For enquiries regarding the content of any of the press releases on this page you should contact:

Rebecca Driver, Head of Communications,
on 01493 452269 or by email at rebecca.driver@jpaget.nhs.uk

or Ann Filby, Communications Manager,
on 01493 452162 or by email at ann.filby@jpaget.nhs.uk

Hospital AGM Reports Excellent Progress with More to Follow

Record numbers of local people attended the Annual General Meeting at the James Paget Hospital at 7pm on Monday 18th September. They heard that the hospital is performing strongly, and has a bright future ahead of it. Against the backdrop of difficulties nationwide in the NHS, reports of strong financial performance and reductions in waiting lists were well received by the audience and thanks were given to David Hill, Chief Executive, who will be leaving the Trust in November.

Trust Chairman John Hemming opened the AGM with a look forward to a five year plan of major investment in the local hospital. A capital programme of £40 million over five years will be spent in a variety of ways, including upgrades of all hospital wards to provide en suite facilities, the development of a brand new outpatient facility and general estates work around the site like resurfacing roads and replacing windows. John Hemming said: ‘After all, the building will be 25 years old next year and it is critical we invest in the site now to allow us to continue to provide a super hospital facility to hand on to future generations.’

He continued: ‘Money will also be invested in the purchase of medical equipment. This will include new laparoscopic equipment for theatres, surgical instruments for spinal surgery, digital hearing aids and a state of the art microscope for use in the hospital’s laboratories in specialist diagnostic work for cancers. We are also developing a new Coronary Care Unit which will open shortly. It is important for local people to realise that this hospital has a very bright future. This significant capital investment of £40 million shows we are managing our budgets well and investing in services and facilities for our local population.’

The meeting finished with a final speech from David Hill, Trust Chief Executive, in his last AGM before his departure to take up his new appointment in Bermuda. He reflected on the success of the hospital, and put this down to the commitment of staff, the fantastic support the local community give to the Paget, and sound financial management. He said: ‘Public service is a pleasure and a privilege. I know that as a Trust we are in a strong financial position and we’re meeting our targets. That’s great news for the people of Great Yarmouth and Waveney, and for our staff who continue to work so hard to make this hospital one of the best in the country, at a difficult time for the NHS. We have, and continue to invest significantly and wisely in the James Paget.’

For further information please contact:
Rebecca Driver, Head of Communications on 01493 452269
Or Ann Filby, Communications Manager on 01493 452162
email: rebecca.driver@jpaget.nhs.uk

David Hill, Chief Executive at the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust today announced his resignation to take up an appointment as Chief Executive of a Healthcare System overseas.

He said “I am leaving the James Paget at the strongest point in its history. It has just
achieved NHS Foundation Trust status, is a top three star rated hospital, has achieved
University Hospital status and has a significant investment programme in place to expand and improve our facilities. Whilst I will miss not leading this exciting next stage of our development, it is a good time for someone else to take over and ensure that the James Paget remains one of the best hospitals in the country”.

He continued “I am at point in my professional career and personal life where I was looking for an opportunity and this is a new challenge that is too exciting to turn down. What I will miss most is working alongside the loyal, dedicated, hardworking and professional staff that have made the James Paget the success it is. I wish the staff and the Trust every success in the future”.

Trust Chairman John Hemming said: ‘David has been an absolutely fantastic Chief
Executive. He has worked here for fifteen years, first as Director of Finance, and as Chief Executive since 1999. Throughout that time, he has led by example, displaying great leadership and financial acumen. He leaves a legacy behind him of a successful Foundation Trust that is second to none in the NHS. We are all very grateful for what he has done during his time here. David has accepted an offer that any of us would find hard to decline, and so we wish him and his wife Jan the very best for their new life overseas.’

The Board of Directors has started the recruitment process for a new Chief Executive.

For further information please contact:
Rebecca Driver, Head of Communications on 01493 452269
Or Ann Filby, Communications Manager on 01493 452162
email: rebecca.driver@jpaget.nhs.uk

A press conference and photo opportunity will be held at the main entrance to the James Paget Hospital today, Tuesday 1st August, starting at 10am . The Chairman and Chief Executive will unveil the new hospital sign, and will be available for interviews immediately afterwards.

The James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust will become the first Foundation Trust in Norfolk and Suffolk , it was announced today, by the independent regulator Monitor.

Chief Executive David Hill said: ‘We are delighted with today’s announcement. It means we are the first Foundation Trust in Norfolk and Suffolk . Becoming a Foundation Trust will enable local people and staff to be involved in making decisions about their hospitals. People can have confidence that their local hospitals are first class, providing excellent healthcare for the people of Great Yarmouth and Waveney and for visitors to the area.’

Chairman John Hemming said: ‘This is a very proud day for our hospitals. The benefits of becoming a Foundation Trust are huge. We are free from Department of Health control and are more able to develop services that meet the needs of our local community. The Board of Directors can now finalise capital investment of £40 million. This will include building a new outpatient suite and updating areas of our hospital that have remained relatively unchanged for nearly 25 years. We will start work soon on replacing the current six bedded bays with four bedded bays and en suite facilities to improve privacy as we know this is very important to our patients.’

Local MP Bob Blizzard commented: ‘Only the very best hospitals achieve Foundation status. It is official recognition of what we have known for some time. The James Paget Hospital is a first rate, well managed hospital which meets all its targets. The new status will enable it to do even more for local patients. I congratulate everyone at the local hospital.’

Local MP Tony Wright said: ‘This is excellent news for everyone. Gaining foundation status is not easy and is only achieved by a hospital providing sustained excellent service to the community. This is clearly something we have had at the James Paget Hospital . This could not have happened without the hard work of all the staff and I congratulate them on this achievement.’

Patrick Thompson, Chair of the Patient and Public Involvement Forum said: ‘Our patients and the public have been fully involved from the start in the hospitals bid to become a Foundation Trust. We welcome today’s announcement and look forward to working with the Board of Directors and the Governors to continue to develop excellent local health services.’

As a Foundation Trust, the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be governed by a Board of Directors and 33 members of the Governors Council. It already has over 9,400 public members across the community and 2,600 staff members. This means local people and local staff will be directly involved in decisions about their hospital, and will influence its future.

Notes for Editors:

A press conference and photo opportunity will be held at the main entrance to the James Paget Hospital on Tuesday 1st August, starting at 10am . The Chairman and Chief Executive will unveil the new hospital sign, and will be available for interviews immediately afterwards.

Also present will be: Hugh Sturzaker, Governor, Victoria Mason, Governor (representing young people), Les Wilson, Staff Governor, Bernard Brett, Consultant and Divisional Director of Emergency Medicine, Julia Hunt, Matron Emergency Division and Patrick Thompson, Chair of our Patient and Public Involvement Forum

1. What you need to become a Foundation Trust

The James Paget succeeded in meeting the two prerequisites to achieving Foundation Trust status. These are to be a three star Trust and secondly to be financially stable. The James Paget has achieved three star status for 3 out of the last 4 years, and is currently the only Trust in Norfolk , Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to have this top rating. The Trust has also always balanced its books and achieved a small surplus in the last financial year.

2. What the Trust comprises:

The James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust includes the 613 bedded acute hospital The James Paget in Gorleston, Northgate Hospital , Lowestoft Hospital , the Newberry Centre Children’s Clinic and community dental services on several sites.

3. How NHS Foundation Trusts Work

NHS Foundation Trusts are made up of three components:

Membership Community: This includes staff, patients and carers and the public. Membership is open to anyone who has either been a patient or carer at our hospitals, is a member of staff, or who lives in our defined catchment area. We have 9,480 public members plus 2,600 staff members.

Governors Council : This includes 33 governors, including staff governors, NHS partner and local authority representatives.

Board of Directors : This includes Executive and Non Executive Directors (previously the Trust Board).

4. About Monitor

Monitor is the independent regulator for NHS foundation trusts, making sure they are well-managed and financially strong so that they can deliver excellent healthcare for patients.

NHS foundation trusts are a key part of the reform programme in the NHS. They are autonomous organisations, free from central Government control. They decide how to improve their services and can retain any surpluses they generate or borrow money to support these investments. They establish strong connections with their local communities; local people can become members and governors. These freedoms mean NHS foundation trusts can better shape their healthcare services around local needs and priorities. NHS foundation trusts remain providers of healthcare according to core NHS principles: free care, based on need and not ability to pay.

Monitor rigorously assesses applicants for NHS foundation trust status and makes sure they live up to their obligations as NHS foundation trusts.

Monitor – the Independent Regulator – is currently assessing the James Paget final submission for NHS Foundation Trust status. If approval is received then authorisation will be effective from 1st August 2006 .

The authorisation date has been delayed by the Department of Health from the original planned 1 St April authorisation. Therefore, in anticipation of the new date, the Trust Board has decided to run in shadow form from 1st April.

As a result, public Board of Directors meetings for the remainder of 2006 will be held quarterly on the following dates:

The start time has also changed from 10.30am to 9am.

All meetings will be held at the James Paget Hospital.

The first public meeting of the Shadow Governors Council will be held at 10.30am on Friday 9th June in the Breydon Room, Education & Training Centre, and not the Boardroom as previously advertised.

The names of the Governors that were elected are available by clicking here.

For further information please contact David Hill, Chief Executive, Tel 01493 452680 or Ann Filby, Foundation & Communications Manager, Tel 01493 452162.

NHS Financial Settlement – Impact on James Paget Hospital

At its meeting held on Friday 31st March the James Paget Board considered the impact of the NHS financial settlement for the year commencing 1 st April 2006 . The NHS financial uplift for the year commencing 1st April 2006 has been notified at a very late stage to hospitals across the country, with the costs of staff pay awards only being released last week. The financial settlement for the new financial year is complicated, but it is clear that all hospitals will receive less funding than they need to meet both existing costs and the increased costs for the new year such as the impact of staff pay awards and new drugs. This efficiency requirement is in the order of 3%.

The Board considered the financial implications for the new year against the following background, which is that this Trust:

• has broken even in all 13 years since it was established.
• has achieved a small surplus in the year just completed.
• has no deficits and no debts.
• is the only three star hospital in the Norfolk , Suffolk and Cambridge region.
• is on track to achieve NHS Foundation Trust status on 1 st August, the only hospital in this position in Norfolk and Suffolk .
• has met all waiting time targets.
• is achieving the A&E standard.
• is meeting the two week cancer wait time standards.
• has over the last four years increased staffing levels by 255 posts from 2325 to 2580 to help deliver service improvements to patients.

The Trust Board considered the above achievements which have been delivered through a mix of investment and innovation in the way patient pathways are managed. One example of this innovation is the dual operating system introduced by Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr John Petri, for which he received a prestigious national award.

Against this background the Trust Board considered the impact of the national financial settlement on this Trust, set against the increase costs that will be incurred particularly through staff pay awards, new drugs, and new technology. The net impact of this efficiency requirement is that this Trust will need to reduce forecast spending this year by over £4million. This is necessary for the Board to meet its statutory responsibility to set and achieve a balanced budget. This reduction in spending can only be achieved by reducing establishment numbers, equating to over 100 posts.

The Trust currently has 150 vacancies and the annual staff turnover is usually about 250 jobs. The Trust will therefore be trying to make the necessary reduction of over 100 posts through a combination of deleting posts that are currently vacant and normal turnover, rather than through redundancies.

The Trust Board expressed its disappointment that due to the national financial settlement for hospitals in the NHS, there is a requirement to reduce staffing levels. It was noted at the Board meeting that due to the strong position from which this Trust starts, the actions required at the James Paget may be significantly less than reported at many other hospitals.

John Hemming , Chairman, said “as Chairman I am very proud of what the staff at the James Paget have achieved. The staff have delivered everything that has been required whilst at the same time achieving the top ranking of three stars and pushing towards NHS Foundation Trust status. It is therefore very disappointing that the national settlement for hospitals will require a reduction in staffing levels”.

David Hill, Chief Executive, said “the James Paget Hospital starts from an extremely strong position. We have no debts or deficits, and we are setting a balanced budget for the coming year. To achieve this we need to reduce our staffing levels by over 100 posts, but this must be set against a background that we have increased staff numbers by over 250 posts in the last four years. We will be working with our staff to try to avoid any redundancies and try to ensure that patient care is not affected.”

For further information please contact David Hill, Chief Executive
Tel 01493 452680

James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust, which manages Lowestoft Hospital , is seeking the views of the local population about proposals for modernisation and service improvement at Lowestoft Hospital.

James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust and Waveney Primary Care Trust are working together to review all services provided from the Lowestoft Hospital site and develop new systems to support providing care closer to people’s homes.

David Hill, Chief Executive, said;
“The purpose of our consultation, called‘Meeting the Challenge’, is to improve the range of local services and enhance care for older people. This will be achieved by creating a patient-focused, responsive service where care is delivered closer to home and where patients and the community are active participants in decision-making”.

To meet this challenge, James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust is proposing to:

• transfer orthopaedic rehabilitation beds from the Lowestoft Hospital site back to the James Paget Hospital site, alongside existing acute trauma and elective orthopaedic wards as this service is for Great Yarmouth as well as Lowestoft residents.
• move the medical rehabilitation beds from the ground floor to the 1 st floor to link more closely with GP beds.
• create, in the vacated space on the ground floor, a community assessment and treatment centre (CATC) which could include a range of services such as improved, expanded phlebotomy, podiatry and physiotherapy. This would be a tremendous benefit to patients and could also link to other community services such as falls prevention.

Other suggested proposals include reviewing services such as the Waveney Day Hospital and the Community Paediatric Service, which is currently delivered from several areas in the main hospital.

Nick Coveney, Director of Nursing & Patient Care said;
“It is time to review how care is delivered at Lowestoft Hospital as some of the buildings are mature and no longer fit for purpose. It is very positive to be talking to the local population about improving services for older people on the Lowestoft Hospital site as well as supporting ‘Care Closer to Home’ for our local population.”

There are currently 56 beds in use at Lowestoft Hospital and the 15 operational orthopaedic beds would be moved to the James Paget Hospital Site. This will complement other developments on the James Paget Site such as the planned Diagnostic and Treatment Centre which will be a state-of-the-art day-care and short-stay unit with over 30 beds. This is in addition to the 46 beds that have been added across the Trust in the last four years.

The consultation period runs from 30th September to 30th December 2005 .

Consultation documents with a response sheet are available from local hospitals, GP surgeries, libraries, or by e-mailing: myview@jpaget.nhs.uk.

There will be two public meetings to discuss the proposals on 24 th October at 7.00 pm and 14 th November at 2.00 pm. Both meetings will be held in the Social Hall at Lowestoft Hospital.

Click here for a copy of the consultation document

2. The date set to start the ban is Wednesday 9th March 2005 which is national 'No Smoking Day'.

3. At 11.30am on the day, a group of staff and Bob Blizzard, MP will symbolically close the smoking shelter at the front of the James Paget Hospital.

The entrances will be sealed and chains placed around the shelter. A quantity of balloons will be released to signify the idea of blowing away the smoke. There will be an exhibition stand in the foyer and staff available to give advice.

4. Large posters and signs have been placed throughout the buildings and more will appear before the launch day.

5. All staff have had a leaflet about the policy attached to their pay slip so that they are aware of the smoke free Trust.

6. Staff have been offered help in the shape of Nicotine Replacement Therapy and support from the Occupational Health Department or the Smoking Cessation Adviser.

7., Patients will be offered help whilst they are in the hospital and support when they go home if they wish to quit smoking as part of their treatment.

As a result of a campaign three years ago when free Nicotine Replacement Therapy was offered to staff, several successfully gave up and have continued smoke free. Already staff who have been wanting to quit have bitten the bullet and are into their supported withdrawal programme.

Dr David Ellis, Consultant Respiratory Physician, stated:
"The Trust has been working towards this day for many years. It is good news for patients, visitors and staff as we give out a strong message that smoking is a health hazard. We will be promoting healthy living and setting a good example. This is a positive step in the right direction."

The aim of the policy, set out in the public health White Paper last November, is to protect and improve the health of staff, patients and visitors. It will remove the dangers of second-hand smoke which is known to cause lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses.

Dr David Ellis, consultant physician, explained; "Each year many people die as a result of smoking and breathing other people's cigarette smoke. Healthcare organisations have a moral imperative to lead by example and promote the no-smoking message. We have a duty to protect the health and well-being of staff and patients. There is evidence that patients who continue to smoke while in hospital are at an increased risk of complications and delayed recovery."

The Trust will put help in place for staff and patients who want to quit. Nicotine replacement therapy will be available and the smoking cessation service will be there to offer guidance to staff who are supporting patients.

Vicki Snelgrove, Smoking Cessation Co-ordinator, said; "The decision to stop smoking is the easy part. The determination and willpower to carry out the decision can be more difficult for some people. There are lots of ways to help and encourage people and I am happy to see anyone who needs support and advice."

There will be posters and leaflets everywhere throughout healthcare premises directing patients, visitors and staff to sources of help. The most difficult part will be tackling people who ignore the request not to smoke and light up. It will be very unfair and unjust if staff asking them to put out their cigarettes are subject to verbal abuse. This can be upsetting to staff who are only doing their duty and trying their best to create a healthy environment.

The policy does cater for those patients who are terminally ill and who have smoked all their life. A senior doctor or nurse will be able to make arrangements for them to smoke in privacy.

Note: A further press release will follow with more details next week. The launch of the policy will be on 9th March with an event at about 11.30am. This will be attended by Bob Blizzard, MP, and senior Trust staff.

Click Here for a copy of the Trusts no smoking Policy

Jean has served as a non-executive Director since April 2001 and has been Vice Chairman of the Trust Board since November 2003. She was previously a chairman of the Community Health Council and a member of the Suffolk Social Services Standards Unit Advisory Panel.

The Chairman, John Hemming, said;
"I am delighted that Jean has been re-appointed. She is a dedicated colleague and this will give the Board stability and continuity for the foreseeable future."

Jean is currently a registered care manager with Suffolk County Council and a partner in a residential and day care establishment for older people.

Non-Executive Directors are paid a sum of £5,673 each year for their work on the Trust Board and on various committees within the organisation.

Jean Mason does not undertake any declared political activity nor does she hold any other ministerial appointments.

The vacated medical records department has been stripped out and is being totally rebuilt as a 36-bed Emergency Admission and Discharge Unit. The Trust hopes to open the Unit early in 2005.

All patients admitted as emergencies will be assessed in this Unit by a multi-professional team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. The aim is to increase the number of patients who receive diagnostic tests, start their treatment when this is needed and who are able to go home within 24 hours. For those needing to stay longer they will have already started treatment and will be placed whenever possible in an appropriate ward for their condition.

This innovative project will see the development of Advanced and Assistant Practitioner roles where highly trained nurse and allied health professional practitioners become fully responsible for admitting, clerking and initiating the investigations on some patients.

All patients will be assessed, a diagnosis reached and a clear plan for their future care produced with an agreed predicted date of discharge. Nurse and allied health professional led discharge will ensure that patients requiring admission are transferred from the Unit to a ward as soon as possible and that those being discharged directly home will know when they are going home and be home as soon as this can be safely arranged.

A great deal of planning will be taking place between now and the opening of the Unit to make sure it operates in an efficient and effective way. Improving the patient experience and smoothing the pathway through hospital care will be a great achievement.

The James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust has been selected as a Finalist for the Kimberly-Clark Professional Golden Service Awards 2004. The judging is carried out by an independent panel including representatives from Cleaning & Maintenance Magazine, the Cleaning and Support Services Association, the British Cleaning Council, the British Institute of Cleaning Science and Kimberly Clark Professional.

The hospitals going forward as finalists for the Best Cleaned Hospital by an in-house team were announced on 19th July 2004.

Mike Taylor representing Kimberly Clark inspected the James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust on Tuesday, 27th July. As a past winner of this award in 1999 we hope that when the winner is announced at the award ceremony in London on Friday, 5th November 2004 we are able to repeat our success.

Mike Taylor said, "It is a great achievement to get to this stage of the competition and the Trust should be very proud".

A Domestic Assistant commented: "It is nice to be recognised for the work that we do. Doing our job well helps to make a patient's stay more pleasant and it is nice to have this appreciated."

Two nurses have achieved a new status in the Casualty Department at the James Paget Hospital. Their role is a new and exciting one for the Trust.

After special training, two of the experienced casualty nurses Lin Mileham and Vicki Timpson, have taken on the role of Nurse Practitioners. This position has been tried and tested in other hospitals and has reduced the amount of time patients with minor injuries spend in the Accident & Emergency department.

Lin and Vicki will offer patients presenting with minor injuries high quality safe care. They will be able to order X-rays and prescribe medication to relieve pain. In other hospitals the role of the nurse practitioner has extended to seeing patients with minor illnesses.

Their role provides continuity of care throughout the patient's stay in the casualty department. It is supported by extended training and they work within strict guidelines. If they have any need for support they will be able to consult with senior doctors in the department.

Throughout the Trust nurses are taking on new roles and using their experience and training to offer flexible high quality care to patients. Senior nurses are supporting their medical colleagues by taking on some of the work previously done by junior doctors who are reducing their hours to come in line with the European Working Time Directive.

The hardworking staff in the Casualty Department at the James Paget Hospital have achieved their first target of the year. For April, May and June, 95% of people attending the department were seen and either admitted or discharged home within 4 hours of arrival.

In spite of the highest number of emergency admissions on record, which happened in mid-June, the efficiency and teamwork of all the staff made sure the patients were treated as quickly as possible.

Glenda Turner, Senior Sister, said: "The targets will get more difficult as the year progresses, but the staff are determined to continue their success. We try very hard to see and treat our patients as quickly as possible."

The department has two sections. One for minor injuries and conditions which is staffed by doctors and nurse practitioners. The other area deals with major accidents, more serious conditions and patients coming in by ambulance.

Both areas are extremely busy and last year saw the number of attenders rise by more than 3000 to over 55,000 in the year 1st April 2003 to 31st March 2004. This year's final target is that 98% of people attending A&E should be seen and treated within 4 hours.

The James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust Board met on Friday 30th April 2004 to review the results of government targets set for the past year. The Director of Finance confirmed that the Trust remained in budget and had met its financial targets.

All patients have received their treatment within 9 months of being placed on the waiting list and 93% of all patients are seen and treated in the Accident & Emergency Department within 4 hours. The majority of patients referred for an outpatient appointment are seen within 13 weeks and all are seen within 17 weeks.

The Chief Executive, David Hill, said; "The Trust Board are delighted that the Trust has met the targets at the end of March. These results cannot be achieved without a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment. All our staff have pulled out all the stops and we cannot thank them enough for their efforts."

The James Paget has to remain a 3-Star Trust in order to achieve NHS Foundation status so these results will help towards the star rating. The Trust is continuing its recruitment campaign for members.

It is most important that the local population show their support by completing membership forms or by telephoning the Corporate Services offices to sign up on 01493 452162.

Ken, who lives in Lowestoft, has recently taken early retirement from Hoseasons where he has been Managing Director for the past fourteen years. Prior to this position he was Finance Director of one of the Plessey companies, so he brings a wealth of experience to the Trust Board.

Ken will be joining the Trust at a particularly challenging time as the move towards NHS Foundation Trust progresses. He is looking forward to learning more about the health service.

Non-executive directors of NHS Trusts are appointed by the Appointments Commission and they receive a remuneration of £5,426 per annum for 2·5 days per month. Ken has confirmed that he is not actively involved in politics and that he does not hold any other ministerial appointments. Non-Executive Directors are committed to the Public Codes of Conduct and Accountability and represent the community whilst serving on the Trust Board.

The Centre offers assessment and therapy services for children with special needs who come from both the Great Yarmouth and Waveney areas. Over the ten years the staff have spread their good practice far and wide. The latest addition being a sensory room which is much appreciated by children like Kieren Rice who was one of the first children to attend the Centre on 5th January 1994. He was only 10½ months old at that time and had cerebral palsy with hearing problems. He attended for physiotherapy and speech therapy and came to the first "Tuesday Group" - a multi-disciplinary group for children with similar problems.

Kieren has attended the Children's Centre for therapy regularly throughout the lifetime of the Centre. He is now a lively 10 year old attending Lothingland Middle School and lives life to the full. Football is his greatest love but he struggles to keep up with his peers. He has regular physiotherapy to help to improve his walking.

The Newberry Children's Centre was originally part of Community Services but since 1997 has become part of James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust. The staff are dedicated to providing a fully integrated service which meets all the needs of the children in their care. To give an added boost to the children's interest two of the staff recently took a banner created by the children to the world premier of 'Lord of the Rings' in Wellington, New Zealand. Eleanor Coates, Senior Physiotherapist and Jeanne Greenfield, Senior Occupational Therapist, were both delighted to have the banner signed by Peter Jackson, Director of 'Return of the King'. Needless to say, the children were very excited to hear of their adventure.

Further birthday celebrations are planned for later in the year. For further information - please contact;

Jackie Reynolds
Superintendent Paediatric Physiotherapist
The Children's Centre, Newberry Clinic, Gorleston
01493 442322

The Great Yarmouth & Waveney Breastfeeding Working Group has been working hard to encourage mothers to breast feed their babies. The national average is for 69% of babies to be breast fed at birth, but in this area only 56% of mothers choose this way of feeding their babies.

To explain the advantages to mums-to-be, the Group has updated the James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust Breastfeeding Policy along the lines of the UNICEF UK Baby-Friendly Initiative best practice standards.

The new policy is being launched at the James Paget Hospital on Monday 8th December. Anyone is welcome to come along to the Boardroom between 11.30 and 14.00 to meet the midwives, health visitors and voluntary groups who will be taking forward the policy.

Healthcare professionals are backed-up by local groups who offer support for new mums in the community. For example, the Young Woman's Project and Peggotty Road Project in Great Yarmouth, Bumps to Babies in Gorleston and North Lowestoft and Regent Road peer support groups in Lowestoft.

The new drop-in breast feeding clinic to be held at the James Paget Hospital on Monday mornings will also be launched in the near future.

For details about any of these initiatives, please contact your local midwife or health visitor via your doctor's surgery, the ante-natal clinic at the James Paget Hospital or Curita Reilly - 01493 452011.

David Hill, Chief Executive, stated;

"The Trust is pleased to have been chosen to proceed with its application to be a Foundation Trust. We think there will be real benefits for our patients and the local population. They will have an opportunity to support their hospitals in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft and become involved in developing the services."

James Paget will have to meet the same national targets as the rest of the NHS and will receive the same funding as other NHS hospitals. The advantage is that decisions will be made locally and not nationally. Foundation status is not about privatisation or two tier hospitals.

NHS Foundation Trusts will be set up as a new form of social ownership with a Board of Governors or Members' Council which will be elected by local people, patients and staff. There will be no shareholders, no dividends and the NHS Foundation Trust will be prevented by law from being taken out of the NHS.

Local people will have an opportunity to hear much more about what NHS Foundation Trusts will mean for them early in 2004. James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust will be holding a three-month consultation period so that everyone will be able to have their questions answered.

As a 3-star Trust for two years running, the James Paget has to continue to work hard to achieve all the targets set to maintain its 3 stars in 2004. The Trust is accountable to the local community for improving the quality of the patient experience and using the greater freedom which Foundation status gives to take forward the health service in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area.

John Hemming, currently Vice Chairman, has been a non-executive director for the past two years. He chairs the Charity and Audit Committee and is particularly interested in the longer-term planning of Health Services and the use of information technology.

John is Managing Director of UK operations for the Scientific Instrument Division of Thermo-Electron and past president of GAMBICA, a trade association for the laboratory, instrumentation, automation and control industries. He has spent most of his working career with Philips, working at the TV factory in Lowestoft between 1972 and 1980. He lives in Corton and is a member of the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club.

"I am looking forward to supporting the Trust as it continues to build on past achievements" John stated. "We have a major investment programme ahead and will strive to improve the patient experience by achieving the vision set out in the ten year 'NHS Plan'.

The new Chairman does not carry out any political activity or hold any other ministerial appointments. His remuneration will be £18,608 per annum.

Both the Chief Executive, David Hill and John Hemming paid tribute to the dedication and commitment of John Wells. "He will be a hard act to follow", said David Hill. "He gives so much of himself to the role of Chairman. He is always there for all the staff, encouraging, supporting and caring."

Over the past two years a new building has appeared on the north side of the site. This houses a day case ward, outpatient and minor operating suite, and a new theatre for eye surgery. The bright and spacious departments have made a tremendous difference towards improving the patients' experience. Over the next two to three years the expansion is set to continue with further additions to the new building.

The next phase will contain an operating theatre for day cases, another outpatient suite and a 34 bed ward for short-stay surgery.

David Hill, Chief Executive, explained;

"The new treatment centre will give us the opportunity to offer patients a choice for their first appointment. They will be seen by the doctor, have tests carried out, be assessed for the appropriate procedure and be given a date for this to be carried out. In some instances it may be possible for the treatment to be undertaken there and then. In effect, a one stop shop."

This will be an exciting development for local people but it is not the only way of improving the service which is being planned by the Trust.

For some time the hospital has been under enormous pressure with insufficient beds for the number of emergencies presenting there. The Trust plans to create an Emergency Assessment and Discharge Unit next to the Accident & Emergency Department. This will eliminate the wait for beds as a patient will be admitted to the Unit, diagnostic tests will be carried out, the assessment about need for full admission or further treatment made, and discharge planned. The Unit will streamline the assessment and care offered to patients as a dedicated team of staff trained to deal with emergency medicine will attend to them.

Alongside these major developments, the Trust will continue to upgrade the existing wards, enhance the information technology and electronic systems and refurbish other departments. Altogether it is anticipated that an investment of around £28-million will be made over the next 4 to 5 years.