Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Liverpool Football Club visits Clatterbridge Hospital Liverpool Football Club special guests paid a visit to Clatterbridge Hospital to bring cheer to patients and meet staff. Rev Bill Bygroves, LFC Chaplain, and Margaret Aspinall, Chair of Hillsborough Family Support, led the visit. During their visit, they went to the chapel at Clatterbridge Hospital and set up the Champions League Cup, taking it on a tour of the two inpatient wards. They brought delight to patients undergoing occupational and physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Rev Bill Bygroves also brought his guitar and led a sing-along in the wards with patients and staff. They sang classics like “Hey Jude” and "Sweet Caroline," creating a joyful and uplifting atmosphere. “It’s a real privilege for us at LFC to come here,” said Rev Bygroves. “We’re the Red Neighbours team and hope to bring some joy as we bring the trophy and photos out. Thanks to all the staff here for the magnificent work that they do. Remember our anthem, walk on with hope in your heart, and you’ll never walk alone.” Rev Jackie Parry, Chaplain at Clatterbridge Hospital, who arranged the visit with Rev Bygroves, shared her enthusiasm: “It was fantastic of Liverpool FC to pay a visit to the chapel and to take the cup on a tour of the wards. Our chaplains offer a lot of pastoral support to patients and staff during difficult times. Visits like this really bring a lot of cheer to patients and staff. It was wonderful to see how happy they were to meet the visitors from the club and have the chance to see the cup.” Margaret Aspinall, Chair of Hillsborough Family Support, emphasised the significance of healthcare workers: “These nurses and doctors are the heroes looking after these patients. If we can give a little back, that’s all that matters.” Liverpool FC has been hugely supportive of Wirral University Teaching Hospital. Last year, LFC legends John Barnes and Bruce Grobbelaar visited its Arrowe Park Hospital site on a tour bus to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

WIRRAL HOSPITAL RECEIVES OUTSTANDING PATIENT FEEDBACK IN CANCER EXPERIENCE SURVEY More than 90% of cancer patients at Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) are receiving exceptional care and support, according to new survey results. Over the past year, respondents have consistently rated their experience highly, highlighting the dedication and compassion of the Trust’s healthcare professionals. The WUTH Local Cancer Patient Experience Survey revealed that an impressive 94% of patients rated the support they received as 8 or above out of 10. This high score reflects the compassionate care and personalised attention provided by the hospital team. One patient said that the service at Arrowe Park had been exceptional from day one. “Sensitive, helpful with clear communication – a great help and support throughout, all with a smile and pleasantness,” they said in the survey. “Nothing was too much – a wonderful and positive [experience].” Patients praised the empathetic way their diagnoses were communicated, the clarity and accessibility of written information, and the personalised guidance from clinical nurse specialists and cancer care coordinators. They also highlighted the hospital’s commitment to addressing their holistic needs, feeling heard and understood, and being treated with dignity and respect. Julie Morrish, a Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse at WUTH’s cancer services department said: “We are thrilled with the positive response from our patients. Their feedback motivates us to continue delivering exceptional care.” The Local Cancer Patient Experience Survey allows patients to provide feedback on their care, helping to identify areas of excellence and opportunities for improvement across the Trust.   The nursing teams were asked to distribute survey to cancer patients and a paper and electronic version were created. The survey was also added to the intranet, patient portal and advertised in waiting areas around the Trust and via the Macmillan Cancer Information Support Services Centre. A link to the survey was also included within the research leaflet.  “We are constantly striving to improve the quality of services and care for people affected by cancer, and we can only do this with feedback from people who have been directly affected,” added Julie. #CancerCare #PatientSurvey #healthcare

It’s coming home! Staff at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are celebrating the Euros 2024 final by setting up activities for the Department of Medicine for the Elderly, where patients with cognitive impairments, such as dementia, are treated. The team have a number of activities planned, including taking patients to ‘the pub’, one of a number of reminiscence rooms at the hospital designed to help the memories of dementia patients. And the patients who aren’t well enough to visit ‘the pub’ will still be involved in the action, with staff taking screens directly to the patients to watch the match. The celebrations and activities, alongside watching the game, are expected to help the patients by provoking memories and boosting wellbeing. Thank you to all our NHS staff who are going the extra mile to help patients enjoy the game! ⚽ #EUROS2024

The excitement is building on Ward 21 at Arrowe Park Hospital - a ward for older people, including those with dementia and other cognitive impairments - ahead of England's match against Spain in the Euros Final tonight. Staff have gone above and beyond to ensure these patients can enjoy the match along with the millions who will be watching around the world. A TV screen has been set up in the ward's reminiscence 'pub', a room decorated just like an old fashioned pub to stimulate happy memories. There will also be a TV in the middle of the main ward. Patients who can't get to a TV can watch the match at their bedside using special technology called RITA - an interactive tablet designed for reminiscence therapy. The staff have even laid on refreshments to be served during the match, including options for patients with special dietary needs. Whether or not England win tonight, our patients will be creating new memories at WUTH 💙 We wish our footballing heroes the very best of luck for the match. We also want to say a huge thank you to our own heroes in healthcare for all they do for our patients. #HealthcareHeroes #patientcare #dementiahealth

At WUTH we're transforming the hospital experience for patients with sensory needs with our new, innovative care bag initiative. Launched to support patients in the emergency department (ED) and admission units, the initiative is designed to offer comfort and reduce stress for people with autism and/or learning disabilities. Patients with sensory needs often find the bustling and noisy environment of an ED overwhelming. Recognising this challenge, WUTH has introduced this special bag to enhance their hospital experience. The bags include items such as noise-cancelling earphones, an eye mask and a sensory chew bracelet. Each bag also contains an easy-read patient information leaflet and a feedback form to gather insights for continuous improvement. Additionally, a health and wellbeing passport is included to provide staff with information about the patient's needs, ensuring tailored care. The sensory care bag initiative is the creation of Helen Newell, Named Nurse for Safeguarding Adults and the Trust’s Lead for Complex Care. Helen collaborated closely with Autism Together, Mencap, and Healthwatch Wirral to develop the idea. The initiative was launched during Learning Disability Week, with the new bags distributed to ED and other admission unit staff, ready to assist patients when needed. Helen Newell said: “The feedback from staff has been wonderful. It's incredible how such a simple idea can have a hugely positive impact on someone's healthcare experience.” The bags are especially useful for patients who arrive unexpectedly and do not have their own coping items. Janelle Holmes, WUTH Chief Executive added: “As a Trust, we always encourage new ideas from staff to improve patient care. The sensory care bags are a perfect example. Patients with sensory needs can find environments like the ED overwhelming, and there's already evidence that these items are significantly helping.” Clinical staff have reported that the bags are reducing patient anxiety, positively impacting their ability to diagnose and treat patients with autism and/or learning disabilities. This initiative also allows staff to document information about patients needing extra support from the complex care team during their hospital stay. Staff can flag digital health records for patients receiving a bag, ensuring additional measures are in place where needed. WUTH continues to lead in reducing health inequalities and enhancing the care experience for the learning disabled and autism community. WUTH's commitment to addressing the needs of patients with learning disabilities and/or autism includes a customised sensory room in the surgical elective admissions lounge. This initiative reached the finals of the HSJ Patient Safety Awards in 2023 and has inspired other NHS trusts to implement similar measures.

We're delighted to welcome Prof Paul McGee, the SUMO guy, as our keynote speaker for our Leadership for All Conference! #WUTHLeaders

We’ve arrived for the Leadership for All Conference! Our theme for the conference is 'Harnessing our Talent'! This is all about recognising, developing, and utilising the skills and abilities of individuals within an organisation to their fullest potential. We look forward to learning more about this today! #WUTHLeaders

Tomorrow is the big day! We're thrilled to host the Leadership for All Conference at Chester Racecourse, where we'll explore the theme 'Harnessing our talent'. Attendees can look forward to engaging workshops, insightful guest speakers, and valuable networking opportunities. We're excited to hear from our keynote speaker, The SUMO Guy, Paul McGee, who will inspire us to thrive in today's challenging world. For those joining us, we hope you have a fantastic day of learning and networking.

👏😃 Local sixth form students have joined us once again at Arrowe Park Hospital for our annual Intromed week. It's a chance for budding medics to get a taste of what it's like to work in a hospital.

We're thrilled to announce that for the fifth year running, Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) has been presented with a top international achievement award for its world-class health and safety practice. By attaining five consecutive Gold Awards, the Trust has received a Gold Medal Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) at the 2024 Health and Safety Awards. The award was made following a rigorous review of evidence around 20 key criteria. The renowned global RoSPA Awards recognise teams and projects for their unwavering commitment to protecting lives. Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director said: "Workplace accidents don't just pose financial risks and operational disruptions; they significantly impact the quality of life for individuals. This is why acknowledging and rewarding excellent safety performance is vital. “We congratulate Wirral University Teaching Hospital for winning a prestigious RoSPA Award and showing an unwavering commitment to preventing accidental harm and injury.” Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive at WUTH said: “The safety of everyone - patients, staff and visitors - is of the upmost importance to us, so it’s fantastic to have this recognised with the Gold Medal Award. We take our responsibilities very seriously, and achieving this award demonstrates the Trust’s ongoing commitment to health and safety.”  WUTH employs over 6,700 staff, and last year had around 109,000 inpatient stays and 516,000 outpatient appointments. Andre Haynes, Health and Safety Manager added: “As part of the awards application process, we were able to demonstrate the continuous improvement approach we adopt at WUTH for managing health and safety. This includes ensuring policies and processes are in place, and where accidents occur, these are thoroughly investigated to ensure we put changes in place to reduce the risk of them reoccurring.” For more information about the RoSPA Awards visit 2024 Winners | RoSPA Health and Safety Awards - RoSPA. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) #healthandsafetyatwork #patientsafety