A message from Maddy...
A privilege to have worked in the NHS for more than 40 years
After more than 40 years in the NHS and 18 years as an NHS director, it is with great sadness that I announce my retirement from the NHS.
As I approach my 60th birthday in December, I realise what a privilege it’s been to work for the NHS for 42 years. I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family and friends, travelling and pursuing more adventures and hobbies.
I will be stepping down as Chief Executive at the end of October. Emma Bravery will be taking on the leadership of Nimbuscare, supported by the Nimbuscare Board. The Chief Executive role is not being replaced at present.
I’ve loved the past three years which have been an incredible way to end my career with memories I will never forget. I’ve had the privilege to work with some wonderful people and feel enormously proud to have been part of the Nimbuscare journey.
I want to thank you all for your support. After nearly three years as Chief Executive of Nimbuscare, I’ve seen healthcare in York flourish and overcome many challenges, through collaboration. Together we have gone from strength to strength and created a well-respected, internationally recognised organisation that York and everyone who works for us, can be proud of.
I’ve really enjoyed doing these regular updates over the last few years, covering lots of varied subjects and this month, as always, there’s lots happening.
Our partnership approach is paying dividends as we launch the new Lower Limb Specialist Wound service at Acomb Garth Community Care Centre. This is a collaborative project between Nimbuscare, the hospital trust, community and primary care which aims to improve the outcomes for people with certain types of leg wounds. Practices should all have received the new referral pathways and invites to our Open Event on 13 September. Please get in touch if you haven’t received anything.
The York Integrated Community Team which joined Nimbuscare recently, is going from strength to strength, supporting frail and elderly patients. They now have more than 4,000 patients on their register and are doing a fantastic job keeping people out of hospital and living comfortably in their own homes. This is true joined up working, making sure people aren’t falling through the cracks, helping them to navigate not just healthcare, but other services too. I’m so proud to be bringing this team into our Nimbuscare family and hope that York will continue to champion this approach.
Nimbuscare is also working collaboratively to develop a hub-based approach for primary and secondary prevention of long-term conditions which we’re hoping to launch this month. This is a really exciting new venture, in line with the ICB’s ambition to focus on disease prevention and will build on our health checks for people aged 40 to 70 years old. We will initially invite people who are deemed at risk from cardiovascular issues, focusing, for example, on lipid/cholesterol management, and will aim to provide a systematic, consistent and holistic approach to those people at risk.
In addition, we are launching our new Ear Wax Removal service this month which is the first non-NHS service for Nimbuscare. I know this will be very popular with our community as people have been asking for this for some time.
With all the above happening, and more, I’m quite sorry to be leaving you all at such an exciting time, but I promise to keep in touch and will be watching from the side-lines as Nimbuscare develops and grows.
Sustainability work steps up
More than 24 boxes of empty blister packs have been filled and sent off for recycling, thanks to Nimbuscare’s recycling campaign. Thanks to everyone who has supported this in the practices and pharmacies. This project has been a huge success and we are looking at how the pilot can continue. The recycling scheme, which launched in February, is the first of its kind and the waste is being remanufactured into new material and products.
Blister packs are not recyclable via local authority curb-side collections, meaning the ubiquitous pill packaging usually ends up in landfill or incineration, and existing recycling schemes for blister packs do not offer a closed-loop solution for the waste material.
Yorkshire-based MYGroup is processing the collected blister packs through its facility in Hull, where the waste material is separated and remanufactured back into supply chains and new material. This includes the company’s MYboard™, similar in consistency to plywood and used widely for construction, joinery, shop and event fittings, as well as to manufacture furniture for use in commercial and community settings, such as benches and desks for schools.
We also make great progress on other sustainability projects, thanks to the work of our Sustainability team, led by Dr Rumina Onac.
Lower Limb Specialist Wound clinic launch
We are now taking referrals for our lower limb specialist wound clinic at Acomb Garth Community Care Centre. An open event is also being held on 27 September there from 4pm until 6pm for those interested in the service. You can meet the team, visit the clinic areas and hear more about the referral criteria.
Please examine the referral criteria and referral process for this new service which provides specialist assessment of a lower limb wound and management plan created for patients.
The ongoing care of these patients will still remain with the practice nurse or integrated care team as this is a specialist assessment clinic, not a dressing clinic. However the patient will be reviewed in the clinic at regular intervals as determined by the assessment and management plan.
For more information, please contact:
nimbuscare.lowerlimbspecialistwoundclinic@nhs.net
Keeley Chapman, Lead Practitioner, said: “We know that seeing and treating patients within 14 days with lower limb wounds improves their recovery. This new patient pathway has been designed and will be delivered by healthcare professionals who can make this happen and we’re really excited to bring these improvements to our patients. The clinic facilities at Nimbuscare’s Acomb Garth Community Care Centre are second to none, and we hope our patients notice a real difference to the care we can provide going forward.”
MMR clinics
Additional MMR clinics have been set up by Nimbuscare to encourage more people to catch up with these important vaccinations. So far these have delivered hundreds of vaccinations for local people who for a variety of reasons, had not had their jabs. Thanks to all those who have made this happen.
Pictured is nurse Jo vaccinating one of these patients, Cady.
Community team helps in more ways than one
More than 4,000 patients and their families are benefiting from the York Integrated Community Team (YICT) which is looking after frail and elderly people. They don’t just help people with health problems - They help people navigate the complex health and social care system and have helped people with their pets, central heating and even helped people deal with scammers.
The team carry out more than 9,000 visits and support people for life with any problems or concerns. They offer a direct line to the service for people on their register and aim to support people to live independently at home as much as possible.
The service is made up of nurses, physios, social prescribers and administrators who deal with calls. Visiting people at least once a year, they help people access dieticians, occupational therapists, physiotherapist and social prescribers and have direct links to social care, voluntary organisations and GP practices.
York patients get vital non-NHS Ear Wax removal service
Nimbuscare’s new non-NHS ear wax removal service is set to launch this month with the appointment of two specialist practitioners. The Microsuction technique on offer has been found to be safer and more effective than ear irrigation (syringing). There is a lower risk of infection, and the procedure avoids contact with the internal ear structures. This is the first non-NHS service to be delivered by Nimbuscare at a competitive price of £50 for both ears, so we are very excited to be launching the service this month.
New diagnostic services get off to a flying start
Blood tests for patients are available at Acomb Garth Community Care Centre, so please can GP Practices and partners promote this site to patients. Blood test appointments can be booked direct, meaning minimal waiting time for patients. Appointments can be made by contacting us on 01904 943 690 (select option 6).
Other diagnostic tests, such as spirometry and ultrasound are also available and we will soon be providing Ambulatory Blood Pressure monitoring and ECG monitoring as part of our diagnostic offering.
Diary dates
More information, certificates and agendas for events can be found on the staff area of our website. To gain access, please contact nimbuscare.education@nhs.net
For full details about each of the sessions, as well as other training and development events, please visit the Staff Area of the Nimbuscare website.
