New group helps respiratory patients breathe more easily

A support group which gives people with respiratory problems the chance to learn skills to help them manage their condition while getting expert health advice from specialist community staff will officially launch on Monday, March 31 2014.

The King’s Lynn Breathe Easy group, which is run by patients and carers with support from the British Lung Foundation and Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C), will celebrate its official launch with a special meeting featuring a range of guest speakers.

The group has been set up to offer support and advice to anyone with a respiratory condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and fibrosis, as well as their carers and families. It is one of more than 200 Breathe Easy groups which are held around the UK and act as an important support network for people affected by lung disease.

Meeting monthly, the group gives patients the chance to help each other manage their condition by sharing their experiences and asking for advice from NCH&C’s specialist respiratory nurses. A range of guest speakers also attend to give talks on subjects such as staying active and keeping healthy.

Although the group has already met several times, its official launch will be held at the special event at the end of the month. Taking place at Engage Norfolk, on the North Lynn Industrial Estate, it will feature guest speakers Councillor Elizabeth Watson, the Mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, representatives from NCH&C’s community COPD team and the British Lung Foundation and Dr Subramani Durairaj Respiratory Consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

“This important group gives patients with a wide range of respiratory conditions in the King’s Lynn area the chance to socialise, get advice and learn some important techniques to help them manage their condition,” said Bex Palmer, COPD and Oxygen Support worker with NCH&C.

“We are delighted that we are able to support them by going to their meetings and offering specialist advice to patients and carers. By teaching people the skills they need to help themselves, not only do we improve their quality of life but also help reduce their reliance on the wider health service.

“The group is really starting to build up momentum, and now has around 20 members and attracts a wide range of different speakers such as GPs, consultants and specialist physiotherapists. Friendly and informal, it is an ideal place to come and socialise and share experiences.

“We’d encourage anyone in the King’s Lynn area who has a respiratory condition, or who cares for someone who is ill, to drop in and find out more.”

Sheila Ringwood, group Chairman, said: “The group is for all people living with a lung condition, their friends, family and carers.

“It provides a friendly environment where people can meet and with a view to managing their health better and learn more about their condition from visiting health professionals and speakers, and also offers mutual support and opportunities for social activities.”

The group meets on the last Monday of every month at 1.30pm at Engage Norfolk. The official launch, which is open to patients, carers and families, also starts at 1.30pm.

Pat’s pride after 40 years of care

A health professional whose varied career has seen her treat sick babies, care for families, offer strategic nursing advice and champion workers’ rights is to retire following more than four decades in the NHS.

Pat Southgate, who has worked for Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C) since the organisation was formed, will retire from her current position, as Joint Staff Side Secretary, on Thursday, March 27.

But far from relaxing during her retirement, she is looking forward to travelling the country and dedicating more time to the governor roles she holds with various organisations, including the College of West Anglia and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

Pat was brought up in Scotland and moved to the county after meeting her husband-to-be John while on holiday 43 years ago.

Aside from some time off to have her two children, her whole career has been spent in west Norfolk and has seen her working in various acute settings, including a special care baby unit, after joining the NHS in 1970.

Pat’s first community experience was as a school nurse, but her plan was always to become a health visitor, which she achieved in 1986. She then worked all over west Norfolk before moving to Burnham Market in 2001, where she stayed for 11 years.

“I feel very privileged to have worked closely with children and their families during my health visiting career, and share in both the good times and the bad,” said Pat, who lives in Heacham. “Effective communication has been a key part of establishing partnership working with those families.

“I’m also really proud of the part I played in setting up safeguarding supervision in the west and helping develop training to identify and manage post natal depression and domestic violence. After all of this time, I still remain passionate about health visiting.”

During her career, Pat also influenced the NHS’s strategic direction, both locally and nationally, in roles including West Norfolk Primary Care Trust Board Nurse, the Nursing and Midwifery Council Fitness to Practice Registrant Panel Member and a Nursing and Midwifery Council Member.

She joined NCH&C’s Staff Side in 2009, which is a forum where union representatives and Trust management can debate working conditions, and was subsequently appointed as Joint Staff Side Secretary alongside colleague Judy Manson in January 2013

“Throughout my career, I’ve done my best to try and influence major decisions, play a part in the development of the organisation and hopefully make a difference,” said Pat. “I’ve seen quite a few changes over the years and have always tried to do my bit to change things for the better, which is why I became active with the unions.

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done with Staff Side. Over the past few years, we have attracted new people and additional unions, and have worked collaboratively to improve relationships. Although there are a lot of challenges still ahead, I feel we are leaving Staff Side in a strong position.

“The staff who are involved not only work full time, but also put extra efforts into helping make the organisation one in which their colleagues, patients and the public can take pride, and that takes a lot of dedication. I’ve got nothing but admiration for the enthusiasm and energy they show every day.”

Pat, who is 63, is now planning her retirement. As well visiting local attractions with John, she hopes to travel the country and visit her daughter Ann in York and son Neill in Berkshire, and will also have more time to spend with five-year-old granddaughter Beatrice.

She added: “I am looking forward to it and will be spending more time in my governor roles, which will tick all the boxes for keeping my mind active. I’m also planning various trips with my husband, both locally and further afield, so will well and truly be making the most of life.

“When I stopped working in clinical practice, I missed the families and children I used to work with so know that I’m going to miss my colleagues when I do retire, but will always be proud to have made a difference.”

Maria Richardson, NCH&C’s Health Visiting Lead, said: “Pat has been an inspiration to many Health Visitors and has been a great advocate for the service. Her colleagues in health visiting and general practice will miss her tenacity and passion for delivering the best possible quality service to the children and families of Norfolk.”

Dedicated duo celebrate 55 years in healthcare

Two expert speech therapists who have together clocked up 55 years of service helping thousands of Norfolk children to communicate more effectively are to retire from their “enjoyable and satisfying” careers just days apart.

Alison Fuller and Isabelle Kirk met when they both joined Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust’s (NCH&C) predecessor organisation as Speech and Language Therapists. Although they originally worked with patients of all ages, both later went on to specialise in paediatric care.

Since then, Alison has become the Trust’s Professional Champion and Lead for Children’s Speech and Language Therapy, leading a variety of different projects aimed to improve communication in the early years. Isabelle, a Senior Speech and Language Therapist, has specialised in specific language impairment, which means she helps children who have developed normally in every way, with the exception of their language skills.

“I’ve always been interested in language and communication, and knew it was an area I was keen to work in,” said Alison, who started work with the Trust in 1986 after spending two years teaching English in Japan. “I moved to Norfolk after completing my post graduate course, and have been here ever since.  It’s a great county and has got a lot going for it, including the environment, the countryside and the people.

“I’ve also really enjoyed working in the county, and have had a fantastic team around me throughout my career. Speaking, listening and interacting well with others are fundamental skills which are essential in all areas of life, so to support children, and especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to develop those skills has been incredibly rewarding.”

Alison, 57, who is married to Robert and lives in Brundall, has played a pivotal role in several key projects during her career.

“I’m most proud of the work I have done with developing our Sure Start Children’s Centres and the model of care they use, as well as the Talk About project. Talk About provides staff within Norfolk’s early years settings with access to speech, language and communication training so they can help the children with communication difficulties at their school or nursery to access support,” she explained.

“Working with children always has some fabulous moments, and I’ve really enjoyed seeing children change, and knowing the hard work which everyone has put in has come together and paid off. To see a child communicate in a way they have never been able to in the past is fantastic, and impacts not only the child and their happiness and wellbeing, but also their whole family.”

Alison retires on April 17, and is planning to travel to New Zealand for an extended trip. She also hopes to do more walking – especially alongside friend Isabelle, who retires just days earlier on March 28.

“I think I will find it very strange when I retire,” said Isabelle, who started her career in London in 1972 and moved to Norfolk in 1987. “I’ll miss my colleagues and the camaraderie we share, as well as working with the children as that is immensely satisfying and rewarding.

“I’m a member of a drama group, will see more of my two sons and will do more walking during the day rather than squeezing it in at weekends. I also enjoy gardening and travelling, but haven’t planned where I’ll go yet. It’s very exciting to have a blank sheet in front of me.”

Isabelle, 64, specialises in caring for children aged between two and seven who have speech and language problems but no other conditions, and are otherwise developing as expected. She works with parents and schools to provide intensive bursts of therapy so that the child can develop their language one step at a time.

“The children I work with have great difficulty putting words together to make sentences,” she explained. “They are very difficult to communicate with as they can’t talk, and instead rely on non-verbal signs, gestures and facial expressions.

“Often, they go into school unable to say a single sound. We work with them to build up a bank of consonants and vowels, then put them together as words before moving onto sentences.

“It is very satisfying when the child is able to go back into mainstream school. They become much more communicative, confident and more inclined to take part in the activities, which has a huge effect on their quality of life.

“I have enjoyed my whole career, and the feeling that the children and families I have supported have undoubtedly progressed as a result of my input. It’s been really rewarding – but now I’m ready to get out and about and start to discover lots of new and interesting things instead.”

Jenny Fryer, NCH&C’s Acting Assistant Director of Children’s Services, added: “Alison and Isabelle have provided a great deal of support to hundreds of children over the years, helping to improve their communication skills and quality of life.

“Their dedication and skill is an inspiration for local healthcare staff and they will both be really missed. We all wish them the very best in their retirement.”

www.norfolkcommunityhealthandcare.nhs.uk

 

 

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