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Summer 2013 Issue: 32
Caring for the whole family
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: • Refurbished Bluebell
House cares for children with complex needs
• Former conjoined twins are thriving
• Advocating for learning disabilities
• Work skills help women recover from mental illness
• Our HIV nurses help save lives
WELCOME | Oxleas Exchange | Summer 2013 Issue: 32
Welcome
As you can see, we’ve made some changes including moving from a newspaper to a magazine format and refreshing the overall appearance.We have made these changes in response to recommendations by ResearchNet, a Bromley based service user and carer led research group, who asked our members in a telephone survey how they thought Exchange should develop. Our members told ResearchNet that they would like to see more and larger photographs and more articles featuring the people who use our services.
In this issue, we have stories showing the wide range of care we offer to local people. We aim to improve people’s lives through excellent care for body and mind.
We hope you enjoy this issue and like the new look of Exchange; please let us know by emailing us: [email protected] or you can tweet us: @OxleasNHS
Please also get in touch if you would like to join one of the focus groups that ResearchNet will be helping us to run where we will be seeking members’ feedback on Exchange.
Andrew Mayor Editor
On Saturday 27 July Bluebell House held a Summer Party at Wensley Close in Eltham. Everyone had great fun at the event which was held to celebrate the facelift given to the centre and to mark its new name.
Bluebell House used to be known as the Short Breaks Service. Thirty local children with complex health needs and disabilities visit after school or for a three night stay so their parents can get a much needed break. We took over running the service in April 2011.
The new name was chosen by the children following an extensive renovation of the building and garden area which has dramatically improved the facilities. Clare Morris, Nurse Manager, said: “The children love coming to Bluebell now and we invited their parents to the party so they could see the fun that their children have here. Looking after a child with complex health needs can be very demanding. We provide an important service which benefits both the parents and the children.”
Welcome to the new issue of Oxleas Exchange
Summer party springs bluebells
3
Andrew Mayor – Editor
Photo: Charlie, aged nine, at Bluebell House
Ruby and Rosie Formosa were conjoined at birth. A life threatening blockage
in their shared intestine meant the girls had to be taken for emergency surgery the day after they were born.
The delicate operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London took five hours, and was so successful that the sisters left hospital just two weeks later and one year on are thriving at their Bexleyheath home with their parents Angela and Daniel Formosa.
Angela said: “The nurses really put me at ease. Any problems and I know I can give them a call. They are reassuring and visit every two weeks to check Ruby and Rosie’s weight and to carry out urine tests.”
The children’s community nursing team form a network of support around families, typically visiting them at home, school or pre-school care settings. Angela said that receiving care at home rather than in a hospital had made all the
difference: “The nurses have really helped us and the fact that they come to us at home has made life so much easier.”
A former beauty therapist, Angela and her taxi driver husband Daniel, 36, moved to their present home only one month before the twins were born. The couple also have an older daughter called Lily.
Angela said: “I do get a bit tired at times, but no more so than any other mum caring for baby twins.”
It was decided that the girls, who celebrated their first birthday in July, would be delivered early, at 34 weeks, by Caesarean section at University College Hospital in London. It turned out they were joined at the abdomen and they were transferred to Great Ormond Street for surgery.
Angela discharged herself from hospital the day after her Caesarean so she could be by her babies’ bedside as they recovered.
Great Ormond Street Hospital is
the most experienced centre in the world in the care and separation of conjoined twins, having cared for 32 cases in all, including 25 separations.
The twins were in intensive care for just six days and were able to go home three weeks later. Conjoined twins are very rare, occurring in one in every 50,000 pregnancies.
Angela again: “I finally feel they’re my babies now and I know exactly what to do with them. They’re very bubbly, they love their toys and they love playing together.”
You little beautiesThese two gorgeous smiling faces have just celebrated their first birthday thanks in no small part to the patient care delivered by our community children’s nursing team.
FEATURE | Oxleas Exchange | Summer 2013 Issue: 32 Photos: Angela, Ruby and Rosie Formosa | 5
“Conjoined twins
are very rare, occurring in one in every 50,000
pregnancies.
”
News
NEWS | Oxleas Exchange | Summer 2013 Issue: 32
Retired chauffeur Wali Zakaria, or Zak, as he known, developed breathing difficulties back in 2009. Married, with three grown up children, Zak, now a fit 70-year-old, was vigorously pushing his vacuum cleaner around when Oxleas Exchange caught up with him at his Charlton home of 20 years.
When he was younger Zak smoked and in later life has suffered from asthma. He was referred to our chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) service in Greenwich and in 2009 went on a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR)course at the Waterfront Leisure Centre in Woolwich.
Zak enjoyed the course so much he became a volunteer at the Waterfront and now turns out twice a week to help out.
Zak said: “I speak to each new batch of PR participants to introduce them to the course. I tell them how incapacitated I used to feel and what the course did for me.”
Another patient who says her life has improved since going on our PR course is Marion Jenman. Marion, 70, has had breathing difficulties most of her life. A retired practice manager for a firm of orthodontists, she said that things came to a head in 2011 when she was referred to our COPD services.
She was sent on the PR course and hasn’t looked back.
Marion said: “A few years ago I couldn’t even take my grandchildren for a walk in Greenwich Park, something I had previously really enjoyed doing. Now I feel much better. After I did the PR course I was asked to come along and help out a little as a volunteer. I was happy to do it.
“I now help with other patients and my two sessions a week at the Eltham Centre help to keep me fit too. I can do a lot more walking now.”
The Greenwich COPD course lasts seven weeks and involves twice weekly education and exercise sessions. It gives participants the tools to self manage their condition and stay in the best health possible with a combination of clinic appointments and visits in their own home when necessary. The walls of the William Morris
Centre on our Bracton Centre campus have been adorned with a fantastic exhibition of paintings which opened on Thursday 27 June. All the artworks were created by artists who are also service users.
The William Morris Centre Art Project was set up in 2012 and the exhibition – the project’s first - runs for three months. Contributors include artists based in the community who use services at the William Morris Centre and others resident in the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit.
The William Morris Centre provides psychological therapy for men and women with longstanding emotional, relational and interpersonal difficulties, often referred to as personality disorder or difficulties.
The artworks, which are highly accomplished, are all for sale and proceeds will be split between the artists and the project, to help ensure its continuation in the future.
Photo: Artists and staff with some of the artworks | 7
Patients breathe more easily after PR course
Zak exercising in his garden
Original artworks impress at the William Morris Centre
You can visit the exhibition by appointment until September. Call Robert or Colin for details on 01322 297175
“I speak to each new batch of PR participants to introduce them to the course. I tell them how
incapacitated I used to feel and what the
course did for me.
”
It was a remarkable achievement for someone who only four years ago was admitted to Atlas House, our adult
learning disability (ALD) inpatient unit, suffering from anxiety.
In those four years, John became a familiar face at trust events, talking about Atlas House and giving his own perspective on our ALD services and how they could be improved. He began taking part in interviewing people who had applied to work in learning disability services – a role that he continues to perform. John also joined the Can you understand it? group that scrutinises trust information for people with learning disabilities.
The Greenwich People’s Parliament consists of five MPs and six assistant MPs who work to ensure that people with learning disabilities have equal access to health services and are included when decisions are made about services. They raise awareness with GPs and hospitals to try to make things easier for people with learning disabilities, as John explains: “I visit hospitals and GP surgeries. I talk to doctors and nurses about what care a patient (with learning disabilities) can get when they come in. Many GPs don’t have leaflets with symbols so I tell them they’re available. Also when I visit day services I ask people if they have a Black Book (personal
health planner) and explain what it is as many people don’t have one. The Black Book is important as it keeps a record of appointments and the treatment people receive. If people don’t have one we advise them to ask their GP.”
In addition to liaising with health staff, John’s role includes sitting on the MP panel at Citizen Forums where people with learning disabilities come to raise issues and ask questions. An issue of current concern to John is the experience of people in hospital, particularly around diet: “Big portions are not good for people. There should be special diet sheets – like for someone with diabetes to show what they can eat.”
While patient experience for people with learning disabilities has not always been positive, John thinks that things have improved: “Hospitals have got better. Staff are better now with people with learning disabilities. They treat you with dignity and respect.”
John’s progress is reflected in his recent move from Atlas House to the Homeleigh Care Home in Plumstead. While John is enjoying living in the community, he has maintained his links with Atlas House and the Can you understand it? group.
Our representative for learning disabilities In October 2012, John Clarke was elected as Assistant MP for Health for the Greenwich People’s Parliament, a group of people with learning disabilities who represent others who also have learning disabilities.
FEATURE | Oxleas Exchange | Summer 2013 Issue: 32
“Staff are better now
with people with learning disabilities. They treat you with dignity and respect.
”
Photo: John with artwork he helped to create at Atlas House called The New Dawn | 9
News
Supporting families to be independentTransferring services from one trust to another can bring both challenges and benefits, as Exchange found out recently when we talked to Greenwich Children’s Community Nursing Team Lead, Kate Medhurst.
FEATURE | Oxleas Exchange | Summer 2013 Issue: 32 11
The team joined us last September from South London Healthcare Trust
(SLHT). As their name suggests, the team, who are based at Wensley Close, Eltham, mainly see people in their homes, schools and early years care settings, though clinics are also held at Wensley Close, Gallion’s Reach and Garland Road health centres. They work with children and young people and their families who are registered with a Greenwich GP and are aged 0-18 (19 with a learning disability).
The team comprises two admin staff; five community children’s nurses; two diabetes nurses; an epilepsy nurse; an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) nurse; a child and adolescent clinical psychiatrist, four continuing care assistants and Kate. Kate explained that her team treats a wide range of conditions: “We do neonatal work, for example babies discharged from hospital who need oxygen therapy and treat children with cancers; diabetes; ADHD; epilepsy; long term conditions and complex medical needs. A crucial part of our role is to support families to be independent and confident in managing conditions.”
Transferring the service to Oxleas was not without its challenges. These involved continuing to provide the same level of service while moving temporarily from
their old home at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, to Rusthall Lodge in Eltham, and then on to Wensley Close. There were also different ways of doing things, according to Kate: “We had to get used to new processes, with the most noticeable change in how to order supplies and ensuring we didn’t run out of things. We
We said a big thank you to all our volunteers at a special event in June held in the Great Hall of historic Hall Place in Bexley.
The day was put together by staff from the voluntary services and social inclusion teams and was an opportunity for our volunteers to relax, socialise and visit a range of stalls.
Linda Sanders, Voluntary Service Manager, said: “Our volunteers put in a tremendous effort on behalf of the trust year in year out. They help us in many areas including befriending, gardening, driving, and the snack shops at Memorial Hospital on Shooter’s Hill and Oxleas House at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich.”
As well as our regular volunteers, people taking part in our Volunteer
to Work scheme were also in attendance. Doreen Whitter is coming to the end of her placement having been on the scheme for 17 months. She told Exchange: “Volunteering to work has been very good for me. It gives you a regular routine, like getting up in the morning and going to work. I’ve had lots of support from the (social inclusion) team for my placement at The Heights. They reassured me, allowed me to learn new skills at my own pace, and my confidence has really grown. Now I’m looking for paid employment.”
For more information, you can contact Linda Sanders on 020 8836 8510, Debbie Goodson on 020 8301 9438 or visit oxleas.nhs.uk/volunteering
From left, James Shaw, volunteer to work, Deborah Goodson, volunteer to work coordinator and Doreen Whitter, volunteer to work
Thanking our volunteers for all their hard workrk
didn’t have an electronic patient information system before, so we had to get used to using RiO, which could be time consuming, though we’ve found it very helpful having electronic access to the rest of community services.”
The team will soon be complemented by Bexley Specialist Children’s Services who it is planned will join us in October.
Kate said she wants to develop closer links with local GPs to ensure that children and families get the services they need: “At the moment our main communication with GPs is faxing requests for prescriptions to them. Many don’t know who we are or what we can offer them. For example, we can help families and GPs by targeting problematic asthma and eczema which may reduce attendances at hospital. By liaising with GPs we can also ensure that supplies of medications last families a few months instead of them having to keep going back for repeat prescriptions. We may be able to support GPs with a range of other things too.”
With the upheaval of moving behind them, Kate was positive about the benefits of joining Oxleas: “Lots of new equipment was purchased for us and it’s refreshing to have a greater focus on our service. We’ve also more access to peer and expert support. It’s a much more supportive environment and we’re in the right trust for children’s community services.”
“By liaising with
GPs we can ensure that supplies of medications last
families a few months
”
Kate Medhurst, second from left, with members of the Children’s Community Nursing Team
News
NEWS | Oxleas Exchange | Summer 2013 Issue: 32
A new gym was officially opened at Memorial Hospital in the Spring by triple paralympian Andy Barrow from New Eltham, who has represented Team GB in wheelchair rugby in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London last year.
Cutting the red ribbon to officially open the gym, Andy said: “It’s hugely important to have the opportunity to exercise in all our lives.”
Andy was joined at the opening ceremony by another local, Olympic torch bearer Sarah Smit from Greenwich, who works with the Chain Reaction Theatre Company, which helps disadvantaged young people.
Andy first heard about wheelchair rugby when he was undergoing rehabilitation treatment following a rugby injury in 1997. After watching his first match he was determined to start playing himself.
Director of Forensic and Prison Services, John Enser, said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to Andy and Sarah for being here today and to all of those involved in what has been a three to four year programme to get this gym going.”
The gym, which is situated in the main hospital building, boasts a rowing machine, an exercise bike, a treadmill, a cross trainer, a weight bench, a selection of free weights, a punch bag and skipping ropes for boxing training.
Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor, Emma Gunnell, said the gym allows an approach to recovery that focuses on clients’ physical as well as mental health.
We held a free event for all Oxleas members at Charlton House recently that aimed to show people how to stay healthy – and help keep friends and family healthy too.
Called ‘Living life to the full – ageing healthily’ there were opportunities to talk to health specialists and have a free health check.
Around 90 people attended and were able to get information from 40 community organisations based in Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich boroughs.
There was also some fun entertainment by ‘PJ the Magical Clown’ who astonished everyone with his magic tricks and balloon animals.
As well as being able to browse the stalls and have a chat to the health professionals, guests also had the opportunity to take part in two workshops throughout the afternoon as well as chair based exercise sessions.
An innovative way of addressing violent, destructive and harmful behaviours in children and adolescents was showcased in the launch of three different projects in the Gallery at the Woolwich Centre in June.
Dr Marcus Averbeck, Head of Family Therapy, introduced the Non Violent Resistance (NVR) afternoon. Elisabeth Hiesmann, Senior Family Therapist in Greenwich and Liz Day, Principal Family Therapist in Bexley, launched the new NVR DVD, a new booklet of testimonies by parents, children and supporters and a new programme designed for parents whose children are in or affected by gangs. The keynote speech was given by Dr Peter Jakob, Director, Partnership Projects UK Ltd, a consultant clinical psychologist who has been instrumental in the introduction of NVR in the UK.
NVR seeks to change destructive behaviours by empowering the relevant adults in a child’s life, focusing on unmet needs in the child, helping them to develop more secure attachments and feel valued in their key relationships. It is especially valuable where the young person refuses to engage directly in therapy. NVR is a development of the political non-violent resistance approach which was pioneered in the 20th century by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther
King and Rosa Parks who all campaigned for racial equality.
The DVD, which was screened at the event, includes film of the first international NVR conference held in Greenwich in 2011, parents interviewing one another about their experiences of NVR, interviews with Liz Day and Elisabeth Heismann and presentations from Haim Omer, Associate Professor of Psychology at Tel Aviv University, who originated and developed the use of NVR with families. It is an Oxleas project in collaboration with Partnership Projects UK Ltd.
The booklet of parent testimonies, entitled: NVR – Rebuilding family relationships, was put together by a team of ‘graduate’ parents who have all benefited from NVR. Launching the booklet, the parents explained that it is a compilation of real life stories of people who have experienced family difficulties but who have been able to rebuild family relationships and home lives through NVR.
The NVR violence in the community project was introduced by Elisabeth Heismann who explained how the NVR model was extended to work with families in Greenwich whose children are involved in or affected by gangs. The team helped them to spot signs of gang involvement like gang symbols or names and the
possession of large sums of money or expensive objects. Parents were encouraged to put NVR tools into practice and increase their presence in the home by, for example, de-escalating conflicts, searching bedrooms for drugs and making regular announcements to their child around their role as a parent.
In his speech, Peter Jakob defined NVR as ‘the active pursuit of peace’ and said that if we don’t oppose the tendency to be aggressive in ourselves and others we accept violence. He said that the great achievements of NVR are reconciliation and the rebuilding of connections and interactions between people which strengthen communities.
Photo: Peter Jakob | 13
Paralympian opens Memorial gym
Living Life to the Full – Ageing Healthily
How to end a sea of troubles without taking arms against them
Andy Barrow, centre, at Memorial Hospital
PJ the Magical Clown
When Exchange visited the garage at Kingside Business Park, Woolwich,
we found the entire staff: management, office workers and mechanics at a meeting discussing ways in which they could promote SMaRT garages to the local community. Lots of ideas were being floated - from leaving flyers on parked cars to offering discounts to targeted local minicab companies.
SMaRT Garage Services are operated by First Step Trust (FST), a charity which runs social enterprises that provide work and training opportunities for local residents who may have been excluded from work because of mental health issues or other disadvantages. Their training programmes set out to boost the confidence of all those that pass through their doors and while the work is unpaid, participants do receive expenses.
FST has four SMaRT Garage Services in Salford, West Norwood and Woolwich as well as Crayford.
The garages carry out MOTs, servicing and repairs on cars, van and minibuses. SMaRT stands for ‘Socially Minded and Responsible Trading’ and conveys FST’s commitment to a high quality service for customers as well as support for the local community.
Wesley Quadri, 54, from Plumstead works on the reception desk at the garage and is a prime example of the good work FST does at its SMaRT garages. Wesley said: “Until I became unwell, hearing voices, I used to work in the world of finance. I worked in a bank doing regulatory reporting and audits. Working here has been good for me. It’s given me some confidence back.”
Recently SMaRT Garages celebrated International Women’s Day by launching SMaRT Women. The
new training programme sets out to boost women’s confidence and understanding of basic motor vehicle maintenance. One of these, Jusdeep Pal, a 26-year-old from Charlton, is on the car maintenance programme. She puts in two shifts a week at the garage. She said: “It really helps to have a routine. Coming here has given me the confidence to go back to college to study art and design.”
Tegan Lucas, 24, does three sessions a week at the garage. She said: “Working here has helped me with anger management issues. It has helped me stay focused, handle responsibility and stay calm.”
Modupe Agusto, 38, from Greenwich also said she enjoys working on cars. Her mental health problems have included schizophrenia and depression. She said: “Working here four days a week means that I get to engage with other people in the community. I feel like I’m part of the system again. Eventually I’d like to get a job as a sales rep.”
FST works with some of the most vulnerable and socially-excluded members of our community. Half of the people it works with have been unemployed for at least five years, 61% have complex needs whilst 78% are on benefits which indicate those furthest removed from the jobs market.
Gaining confidence through work experienceIt’s the cleanest garage you’ll ever see – you could eat your lunch off the floor. It is the Woolwich based SMaRT Garage, where Oxleas patients can go to learn new skills or develop old ones that can help them get back into work.
FEATURE | Oxleas Exchange | Summer 2013 Issue: 32
To find out more, visit smartgarageservices.co.uk, contact Katie Ryan on 020 8855 7386 or visit firststeptrust.org.uk
Photo: From left to right: Jusdeep Pal, Modupe Agusto and Tegan Lucas| 15
“Working here has been good for me. It’s given me some
confidence back
”
A film made by young people to help explain the work of our child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) was premiered recently at the Woolwich Tramshed Performing Arts Centre.
‘I’ve got this letter’ is for children and young people who have received a letter about being referred to CAMHS and may be apprehensive about attending an appointment.
It is estimated that 11,235 children between the ages of 5-16 have a diagnosed mental health disorder across Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
The aim of the film is to empower and inform young people who are new to CAMHS and encourage them to attend their first
News
NEWS | Oxleas Exchange | Summer 2013 Issue: 32 17
Atlas House residents sit by the mural
The young cast at the Tramshed film premiere
You can watch the film on our website at: oxleas.nhs.uk/video
Before she found her vocation as a mentor, Abi Majek had a successful career as a senior manager in the commercial world. She is energetic, straight talking, goal orientated and deeply committed to her work – appropriate qualities for someone who helps people reach their full potential.
Since 2009, Abi has been working with groups of our BME (black, minority, ethnic) staff to help them overcome obstacles and realise life and career goals. She was invited to set up the BME staff mentoring scheme by our Equality and Diversity Adviser to address the fact that BME staff were underrepresented in our senior management structures.
This links with our BME and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) staff networks which also support staff.
Abi meets with individuals once a month for 12 months and the first thing she does is get to know them: “I find out about their aspirations, what they want and what may have been holding them back. They may wish to build on their skills and qualifications to move to a more senior level, or just move sideways into a role where they will be more comfortable. I help them
to understand themselves more and signpost them to training or other areas that will enable them to move forwards.”
When asked whether racism holds people back, Abi has an interesting perspective: “Getting ahead is all about communicating with and understanding people. Interpersonal skills are the key thing you need to get to the next level and BME staff often need to work on these. Some of my clients may think they’re suffering from racism but maybe they’re not equipped to do the job they want.”
For social worker Veronica Maresova, mentoring has made all the difference: “Mentoring can be about finding there are other options out there, communicating with seniors more effectively and giving you the power to achieve your potential. I would encourage anybody to take up this great opportunity.”
Abi believes the way forward is collaborative working: “You either work with someone or against them. I say to the BME staff I work with ‘ask yourself why you are not progressing. Reflect on the strategy you have used in the past. Did it work – and if not, why not?’ Why hold on to old ideas when you can try something new?”
appointment with the service. DVDs of the film are being sent out to all young people when they are first referred to our CAMHS services.
We commissioned the film which was made by Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre and YoungMinds, with the involvement of young people who have experienced CAMHS themselves.
Erin Wright, who joined us as Participation Lead from YoungMinds, came up with the idea for the film. She said: “For many young people the first appointment is the most nerve-wracking. This can often lead to them being too scared to attend and get the help they need.
“Young people who have had the experience of using these services have taken a lead role in producing the film. It is hoped that their voices will provide comfort to those who might be wary of using mental health services for the first time.”
Claire Newby, Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre’s Participation Manager, who project managed the production with Erin, said: “The young people did the research and then we used their words and thoughts to make a film which tells you what they wanted to know about CAMHS.”
A mural at Atlas House, Goldie Leigh, Abbey Wood, has brought a splash of colour to the garden.
It’s the brainchild of Art Therapist, Kellie High, who enlisted the help of patients at Atlas House to create the mural.
Kellie wanted to get patients involved in something that would help bring to the fore the work that is done through art at Atlas House. She said: “Nearly everybody here put their stamp on the mural - quite literally. Some clients are severely autistic and they simply added their hand stamp to the wall. About eight clients, most of whom have moved on from here now contributed to the design, the theme of which was to explain what Atlas House is all about.”
Atlas House is a low secure specialist treatment and assessment unit providing care for adults with learning disabilities 24 hours a day. The service works with people who have a learning disability together with complex challenging behaviour.
Young filmmakers demystify CAMHS services
A marvellous muralBe the best you can be
HIV is the virus that can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome) if not treated.
Jayne and Anne-Marie see a regular caseload of 120 people in Greenwich and 60 in Bexley, mainly visiting people at home, but also at the Erith Health Centre where they are based, at hospital or anywhere that patients feel comfortable. Jayne says that groups affected by HIV have changed in recent years: “Around 13 years ago it was mainly white, gay men. Now 60% of the people we see are black African women while the other 40% are asylum seekers, refugees, drug and alcohol users, people with mental health problems and gay men. We are seeing more older people but most are in the age range of late 20s to early 50s.”
Referrals can come from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital or Trafalgar sexual health clinics, both in Woolwich, from health professionals or people self-referring. Jayne and Anne-Marie will see anyone who lives in Greenwich or Bexley.
Treatments for HIV have become very sophisticated in recent years, allowing people to live normal lives with a minimum of disruption. Jayne explains: “There are 29 antiretrovirals in six different classes of drugs. These work in different ways so drugs are taken from each class in different combinations to treat people. Drugs affect people differently, so different combinations may have to be tried
to find what works best. Treatment can be just one tablet a day. We also now offer point of care HIV testing to the families and children of affected people. This is a finger prick test which gives results in 60 seconds. If it’s positive we carry out a venous blood test to confirm.”
Jayne says that their patients tend to have complex needs which have to be addressed if they are to stay on their medication. “Drugs and alcohol, mental illness and refugee/asylum status all affect adherence to medication as HIV may not be their top priority. When people have less chaotic lives we can work with them more effectively. So we work closely with drug and alcohol clinics, social services and other mental and physical health services. For example, when people don’t stay on medication their immune system becomes supressed and they become vulnerable to opportunistic infections like cancers, pneumonia and TB (tuberculosis). Another factor is stigma. This is a particular problem in the black African community where women and children may become homeless as a result of HIV status. If they are here illegally they will have problems accessing other services so we refer them to the Nil Recourse Team at Royal Borough of Greenwich who help people who have no access to public funds.”
Sasha has been seeing Jayne and Anne-Marie for the last three years and says that the service has saved her life: “Absolutely amazing. Jayne and Anne-Marie are great
ladies, I couldn’t fault their service. I’m not just a number to them. They’re patient, un-judgemental and persevering. They go beyond the call of duty to encourage you and don’t get agitated when I don’t take my tablets. In the last 10 years I’d never stayed on them for more than three months ‘til I came to the service. They bucked my ideas up and got me to stay on them. I probably wouldn’t have survived without them.”
To anyone worried about HIV infection Jayne has a simple message: “Even if people are ill and have had HIV for years treatment can reverse damage to the immune system. So get tested, get access to treatment and support and prevent illness later on.”
Medication is just the start for our HIV nurses In a quiet, unassuming way, Jayne Nightingale and Anne-Marie Prevett are saving lives. Both are clinical nurse specialists and Jayne leads the team of two who work with people affected by HIV in Greenwich and Bexley.
FEATURE | Oxleas Exchange | Summer 2013 Issue: 32
“Absolutely amazing.
Jayne and Anne-Marie are
great ladies, I couldn’t fault their service. I’m not just a
number to them.
”
Photo: Jayne Nightingale | 19
You can contact Jayne and Anne-Marie Monday to Friday 9am-5pm on 01322 357939.
oxleas.nhs.uk
Useful contact numbers:Trust SecretaryOxleas NHS Foundation TrustPinewood HousePinewood PlaceDartford Kent DA2 7WG
Email: [email protected] Tel: 01322 625700 Fax: 01322 555491
Patient Advice and Liaison Service If you require information, support or advice, please contact us free on:
Tel: 0800 917 7159
Trust membership To become a member of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust contact us on:
Tel: 0800 389 6642 Email: [email protected]
or join online at oxleas.nhs.uk
Careers For the latest information on vacancies at Oxleas, please visit our website at oxleas.nhs.uk
Follow us on Twitter @OxleasNHS
Like us on Facebook facebook.com/OxleasNHS
Trust membership
Careers
Patient advice And Liason Service
For information on our services, health issues and ways to keep healthy, go to oxleas.nhs.uk
Useful contact numbers
facebook.com/oxleasNHS
Email: [email protected]
