NCIC News

All the latest from the Trust | August 2024

Intro from the Chair

Hello and welcome to our newsletter for foundation trust members and the wider community.  

The weather is certainly on the turn and as the schools go back next week I can see the colours changing to Autumn. I hope you all had a great summer and managed to spend some time with family and friends.

We had a great event at the Cumberland Infirmary this month when a ground breaking ceremony took place for our new endoscopy unit. I’m looking forward to seeing it open in March and the benefits it will bring to staff and patients. 

I was saddened to see some of the public disorder happening across the Country last month. We have been promoting our HUMAN campaign to promote inclusion and eliminate discrimination in all of its forms.  In this organisation and this County we will not tolerate racism and we will all work together until it is eliminated.   

Don’t forget it’s our annual members meeting on September 26 – more details below. We’ve love to see you and hear your thoughts if you are able to attend.

Until next time, with best wishes,

Steven Morgan

Chair

Endoscopy unit ground breaking ceremony 

A ceremony took place in Carlisle this month to celebrate the start of building of a £15m Endoscopy Unit on the grounds of the Cumberland Infirmary. Once complete, the new endoscopy unit will be able to treat more patients, helping to reduce our waiting list and improve timely diagnosis, particularly for cancers. Clinical leaders from the Trust were joined at the ceremony by construction partners from Ergea and Actiform and Carlisle MP Julie Minns to mark the start of the work.

Lead governor Jacqueline Nicol said: “I was very impressed at the amount of work that that has gone on behind those huge fences to prepare the ground ready for the new endoscopy building to be completed in the Spring of next year. The unit will not only benefit patients who are referred there for diagnostic tests or procedures but will have the added benefit of easing pressure in the main hospital when the area, currently the site of the endoscopy unit, is reconfigured for other purposes. This will improve many more of our patients' experience when visiting the hospital. I look forward to seeing the unit completed and up and running in the near future.”

New role for consultant cardiologist Louise Buchanan 

Dr Louise Buchanan, Consultant Cardiologist and Medical Director for Professional Standards, has been elected as a Vice President of the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS).

Dr Buchanan grew up in West Cumbria and despite a varied national and international career has returned to her roots.  She has been delivering the very best cardiology to patients in north Cumbria for the past 11 years and has now progressed into medical leadership both within the Trust and further afield.

She said: “It’s important to realise that working in Cumbria does not preclude anything.”

HUMAN campaign  

This month, we have been promoting our HUMAN campaign which we launched last year.

The campaign features our own staff, and their stories of how poor behaviours have had an impact on them. 

It reminds people that our colleagues have their own families, lives, hobbies and struggles and to be kind to the people who have committed themselves to a career that cares for you and your family. We are all human. 

We encourage our staff to report poor behaviour or violence and aggression in or out of work. Almost a quarter of trust staff reported experiencing bullying or harassment from patients or families in last year’s staff survey, with staff from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds being five per cent more likely to experience it.  Find out more about our campaign.

New mum warns about the signs of whooping cough 

The mum of a baby girl is warning new parents about the signs and symptoms of whooping cough after her daughter fell ill with the condition.

As a new mum, Abigail Horner knew her instincts about her daughter Ava’s cough were correct.

Abigail, of Cockermouth, said: “I want to make people aware of the signs and symptoms.

“I had a cough during pregnancy but was told Ava would build antibodies inside the womb. “When she was about two-weeks old she started with mucus and congestion. I tried to keep her nasal area clear. It was like a lime green mucus and I was told it was completely normal.

“Ava was feeding. She didn’t have a temperature, no rash and she wasn’t sucking on her chest. When I took her to the GP her vitals were all ok and I was told it was just viral.”

But Ava’s cough continued to be persistent. She couldn’t catch her breath and was struggling to sleep and often her parents had to blow on her to trick her into breathing.

Annual members meeting 

The Trust that provides hospital and community health services in Cumbria is holding its Annual Members Meeting next month. Members of staff are invited to join the meeting virtually or in person on Thursday, 26th September at Energus, Lillyhall, Workington from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

It’s an opportunity for members to learn more about our achievements and challenges over the last 12 months and the current financial position, which you can find out more about in our annual report for 2023/2024 now available on our website.

There will also be an opportunity to have your say on our future plans as we share more details on our clinical strategy and ask members to get involved in some of the changes we need to make to improve healthcare in north Cumbria.

Members of the public can submit questions in advance via the booking form no later than September 20.

To book you can complete our booking form or for assistance or any enquiries please email corporate.governance@ncic.nhs.uk – Corporate Governance Team, Parkhouse NHS, Baron Way, Kingmoor Park, Carlisle, CA6 4SJ or call 07824498358.

Governor elections open at NCIC 

Elections are now open for four seats on the Governor’s Council of North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Members of the Trust were invited to put forward nominations last month for 10 public vacant seats.   

In the following constituencies, there are more candidates than seats and therefore elections will be held:

Public: Carlisle
There are three candidates and two vacant seats

• Derrick Bates
• Mary Ann Hargreave
• Tracy Ward

Public: Allerdale

There are three candidates and two vacant seats

• Les Blacklock
• William Miskelly
• Sharon Stamper

Members in those constituencies should look out for their ballot papers with more details of each candidate either via email or to their home address.

Members who have received their voting instructions by post have the choice of casting their vote by returning the ballot paper by post or casting a vote online.

Members who have received their voting instructions by email can cast a vote online only.

Votes can be cast by returning the ballot paper by post to: Civica Election Services, The Election Centre, 33, Clarendon Road, London, N8 0NW.

Votes can be cast online at the following website: www.cesvotes.com/ncic2024

Voting closes at 5pm on Friday, September 19, 2024.

Awareness weeks and months

This month we have covered a number of awareness days, weeks and months: They include: : top tips for starting school and World Breastfeeding Week.

Member and Governor update

This month’s column is from John Coughlan, public governor for Allerdale.

I stepped forward to become a public governor to help people understand what a wonderful organisation the NHS is and in particular what a great service we get from the NHS in Cumbria. I also believed that with the experience I gained from working in senior positions in the private sector I am equipped to ask the questions the public wished to be asked of the senior team managing and delivering NHS service to the public in Cumbria.

I moved to Cumbria in 2014 to work for TATA Steel running the TSP plant in Workington. I have lived and worked in different countries, including Asia, the USA, Mexico, the UK, and Ireland, gaining a deep understanding of different cultures. This has allowed me to effectively collaboration with diverse teams resulting from my time in these regions. I am not someone who complains about things for the sake of complaining but would rather be someone who joins in and does my part to improve life’s experiences for everyone.

I have seen and experienced the health services in many of these countries which allows me to see what a wonderful service we receive in Cumbria from the NHS. As in many organisations there are improvements that can be made in Cumbria, and it is easy to complain. But I became a Governor to use my skills and experience to help  highlight the great work and dedication delivered by many in our NHS. There are always improvements that can be made, and I would rather be helping to make those improvements, asking the questions that spark consideration for some of those necessary improvements rather than be someone who just complains.

I believe the more involved we become the better we can make things for ourselves and those who live among us, who need our support. I would recommend to anyone who wants to contribute to their community to become an NHS Public Governor, it is rewarding and insightful.

Become a member

Anyone living in Cumbria over the age of 14 can become a member, you can choose how much or how little you want to be involved – join today.

Concerns or comments

If you have any concerns or comments please contact your governors on the email below. We are here to raise any concerns on your behalf.  More information on the members of the Governors’ Council and their role can be found on our website. If you have any comments or suggestions please contact us via the email below: AskYourGovernor@ncic.nhs.uk 

Keep right up to date

You can keep right up to date with our news on our public website www.ncic.nhs.uk/news or follow us on Facebook, linked in or ‘X’ @ncicnhs.

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