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Trust's 'gold
card' care for poorly patients
PATIENTS who may be approaching the end of
their lives are benefitting from a more joined up approach to care
thanks to the
golden touch of heathcare staff.
That's because Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust is marking
the third anniversary this month of being the 1st whole UK hospital
to be signed up to the Gold Standards Framework (GSF).
GSF is a nationally recognised programme that aims to improve the
experience for patients in the final months and years of life, and
their families.
"Care homes and GPs were already familiar with GSF but the hospital
was the missing link needed to complete the circle," said Dr
Karen Groves, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, who began a 6 month
GSF pilot at the Trust in February 2010.
Since then she has seen big improvements in the wishes and needs of
patients being taken into account now health and social care
professionals are using the common language of the GSF.
Dr Groves said that:- "Most patients will tell you that they
want to be cared for and die at home but a surprising number still
die in hospital. It's not practical to change that figure for
everyone but GSF makes sure we're better placed to do our best; for
example, rapidly discharging patients who have said they prefer to
be cared for outside hospital. Patients appreciate GSF. They feel
special and empowered. We give them a 'gold card' they can show
other health professionals and this helps identify them as patients
with specific needs."
A survey of patients following the pilot backed this up with 84%
looking forward to improved coordination of their care and 92%
believing GSF would help health professionals communicate better
about their care.
However, Dr Groves acknowledges there is still much to do?
"Across north Sefton and West Lancashire 2,600 people are likely to
die in a typical year. Of these 20% will die suddenly or following a
short period of illness and 40% are known to specialist palliative
care services. That leaves just over 1,000 who have life-limiting
conditions who still need support."
Take Peter Lord for example. He is very poorly with prostate cancer
which has spread to other parts of his body. He began hormone
treatment in late 2011 after being diagnosed at Southport and Formby
District General Hospital. But the treatment eventually stopped
being effective and he moved on the chemotherapy and radiotherapy
until they stopped working
too.
Since the New Year Peter has taken Abiraterone tablets, 1 of a new
generation of life-extending "wonder drugs".
"Some patients have survived for years." says Peter, a 69
year old former social work manager from Southport.
He has nothing but praise for the Gold Standards Framework which he
learned about from his GP.
"I was very poorly in September and spent four days in hospital but
was treated very well thanks to GSF. Lots of professionals visited
me on the second day but I didn't have to keep repeating my story as
often happens. They all knew where I was up to, although they came
from different teams. It was as though they were 1 team. I was very
pleasantly surprised. The treatment really was gold standard."
said Peter, who lives with wife Shelagh, 58, a retired clinical
psychologist.
They have been together for 9 years and married in January 2012 at
Southport Register Office. They added:- "We are determined to
be strong and make the most of our lives, living well on the good
days and surviving the bad. When you are poorly timescales change;
if it's a good day you need to make the most of it." |
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The Unsigned
Guide celebrates 10 years
SINCE publishing their 1st
music industry directory in 2003, The Unsigned Guide has become an
essential resource for aspiring bands and artists, producers in the
making, music students, plus new record labels, promoters starting
out and anyone else working towards a career in the music business.
Celebrating a decade in the music industry this March, The Unsigned
Guide will be marking this milestone anniversary by doing what they
do best – helping independent bands and artists. Throughout the
whole of March anyone signing up to The Unsigned
Guide's service will
receive an extra birthday bonus in the form of a bundle of
money-saving discounts for a variety of music services vital for any
band or artist, featuring exclusive deals from Ditto Music, UK Music
Jobs, Dawsons Music, Castle Rock Studios, Awesome Merchandise, Media
Plant and 360 Mastering. On their official birthday, Wednesday, 20
March 2013, all current members of The Unsigned Guide will be
entered into a prize draw and 10 lucky winners will be randomly
selected and awarded with superb treats including an upgrade to
lifetime access to The Unsigned Guide, free digital album or EP
release, 3 month subscription to Record Of The Day and a premium
SoundCloud account. One extra special winner out of the 10 will also
receive a subscription to The Fly and a pair of tickets to
Leeds/Reading Festival in August. "A decade is quite a big
deal in the music industry, especially for an independent company
such as The Unsigned Guide, and we're over the moon to be
celebrating such a landmark. We created The Unsigned Guide to help
grassroots artists navigate the music industry & put them in touch
with individuals & businesses who can help them further their
careers so it feels great to be able to give something back to our
members!" says Editor, Louise Dodgson. Along with many music
businesses over the years, The Unsigned Guide has adapted with the
times, moving on from publishing 7 editions of their comprehensive
printed directory to creating an online only service in 2011 and
expanding their directory to incorporate the upsurge of new tools
and services required by the DIY musician in the digital age. Most
recently, they have introduced new feature Spotlight to support
their members and help their music be heard. The Spotlight blog
showcases 5 of their member's best tracks each month and these
tracks are then shared to other influential music industry
professionals ranging from contacts at major and independent record
labels, PR companies, new music blogs and magazines, radio DJs &
producers, established gig promoters, managers, music publishers and
sync agencies, plus festival and event organisers. Since being
featured on Spotlight, several of the bands and artists have secured
airplay, online reviews & features, esteemed support and festival
slots, teamed up with PR companies and in one case, gone on to sign
a record deal. "We wanted to introduce a blueprint for new
bands breaking through in the music industry. The Unsigned Guide was
always about DIY. We set out to help explain how the industry works
and who does what. That's still what we're doing now, 10 years on."
Stephen Loukes, Founder About The Unsigned Guide The
Unsigned Guide is a music industry directory providing grassroots
bands & artists, music students and new independent businesses with
more than 8,800 contacts across 50 areas of the music business
including artist managers, record labels, music publishers,
producers, radio stations, festivals, venues, gig promoters, PR
companies, booking agents and much more. The Guide also incorporates
invaluable advice and information contributed by supporting
organisations such as Musicians' Union, IFPI, Association of
Independent Music, PRS For Music, the BPI, Arts Council England,
Music Producers Guild and many others. Launched in 2003 The Unsigned
Guide produced 7 printed directories before re-launching in 2011 as
an online only directory with added tools & features for their
members including Survival Guide (offering exclusive discounts &
deals on essential music services), Spotlight (a monthly blog
championing the best new music from Unsigned Guide members) and DIY
Doctor (a bespoke track assessment for those with annual
membership). Now in its 10th year, The Unsigned Guide boasts
thousands of musician members and is used by colleges, universities
and specialist training schools across the UK for their students on
music business courses. Read more about 10 years of The
Unsigned Guide click on
here.
Merseyside
Transport Trust - Easter Event Notice
THE Mersy Transport Trust
is holding a Classic Bus Running Day, called "Buses from
Seacombe" on Easter Sunday, 31 March 2013. The event is run
in association with the 201 Bus Group. Running on the day will be
busses with a 1970's theme, from the Seacome Ferry Terminal. A
program will be available in advance for £3 via:- MTT Programme
Sales, 3 Sunflower Close, Bold Street, St. Helens, WA9 4ZT. Also
more information will be on the MTT
website. |
