Welcome to the latest update about Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals.
In this month's edition:
- Tiny patient’s journey marks major milestone for paediatric care
- Director of Midwifery invited to 10 Downing Street for Black History Month
- Volunteers transform courtyard ahead of Macmillan Centre opening
- Maternity Unit Introduces Bilicocoon
- Neonatal unit recognised as positive outlier in national audit
- Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) showcase innovation and patient experience
- Warren named Star of the Month
Tiny patient’s journey marks major milestone for paediatric care
In October, our Paediatric Team celebrated a significant milestone with the successful discharge home of their first Level 2 Critical Care patient receiving Non-Invasive Ventilation.
Born at just 23 weeks and five days, Tommy spent 376 days in hospital, receiving care across St Peter’s NICU, Ash Ward and St George’s Hospital in Tooting, before returning to Ash Ward for his final 88 days.
The launch of our Level 2 Paediatric Critical Care service meant Tommy could receive specialist care closer to home, helping him spend more time with his family.
We are incredibly proud to have played a part in Tommy’s journey and wish him and his family every happiness as they begin this exciting new chapter at home.
Director of Midwifery invited to 10 Downing Street for Black History Month
Black History Month has provided an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Black colleagues across the trust.
As part of the national celebrations, Dr Benedicta Agbagwara-Osuji, Director of Midwifery, was invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street hosted by the Prime Minister.
Reflecting on the experience, Benedicta spoke about the importance of representation, recognition and creating a culture where everyone feels valued and able to contribute.
Volunteers transform courtyard ahead of Macmillan Centre opening
Volunteers, staff and community supporters joined forces to revitalise the courtyard opposite the new Macmillan Cancer Support Centre at Ashford Hospital. The team spent the day weeding, planting, repairing benches and planters, and clearing more than 20 bags of garden waste.
The project has created a more welcoming and relaxing space for patients, visitors and staff, while supporting preparations for the opening of the Macmillan Cancer Support Centre.
Maternity Unit Introduces Bilicocoon
We’re excited to announce that the ASPH Maternity unit has introduced the use of the Bilicocoon, an innovative phototherapy system that allows suitable newborn babies with jaundice to receive treatment in the comfort of their own home.
Jaundice is very common in newborn babies and, in most cases, is mild and resolves without treatment. However, if bilirubin levels become too high or are rising quickly, phototherapy may be required. During conventional phototherapy, a baby is placed under special blue lights, usually wearing only a nappy and protective eye coverings.
Conventional phototherapy can mean babies spend time in a cot, with less opportunities for holding and skin-to-skin contact while treatment is being given.
Neonatal unit recognised as positive outlier in national audit
For the fifth year running, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals has been recognised as a positive outlier in the National Neonatal Audit Programme (NNAP), achieving outstanding results across a number of key audit measures of neonatal care.
The NNAP, led by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, assesses whether babies admitted to neonatal units across England, Scotland and Wales receive consistent, high-quality care. The programme highlights areas of excellence and identifies opportunities for improvement across ten performance indicators.
Dr Vennila Ponnusamy, Consultant Neonatologist and Neonatal Specialty Lead, said: “We’re delighted to have received an outstanding status on three of the NNAP measures, consistently building on those achieved previously. This demonstrates the excellent standards we aspire to achieve in all areas, and the great quality of care we provide to our babies and families. We are very thankful to our Little Roo Neonatal Fund, for funding new and innovative equipment that facilitate us to deliver non-invasive ventilation to very small babies.”
Read more about the national audit
Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) showcase innovation and patient experience
Staff came together to celebrate Allied Health Professions (AHP) Day on 14 October, with speakers sharing examples of innovation and service improvement from across the trust.
A particular highlight was a patient panel, where former patients spoke openly about their experiences of care and the impact of AHP services on their recovery.
The event also recognised poster competition and award winners from across the profession and was a fantastic celebration of the talent, dedication and achievements of AHP colleagues .
Warren named Star of the Month
Deputy Charge Nurse Warren has been named September’s Star of the Month in recognition of his dedication to both colleagues and patients.
Nominators praised his calm, positive approach and his willingness to go above and beyond to support the team.
The award recognises staff who consistently demonstrate the trust’s values and make a positive difference in their workplace.
Update Archive
You can view older editions of the Members’ Update in our archive section.
