Linkline

Welcome to the Spring 2007 LinkLine

It seems a long time ago now, but I hope you all had a great start to the new year. As always, we have lots of news to share with you - about nurses making the headlines for the fantastic work they do, news about what’s happening in our Medilink branches and our HQ, as well as product information and special offers.

In this issue we are also featuring a fascinating insight into how a pouch is made right here at Salts. I hope you enjoy your read, and please let us know if you have any of your own stories you would like to share with us.

Adrian

Jude wins award

It takes a very special person to dedicate their life to being a Stoma Care Nurse and Jude Cottam is one of the finest. Jude, who works at Bedford Hospital, was named Nurse of the Year 2006 at the UK Division conference in Leeds of the World Congress of Enterostomal Therapists late last year. She was later presented with a crystal rosebowl by Salts which sponsors the prestigious award.

Jude describes her career: “My husband Chris worked for the Foreign Office which meant we travelled a lot and because of the language barriers this made it difficult for me to find work when we were abroad. By the time I reached 36, I really wanted to do something useful, so I trained as a nurse. After completing my nursing course, we were posted to Washington DC but unfortunately I wasn’t allowed to work as a nurse because my academic qualifications weren’t ‘compatible’ with the US system so I worked in what was called a ‘Gynaecological Office’.”

On returning to the UK, in 1989, Jude was taken on in Bedford Hospital’s colorectal ward, providing cover for a nurse who had broken her leg skiing: “A permanent job soon came up on the ward,” Jude continued, “and I worked with a marvellous lady called Jean Harlow who was the Stoma Care Nurse at that time, having set up the service in Bedford in 1979. She was a fantastic mentor who was meticulous in the way she carried out her work and I was privileged to work with her.”

When Jean retired in 1991, Jude took over her role and, in 1998, in response to the government’s cancer service review, she opened up the service to patients with bowel cancer and then, in 2000, to patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). She was joined by Karen Richards in 1999 and the pair continue to manage and deliver the service today. Between them, they deal with up to 80 stoma patients per year, look after 120 bowel cancer patients and manage a case load of around 280 patients with IBD.

Asked what she enjoyed most about her job, Jude said it was giving hope back to patients. “Having a stoma still carries a lot of stigma and as there is no-one in the public eye who is prepared to come forward as a role model and talk about their experiences, new patients feel very frightened and isolated. A terrible thing has happened to them and as a result some of their bodily functions have changed, but Karen and I do our best to dispel some of their anxieties and remind them that they are still the same person. Seeing them regain their confidence so they can go out and start enjoying a normal life again is extremely rewarding.”

Jude was delighted to hear she had won the award although she is still unaware which of her peers nominated her for the award but said: “It’s a great honour to win, particularly as I follow an eminent line of nurses, and it’s lovely to know that you are valued so highly by your colleagues.”

Staff News

Tracey's Promoted
Tracey Miller astounded her colleagues a couple of years ago when she passed her Modern Apprenticeship in Management Level 3 and Scottish Vocational Qualification also in Management Level 3 in just 12 weeks as each one normally takes 12 to 18 months to complete.

Her new found management skills are now being put to good use as Tracey has now taken over the role of Senior Customer Care Co-ordinator at the Inverness branch, where she has worked for the past 10 years, after Tricia Ross, who has clocked up a massive 19 years there dropped down to three days a week. Tracey is also keeping up her role as Trainer/Facilitator for Scotland.

Tracey said, “I’m obviously delighted to have been promoted but it’s just business as usual here. You can tell that Tricia and I love our jobs here as we’ve been here for some years and we work exceptionally well together. Our newest recruit, Rhona McGregor, who joined us in July last year as our Customer Care Co-ordinator, fits in perfectly and is a great asset to the team.”

New Face in Edinburgh
Kirsty Murray is currently learning the ropes at Medilink’s Edinburgh branch having joined the company straight from school.

As a Customer Care Co-ordinator Kirsty takes and places orders and deals with any queries. She said: “This is my first job so I have nothing to compare it to but I am really enjoying working here. It’s an interesting job and it’s lovely to put faces to names when customers you’ve been dealing with on the phone pop in to collect their orders. June (Williamson) and Clare (Needham) have taught me a lot and they are great fun to work with.”

Senior Customer Care Co-ordinator, June added: “Kirsty’s settled in well and she’s already made friends with some of our customers, which is fantastic. She’s keen to learn about our product range and is taking a real interest in the role. I’m sure she’ll be a real asset to Medilink.”

Joanne moves to the Ostomy Division
Having worked in Salts’ Orthotics Division for the past six months, Joanne Fisher now joins Birmingham’s Ostomy team as a Customer Care Co-ordinator who will be dealing primarily with trade customers, including healthcare wholesalers, chemists, medical centres and pharmacists.

“I’ve been aware of what a stoma is from a very young age as my grandad has one and I’ve often helped him prepare his appliances, putting clips on the bags and cutting the flanges, but since moving to the ostomy side of the business I’ve learnt more than I could have ever imagined and in a very short time,“ said Joanne. “Working with Salts – both in the orthotics and the ostomy sides of the business – is incredibly rewarding because you are providing products which are giving people a better quality of life and I know first hand how important this is through my experiences with my grandad.”

News from the Urostomy Association

New Branch
A new branch of the UA for Shrewsbury and Mid Wales has been inaugurated. Initially, it will be a sub branch of Telford branch, but will soon become a branch in its own right.

Details can be obtained from the UA’s National Secretary – Hazel Pixley on 0845 2412159 or 0870 7707931.

National Annual General Meeting
The UA’s NAGM will take place this year on 5 – 7 October at the Daventry Hotel, near Northampton. Bookings to attend can be made through the National Secretary – Hazel Pixley (details above).

Fundraising
Many new exciting fundraising ventures are underway thanks to Don Haines – the UA’s Fundraising Manager.  New collecting boxes for small change and standing orders for regular giving are bringing in much needed sums to the UA’s General Fund.  A huge venture, a Celebrity Golf Day in March, hosted by actor Dennis Waterman and with many ‘stars’ playing rounds with starry-eyed golfers will also assist in raising money to keep the Association working on behalf of Urostomates.

It may be early, but Christmas cards are available from the UA.  On all fundraising matters contact Don Haines on 07860 554536

It's porridge for Pam

You may be shocked to hear that Pam Harding, Senior Customer Care Co-ordinator at the Garratt Lane Branch was locked up in Wormwood Scrubs, one of Britain’s most notorious prisons, in February. However, her stay was all in a good cause!

“My daughter asked me if I’d like to spend the night in prison,” Pam explained. “At first I was horrified but, when she told me it was in aid of Cancer Research, I decided to go along.”

When Pam arrived at 6pm, along with 25 other ‘inmates’, she changed into a regulation grey tracksuit before being given a tour of the prison, including the impressive library and the gym, where the group was made to do some exercises before being fed prison gruel of rice and chilli followed by dessert.

After dinner, the inmates could take part in a quiz and watch a film before lights out at midnight sharp. The group slept in the gym, were woken up just before 6am, given breakfast
and released.

Describing the experience, Pam said: “It was actually very interesting and I’d definitely do it again. The wardens who gave us the tour were great fun and very informative, and the food wasn’t too bad, although I’m not sure what the dessert was! I was surprised how quiet it was in the evening though, I had expected it to be really noisy!”

Pam raised almost £380 in sponsorship for taking part in the event and in total the group raised a staggering £10,000.

Confidence Comfort Drainable and Confidence Gold Urostomy gives you extra

Large oval wafer is extended to new products

Salts has added a new pouch to its Confidence Comfort Drainable range for ileostomists. Featuring an extra large oval wafer and a standard size pouch, the latest addition to the highly successful Confidence Comfort range cuts up to 110mm wide and 70mm deep and was designed specifically for those requiring extra security but for whom the larger pouch is too big.

As with all Salts’ pouches, the wafer of our new pouch is made from our skin-friendly hydrocolloid, research into which is supported by the British Skin Foundation. It also features single release, clear film with a thumb tab for easy removal and reduced headroom to prevent the top folding over. It has a thick, silky soft covering with a softer weld along its edges and a gently rounded profile to the outlet. It is easy to drain and comfortable to wear with quieter inner layers that result in reduced rustle and increased confidence. The large oval wafer is ideal for curving over hernias around the stoma.

Confidence Comfort Drainable with a standard wafer is available in a wide range of sizes. The large size offers a choice of opaque or transparent covers. The standard size is available in opaque or transparent/overlap, whilst the smaller size is only available in opaque. The new standard oval pouch is available with a transparent/overlap as is the large pouch with an extra large oval wafer, introduced last year.

This new large oval wafer, originally introduced to the Confidence Comfort Drainable range last year, has proved so popular it has also now been added to the Confidence Gold Urostomy range. Again, the new wafer cuts up to 110mm wide and 70mm deep.

Confidence Gold Urostomy is a range of one-piece pouches which have a flat wafer and feature a soft, beige-coloured cover so they are discreet under most types of clothing and give that extra bit of comfort when required. They also benefit from a proven non-allergenic, soft and flexible wafer suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

The pouch also has a positive action, wide bore open/close tap for easy draining and an integral drip cap, providing extra security. The tapered profile at the base of the pouch helps minimise pooling and its soft padding acts as a cushion between the skin and on/off tap.

Again, the large oval wafer on the Confidence Gold Urostomy pouch is ideal for use if you have a hernia, where the extra width of the hydrocolloid can give you extra security and boost confidence.

Senior Product Manager, Maria Clifton said: “Products featuring the new, large oval wafer – which is unique to Salts – are ideal for people with larger stomas but even people with small stomas have welcomed them because they provide an even greater feeling of security.”

For free samples of either of the two new products, call Freephone 0800 626388 or visit www.salts.co.uk

Salisbury Hospital sends message of Love

Salisbury District Hospital offered a unique message of love on Valentine’s Day when it hosted a ‘Love your body’ event  to help patients, visitors and staff understand the Department of Health message regarding the importance of eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and how this may help in the prevention of bowel cancer.

The event - the brainchild of Clinical Nurse Specialists in Stoma Care, Sandie Bryan and Annie Horsey - showed people how to get their five a day into proportion, with demonstrations on the differences in portions, sizes, amounts and even the colours of foods.

Salts Senior Product Specialist, Jonathan Tait, said: “I was asked to help with the event to raise the profile of bowel cancer through promoting the healthy eating, 5-a-day plan. I was really pleased as I learnt lots at the same time as helping out. You’d be surprised at how many people (including doctors) who talked to us also admitted they’d learnt something. Did you know that three dried apricots equalled two whole Kiwi fruit as one portion!

“Although the message was healthy eating, we all deserve a treat every now and again and heart-shaped chocolates were given out to everyone who came along to take part in an event that made some people’s day... and may have made their lives...”

We’ll give you more information on what makes your 5-a-day in the next issue of Linkline. In the meantime, you can visit www.5aday.nhs.uk for further guidance.

Letters have it

Please keep your letters coming in, with your comments and views, hints and tips to share with other readers, and your stories of achievement.

Send them to Linkline Letters, Salts Medilink, Freepost RLUZ XJBU BZAH, Birmingham B7 4AA — no stamp required.

Just a few words to congratulate Sister Jill Dean on her recent award for her dedication to improving patients care which I know is long overdue. I was under Jill's care 17 years ago; nothing was too much trouble, she explained everything in detail and put you at ease from the word go. Also, a very big thank you to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield and its staff for all their care and attention.Thanks Jill. My very best wishes and a long and happy retirement.
Stanley Tipper, Sheffield

Thanks again for Linkline magazine. I have a good read and there are lots of tips for me. I had my stoma in September 03; I couldn t look at it or touch it for two months. My husband Dave had to do everything for me until one day a nurse said, just think you are going to the loo as normal but now you can see what s happening . Since then, it s been great and I can do it with my eyes shut. I would like to thank you all for the help you've given me over the years because it was a shock at the beginning, plus they found I was a diabetic as well.
Mrs P True, Carmarthenshire

IA events for young people

ia provides support for people with ileostomies and internal pouches and is currently offering a greater range of activities and help for younger people.This is being achieved primarily through social events,

where younger people, aged between 16 and 40, can come together and meet others who have similar experiences to them. Feedback from the events has been used to improve them. Speaking about a recent event in Birmingham, one young person said: "It's great to speak to others and I now feel that I'm not the only person in the world with a stoma. I wish I d known about this earlier."

It is important for young people to be able to meet up informally, so they can make new friends and discuss the things that are important to them. Successful events in Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, London, Leeds, Newcastle and York have helped put groups of younger people in touch with each other.

As well as the range of local events which take place quarterly, ia organises an annual Young ia weekend , held over three days somewhere in the UK. Last year's event was held in Edinburgh in late September and was attended by 40 young people from across the UK and Ireland. In keeping with previous events, it was great fun and many people have already told us that they will come to this year's event.

For details of the next event near you, please contact ia National Office on 0800 0184 724, look at the ia forums (http://www.the-ia.org.uk/forum).

News from the Colostomy Association

The Colostomy Association web site has recently been expanded to provide details of support groups and forthcoming events. Please keep visiting us at www.colostomyassociation.org.uk.

If you would like a copy of Tidings, details of our patient literature or would like to talk to one of our volunteers, please contact us :-

Telephone: 0118 939 1537
Helpline: 0800 587 6744 / 0800 328 4257
Website: www.colostomyassociation.org.uk
Post: 15 Station Road, Reading, Berks, RG1 1LG

Jean overjoyed to receive MBE

A retired nurse who won the Nurse of the Year Award in 2004 has gone on to receive an MBE in the 2007 New Years Honours List ‘for services to Stoma Care Nursing in Northern Ireland’.

From Donaghadee, near Belfast, Jean Roberts said the award was most unexpected. “The first I knew of it was when I received a letter from Downing Street in November and I just couldn’t take the news in,” she commented, but she soon came to realise this was no joke when mountains of cards and letters from friends and family offering their congratulations started to drop through her letterbox.

“I’ve had letters from former colleagues and patients, family and friends and even old school friends that I haven’t heard from in years,” she said. “It’s been wonderful to hear from them all.

My two sisters were also absolutely delighted with the news and I am hoping they will be able to come to Buckingham Palace with me when I go to the formal presentation later in the year. This will be my way of thanking them for helping and supporting me when I was very ill with ulcerative colitis many years ago.”

It was this illness which was the catalyst to Jean’s incredible career in stoma care. “Nursing was never on my agenda,” she explained, “mainly because I had no time for sickness and fainted at the sight of blood but my life changed drastically when I became ill at 25. The determination to help prevent others suffering as I had done in the early days was all the motivation I needed and this award is a massive tribute to all the patients I looked after because if it wasn’t for them, I would never haven achieved this.”

Salts Healthcare MD Peter Salt added: “For 30 years, despite her own illness, Jean demonstrated an ongoing passion and enthusiasm for helping people to live with a stoma and constantly looked for new ways to help make their lives a little easier. During this time, she showed a level of dedication and commitment that is quite rare these days, but which helped so many people along the way. We were delighted to name Jean as our Nurse of the Year in 2004, and everyone at Salts is absolutely over the moon that she has now become an MBE.