The Voice of PLC 1101

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The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC) is an Affiliated Member of: The National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC)

In Association with Macmillan Cancer Support

Registered Charity Number: 273635

A Member ofThe Plymouth Third Sector Consortium (PTSC)

Patrons & Medical Advisors : Mr. W.M. BRIDGER, FRCS - Consultant ENT Surgeon,

Mr. Tass MALIK, BSc FRCS (Gen), FRCS (ORL H&N) - Consultant Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck / Thyroid Surgeon, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC)A Charitable Support Group for Plymouth Cancer Laryngectomees

The Voice of PLCJanuary 2011

Address: c / o The Mustard Tree Support Centre, Derriford Hospital, Derriford, PLYMOUTH, PL6 8DH, Devon

Mobile: 07745819828 (text only) Email: [email protected] Website: http://plymouthlc.webs.com

FOREWORD BY THE CHAIRWritten by Edward (Ted) BURNETT

Dear Friends & Supporters,

Welcome to the January 2011 edition of our Newsletter!

With the festive season now behind us we look forward to

a bright New Year where we hope our Club will flourish.

We have no doubts that it will!

Yours sincerely,

Ted & Liz

GREETINGS!

APPY BIRTHDAY to the following Club Members:

Tuesday, 4th

January: Dave EDWARDS

Monday, 17th

January: Liz BURNETT

Thursday, 31st

January: Graeme OGSTON

Friday, 18th

February : Ronald MARTIN

Monday, 21st

February: John RIGBY

Best wishes to each of you on your Special Day!

THE PLC DECEMBER 2010 MEETING

UR December 2010 Meeting took place at the China

House in Plymouth on Monday, 6th

December 2010 and

took the form of our Annual Christmas Dinner. The

photograph below was taken by Liz BURNETT. It shows Ron

and Fiona MARTIN having just polished off their PrawnCocktails!

Courtesy Liz BURNETT

And heres another picture from the same occasion showing

Dave EDWARDS. A surprisingly bright smile from Dave

considering the meal he had just had was not of the best

standards! Perhaps it was taken before his main course!

Courtesy Liz BURNETT

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Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)

or email: [email protected], or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com 2

THE PLC JANUARY 2011 MEETING

UR January 2011 Meeting took place at the Mustard

Tree (MacMillan) Support Centre at Derriford

Hospital, Plymouth on Monday, 10th

January 2010.

Attendance. Ten of our Friends and Members attended

with a further five sending their apologies. We were

delighted to welcome to new prospective Members... Pam

& Ray WALLS who were introduced by Maggie. Welcome!

Raffle. No money was raised on the raffle at our December

2010 nor our January 2011 Meetings! The Treasurer is

beginning to get a bit concerned! Liz will be organising

February 2011 Raffle.

Committee Meeting. Ted announced that the Committee

would have a meeting in January 2011 at a date, time and

place yet to be announced.

THE PLC TREASURERS REPORT

ONTHLY REPORT. We received an email from theNational Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC) to

say that the Annual Fee to NALC is 20 a nd not 40 as weve

been quoting! Our accounts are therefore 20 better

off than we thought and have been adjusted accordingly!

THE PLC SECRETARYS REPORT

ANCER REHABILITATION(CanRehab)1. We received a

copy of the monthly newsletter for this organisation.

Geoff sent it out by email on New Years Day. If anyonewishes find out more they can go on-line. If you have

difficulties then please contact Geoff.

LAN (THE NEWSLETTER OF NALC). CLAN is the

Newsletter of NALC... the National Association of

Laryngectomee Clubs. Geoff received several hard copies.

Members who would like a copy just ask Geoff! Theres a

particularly helpful section on Page 4 about Benefits... and

the changes we need to know about. Our Club also gets a

special mention on the back page in the News from the

Clubs Write-up!

EMBERS & FRIENDS. Our current MembershipStatus is shown in the table below.

POSTAL EMAIL TOTAL

Confirmed Members: 5 10 15

Confirmed Friends: 5 11 16

TOTALS: 10 21 31

1 CanRehab leads the way in providing cancer rehabilitation seminars,

workshops and training programmes in the UK. They offer educational and

professional support to anyone wishing to develop exercise based

rehabilitation programmes for cancer patients. They currently organise and

run training programmes for health professionals, charities and members

of the leisure industry. www.canrehab.co.uk/index.html

EMBERSHIP FLYER. Kanda (our webmaster) has

added an updated Flyer to our website. Copies can

easily be downloaded from our website.

USTARD TREE (MACMILLAN) SUPPORT CENTRE

SATELLITE SERVICES. It was recommended that our

Club should endeavour to seek contact with the MacMillan

satellite services throughout Devon & Cornwall with a view

to linking up. We have since ascertained from the Mustard

Tree that Ms. Gill DAVIES is the Staff Member responsiblefor the Satellite Service. Gill has agreed to publicise our

Club and distribute our new Flyer.

THER LARYNGECTOMEE CLUBS. Our Club agreed to

send invitations to the SpeakEasy Club in Cornwall and

to the South Devon Laryngectomee Club in Torbay, to

formally invite them to one of our future gatherings.

A Thank You email was received from Lindsay DOIDGE, theTorbay Speech & Language Therapist on Tuesday, 14

th

December 2010.

An email was received from Colin SALTER of the SpeakEasy Clubin Cornwall on Thursday, 17th December to say he wouldmention this at their next meeting.

ENINSULAR CANCER NETWORK. Geoff was invited and

attended a meeting of the Cancer Services Users Group

at Dartington in December 2010. Members should contact

Geoff directly if they require any further information.

Those on-line can check their website2. We also received a

copy of the Annual Report of the Peninsula Cancer Network

Allied Health Professionals Rehabilitation Group and copies

were emailed a copy to those on-line. Those not on-line

and wishing to see a copy should contact Geoff.

LYMOUTH THIRD SECTOR CONSORTIUM. We sent a

copy of their January 2011 Newsletter to all those on-

line. Members not on-line should ask Geoff for a hard copy

if they would like one. Our Club is a member of this

Consortium.

PEAKEASY CLUB, CORNWALL. We received a copy of

the January 2011 edition of their Newsletter this was

emailed out to those on-line. Members not on-line who

would like to receive a hard copy should contact Geoff.

2http://www.peninsulacancernetwork.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

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PLC FORECAST OF EVENTS

EBRUARY 2011.

Monday, 7th

February 2011: A Tour of the BBC South West

Studios, Plymouth, followed by Lunch somewhere.

The tour will be between 1 and 2 p.m. but Members need to

arrive at the Studios by not later than 12.45 p.m. We will

meet up somewhere for refreshments after the visit to theStudios.

The tour of the Studios will be on a first-come first-served

basis so do please submit your names to Geoff for the Tour

and for the lunch, by not later than Monday, 31st

January

2011!

Address of the BBC Studios:

BBC South West

Broadcasting House

Seymour Road

Mannamead

Plymouth

Devon PL3 5BD

Website:

BBC South West in Devon

ARCH 2011.

Monday, 7th

March 2011: Club Meeting at the Mustard

Tree followed by Lunch at the Jack Rabbit.

Including a Talk by Ms. Denise MARTIN, the Macmillan

Benefits Advisor at the Mustard Tree.

PRIL 2011.

Monday, 4th

April 2011: A Visit to Plymouth Central Library

Services followed by Lunch in the City.

NEWS & GOSSIP

HANGE YOUR THINKING. It will take just 37 seconds to

read this and change your thinking. Two men, both

seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was

allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to

help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the

room's only window. The other man had to spend all histime flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They

spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs,

their involvement in the military service, where they had

been on vacation. Every afternoon, when the man in the

bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by

describing to his roommate all the things he could see

outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live

for those one hour periods where his world would be

broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of

the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a

lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while

children sailed their model boats.

Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every

colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in

the distance. As the man by the window described all this in

exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room

would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a

parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear

the band... he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman

by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed. One morning, the day

nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the

lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died

peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the

hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it

seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be

moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make

the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she

left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on

one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He

strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the

bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his

deceased roommate who had described such wonderful

things outside this window. The nurse responded that the

man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said,

'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue: There is tremendous happiness in making others

happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is to half

the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you

want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that

money can't buy.

Today is a gift, that is why its called The Present.

ERRIFORD HOSPITAL VOWS IT WILL LEARN LESSONS

AFTER 20 UNTOWARD INCIDENTS. This article

appeared in The Herald on Thursday, 16th

December 2010.

HEALTH bosses in Plymouth are looking into 20 untoward

incidents in which patients

were left severely harmed,

and in one case died.

Cases highlighted in a new

report include one person

who died as a result of a

cancelled operation and

another left blind after a

4-year delay in treatment.

Another shows how a child was born with abnormalities

following a high dose of medication last month.

The ongoing serious clinical incidents investigated by the

Plymouth Hospital NHS Trust were revealed as part of its

quarterly healthcare governance report.The report, which highlights six unexpected deaths in the last year, will go

before bosses at the Trust's board meeting.

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Medical director Dr. Alex MAYOR said such incidents were rare at Derriford

Hospital, where outcomes for the 800,000 patients it treats each year are

recognised as among the best in the country.

But he stressed that each one was being taken very seriously, adding it was

key that lessons are learned.

The report also shows the Trust has 16 serious infection control incidents

open.

Meanwhile, the suicide of an inpatient in September has led to

recommendations including addressing poor communication between

organisations around mental health issues and a review of the Trust's

missing persons procedure.

The report also reveals how a multi-disciplinary review meeting is to be

arranged after a swab was found in a patient during unrelated emergencysurgery last month.

Dr. MAYOR said: "Delivering safe, high quality care is of paramount

importance.

"Whilst very rare, we recognise that despite the best efforts of our

dedicated staff, incidents will very occasionally happen. The key is that we

learn lessons to try to prevent the same incident happening again."

Dr. MAYOR said staff were encouraged to report such incidents, which are

reviewed in detail by senior investigators including consultants, matrons,

and a dedicated Patient Safety Team.

That process involves patients and their families throughout, he said, with

some cases eventually being declassified. Dr. MAYOR added: "The most

important factor on reporting incidents in this way is that is gives us the

chance to take appropriate action and share knowledge to ensure that

lessons are learned."In March, the National Patient Safety Agency revealed how the number of

serious untoward incidents resulting in death had fallen across the country.

For the article in full, please visit: thisisplymouth.co.uk/

ERRIFORD HOSPITAL REPORTS 109 SERIOUS

ACCIDENTS AND ERRORS OVER TWO YEARS. This

article was published in The Herald on Wednesday, 12th

January 2011:

DERRIFORD Hospital reported more than 100 serious

accidents and errors during

a two-year period.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS

Trust reported 109 'serious

untoward incidents' (SUI)

between January 2009 and

October 2010.

They included three

unexpected child deaths and 29 unexpected adult deaths, it

has been reported.

They were among 804 SUIs recorded by South West

hospitals over the same time period.

The figures were released by Strategic Health Authorities

under a Freedom of Information Act request.SUI include a wide range of issues including surgical errors,

delays in treatment, maternity service problems, ward

closures, hospital infections and breaches of confidential

information.

While the Patient Association described the data as

worrying, hospital chiefs and The Department of Health said

high reporting levels "reflect a strong safety culture and not

poor performance".

Dr Alex MAYOR, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust medical

director, said: "Whilst very rare, we recognise that despite

the best efforts of our dedicated staff, incidents will very

occasionally happen."The key is that we learn lessons to try to prevent the same

incident happening again."

Derriford treats more than 800,000 patients a year and has

been named among the best hospitals in the country for

patient outcomes.

Dr. MAYOR said staff are encouraged staff to report all

incidents which creates greater awareness of patient safety,

allows the hospital to investigate each incident and make

changes to protect patients.

He said every serious incident is reviewed by a team of

senior investigators including consultants, matrons and a

Patient Safety Team. They are also reviewed by the hospitalboard. The process involves patients and their families, who

receive an investigation report.

Dr. MAYOR said: "A system of good, open reporting is

conducive to improved patient safety.

"The most important factor on reporting incidents in this

way is that is gives us, and all other Trusts, the chance to

take appropriate action and share knowledge to ensure that

lessons are learned."

A Department of Health spokesperson added: "There is

strong evidence that high reporting levels reflect a strong

safety culture and not poor performance."

UTURE OF HEALTH CARE IN PLYMOUTH... QUALITY

CARE... BEST VALUE. The following information wassent to Geoff in December 2010 and was emailed out to all

Friends & Supporters the same day. Its now repeated

below for the benefit of those not on-line. If you need any

further assistance then please get in touch with Geoff.

Dear All,

As many of you will know, NHS Plymouth has a three year programme of

improvement work in hand called Quality Care... Best Value and so that

people are aware of which services this affects, how and how it may affect

them as users of the service we have produced the Quality Care Best

Value document.

Were currently working on a quick guide and easy read version of both

which will also be circulated and posted on our website. As usual we re

happy to prepare any of these documents in other languages and formatsif asked to do so.

If any of the people you represent or work with would be interested in

getting involved in this work please ask them to contact me (contact

details below) or through our website at: plymouthpct.nhs.uk

Yours sincerely,

Sally PARKER

Patient & Public Involvement Lead

NHS Plymouth

Building 1

Derriford Business Park

Brest Road

Plymouth

PL6 5QZ

Telephone: (01752) 431231

Mobile: 07917068783

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IVING WITH A LARYNGECTOMY. The MACMILLAN

website has a whole page dedicated to Laryngectomees

and gives all sorts of information and advice. For those

on-line please visit:http://search.macmillan.org.uk/kbroker/macmillan/macmillan/search.lsi

m?qt=laryngectomy&sr=0&nh=10&cs=iso-8859-

1&sc=macmillan&sm=0&mt=0&to=0&ha=1088

For those not on-line and wishing to know more, please

contact Geoff.

NE HUNDRED & TWENTY OPERATIONS CANCELLED

DUE TO SHORTAGE OF BEDS. This article was

published in The Herald on Thursday, 16th

December 2010:

NEARLY 200 operations at Derriford Hospital have been

cancelled at the last minute since April 2010 because of a

lack of staff or beds, figures reveal.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust has driven down the number

of operations that were cancelled on or after the day ofadmission to 593 this financial year so far.That equates to just 1.5% of procedures down from 1.8% last year,

though the national standard, set by independent regulator the Care

Quality Commission, is 0.8%.

A report that will go before the Trust's board tomorrow shows how 120 of

those were cancelled at short notice because there were no suitable beds.

Another 60 were cancelled due to a lack of appropriate staff, including

three in April 2010 because an anaesthetist was on leave.

A further 35 cancellations were a result of either missing or broken

equipment, the report shows.

But the vast majority were put on hold because of theatre list over-runs or

emergencies taking priority.

Helen O'SHEA, Deputy Chief Executive & Chief Operating Officer for

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said the figures showed significant

improvements since last year.

She pointed to a programme of theatre improvements and the introduction

of clear targets.

ICHAEL DOUGLAS REVEALS 'THE TUMOUR IS GONE'.

Candy Bellinger, Tuesday, 11th

January.

Michael Douglashas revealed that he is confident of beating

cancer now that the "tumour has gone".

The 66-year-old actor wasdiagnosed with throat cancer five

months agoand has undergone a chemo and radiotherapy.

In his first interview since finishing the treatment, Douglas

toldMatt Laueron NBC's Today show: "The odds are, withthe tumour gone and what I know about this particular type

of cancer, that I've got it beat."

Though doctors have advised that the cancer could return,

both Michael and wife Catherine Zeta Jonesare reportedly

"absolutely delighted".

Douglas was diagnosed with stage four cancer earlier this

year and was given just a 50/50 chance of survival at the

time.

But last month, doctors told the Wall Street star that his

chances of a full recovery had increased to 80 per cent.

In the interview, due to air today, Douglas said: "It's put a

timeline on my life.

"I'm 66 now. You know, I'm fortunate I've got a mother

who's 88. She'll kill me. She may be 87. My father's 94. So,

you know, I feel good about those genes.

"But it's definitely a third act. And so you're a little more

conscious of your time in how you choose to spend it."

The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club wishes him all the best.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Our grateful thanks to The Devonport Regeneration

Community (DRC) Partnership for their assistance in

reproducing copies of this Newsletter.

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The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club

(PLC)

A Charitable Support Group for Plymouth Cancer Laryngectomees