Our AGM was a great opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed, acknowledge the challenges that we have faced and celebrate the achievements and improvements which we often don’t get the chance to do, working day to day.
Chairman James Brent opened the AGM, saying: “It is humbling to come into this caring compassionate environment and see the work of colleagues and our volunteers. Thank you also to our primary care colleagues at Livewell, Devon ICB, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly trusts and South West Ambulance Service.
“Given the context that the NHS is in, it’s really easy to focus on the “what aren’t we doing right” but it’s extraordinary what colleagues and service lines have done to improve the care they are able to provide to their patients. Incredible improvements have been made in the last 12 months and we are focussed on the further areas we know we need to improve.”
Read the full version of Our AGM 2024 – So much to be proud of on the UHP website.
In summary, our AGM covered the following:
Presentation of our audited accounts for 2023 – 2024
Chief Finance Officer Sarah Brampton , presented the audited accounts for 2023-2024 which are also available in our full annual report. This year we also have a summary version of the annual report.
Working with primary care
Dr. Jonathan Cope and Laura Langsford explained how UHP is working with local primary care networks (PCNs) to use local population data to better understand local health needs, which in turn enables us to provide better care for our population.
Stroke care
Stroke lead Craig, and his colleague Alice, talked about the improvements made in stroke care and the difference this is making for patients.
Watch Martin’s stroke story:
Watch Keith’s stroke story:
Improving care for people with cancer
Consultant Richard Williams and cancer nurse specialist Steph Murgatroyd explained how triaging and a one-stop shop clinic for head and neck cancer patients has improved care for this patient group. They take care of the patients from point of GP referral to discharge from the service.
They shared Jason’s story, a patient who underwent treatment for a mouth related cancer in January 2023.
Watch Jason’s story:
Listening to the voice of patients
Eileen, a UHP volunteer for over 10 years and member of the Patient Council for 6, talked about the role of the Patient Council and how they have helped improve patient experience over the past 12 months. In the past year they have served over 12,000 cups of tea, compassion and a listening ear to the busy Emergency Department, a small but significant gesture to many of our patients.
The Council have very clear goals over the next 12 months including: involvement in the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, setting up a youth patient council and continuing to be advocates for carers and people with learning disabilities.
Hearing the moving stories of 2 of our ‘orange army’
We were moved to hear from two of our volunteers, Warren and Lisa about the difference they make. Warren is a volunteer on Fal ward and shared his personal story about how he came to be a volunteer and how rewarded and appreciated he feels, as well as how humbling it is to be able to lift and cheer patients, and not just patients but also the families who are on the journey with them.
Lisa was the first volunteer to provide support at Mount Gould Hospital, sharing the story that led her to volunteering: “It’s amazing, it’s been life changing for me. Being given the opportunity to rebuild my life and support patients on the ward. I talk to the patients, I can offer empathy to them and give them a lift. I couldn’t live without being a volunteer now.”
Looking to the Future
Senior nurses Shaen, Ali and Nicky stepped up to talk about the high quality of care being provided at the end of people’s lives. The team have brought a real focus to the end of life care provided at the Trust. Among their achievements over the past 12 months, they have put specific focus on: education, learning and support and end of life care in three key physical locations – Derriford Hospital wards, the Emergency Department and Mount Gould Hospital.
Virtual Wards
Mandy Seymour from Livewell Southwest outlined the strides being undertaken to develop virtual wards in the community for frail patients. The aspiration for the service is to create 125 community frailty beds in 6 localities across Plymouth and West Devon delivering a service led by a GP or geriatrician, supported by a multi-disciplinary team of pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, community care workers and specialist nurses providing the right care in the right place first time.
New Urgent Treatment Centre
Consultant Anne Hicks talked about the new Urgent Treatment Centre: “It’s an exciting time and we cannot wait to offer our patients the opportunity to make good choices about where they receive the care that they need. Minor injury, minor illness shouldn’t be major, our target is to help and navigate our patients through the system to the best care and treatment and back to their lives as quickly as possible. The new UTC, alongside the one at the Cumberland Centre, will enable us to achieve this.”
Close
Chairman James Brent brought the AGM to a close stating: “A really core thread that has run through today is the shared ambition to support people to live healthier lives and to continue to improve services to meet the needs of our patients. There are really big challenges ahead but we are on a journey, together. Thank you to everyone who came along and presented, it has been genuinely moving.”
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