May 2023
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| Entonox |
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Along with other NHS Trusts in a similar situation, we suspended the use of Entonox within our maternity services on 30 March, for the safety of our staff, after testing found staff were being exposed to high levels of nitrous oxide for extended periods of time.
We introduced the use of mobile destruction units (MDU), replaced mouthpieces with face masks and training to ensure staff are comfortable with using the new equipment. There are ongoing works to improve the ventilation within the service. Following testing and we were satisfied that Entonox levels could be maintained at safe levels with the MDUs, we reinstated routine intrapartum Entonox in some rooms on 20 April. To read the full article please click here. |
| CQC publishes report on maternity services at St Peter's Hospital |
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At the start of the year the CQC (Care Quality Commission) conducted an unannounced focused inspection at St Peter's Hospital as part of the national maternity inspection programme. The inspection looked at the safety and leadership of maternity services.
The CQC report rated this service as inadequate and we have already taken some action to improve areas that were of concern. We are addressing these challenges as part of a wider partner collaborative approach. To read the full article click here. |
| Junior Doctors Industrial Action | |
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Junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) took strike action in mid-March and immediately after the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. During these periods, we appealed to the local community to only visit the hospital in an emergency and took steps to ensure that emergency care and cancer care continued.
For the full article please click here. |
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| Easter Cake treats and support during industrial action | |
| During the Easter Bank Holiday, the EDU kitchens at Ashford and St Peter's provided hot meals until 8pm and members of the Executive and Senior leadership teams visited wards and departments to speak with colleagues, and deliver Easter treats as a thank you. On Wednesday 12 April, colleagues were offered a free lunch at both Ashford and St Peter's and Woking, including those taking part in the industrial action. Grab and Go food bags were provided for those who couldn't leave their dept or preferred a cold option. | |
| Wellbeing Hub opens for Ashford Hospital staff | |
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Last month the much-anticipated Wellbeing Hub opened at Ashford Hospital in the Education Centre.
Funded by the ASPH Charity and officially opened by our Chairman, Andy Field and Chief Finance Officer, Simon Marshall. Staff can enjoy exciting seasonal and sustainable menus, and five-star restaurant facilities: Full English, morning pastries, one meat and one veggie main option, jacket potatoes, a fantastic salad bar and much more! Staff can relax and unwind on comfy and colourful sofas and use the free massage chair! |
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| Bereavement Café opens at Chertsey House | |
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On 28 March, Chaplain Elizabeth Lee opened the new Bereavement Café in Chertsey House meeting room 2/3 at St Peter's Hospital. This support service is for those who are struggling to cope with grief after a loved one or someone close has passed away. A team of volunteers trained by the Princess Alice Hospice are available to listen and chat over coffee every Tuesday from 1.30-3pm.
For the full article, please click here. |
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| Wearing Masks no longer mandatory | |
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In late 2022, we reintroduced the wearing of surgical face masks across ASPH for all staff and visitors due to rising cases of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections such as influenza in the local community.
On Monday 17 April, we announced that face masks were no longer mandatory for staff, patients, or visitors in either clinical or non-clinical areas of our hospitals. Face masks will continue to be available at the main receptions and clinical areas for people who prefer to wear one. |
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| New surgical robot comes to St Peter's Hospital | |
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At the end of March, we received our new surgical robot, a Da Vinci robot, which enables surgeons to perform delicate and complex operations through very small incisions with robotic assisted surgery. This innovative technology delivers less invasive procedures in a wide variety of abdominal and pelvic operations, providing patients with the best outcomes from surgery. 
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This brings cutting edge robotic technology into standard practice for our patients and the surgical robot will ensure the Trust delivers high quality abdominal and pelvic surgery for both cancer and benign conditions.
This aligns with our five-year elective strategy and meets the wider NHS England/Improvement care framework and Surrey Heartlands' objective to provide equitable access for our local community to the best technology surgery, maintaining and developing our surgical skills for the future. |
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| Quality Improvement event returns! | |
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Quality Improvement aims to make a difference to patients by improving safety, effectiveness and experience of care.
Last month we relaunched our annual Quality Improvement event to encourage colleagues to showcase and celebrate their achievements with the chance to enter a poster competition. This hugely popular event on 28 June is an opportunity to be inspired by those who make a real difference to patient care. |
| This year's programme will include an external speaker, improvement presentations from ASPH teams, world café, "Making Data Count" masterclass from the NHSE team, QI skills, poster competition and lots of time and space for creativity and networking. | |
| Good luck to our international nurses | |
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In February we were proud to welcome our Cohort of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) who have now completed their OSCE Preparation programme.
We wish them well as they sit their examinations and look forward to seeing their progression and professional development. |
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| International day of the midwife | |
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At the International Day of the Midwife, we recognised and celebrated the amazing work of midwives globally. International Day of the Midwife was founded by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and is celebrated every year on 5th May, since 1992. The theme for this year was "Together again: from evidence to reality".
Click here to read the full article. Pictured above: February cohort of internally educated nurses at Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. |
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| Wisley community day | |
| On 27 March, we joined the first ever North West Surrey Alliance partnership community day at RHS Wisley Gardens in Surrey. As one of the partners, Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals joined over 200 people living, working, running businesses, supporting vulnerable people, and raising families in our communities. |
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We were able to showcase the Trust membership and fund-raising initiatives, as well as promote recruitment opportunities. In the afternoon we helped facilitate the community thoughts and views on what health and care services could look like in their local area.
Click here to read the full article. |
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| World Hygiene Day on 5 May | |
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We promoted World hand hygiene day across the Trust to encourage staff to keep up infection prevention and control standards.
Hand hygiene saves millions of lives every year when performed at the right moments during health care delivery. Now is a critical time when countries across the world need to accelerate implementation of lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and increase investments to close gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC), including hand hygiene. |