Page 11 - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Connect Summer 2019

Delivering outstanding care
Leeds to host 3rd International
Family Integrated Care Conference
This October, Leeds will host the prestigious International Family Integrated Care Conference, which brings together health professionals from across the world to discuss, debate and share ideas, issues and innovations in the world of neonatal care.
Leeds Children’s Hospital was a UK pioneer of Family Integrated Care (FICare) back in 2016 when it was introduced at St James’s Hospital and later rolled out at Leeds General Infirmary.
The FICare approach aims to put parents in the driving seat and fully involve them in the care of their neonatal baby by teaching parents how to take observations, undertaking bathing and nappy changes, and administering some medications with the support of the neonatal care team. This helps them to bond with their baby, and develop their confidence in caring for them in the neonatal unit before they are discharged home.
The founder of the Family Integrated Care programme in Toronto, Dr Shoo Lee (pictured above), will be speaking at the conference in Leeds in October.
Pharmacy Lead Clinician Andy Lowey and Consultant Respiratory Pharmacist Toby Capstick have been working to develop national recommendations for the use of liquid medicines for tuberculosis (TB).
Previously, evidence showed that liquid medicines for treating TB were being used at different concentrations in UK hospitals. One particular medicine was being used in at least eight different concentrations, increasing the risk of harm to patients.
Andy and Toby have been working with hospitals, organisations and patient groups across the country to agree a common approach - meaning that all hospitals will use the medicines
in the same concentration. They have also been working
with medicines manufacturers to ensure medicines are manufactured to consistently high standards. This is much safer for patients because it reduces the risk of errors in prescribing, dispensing and administering medicines, particularly if a patient was to move from one hospital to another or from a hospital back to the community.
The recommendations from this project have been endorsed
by numerous peer groups including the Paediatric Chief Pharmacists Group and are included in the British National Formulary for Children - the UK’s most respected guidance on prescribing, dispensing and administering medicines to children.
National recommendations for
tuberculosis treatment
UK’s first Paediatric Chief Registrar post
Dr Alix Fonfe became the UK’s first paediatric Chief Registrar last year and the role has since become so successful that Leeds Children’s Hospital has decided to make it a permanent position. The Chief Registrar is a junior doctor who, in
addition to their clinical duties, provides leadership, working closely with other clinical fellows to make fundamental improvements to the working lives of
junior doctors and driving clinical excellence.
Alix has worked closely throughout the year with our Junior Doctor Body to lead important projects including developing more flexible approaches to rota
planning, celebrating success and creating a positive learning culture.
The Paediatric Chief Registrar holds the position for 12 months and recruitment of Alix’s successor is now underway.
CONNECT MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2019 11