'Poo in the post' test is beating bowel cancer

A BOWEL cancer screening programme operating in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, has shown after just six months that it can save lives.
The two-year rolling programme automatically invites everybody aged between 60 and 69 years to send in a tiny stool sample to be tested.
The take up rate in Somerset so far has been between 60 per cent and 70 per cent, one of the highest figures of any programme nationally.
As a result of the test kit, more than 200 people have been called in for further discussion and a colonoscopy procedure.
Colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the large bowel which can diagnose bowel cancer at an early stage before symptoms arise.
Pre-cancerous polyps can be removed during the procedure without need for surgery.
In the six months the programme has been running, 21 patients have been referred on to the surgical team at Musgrove for treatment and 90 patients have had polyps removed.
Taunton Deane Councillor Tony McMahon, aged 62, of Milverton, was among those who received a testing pack and as a result of the sample he was called in for a colonoscopy where a polyp was found and removed.
Councillor McMahon said: “I am extremely lucky. The doctor told me that if untreated, this polyp would have become cancerous in five years time, and I may never have seen any symptoms.
“I was given a mild anaesthetic before the test, and then watched the whole thing on a television screen.
“Now, I only have to go back every 12 months for a check up.
“I was talking to a friend recently who said that he was not going to send in the test - but if a simple ‘poo in the post’ test can save your life, then why delay?”
Musgrove bowel cancer screening programme co-ordinator Julia Heneker said: “Tony’s story is a great example of how the screening programme works.
“The earlier we find a problem, the better the chance of treating it successfully.
“Sometimes, people are a bit embarrassed to talk about faeces and any problems they might have - but this is simple, private, and can save your life.”

• Our photograph shows Councillor Tony McMahon (left) with Julia Heneker and consultant gastro enterologist Dr Stirling Pugh. Photo submitted.

A&E sister is hospital's first 2009 'employee of month'

ACCIDENT and emergency department Sister Jan Giles has won the January ‘Employee of the Month’ award at Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton.
Jan was nominated by her colleagues in the department, who described her as an extremely capable and competent sister.
Musgrove consultant Gillian Bryce said: “Jan constantly steps in to cover colleagues’ shifts at short notice, at times she almost lives in the department.
“She is always a pleasure to work with and she can be relied on to give an extremely high standard of care and efficiency at all times.
“She never shows stress and keeps others calm even when the department is at its busiest.”
Jan, who has worked at Musgrove for 34 years, was presented with her award at a special ceremony in December.
Representatives from local businesses which sponsor the hospital’s employee of the month scheme were invited to attend and were thanked by hospital trust chairman Ros Wyke.
Mrs Wyke said: “The scheme was launched in 2005 to celebrate and reward individual staff who make a special contribution to the work of the hospital.
“It has been really successful, with many staff nominated each month by their colleagues, and the winners enjoying the prizes generously donated by the local business community.
“We are continually grateful for the generosity of those companies whose sponsorship make this initiative possible and I would like to extend my thanks to them all.”
The prizes are given monthly by Spirit Health Club, at the Holiday Inn, Taunton, the O'Bridge restaurant, Esporta, Musgrove Flowers, Haircare at Musgrove, and Q-Park.
From this month, winners will also receive a free CD of their choice given by new sponsor NHS Discounts.

• Our photograph shows Jan Giles, receiving her award from Ros Wyke watched by (left to right) Q-Park manager Dave Simms, Mark Harrison, of Spirit Health Club, and Emma Bacon and Angela Austin, both from the O’Bridge restaurant. Photo submitted.

Hospital staff receive awards for 132 years of patient care

THE matron and three senior nurses of Minehead Hospital have been recognised for their combined 132 years of service to patient care.
Hospital matron, Sue Meade, staff nurses Tracey Griffin and Christine Bard, and outpatients sister Linda Arscott received commemorative certificates and specially engraved glass paperweights.
The presentations took place at an NHS long service award ceremony held at the town’s hospital just before Christmas by Somerset Primary Care Trust chairman Jane Barrie.
Mrs Barrie commended all of the staff in the hospital for their hard work during year and their commitment to delivering high quality care to patients.
She said: “The board of the primary care trust and I appreciate and thank all Minehead Hospital staff for their continued hard work and efforts.
“This year, Government inspectors the Healthcare Commission awarded the second highest rating of ‘good’ for the standard of our community health services and this was due to the continuing hard work of all staff.
“It is your commitment and determination to improve the quality of the care and treatment that is appreciated by local people, the primary care trust and the National Health Service.”
Sue Meade has worked in the NHS for more than 29 years and was appointed matron in Minehead in 2004.
She started working at Minehead in 1983 as a staff nurse and had previously worked at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
Sue became acting sister in 1983 and was promoted to sister in January, 1985.
She has always been at the forefront of developing local services and has been playing a leading role in the development of the new Minehead hospital which will be built off Seaward Way.
Tracey Griffin has worked in the NHS for more than 26 years, starting her career as a student nurse in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, in 1982.
She became a staff nurse on the surgical ward of Minehead Hospital in January, 1986, and was promoted to senior staff nurse in 1988.
In 1994, Tracey was promoted to sister with the surgical team, and as well as managing surgical services for the local community she has run specialist blood clinics for West Somerset.
Christine Bard has 41 years of service with the NHS, having qualified as a nurse in the 1970s.
From 1978 to 1982, she worked in Yeovil District Hospital, before being appointed to Glastonbury Health Centre in 1987.
In 1992, she transferred to Williton Hospital, and then started working at Minehead Hospital in 1995 as a staff nurse in the outpatients department.
She retired from Minehead Hospital in February, 2007, but returned a few months later to again work in the outpatients department.
Linda Arscott has 36 years’ NHS service after starting as a student nurse in Frenchay School of Nursing, Bristol.
In 1975, she started as a staff nurse with Wiltshire Health Authority and then moved to Hertfordshire Health Authority as a staff nurse.
She moved to Somerset in 1988 and joined Minehead Hospital as a staff nurse on the wards.
Linda was made acting sister on the medical ward in1990 and later went to the nearby Irnham Lodge medical centre as sister of the day hospital until it was relocated to the hospital site in 1994.
Since then, she has worked as sister responsible for the outpatient department of Minehead Hospital.

• Our photograph shows (left to right) staff nurses Christine Bard and Tracey Griffin, outpatients sister Linda Arscott, matron Sue Meade, and primary care trust chairman Jane Barrie. Photo submitted.

Four stars out of five for hospital food outlets

CATERING outlets in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, have been awarded four stars by environmental health inspectors.
Musgrove achieved an ‘excellent’ mark for its food handling and management, and a ‘good’ mark for the condition of the premises.
Overall, the four star award meant the inspectors considered the level of hygiene practice to be ‘very good’.
The borough council team of inspectors looked in particular at three areas involved with the hospital's catering services:

• Food handling practice
  
• Condition of the premises
  
• Management systems

Musgrove catering manager Phil Shelley said: “This is excellent news.
“Our staff have worked incredibly hard to improve standards in everything we do.
“The four star award is a great Christmas present for us and an incentive to get that fifth star next year.
“We will now be working hard with the council and the estates team here at Musgrove to do all we can to further improve the facilities we have.”

• Our photograph shows Musgrove catering staff (left to right) Marion Collins, Jon Smith, Rose Cooke, Sandra Hall, Daniel Shelley, Jenny Grant, and Colin Frost. Photo submitted.

Estate agents turn Father Christmas for hospital children's unit

STAFF from the Minehead and Watchet branches of estate agent Wilkie, May and Tuckwood have delivered piles of goodies to the children’s unit of Musgrove Park Hospital, just in time for Christmas.
Watchet branch manager Steven Loveday decided to do something to show support for the hospital after his baby daughter Molly spent four days in the children’s unit during the summer.
Mr Loveday said: “The care Molly received was fantastic and I just wanted to do something to say thank you for that.
“I talked to my colleagues and we decided to appeal to our local community for toys and games that we could take along to the unit at Christmas time.
“Both I and Kevin James, who manages the Minehead branch, have been really pleased with the reaction we have had from our local clientele, who donated lots of traditional wooden toys and games as well as the more modern choices of DVDs and Playstation games.
“We would like to thank them all for their support at this busy time of year for everybody.”
Musgrove hospital play specialist Jane Horn said: “Steven and Kevin arrived absolutely laden with toys which made a lovely surprise for the children.
“We are always really grateful to receive good quality toys and games as it is essential to have a good selection of items to help make our young patients feel relaxed when they are in unfamiliar hospital surroundings.
“We know that having access to toys and games that occupy children really helps with the healing process.
“Wilkie, May and Tuckwood have worked really hard to provide new toys and we are delighted that they made the time and effort to do this.”

• Our photograph shows (left to right) Steven Loveday, Jane Horn, and Kevin James with some of the toys given to Musgrove children’s unit. Photo submitted.

Fresh virus outbreak shuts more hospital wards

FURTHER restrictions have been introduced to manage an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis - Norovirus – in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.
Four wards have now been closed to new admissions in an effort to combat the spread of the highly unpleasant infection.
The four are Coleridge, Eliot, Fielding, and Gould wards.
Last month, a similar Norovirus outbreak forced the closure of three wards, Eliot and Fielding, in the Duchess Building, and Ward Five in the old part of the hospital.
Norovirus exists in the community and although not usually serious, it is extremely infectious.
It is estimated that between 600,000 and one million people in the UK are affected each year.
Nursing homes, hospitals, and schools are particularly vulnerable to the virus, which can be spread by contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces or objects.
Musgrove has detailed and well-established procedures to manage such outbreaks to minimise the risk of cross-infection.
Musgrove spokesman Mark Wall said: “Management of the outbreak is led by a specialist infection control team and other senior staff with ongoing review of the situation.
“To help reduce the risk of further Norovirus being brought into the hospital, visitors are asked not to visit if they have had symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting or have been in contact with anybody who has in the past 48 hours.
“All visitors are asked to ensure that their hands are thoroughly cleaned before leaving a ward.
“If they are visiting a ward which has an outbreak of Norovirus, they should please not visit any other wards.
“If they are in any doubt about whether to visit or not, they should talk to the ward sister.”
Musgrove medical director Dr Cecil Blumgart said “We know visitors can make a real difference to patients, who look forward to seeing them.
“Unfortunately, we also know that without meaning to, visitors can bring bugs into the hospital which can cause harm to patients and once here are very difficult to control.
“There is also a small chance that visitors to affected wards may contract the virus and take it home.
“We are introducing these new measures to take a firmer grip on the Norovirus that we currently have in the hospital.
“People should not visit unless they really need to and if they do, must comply with these restrictions.”
Musgrove has more than 700 beds on 30 wards plus 15 operating theatres, and a fully-equipped diagnostic imaging department, and employs more than 4,000 staff.

New chaplain takes over the reins at hospital

A NEW lead chaplain for Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, has been inducted at a service held in the hospital’s chapel.
He is the Rev Jeff Gosden, who was previously a chaplain at Northampton General Hospital, and Stoke Mandeville, in Aylesbury.
The induction service was led by the Rev Jez Brown, the senior regional minister for the South West Baptist Association, and attended by Taunton Christians Together chairman Adrian Prior-Sankey, Free Churches Secretary for Health Care Chaplaincy the Rev Debbie Hodge, Musgrove consultant Dr Paul Kist, and Andy Burges, who is associate general manager for the clinical support division, and other members of the hospital team.
Mr Gosden said: “I am looking forward to working with the very committed and enthusiastic team here at Musgrove.
“We have over 40 volunteers and our work extends into the community hospitals across the county.
“I have a hard act to follow but I hope to support the continued development of the excellent chaplaincy service that Musgrove is known for.”
Mr Burgess said: “The chaplaincy service at Musgrove Park is extremely important in helping to ensure that we care for the whole person, not just an illness.
“Our team of chaplains, paid and volunteers, do a fantastic job in providing spiritual care and support to staff, patients, relatives, and visitors.
“Jeff is very experienced and knowledgeable and will help us develop the service even further.”
Musgrove patients, staff, and visitors can contact the chaplaincy team at any time by visiting the chapel on the first floor of the Duchess Building, or by calling 01823 342515.

• The Musgrove Park Christmas Carol Service takes place at 3 pm on Sunday, December 14, in the physiotherapy gym on the ground floor of the Queens Building.
  
• Our photograph shows Mr Gosden in front of the tapestry of the tree of life which hangs in the chapel at Musgrove Park. Photo submitted.

Hospital foundation trust marks its first anniversary

MORE than 150 people attended the first annual meeting of Musgrove Park Hospital’s NHS foundation trust, in Taunton.
They heard reports from chairman Ros Wyke and chief executive Jo Cubbon and saw the first ever showing of the foundation trust DVD.
There were also presentations on the new surgical centre planned for Musgrove and the cancer treatment Beacon Centre, which will open next May.
Mrs Wyke said: “Members are very important to us at Musgrove, they make a real difference and it was good to be able to meet so many at the annual meeting.
“It was particularly useful to hear people’s views about the hospital - what we are getting right and what we need to work on.
“These views, and the involvement of our members, will help us move from being a good hospital, to becoming a great hospital.”
One foundation member, Glyn Meredith, said: “The meeting was very good and extremely interesting.
“The enthusiasm of the staff was clear for all to see, both in the presentations and in those running stalls.
“It gave me great confidence in the future of the hospital and I would certainly go to other events being organised.”
Joining the foundation trust is free and does not commit members to anything.
They receive information from the hospital, are invited to special members-only evenings, and have an opportunity to vote in elections for the members’ council.
The council is made up of 27 governors, of whom 20 are elected, and plays a key role in influencing the future direction of the hospital and deciding who sits on the board of directors.
Anybody who would like to join the foundation trust can call the membership office on 01823 342460 or they can join online at http://www.tsft.nhs.uk/GetInvolved/MembersandGovernors/MembershipForm/tabid/1233/Default.aspx. The telephone number can also be used by anybody who would like a speaker from the hospital to attend their community or local meeting.

• Our photograph shows foundation trust member Glyn Meredith with one of the younger members, Charlotte Trower, and her 10-month-old daughter Sofia Nichols, who attended the annual meeting. Photo submitted.

Revealed - the BNP members living and working in West Somerset

NINETEEN people across West Somerset are paid-up members of the British National Party, according to a leaked membership list which has been published on the internet.
The Post has seen the list and read details of the BNP membership locally, but, given that the BNP is a bona fide political party, we have taken an editorial decision not to publish details which could identify the individuals concerned.
The names include whole families and show people living in Minehead, Alcombe, Porlock, Dunster, Williton, Blue Anchor, Allerford, Timberscombe, Langley Marsh, and Wiveliscombe.
There is even a Royal Marine listed from Norton Manor Camp, near Norton Fitzwarren, with details of his regiment and company
One man is shown under his business address, complete with business email and telephone number.
The email address provided for one woman shows that she works for the Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust, which runs Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton.
Another woman is listed as having reverted to her maiden name in 2003, while one man is listed as a retired jeweller who is also a Freemason.
The published list includes a variety of personal information such as personal and work email address, home and mobile telephone numbers, age, occupation, former address, and the fact that a membership card had been lost or stolen and replaced on a certain date.
Some members are also listed as‘activist’.
Throughout the wider Somerset area there are more than 100 members listed, including in communities such as Cotford St Luke, Taunton, Bridgwater, and almost every major town in the county.
The list is alleged to have been published by a former party treasurer.
BNP leader Nick Griffin said in a statement on the party’s website the list was 'essentially genuine' although more than a year old and some members had left, while other names had been added 'presumably in an attempt to cause further mischief'.

National award for hospital A&E television documentary

A FLY on the wall documentary about the accident and emergency department of Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, has won a national award for filmmaker Andrew Brown.
The judges for the prestigious Medical Journalism Awards said the programme, Emergency Medics, was ‘well filmed and utterly gripping. The programme flowed beautifully with the cameras leaving and returning to the action at just the right moments’.
Andrew spent three months in the department, filming the real-life action of a modern NHS accident and emergency department.
He said: “It is great for the series to win this important award, it is a real testament to the staff and patients who agreed to take part in the series.”
The award was for the second series of Emergency Medics - the third series is currently being broadcast on ITV1 Mondays at 10.40 pm.
The first two series have been seen by more than 500,000 people and are currently being repeated on the Discovery Channel.
Emma George, series producer, said: “These programmes show what A&E is really like - both sadder and happier than the television dramas.
“All life is here and the programmes show the nature of the people and amazing range of conditions treated in an A&E Department.”
Emergency medicine consultant at Musgrove, Dr Paul Baines, said: “This is an excellent department and the staff do an astonishing job every single day.
“Andrew works very professionally and after a while staff almost forget he is here.
“Most patients are happy to be filmed and very happy with the results.
“I hope that these films help the public understand what a modern A&E service is like.”
The accident and emergency department at Musgrove sees about 1,000 patients a week.

Minehead Hospital admissions suspended after virus outbreak among patients

ADMISSIONS to Minehead Hospital (pictured) have been stopped after an outbreak among patients of the extremely unpleasant gastric illness Norovirus.
The hospital announced today that no patients would be admitted to its inpatient ward until the virus had been eradicated.
Norovirus was discovered in the 22-bed hospital yesterday after five patients fell ill with symptoms of the common, but infectious viral gastroenteritis.
Hospital Matron Sue Meade said the suspension of inpatient admissions was a precautionary measure carried out to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other patients or staff.
She said additional cleaning was being carried out on the ward, and the affected patients would not be discharged until at least 48 hours after their symptoms had stopped.
Mrs Meade said visitors could help prevent the spread of infection by following these simple infection control measures:

• All visitors should wash their hands before going onto ward or patient areas and remember to use the alcohol gel hand rub available throughout the hospital
• Anybody who has had gastric illness themselves within the last 48 hours should not visit
• Visiting to the ward should be limited to two people at a time
• Young children should not be taken onto the ward
• People visiting patients on the affected ward should not then visit a patient in another part of the hospital

The hospital’s outpatient clinics, x ray, physiotherapy department and its minor injury unit were operating as normal and were unaffected by the infection control measures.
Norovirus exists in the community and although not usually serious, it is extremely infectious.
Nursing homes, hospitals, and schools are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks.
The virus can be spread by contact with an infected person or surfaces or objects contaminated with it.
Thoroughly washing hands is an essential means of reducing the spread of the virus.

• Three wards of Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, were closed to new admissions yesterday because of a similar outbreak of norovirus.

Virus closes three wards to admissions at Musgrove Park

AN outbreak of Norovirus has forced Musgrove Park Hospital (pictured), in Taunton, to stop admitting new patients on three of its wards.
The restrictions were put in place to manage the outbreak of viral gastroenteritis on Eliot and Fielding wards, in the Duchess Building, and Ward Five in the old part of the hospital.
Hospital spokesman Mark Wall said: “Musgrove Park has detailed and well-established procedures to manage outbreaks such as these to minimise the risk of cross infection.
“Management of the outbreak is led by our specialist infection control team and other senior staff with ongoing review of the situation.”
Musgrove has more than 700 beds on 30 wards plus 15 operating theatres, and a fully-equipped diagnostic imaging department, and employs more than 4,000 staff.
To help reduce the risk of further infection being taken into the hospital, visitors were being asked not to visit if, in the previous 48 hours, they had symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting or had been in contact with anybody who had.
Visitors were also being asked to ensure their hands were thoroughly cleaned before leaving a ward.
Mr Wall said: “If you are in any doubt about whether to visit or not, please talk to the ward sister.
“If you are visiting a ward which has an outbreak of Norovirus, please do not visit any other wards.”
Norovirus exists in the community and although not usually serious, it is highly infectious.
It is estimated that between 600,000 and one million people in the UK are affected each year.
Nursing homes, hospitals, and schools are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks.
The virus can be spread by contact with an infected person or surfaces or objects contaminated with it.
Mr Wall said information about Musgrove’s Norovirus outbreak would be updated daily on the hospital trust website at http://www.tsft.nhs.uk/.

Long-serving hospital volunteers are celebrated

NINETEEN long-serving volunteers in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, have been honoured in a special awards ceremony.
More than 400 people volunteer their time on a regular basis at Musgrove Park, and 186 of them have awards for five years’ service, and 86 have 10-year awards.
Volunteer co-ordinator Jeni Clark said: “Our volunteers do a simply fantastic job.
“They help in wards, in clinics, on reception, with clerical work, in the chapel ,and with Apple AM.
“They complement the staff and help provide a high-quality service to the patients who need us.”
Hugh Gloyn, who worked as a salesman in the retail business for 40 years, now volunteers at Musgrove, greeting and guiding visitors in the Old Building once a week.
He received a five-year award and said: “Although it is ‘only’ helping on reception, you meet all sorts of people in all sorts of situations.
“Hospitals are happy places and sad places and I try to make sure that everybody is greeted with a smile.”
When the Beacon cancer care centre opens at Musgrove in May of next year, there will be additional opportunities for people to volunteer at Musgrove.
Anybody who is interested should contact Jeni Clark by calling 01823 343447 or emailing jeni.clark@tst.nhs.uk.

• Our photograph shows (left to right) back row - Ruth Cottenham, Hugh Gloyn, Michael Beacham, Sheila Ruff, Gwenan Jones, and Selina Selwood. Front - Wendy Hewson, Pat Slade, Avril Phillips, and Anna Grace (receiving the award on behalf of her husband Jim). Photo submitted.

Foundation trust members to hear hospital's first-year report

THE first annual members’ meeting of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust will be held later this month.
The meeting, on Thursday, November 20, is open to all members of the foundation trust, and will take place at Somerset County Cricket Ground, in Taunton.
As well as receiving reports from the chairman and chief executive, members will hear of plans for future developments and see the premiere of a new DVD about the trust, which runs Musgrove Park Hospital.
The meeting starts at 12 noon and will finish by 2.30 pm. Lunch will be provided and all members who attend will be entered into a draw to win tickets to one of Somerset’s 20:20 cricket matches next summer.
Trust chairman Ros Wyke said: “Members are really important to us at Musgrove Park.
“They play an important role in telling us what we are getting right and where we need to improve.
“They also elect governors, who have a number of significant powers to decide on the future direction of the trust.
“This meeting is a chance for us to report on the last year and our plans for the future, but also a great opportunity to hear from members on their priorities.”
Places at the meeting are free, but must be booked by noon on Monday, November 10, by calling 01823 342460 or emailing jo.wakefield@tst.nhs.uk.
Anybody who is not a foundation trust member can join online at www.tsft.nhs.uk or by calling 01823 342460.

Real-life 'Casualty' from Musgrove returns to TV for third series

STAFF in the accident and emergency department of Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, are being featured for a third time in a fly-on-the-wall television documentary for ITV.
Award-winning film maker Andrew Brown has spent three months in the department, filming the real-life action of a modern NHS A&E department.
He said: “The first two series have been seen by over 500,000 people.
“These programmes show what A&E is really like - both sadder and happier than the television dramas.
“All life is here, and the programmes show the nature of the people and amazing range of conditions treated in an A&E department.
“The staff and patients were extremely welcoming and I am grateful for their help in making these films.”
Dr Paul Baines, a consultant in emergency medicine at Musgrove, said: “This is an excellent department and the staff do an astonishing job every single day.
“Andrew works very professionally and after a while staff almost forget he is here.
“Most patients are happy to be filmed and very happy with the results.
“I hope that these films help the public understand what a modern A&E service is like.”
The accident and emergency department at Musgrove sees about 1,000 patients a week.
The third series of ‘Emergency: Medics’ will be shown on ITV on Monday nights at 10.30 pm, starting next week on November 3.
Series one and two are currently being shown on satellite television on the Discovery Channel.

• Our photograph shows Dr Paul Baines (left) with Andrew Brown. Photo submitted.

Receptionist with a smile is hospital employee of the month

A RECEPTIONIST in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, has won the NHS trust’s October employee of the month award.
Marcia Derrick works in the haematology and oncology day unit.
She was nominated by colleague Debbie Curtis and selected from 37 nominations made by trust staff during the month.
Debbie said: “Marcia works above and beyond the call of duty. She had to work alone for several months earlier this year and still managed to ensure an extremely high level of service to the patients, as well as supporting medical secretaries like me when we needed it.
“She is always cheerful and has a smile for all of our patients, which is so important as she is often the first face that patients see when they come into the department.
“She also knows exactly where everything is, making her a real gem of a receptionist, one of the best I have ever seen in action.”
Marcia said: “I was stunned when I heard I had won this award. I have worked at Musgrove for seven years and have always loved my work, but I was really pleased to be recognised in this way.
“I do like to try and make patients feel welcome and at ease if I can.
“Nobody wants to be in hospital, but if I can contribute to making somebody’s experience that bit better, then that is really satisfying.”

• Our photograph shows Marcia Derrick (left) receiving her award and flowers from Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust chairman Ros Wyke. Photo contributed.

Free session for hospital trust members on preventing and controlling diabetes

A FREE one-hour meeting for Musgrove Park Hospital Foundation Trust members is being held to look at the prevention and control of diabetes.
It is part of the ‘Medicine for Members’ series and is for staff and public members of the Foundation Trust.
The session on Tuesday, November 4, will be an opportunity to hear experts from the trust give advice and information on the latest research and evidence on a key issue of health interest.
Consultant physician and endocrinologist Dr Colin Close will present on the subject of ‘managing the diabetes epidemic’.
He will look at the latest medical evidence and lifestyle advice which can benefit everybody, explaining what people need to do, and need to stop doing, to prevent and control diabetes.
Information about the latest drugs and other treatments will be available.
The meeting starts at 7 pm in Musgrove’s Academy Lecture Theatre.
There will be an opportunity for questions and the meeting will end at 8 pm with a free wine and nibbles buffet.
Only 30 places remain available and any Foundation Trust member who wants to attend should book a place as soon as possible by emailing jo.wakefield@tst.nhs.uk or calling 01823 342460 and leaving a message.
Joining the Foundation Trust is free and allows an opportunity to have a say in the future of the hospital.
Members receive regular newsletters from the hospital, invitations to exclusive meetings, consultations, and focus groups, and an opportunity to take part in elections for the members’ council.
The members’ council has a majority of publicly elected members and makes key decisions about the future of Musgrove Park.
To join, contact the membership office on 01823 342460 or fill in the online form available at www.tsft.nhs.uk.

League gives hospital £70,000 scanner in 50th anniversary year

YOUNG patients of Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, will benefit from a new state of the art scanner, thanks to the hospital’s league of friends.
The £70,000 Echocardiogram/Ultrasound Scan will provide the paediatric department with the facilities to perform heart scanning on children of all ages.
This includes infants and even premature babies who can also have brain scanning carried out with the new machine.
The technology can be linked to other hospitals to allow for greater communication between clinicians across the region.
Consultant paediatrician Dr Talal Farha, who has a special interest in paediatric cardiology, said: “We are extremely grateful to the league of friends for their efforts to provide us with the funds needed to purchase this technology.
“Without a doubt, this will be of benefit for all children of Somerset.
“We have already started using the new scanner and we currently scan an average of 50 to 60 children each month.”
League of friends chairman Margaret Pegge said: “We are very grateful to everybody who helps the league - the money that we collect makes a direct and powerful difference to the care offered to patients at Musgrove Park.
“It is the league’s 50th anniversary in 2009 and we hope many more people will join us in our work.”

• Our photograph shows Dr Talal Farha with Margaret Pegge and Alice Da Costa, who was the first patient to be scanned with the machine. Photo submitted.

Hospital award for helping children with life limiting illnesses

SUZANNE Heayns, a play specialist in Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, has won the title of August employee of the month for her work with the COMPASS team.
The COMPASS team work with children and families with life limiting illnesses across Somerset.
Suzanne was nominated because of the work she did to organise a weekend in Huish Woods for children who have brothers or sisters who are unwell.
The weekend was so successful that the team now plan to make it an annual event.
Dr Chris Clinch, clinical psychologist at Musgrove, said: “I nominated Suzanne for this award because she showed such dedication to this project and organised it with creativity and vision.
“She wanted to give these children a chance to meet, play, and talk with other children who are going through the same experiences.
“It is well known that siblings are more likely to experience emotional problems and get less attention as families are so burdened.
“This weekend successfully represented a positive and empowering experience for the young people involved and the time given by Suzanne and her team members was indeed above and beyond the call of duty.”
Suzanne, who lives in Kingston St Mary, will in October have worked for 20 years at Musgrove, which is run by the Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
She said: “I was really pleased and surprised when I learnt that I had won employee of the month.
“It came completely out of the blue.
“I love my job and do find it very rewarding, but I am also very pleased that the important role of the play specialist within the paediatric department has been recognised in this way.”

• Our photograph shows Suzanne Heayns (right) receiving her award and flowers from foundation trust chairman Ros Wyke. Photo submitted.

Group wants to put old hospital to use as community and cultural hub

IDEAS are being sought for the best way to use the existing town centre Minehead Hospital after it is replaced by a new hospital on the edge of the town.
Minehead Old Hospital Group (MOHG), which was formed earlier this year, is asking people across West Somerset to contribute their thoughts on its proposal to make the hospital a hub of community and cultural activity.
The group wants to keep the historic listed building for the community and hopes the venture can be underpinned by sound private enterprise to make it a viable and sustainable centre for residents across the district to enjoy and also to provide an indoor attraction for visitors.
MOHG chairman Julian Luttrell said: “The hospital was built as a town hall in 1889, before it was converted into the Luttrell Memorial Hospital and, latterly, the West Somerset Hospital.
“Not only is the beautiful building based in the heart of the town, it has always had the public at the heart of it various functions.
“We would like to keep it this way, and we would like the support of people from the whole area if they feel the same.”
Web pages have been set up on West Somerset Council’s website so that people can track the project’s progress.
There are feedback forms on the page and the group would like to hear local people’s views on their hopes and aspirations for the building, and how they see it benefiting the district’s community in future.
The pages can be accessed at http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/ by clicking on the ‘Minehead Old Hospital’ tab under the popular pages heading on the right hand side of the screen.
MOHG has plans to widen consultation opportunities for local people in the coming months to allow everybody with an interest to have their say on the potential uses of the building, and it will make details available shortly.
An economic regeneration strategy for Minehead and West Somerset identified a need to develop the area’s profile as a leisure destination with tourism, citing culture, arts, and crafts as major drivers.
MOHG group has raised approximately £20,000 in donations for a feasibility study into the old hospital site’s future.
Pledges for the study have come from all sectors of the community, including the Minehead and East Quantoxhead Trust, Minehead Chamber of Commerce, Somerset County Council, and West Somerset Council.
The South West Regional Development Agency, which encourages projects which regenerate local towns and their economies, has also expressed an interest in the project.
And the Grade 2 listed building’s current owner, Somerset Primary Care Trust, has not ruled out remaining stakeholders in any proposals which may arise from the study.
ARTlife chairman Ray Tew said: “As part of this exploratory work, we have also applied to Sea Change for further funding.
“Sea Change specialises in arts and cultural regeneration projects which will bring benefits specifically to coastal towns.
“If this extra funding is won, it would increase the scope of our feasibility study to include other sites in the town, such as the Regal Theatre and Blenheim Gardens.
“Either way, we are committed to exploring all the options we can for the old hospital.”
The hospital, which is in the Wellington Square conservation area, has a Gothic Revival façade which remains largely intact.
In 1898, the ‘old’ police station was built at the rear, and another extension for a nurses’ home was built in 1923.
Minehead Conservation Society spokeswoman Sally Bainbridge said: “It is vital that this architecturally-important listed building which was designed by one of Minehead’s foremost Victorian architects, Piers St Aubyn, is preserved and restored.
“The building has contributed to the cultural, social, and community needs of Minehead for over a century and we would like to see this valuable asset continue to benefit people across the whole of West Somerset.”
The aim of the feasibility study is to establish ways in which the hospital can be developed to play a significant part in social and cultural life locally.
The study will look at the possibilities of incorporating a library, exhibition and museum space, and community arts space, study rooms, and offices.
It will also explore whether the works and theories of Minehead-born author Sir Arthur C. Clarke can be celebrated, and there will be scope to look at commercial and residential aspects of any proposals.
Chamber commerce chairman Graham Sizer said: “We are not naïve and we know that it is hard for cultural and arts centres to make a profit, especially in these hard financial times.
“To underpin the project and make a good business case, we need to explore avenues that will help support the project in the long-term.
“If the study is positive, we will apply wherever we can for capital funding to buy the building and get any viable proposals under way.
“However, we do not want to see it struggle once that funding has run out, so we will consider any packages that will ensure the venture is sustainable for future generations who will live in or visit West Somerset.”
The group expects to hear next month if its Sea Change funding application has been successful.
Although it already has pledges of funding, it is still keen to hear from any other organisations which could be interested in contributing to the study.
West Somerset Council economic development and tourism portfolio holder, Councillor Michael Downes, said: “In the study, we hope to identify that the hospital can play a significant role in the regeneration of Minehead by providing a social and cultural hub, while also providing visitors with a focal point in the centre of town.
“The potential value of the hospital to tourism, as well as to the local economy, should not be underestimated.”
Minehead’s Somerset County Council ward Councillor Ian Galloway, said: “The county council has invested a significant amount in the regeneration of Minehead through projects like work and market space beside the railway station.
“However, we recognise that new opportunities like the hospital will come along and, if they prove to have social, cultural, and economic benefits for the people of West Somerset, naturally we would welcome them and pledge our support to help make them a reality.”
Engage CVS manager Katrina Midgely said: “It would be really exciting to see a range of services under one roof.
“If it is possible, the hospital could provide local people with the chance to experience a range of arts and cultural pursuits as well as give the communities of West Somerset a social centre in which to come together.”

• Our photo shows the present town centre Minehead Hospital. Photo submitted.