact
Amanda is talking about the work she
Hazel’s only ‘family’ member in the UK,
does on the way to see an 82-year-old
her godson, to tell him about the fall,
patient called Hazel, who has been
but no luck so far. Hazel lives alone,
brought to the Minor
so Amanda needs to
I couldn’t do
Injuries Unit after falling
make sure that Hazel
in the wet weather.
can still manage her
without these
The patient list on the
people... Everybody stairs. Amanda and
ward whiteboard has
Sarah, a physio from
took me in and
REACT next to many of
REACT, push her in
helped.”
the entries. In the short
a wheelchair to the
time I’m with her she
hospital’s purpose-built
Hazel, patient
has three more referrals
gym which has a mini
come through; a passing registrar from
flight of steps she can practise on. They
the hospital murmurs to me, “They’re
carefully arrange a blanket to cover her
worth their weight in gold, this lot.”
knees before they go.
Hazel fell over yesterday but has been
On the way, Amanda and Hazel
kept in overnight. “We have to be careful laugh about how, with a bit of
with people who fall,” says Amanda.
practice, Amanda managed to twist
“Some things can get masked by
Hazel’s hair at the back in the way
adrenaline so what happens afterwards she likes. “You taught me how to do
is key. But there are no broken bones
it, didn’t you? I’m very pleased with
and her head scan was clear. It was a
myself!” says Amanda.
bridge from the hospital back into the
community. I feel very privileged to
be let into people’s lives in the way
that I am.”
“REACT is a dynamic team with expertise in the assessment
and management of elderly and frail patients presenting to the
Emergency Department. The team’s input is invaluable when
attempting to decide whether discharge from hospital is safe
and appropriate. Their consideration of ongoing care also leads
to interventions that can prevent or reduce attendance to the
Emergency Department. We really value the work that they do.”
Dr Rob Stafford, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Lead,
Bristol Royal Infirmary Emergency Department, University Hospitals
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Hazel is diabetic and has been
struggling to monitor her blood sugars
herself – she’s scared of needles.
Amanda refers her to the community
matron to monitor her blood sugars
and review what else she needs to
manage the condition. Then she makes
a few phone calls to the Red Cross to
Amanda, one of our
organise a short-term home
occupational therapists,
shopping service, plus another call to
with patient Hazel at the BRI
Hazel’s godson.
At the gym, Hazel gingerly tackles
With her OT’s empathy and flair for
the staircase – up, a little turn at the
cracking problems, Amanda has also
top and back down again. Amanda
picked up a few things that are making is close, arms wide, ready. Hazel is
Hazel’s life harder at home and leaving careful, but manages without help.
her vulnerable. She’s looked at her
Back to the unit, and it’s nearly time
records and seen that various Bristol
for her to go home. Amanda books
Community Health teams and other
her transport and gets Hazel ready,
community organisations have helped
helping her get dressed. As she
in the past with the basics: she has a
gently bustles around she is also
key safe, an extra
carefully probing
stair rail, a Lifeline
and I know she is
What is REACT?
button. But as time
doing everything
has gone on Hazel
she can to be
The Rapid Emergency
now isn’t able to get
satisfied that
Assessment Care Team (REACT)
into her bath and
Hazel will be safe
is co-located with emergency
has no shower, and
at home.
departments. It makes
is feeling distressed
Are her pills in
holistic clinical assessments
about not being
a
sorted box or
to understand what brought
able to wash.
in
their original
patients to the emergency
Amanda gave her
packets?
Are
department and facilitate a safe
a wash when she
they
regularly
and timely discharge. The team
came in. “I think she
delivered? Has
has close links to community
felt a lot better after
she got food at
teams such as Rapid Response.
that,” she says, “and
home? Has her
By helping to stop patients – who
she loosened up a
key safe got her
are often elderly – being admitted
lot too.”
key in? Does she
onto other wards unnecessarily,
To help Hazel get
feel ready to go
REACT helps to reduce pressure
a walk-in shower
home?
on local hospitals.
at home, Amanda
Hazel looks up
contacts local social
at me and says:
care services and arranges for an
“I couldn’t do without these people.
advocate to visit her at home. She’s
That is the truth. I’ve never had anyone
managed to track down the same
here refuse me. Everybody took me in
person who has supported Hazel in
and helped.”
the past. Amanda also discovers that
Catching up with Amanda on the
Hazel’s boiler is broken and she can’t
phone a few days later, I discovered
make head nor tail of the council’s
that she had managed to get in
repair forms. Amanda contacts the
touch with Hazel’s godson. “He was
social worker who will be able to help
completely lovely,” she says, “and very
with the paperwork and make sure
pleased that I’d called him. He’s on his
she’s warm for winter.
way up for a visit.”
Jennifer Cave-Ayland
(Team Leader)
Community Therapy Service,
Knowle Clinic: occupational
therapy and physiotherapy in
a person’s home or a
community setting
“‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a
day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for
a lifetime’. This is a great way of explaining OT.
We don't do things for people. We enable them
to take control of their condition and their life.
We provide practical support to help people
overcome barriers that prevent them from doing
the activities (occupations) that matter to them.
Occupations are all the things we do during
the day, from the moment we wake up to the
moment we go to bed. The barriers can be
physical, psychological or social.
When a patient is referred to us, it may be
because they have one difficulty, like getting
out of bed. But often we meet them and can
help with much more: gripping the stylus for a
Nintendo DS; managing fatigue; carrying out the
weekly shop; caring for a pet…”
Jane: “Our role is really rewarding because
we help keep people safe in their own homes. A
patient was referred to us right before Christmas
by a GP – he had been stuck in his chair for
days. Using some equipment we helped him
transfer out of his chair. The patient hadn’t slept
in a bed for several weeks and we were able to
get a hospital bed delivered the same day. This
prevented an unnecessary hospital admission
over Christmas and meant that the patient could
safely have his care needs met.”
L-R: Jane White and Emily
Houten (OTs) and Rhianydd
Carter (student)
Rapid Response Team (East):
intervention for acutely
unwell people in their own
homes to avoid unnecessary
hospital admissions
Amanda Bennett
(Team Leader)
REACT: co-located with
emergency departments
to help people home
with support
Rhianydd: “OT gives people autonomy
over their lives. Sometimes all people need
is guidance, a piece of equipment or help
from other people to do the things they love.
Although OT seems like common sense (which,
at times, it can be), it’s actually really complex –
because people are complex. It can help bridge
the gap between occupation, the person and
the environment. That’s why I love it.”
“OT takes a whole-person approach to both
mental and physical health and wellbeing,
enabling individuals to achieve their full
potential. OTs are truly holistic. We secretly and
subconsciously analyse every aspect of
the situation.
When a patient is unable to get his shoes on,
for example, we ask ourselves things like: could
they manage this before? Are they unable to
bend, and why? Are they feeling dizzy? Are they
motivated to do it? If not, why not? Can they do
all or part of task? Is it a cognitive or physical
issue? Are they actually trying to show me they
need my help?”
briscomhealth.org.uk | 9
Behind the scenes
A day in the life of a school health nurse
Pauline Newnham is a senior school
health nurse. She works as part of the
East and Central Bristol Team. There
are 15 nurses looking after children in
35 schools in this area alone!
My role as a school health nurse is
really wide ranging. I promote the
health and wellbeing of children and
young people – for example, through
vaccinations and confidential drop-in
clinics for young people in secondary
schools. It’s my job to ensure they are
protected from harm. I work with
parents too – offering advice and
support on caring for their child. I also
manage three nurses.
Starting the day
I usually arrive for work at about
7.30am to beat the Bristol traffic. I
put the kettle on, check my emails
and answer phone messages,
and get ready for the
day ahead.
The morning
Once a week I hold a clinic during
which I have two or three hour-long
appointments with families. These
children and young people have been
referred by their GP, other health
professionals or their school. Families
can also refer themselves. We see a
range of physical and emotional issues
during these appointments, from bed
wetting to anxiety.
The afternoon
Once the clinic is over, I head back to
the office and check my emails again.
I'm responsible for one secondary
school and five primary schools, so
this afternoon I'm running a dropin clinic for young people at the
secondary school. The session is
available during lunchtime and is
confidential. I see children and young
people who need help with a range of
issues, from bullying to contraception
advice and support.
I spend the rest of the day writing up
any referrals from the morning clinic:
we work closely with other healthcare
professionals and specialist services
like child and adolescent mental health
(CAMHS). It’s up to us to ensure the
voice of the child is heard.
I love my job, but I couldn’t do it
without the team – they are all
really lovely.
“Coughing vigorously during
a heart attack could save
your life”
Pauline Newnham (second from left) with some of her team
If you're a parent, you can contact the school health nurse for any
health-related problems – ask your school for contact details. You
could also discuss your concerns with your child’s school who can,
with your permission, refer to the school health nursing service.
cchp.nhs.uk/cchp/explore-cchp/school-health-nursing
“Taking statins will have
damaging side effects”
• Terms and conditions aligned with
the NHS, including pay and pensions
• Minimum of 27 days annual leave when
you join, plus recognition of NHS service
for annual leave and sick pay
• A range of flexible benefits to maximise
your earnings, eg cycle scheme and
holiday trading
• Flexible working patterns to suit your needs
• A strong staff voice
75%
of staff would
recommend
us as a place
to work
Kate and Mike Brandon
Welcome
back Kate!
Kate Brandon, one of our senior
physiotherapists, has returned to
work after raising over £450,000 to
fund life-saving treatment for her
husband Mike, who had leukaemia.
Mike’s illness was terminal, but after
undergoing ground-breaking T-Cell
therapy in Philadelphia, his biopsies
10 | briscomhealth.org.uk
are now coming back clear.
“Getting back to work has meant the
world to me," Kate says. "It’s one step
closer to feeling ‘normal’ again and
feels super positive. I’ve worked here
since 2007 and the physio team are
like a second family to me so it’s great
to be back.”
Kate and Mike are now raising
money to support T-Cell therapy in the
UK. To donate visit gofundme.com/
donate4tcells
False: There is no medical evidence to
support ‘cough CPR’, which suggests
you can help yourself by coughing
vigorously if you think you’re having a
heart attack and are alone. If you
have a cardiac arrest you would
become unconscious, and without
immediate CPR (chest compressions
and rescue breaths), you would die.
But if you are still conscious (and you
would have to be to do ‘cough CPR’),
then you are not in cardiac arrest and
therefore CPR is not needed, but urgent
medical help is vital.
If you witness a cardiac arrest, you
can increase the person’s chances of
survival by phoning 999 immediately
and giving CPR.
Contacting your school nurse
Why work for us?
Find out more
briscomhealth.org.uk/work-for-us-jobs

 0117 900 2221
[email protected]

“Cardiac arrest and heart attack
are the same thing”
Heart and circulatory disease will affect
all of us in some form. Make sure you
know the facts.
Find out more: Research funded
by the British Heart Foundation
has provided very strong and clear
evidence that statins reduce the risk
of someone dying from or being
debilitated by a heart attack or
stroke. Statins are among the safest
and the most studied medications
available today.
But, like all medication, they
have potential side effects. The
most common are muscular
aches and pains, but most people
experience none at all. Serious side
effects are rare.
If you are prescribed a statin, you
need to take it every day. Statins
are most beneficial when you take
them on a long-term basis. If you
experience side effects, or if your
side effects change or become
worse, tell your GP.
“Heart disease is a man’s disease”
False: Cardiovascular disease kills the same
proportion of women as it does
men – that’s over a quarter of all men
and women.
heart
disease
myths
False: A heart attack is not the same
as a cardiac arrest.
A heart attack occurs when one
of the coronary arteries becomes
blocked. Because of the blockage, the
heart muscle can’t get its vital blood
supply and, if left untreated, will begin
to die because it is not getting enough
oxygen. The person will probably be
conscious – you should call 999 and
keep them calm.
A cardiac arrest is when a person’s
heart stops pumping blood around
their body and they stop breathing
normally. The person will be
unconscious – you should call 999
and start CPR.
Many cardiac arrests in adults
happen because of a heart attack.
This is because a person who is
having a heart attack may develop a
dangerous heart rhythm, which can
cause a cardiac arrest.
A heart attack and a cardiac arrest
are both emergency situations. Call
999 immediately if you or someone
else seems to be having one.
“You can have a ‘minor’
heart attack”
Find out more: It is true that
heart attacks can vary in how
much heart muscle is deprived
of blood supply. But, however
much of your heart is affected,
having a heart attack means
you have heart disease. All
heart attacks come with the risk
of long-term problems.
“Heart failure is when your
heart stops beating”
False: Having heart failure actually
means that for some reason your
heart is not pumping blood around
the body as well as it used to. Heart
failure can develop suddenly or it
can happen slowly over months
or even years. The most common
reason is that your heart muscle has
been damaged, for example after a
heart attack.
Article courtesy of Heart Matters, the patient magazine
of the British Heart Foundation. See more at bhf.org.uk/
heartmattersmag or sign up to Heart Matters for free at
bhf.org.uk/heartmatters or on 0300 330 3300.
How we can help
The Bristol Community Health Heart Failure Service offers
support for patients with new suspected heart failure
or for those with known heart failure diagnosis whose
symptoms have got worse.
A consultant cardiologist, doctor and specialist nurses
work in the team to support patients in community clinics.
We also work with patients who have recently left hospital.
Talk to your GP if you feel you would benefit from
a referral to the service. briscomhealth.org.uk/ourservices/heart-failure/
briscomhealth.org.uk
briscomhealth.org.uk | 11
Behind the scenes
Behind the scenes
Diabetes: Looking
after your feet
Looking after your feet is always important in
winter, but you have a higher risk of problems
if you have diabetes. Lead Health Promotion/
Prevention Podiatry Lead, Anne Williams, and
Diabetes and Nutrition Services Manager, Kizzy
Harris, offer advice and information to help you
head in the right direction.
People with diabetes can sometimes struggle to control
their blood sugars. When your blood sugar is high, this can
lead to a few problems:
• You may not feel pain in your feet. So if you are unable to
feel when your foot has been injured, you may not realise
that there is a cut or wound.
• The circulation to your feet can be reduced. This means
that if you injure your foot it may be slow to heal.
So if you do injure your foot without realising, there may be a
limited blood supply to heal it, making the spread of infection
more likely. This can sometimes lead to amputation.
How to reduce the risk
of foot problems
• Speak to your GP or practice nurse to help you to control
your blood sugars. Keeping your blood sugars at a safe
level helps to prevent future foot problems.
• Make sure that your feet are checked as part of your
diabetes review by your nurse or GP.
• Wash your feet and check them daily for any sudden
changes or breaks in the skin.
• Check your footwear, including your socks, for any signs of
wear and tear. This will help prevent any rubbing or blisters.
Warning signs
The following signs should not be ignored. If you
develop any of these symptoms please contact
your GP/podiatrist on the same day:
•
•
•
•
•
Change in skin colour
Discharge or smell
Injury
Swelling and throbbing
Redness or pain, especially if you have loss of feeling in
your feet
• Flu-like symptoms, which can sometimes mean you have
an infection
Helping local
students build
their careers
Our Resourcing Specialist James
Hamer went back to school in
November to give pupils at St
Bernadette Catholic Secondary School
some practice at job interviews.
He joined other professionals from
different sectors to give young people
some ‘real life’ experience.
“It was great to meet the students
and see how keen they were to
learn about presenting themselves in
interviews. Hopefully it gave them an
insight into what it’s like and will help
them prepare for interviews in the real
world!” says James.
To find out more about working for us visit:
briscomhealth.org.uk/work-for-us-jobs,
call 0117 900 2221 or email recruitment@
briscomhealth.nhs.uk.
If you have any of the warning signs mentioned
above, your GP or nurse should refer you to our
local podiatry service if you are not already under
its care. Alternatively you can self-refer (see below).
• Avoid walking barefoot. This increases the risk of injury to
your foot.
Diabetes dictionary
Neuropathy
Damage to the nerves in the body's
extremities such as the hands, feet and arms
Peripheral vascular disease/ischaemia
Reduced circulation to the feet
Ulceration
Another word for a wound
‘Foot attack’
Injury to the foot which fails to heal
12 | briscomhealth.org.uk
Podiatry
Our Podiatry Service provides
comprehensive foot care for
conditions affecting the foot and leg.
This includes community clinics across
Bristol and a restricted home visiting
service for those patients that are
chair/bed bound.
For self-referrals, complete a form
available from your GP surgery or
local health clinic. You can also visit
our website at briscomhealth.org.uk/
our-services/podiatry (under ‘Helpful
documents’) or call the service direct
on 0117 919 0275. To access our home
visiting service you will need to be
referred by your GP.
Education and Support
Our Diabetes and Nutrition Services
(DANS) can provide help and support to
adults in the Bristol area with type 1 or
type 2 diabetes.
We offer free education courses
for people with diabetes to help you
manage your condition. We also run
a drop-in clinic with translators for
patients with diabetes on the first
Thursday of each month, 9am-12pm,
at Charlotte Keel Health Centre,
Easton, BS5 0UA. You can watch our
diabetes self-care videos online: bit.ly/
DiabetesSelfCare
We accept self-referrals or referrals
from any healthcare professional to our
Diabetes education courses. Call 0117
959 8970 if you would like to self-refer.
Present
You want to give a positive first impression, so
ensure you are well dressed and presented when
you arrive.
Sell yourself
The interviewer is not trying to catch you out. They
are trying to find out more about you and why you
would be a good fit for them. So be confident, give
lots of examples and sell yourself!
Breathe...
Try to stay as calm as possible. Managing your
breathing is a good way to maintain focus and will
enable you to concentrate on the questions being
asked, the verbal responses you give and the nonverbal cues you give to the interviewer.
Art, drama and music can help us to
understand and come to terms with
difficult feelings. If it’s too painful, these
feelings can be held safely within the
piece until the service user is ready to
explore them further.
Always contact a health professional immediately with any
urgent foot concerns or go to your local walk-in centre if you
cannot contact your GP. Never delay seeking help as this could
lead to your foot problem getting worse which in severe cases
can lead to amputation.
Our services
Prepare
Research the organisation you’re applying to
work for to understand their culture, mission
and values.
Five minutes with... Jenny
Powell, creative therapist
Treatment
• Smoking can affect the circulation to your feet, so try and
stop. Ask your GP or nurse if you need help with this.
James’s top interview tips
Art, drama and music can
help us to understand
and come to terms with
difficult feelings. If it’s too
painful, these feelings
can be held safely within
the piece until the service
user is ready to explore
them further.”
Jenny Powell, Clinical Lead for
the Creative Therapies Team
In the same way, art, music and
drama allow our feelings to be
transformed into creative acts. It can
then be possible to find new ways of
understanding and being in the world.
I meet incredible people all the time.
Our service users are courageous
people who have survived significant
loss and trauma. I have huge respect
for my colleagues, too – they genuinely
care and are committed to the people
we work with.
Having art, drama and music
therapists within the service means
that we can do more to meet
people’s individual needs. We have
a range of skills in the team, so we’re
constantly learning from one another
and supporting each other’s practice.
The safe boundaries of the session
give our service users space
to discover their own forms of
expression. Part of the therapist’s role
is to bear witness, notice verbal and
non-verbal communications, and to
help the service user explore actions
or feelings.
The relationship between therapist
and service user is really important.
It takes a while to get to know each
other, build trust and help the person
feel safe.
Creative Therapies is part of our
Community Learning Disabilities Team. The
team works both verbally and non-verbally,
which can be particularly useful when
feelings and experiences are difficult to put
into words. briscomhealth.org.uk/ourservices/community-learning-disabilitiesteam-cldt
Staying well
this winter
Winter is far from over, but
there are lots of things you can
do to stay well.
• Get advice from pharmacists
on coughs and colds, before
they get more serious.
• Take over-the-counter
medicines like paracetamol
and ibuprofen for coughs,
colds, sinusitis and earache.
• Keep warm both inside and
outdoors to prevent health
problems – layer up with
light clothes, heat your home
to at least 18°C and try to
stay active.
• Keep out the cold at
night – breathing cold air
can increase the risk of
chest infections.
• Make sure you are getting
the help you are entitled to.
Learn how to make your
home more energy efficient,
and take advantage of
financial schemes you might
be eligible for to keep up with
energy bills.
• Check your heating and
cooking appliances are
safe and working properly
by contacting a Gas Safe
registered engineer.
There are lots more resources to
help you stay well this winter at
nhs.uk/staywell
Need help to stay warm?
The Centre for Sustainable Energy
gives free, impartial, energy saving
advice to people in Bristol, Somerset
and South Gloucestershire, so they can
stay warm and reduce their energy
bills. Call 0800 082 2234, email home.
[email protected] or visit
cse.org.uk/advice
briscomhealth.org.uk
briscomhealth.org.uk | 13
Your health
Q&A: Incontinence
Everything you wanted to know about incontinence
(but were afraid to ask)
Debbie Harris, Bladder and
Bowel Service Manager
Debbie has been a nurse for 30
years, working across a range of
services. She joined the Bladder
and Bowel Service in March
2015, leading the team and
ensuring their approach reflects
the latest developments in
research and policy.
Q. How common is incontinence?
Incontinence affects around 1 in 10
people. While it tends to be more
common among older people,
particularly women, it can affect
people of all ages and genders.
Q. What are the causes?
Incontinence is usually caused by
the weakening of the pelvic floor –
the group of muscles which support
the bladder and bowel. This can be
as a result of childbirth, age or being
overweight. Incontinence can also
occur following a spinal injury,
cancer or as a side effect of some
long-term medications.
Q. What are the signs of
incontinence?
You might notice that you don’t
manage to reach the loo in time, or
find that you’re leaking without
realising it. Sadly many people still
consider incontinence to be a taboo
subject and, instead of seeking help,
resign themselves to never getting any
better. But this simply isn’t true – for
most, it’s entirely curable.
Q. So what help is available?
Our Bladder and Bowel Service is here
to provide advice and support. You
don’t even need to be referred by your
GP to access the service – just give us
a call to refer yourself to be seen in one
of our clinics.
Our team will assess you to find out
more about your continence issues
and check to make sure there are no
underlying infections or causes. We
can then work with you to identify
Living with cancer:
Saad’s story
It’s hard to stay calm when you’re not
sure what the future holds. Every year,
more than 350,000 people in the UK
are diagnosed with cancer. In Bristol,
around 10,000 people are currently
living with the disease.
Saad lives in Easton. In 2014 he was
diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare cancer
which affects the body’s soft tissue.
Saad used to work for the Royal Mail,
but had to give up his job when he
14 | briscomhealth.org.uk
5 steps to take control
Ditch the caffeine Highly caffeinated drinks can overstimulate
your bladder – try (gradually!) switching to decaf.
Drink more water We’re not joking! Drinking less fluid
makes urine more concentrated, which irritates your
bladder and causes it to spasm. This can make you feel like
you need to go, even when your bladder is empty.
Maintain a healthy weight Being overweight can pull on
your pelvic floor. By losing a few pounds you can reduce this
pressure and improve your continence.
Strengthen your pelvic floor muscles Contact the service, visit
our website or take a look on YouTube to find simple exercises
you can do every day to help build the muscle group.
Learning
We are Bristol
Community Health
Our
values
Partnership
Innovation
Aim high
Sustainability
We're a not-for-profit social enterprise delivering publiclyfunded NHS services – and we are owned by our staff!
We provide services to the people of Bristol and beyond.
Invest
wisely
One
team
In 2016, we celebrated our five-year anniversary, and took on
two exciting partnership contracts – children’s community health
services in Bristol and InspireBetterHealth, working in prisons.
Here are some of our achievements over the last few years.
Touching
lives
Have the right mental attitude These things take time so
don’t expect things to change overnight. But improvements
will come – it just takes dedication.
changes in lifestyle and habits, and
show you exercises to help strengthen
your pelvic floor – all with the aim of
restoring your continence.
The team has a motto: ‘cure not
containment’. There are so many
adverts on the television telling us to
buy products to hide incontinence,
but they rarely mention that it’s a very
treatable problem. This means that,
when people contact the service,
other people who can relate to their
experiences.”
Like many people living with cancer,
Saad used to find it difficult to talk
about what he was going through. “I
used to hide my illness from people,”
he recalls. “But talking to others in
the same situation made me realise I
became too ill. “I wasn’t sure if I would
wasn’t alone. Now I feel more confident
survive or if I’d ever be able to get my
to talk about how I’m feeling. I know
life back. I felt really stressed.”
that there are good people in my city
After four operations and
who care about me.”
radiotherapy, he began receiving
The team’s support has helped to
help from Bristol Community Health’s
allay his fears: “They’ve been there
Macmillan Rehabilitation and Support
every step of the
Team. Alongside
way. The team calls
one-to-one
Talking to others in the
support, Saad
same situation made me just to see how I’m
doing, and I know
attended the
realise I wasn’t alone.
that I can get in
HOPE (Help
Now I feel more confident touch whenever I
Overcoming
to talk about how I’m
need help. Some
Problems
Effectively) Course
feeling. I know that there of the providers
I’ve worked with
where he met
are good people in my
other people living
city who care about me.” could be hard to
get hold of, but the
with the disease.
Macmillan team
Saad, patient
“The course
were always there
focuses on
giving me their full support.”
things like mindfulness, dealing with
Saad still faces many challenges.
fatigue and dietary advice,” explains
His flat is at the top of a long flight
Louise Cinderby, an Occupational
of stairs, so he is anxious to move
Therapist with the team. “But the best
somewhere more suitable. His illness
bit for patients is the chance to meet
it’s usually to ask about continence
products. They’re always surprised that
we’re able to assess them and offer
more long-term treatment options.
briscomhealth.org.uk/our-services/
bladder-bowel-service, 0117 373 7118,
[email protected]
also means he is unable to work and,
with limited carer support available,
he often relies on friends to help with
day-to-day tasks.
But, in spite of everything he’s been
through, Saad still counts his blessings.
“I feel like a really lucky guy. I wish I
could pay the team back somehow.
They came in when I was at my lowest
point and helped me to get back on my
feet. I can’t thank them enough.”
The Macmillan Rehabilitation
and Support Team is run
in partnership with local
healthcare organisations and
Macmillan. The service is for
anyone living with or beyond
cancer and works with patients
across Bristol and South
Gloucestershire. Both oneto-one and group support is
available.
briscomhealth.org.uk/
our-services/cancersupport
Shirehampton Health Centre
(Monday-Thursday, 8:30-16:30)
bch.macmillansupport@
briscomhealth.nhs.uk
2011
We grew from the NHS to become a social
enterprise and community interest company.
• £45 million turnover
• 35 community services
• 1116 employees
75% of staff would
recommend us as
a place to work
Worked with over
50 local partners
Our interpreters translated
for patients at 75,576
appointments
Patient feedback
increased by 100%
96.5% high-quality,
harm-free care,
up from 87.6%
97% of patients
would recommend us
to family and friends
Today
• £74 million turnover (April 2016)
• 35+ community services (see back page)
• 1700 employees
34,574 hospital
stays prevented,
saving £20 million
Over 100,000 adults and
children supported through
1.2 million outstanding
moments of care
Every month, we receive over 8000 referrals and
have over 39,000 contacts with adult patients.
We work with over 400 GPs across 50 practices.
briscomhealth.org.uk
briscomhealth.org.uk | 15
Our services
Bristol Community Health is a not-for-profit social
enterprise providing NHS-funded community
healthcare across Bristol. Visit briscomhealth.org.uk
to find out how you can access our services.
Bladder and Bowel Service
Support for patients with bladder
and bowel problems.
Diabetic Eye Screening Annual
photographic eye screening for people
with diabetes aged 12 years and over.
Community Children’s Health
Partnership (CCHP) Health visiting,
school nursing, occupational therapy,
physiotherapy and dietetics for children
and young people across Bristol and
South Gloucestershire within CCHP
(Bristol Community Health services).
Falls Support Support for patients
who need a falls assessment.
Community Discharge
Coordination Centre (CDCC)
Single point of exit for all hospital
discharges into community services.
Infection Prevention and Control
Advice on the prevention and control
of healthcare-associated infections.
Community and Out of Hours
Nursing Healthcare and support
to housebound patients in their
homes, seven days a week.
Community Respiratory Service
Services for people with chronic
respiratory diseases.
Community Therapy Occupational
therapy and physiotherapy in a
person’s home or a clinic setting.
Health Assessment and Review
Team (HART) and Continuing
Healthcare Team Nurses and
administrators who assess patients’
eligibility to access NHS Continuing
Healthcare and funded nursing care.
Dementia Support Assessment and
signposting to dementia services.
Dermatology Diagnosis,
treatment and education about
long-term skin conditions.
Diabetes and Nutrition Services
Education, information and support
about diabetes and nutrition.
Stay in touch
Get the latest from Bristol
Community Health on social media
or by visiting our website at:
briscomhealth.org.uk
Health Links Language support
and advocacy service.
Heart Failure Service Nurse-led
heart failure diagnostic service.
Learning Disabilities Teams
Specialist health services for people
with learning disabilities.
Macmillan Rehabilitation and Support
Team For those living with and beyond
cancer to improve their quality of life.
Musculoskeletal Assessment and
Treatment Service (MATS) Assessing
and managing the care of patients with
musculoskeletal and spinal conditions.
Palliative Care Home Support Works
with other healthcare professionals to
offer care and support at the end of life.
Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist
Information, advice and support
for people with Parkinson’s and
for their carers and families.
Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal
Outpatient Service) Helping people who
have difficulty with their day-to-day living
due to pain or problems with movement.
Prison Healthcare Services Prime
provider of healthcare services
in prisons, including physical
and mental healthcare and
substance misuse services.
Rapid Response Intervention for acutely
unwell people in their own homes to
avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
REACT In-Reach Co-located with
emergency departments to help
people home with support rather
than being admitted.
Specialist Community Neurology
Support for patients with a
neurological impairment.
Strength and Balance Classes
Exercise programmes to prevent
falls in the community.
The Haven Healthcare service
for asylum seekers and
refugees new to Bristol.
Tuberculosis (TB) Nurse Service
Outreach and support to people
with active or latent TB.
Urgent Care Centre Walk-in minor
injury and illness service at South
Bristol Community Hospital.
Walk-in Centre Walk-in minor
injuries and illness service based
in Boots, Broadmead.
Wound Care Support for patients with
non-healing or slow-to-heal wounds.
Podiatry Care for conditions
affecting the feet.
Volunteer with us!
Volunteering can make a huge difference
to people’s lives. We’ve got opportunities to
suit everyone – to find out more, contact our
Volunteering Coordinator, Greg Juckes, on
[email protected] or call
0117 900 2648.
You can also contact us in the
following ways:
[email protected]
0117 900 2600
Communications Team, Bristol
Community Health, 6th Floor, South
Plaza, Marlborough Street, Bristol,
BS1 3NX
Do you need this newspaper in another format or language? Email [email protected] or call 0117 900 2198 and we’ll be happy to help.
| briscomhealth.org.uk
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Community
Health 2017. If you would like to reproduce any of the content in this newspaper please contact [email protected]