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Author: sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Cambridge doctor’s ground-breaking app gives ventilated COVID-19 patients a voice

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

A ground-breaking new iPad app for ICU patients – trialled at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge – is transforming the experiences and wellbeing of critically ill COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).

myICUvoice, developed by an ICU doctor, is giving a voice to ICU patients unable to communicate due to needing a tracheostomy, being supported by a ventilator or weakened from being critically ill – and, crucially, enabling medical teams to communicate more effectively with patients, understand and treat previously unidentified symptoms quicker and improve outcomes.

Research has shown that, for ICU patients, the inability to communicate is the most distressing and frustrating part of being critically ill in ICU – with over 20% of patients who survive ICU suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression after being discharged.

Dr Tim Baker developed myICUvoice after recognising the urgent need for his patients to communicate their symptoms and emotions when they were unable to speak. Ventilators prevent the vocal chords from working, and critically ill patients are often too weak to write down or mouth their messages, meaning there is often no communication at all.

Dr Baker explains: “If you are in intensive care and you can’t explain or communicate even your most basic symptoms, thoughts or needs, imagine how horrific, distressing and frustrating that must be.  I wanted patients to be able to communicate about how they are doing and feeling, and hear their side of the story. Because if patients aren’t able to communicate openly, honestly, and deeply, we, the people treating them, are potentially missing out on symptoms. And, without having a full understanding of symptoms, we cannot provide the best care.

“By restoring communication, myICUvoice is enabling our patients to express symptoms, feelings and thoughts that the medical and nursing staff were previously oblivious to.  Symptom management is crucial in critical care as it improves the long-term outcome. The earlier you can detect a problem, the better. But these symptoms would have been left unidentified without myICUvoice.”

The app – which was initially developed with the help of a £40,000 development grant from the hospital’s NHS charity, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust – features easy-to-use touch screen technology, which allows patients to tap on simple icons to respond to questions.

The interface additionally features a ‘Nurse Zone’ designed specifically for nurses, enabling them to acknowledge and address any reported symptoms as well as monitor changes in symptoms over time.

The personal communication afforded by the app has been equally beneficial.

Dr Mark Jefferys, a Specialist Registrar currently using the app with COVID-19 patients in ICU, says: “One of our patients used myICUvoice to ask about her son. It was only then that we realised she had become convinced he had died – and we were able to get him on a videocall later that day to reassure her.

“Using myICUvoice for communication has also made me realise that patients have so many symptoms I wouldn’t even have thought to ask about. So many of these are easily fixed if only we had a way of knowing about them – which we now do.”

One ICU patient who used myICUvoice whilst in the ICU described the first time he used it as “the most amazing, uplifting and motivating moment in those six and a half days of intubation.”

The patient added: “It gave me and my family an opportunity to share emotions as well as medical knowledge, and this undoubtedly had an immeasurably positive impact on my recovery out of the critical life-threatening situation I was in.”

The app is currently being translated into multiple languages so it can benefit people around the world.

Dr Baker says: “myICUvoice is actually much more than an app, it’s a data-driven platform – and, in Addenbrookes we are working to combine and analyse the data from each iPad to understand the patient experience continuously at a population level which means we can recognise previously undetected symptoms.  myICUvoice has the potential to analyse the patient-reported data from multiple wards and hospitals, thus allowing nurses to pre-emptively treat symptoms. It is also starting to be developed for other indications, including for stroke and post-operative patients.”

myICUvoice iPad app is available free from the  UK App Store or free to download from  http://www.myicuvoice.com/ or https://apps.apple.com/us/app/myicuvoice/id1465081161

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust highlights the tireless work of nursing staff at Addenbrooke’s hospital on International Nurses Day, 12 May

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, the NHS charity for Addenbrooke’s hospital, is marking International Nurses’ Day by highlighting the contribution of over 3,300 nurses and the vital and varied work they do every day, which is now being undertaken in the shadow of the coronavirus.

The hospital has quadrupled its intensive care capacity and nurses have been caring around-the-clock for the many patients in desperate need of extra care and ventilation. Many have been asked to redeploy to different areas of the hospital and have had to adjust to a ‘new normal’.

Jo Franklin, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Palliative Care Team, said: “I usually work to support people with incurable illnesses to live well. The pandemic has meant that as an ex-ICU and Neuro Critical Care Unit (NCCU) nurse I was asked to redeploy there.”

“I now look after patients with COVID-19 and patients with neurological problems such as brain injuries and brain haemorrhages. Some of the care has naturally been supporting patients to have good end of life care and facilitating difficult conversations in the current situation with no visitors allowed to the hospital.”

Everybody wants to do their bit to help. Mark Harvey, Lead Nurse for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, said: “The most dramatic effect has been the use of our staff to help out the adult critical care areas. This has proven very stressful for some, but of course the necessity is understood.”

Additionally, services and items provided by Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust through donations from the public before the current crisis, are making a real difference. The ACT funded Psychological and Wellbeing Service has proved vital during this time. Jane Olds, Matron for Adult Critical Care, says: “Intensive Care Units (ICU) are frightening environments for patients and their loved ones… this can result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) type damage. The psychological welfare service for our patients and families helps their ‘PTSD’ and improves their quality of life after critical care. It is also helping to address stress suffered by ICU staff.”

Other areas of the hospital are having to make big changes to the way they treat their patients. Hannah Brown, Matron for the Cancer and Haematology Day Units, said: “Many patients are sadly not receiving anti-cancer treatments at this time, as it is too risky for them during the pandemic. So, the oncology teams are supporting patients and their families in different ways, often via telephone calls and clinics, rather than face-to-face. We have merged the Oncology and Haematology Day Units, the latter which was largely funded by ACT, and set up a new location as an ‘outreach’ centre at a GP surgery, so that we can keep patients and staff away from the main hospital units and keep them safe.”

ACT also funds research within the hospital from personalised breast cancer research to current research into diagnostics and treatment for COVID-19. The way that research is being carried out has also been affected and research nurses have had to adapt too. “Even greater flexibility and collaboration than usual is required to adapt to new studies, while supporting the current crisis”, says Petra Polgarova, Research Nurse in Critical Care. “We have had to adapt our study procedures and their delivery to ensure the safety of both participants and staff looking after them.”

Susana Borja is a Specialist Nurse and Senior Research Nurse. She looks after patients with rare genetic kidney disease and works on a research project studying specific cardiac conditions. She agrees, saying: “This pandemic has impacted our roles significantly. We continue to provide a service to our patients in the renal clinic but have had to adapt and be very flexible. That has meant working from home, telephone appointments and providing more counselling to support our patients as levels of anxiety are high. We’ve also had to seek alternative locations to perform assessments and blood tests to minimise risk of COVID-19 exposure.”

Christi Deaton is the Florence Nightingale Foundation Clinical Professor of Nursing. She tells how changing to remote working has been challenging at times, “We are amending our study to be able to conduct it remotely, analysing the data we have, and considering how we can assess the impact of the pandemic on our patients with heart failure.” She added: “This pandemic is also stimulating research ideas from nurses and midwives.”

ACT is asking you to continue to support the amazing staff at Addenbrookes. Donations have massively helped the hospital before the current crisis and your continued donations will support our hospital do so much more than is currently funded by the NHS, helping to make Addenbrooke’s even better for everyone. Please visit www.helpyourhospital.co.uk.

How your donations are funding vital coronavirus research at Addenbrooke’s

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

A study by researchers at Addenbrooke’s and the University of Cambridge published today in the journal eLife, helped by £25,000 in funding from donations to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, has shown that a small proportion of hospital staff can carry COVID-19 without realising they’re infected.

The Cambridge team pro-actively swabbed and tested over 1,200 NHS staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in April. Of the more than 1,000 staff members reporting fit for duty during the study period, 3% nevertheless tested positive for the Covid-19 virus despite full PPE always being available.

The results of the study suggest that across UK hospitals as many as 15,000 workers may have been on duty and infected, with the potential to transmit the virus to co-workers, family members and patients during the month of April.

Senior authors Mike Weekes and Steve Baker say that constant testing of staff is needed regardless of whether they have any symptoms, which will be vital to stop infection spreading within the hospital setting.

You can hear Chris Smith’s interview on Radio 4 yesterday from 1:09:35 here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000j1yr

or read more at www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/science-news/hospital-staff-carrying-covid-19

Please help us and donate towards further important research at helpyourhospital.co.uk.

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust raises over £1 million to help our NHS Heroes

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, the NHS charity raising money to support Addenbrooke’s, the Rosie and the amazing NHS heroes who work there, is pleased to announce that thanks to generous donors it has now raised £1,048,000 for its Coronavirus Appeal.

The money is being used to help the wellbeing of staff and patients through this difficult time, provide vital equipment to support the Intensive Care Unit, enable research into new treatments and diagnostics, and much more. Thanks to the money raised we will be able to fund even more vital items and support in the forthcoming weeks and months.

So far donations have helped provide:

  • iPads to allow patients to communicate more easily with staff and to enable family members to comfort their critically ill relatives in intensive care and other wards.
  • Psychological support for staff and patients including a counselling service for A&E staff helping them to cope with the crisis and its long-term effects; and helping a nurses charity provide seminars and leadership support for nurses who are managing staff or working through the crisis.
  • Snacks, refreshments and toiletries such as hand cream and shower gel for frontline staff.
  • Enhancements to the patient environment for those in hospital during the crisis for non COVID-19 reasons including toys and activity packs to entertain children in hospital who usually must share; activities for teenagers; and whiteboards and colouring materials for dementia patients.
  • Numerous diagnostic and therapeutic COVID-19 research programmes including, research which is helping screen staff and assess which are more at risk of COVID-19; brand new, speedy screening for ICU patients; rapid diagnosis of children presenting with chest infections to see if they have COVID-19; testing the effectiveness of existing medicines; and further research into high risk patient groups.

Your continued donations will help our hospital do so much more than is currently funded by the NHS and will help to make Addenbrooke’s even better for everyone.  Please visit www.helpyourhospital.co.uk

Or else you can help raise money by taking part in one of our fundraising events:

  • Tea at Three – take part in a virtual tea break each day via video conference with colleagues, friends or relatives and donate the price of your usual brew (act4addenbrookes.org.uk/teaatthree)
  • Young people aged 0-18 years, can enter the Cambridge Commodities art competition at act4addenbrookes.org.uk/artcomp and have their artwork displayed in Addenbrooke’s Hospital for all to see.

We’re also encouraging people to feel free to invent their own fundraising ideas. We’ve seen our local postie in fancy dress, Disney birthday parties on zoom, virtual relay races, weird and wonderful haircuts, a live DJ streamathon and more!

Shelly Thake, ACT’s CEO, said: “Our local community has been incredible, and we would not have been able to achieve so much without them. We are so pleased that people are showing such warmth and generosity to our local hospital. Every £1 donated makes a huge difference.”

Dr Rosalind Smith, ACT’s Chair of Trustees, said: “It has been a genuine privilege to witness the leadership, organisation and selfless dedication to saving lives shown by everyone at Addenbrooke’s.

At ACT we feel very lucky to have the massive support from our donors and the Cambridgeshire community that is allowing us to support the hospital, and the country, in its fight against COVID-19. It enables us to fund research, testing, innovations in diagnosis, care and treatment, and well-being support for patients, families and staff.”

For more information on fundraising for Addenbrooke’s please visit www.helpyourhospital.co.uk/fundraise

Or you can donate online at helpyourhospital.co.uk or text NHSHEROES 10 to 70085 to donate £10 (T&C’s apply)

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust asks you to support the International Day of the Midwife 2020

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

On Tuesday 5 May, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) would like you to join it in supporting and recognising the midwives that work at the Rosie Hospital as we celebrate the International Day of the Midwife 2020.

During the lockdown, midwives from the Rosie Maternity Service have delivered over 800 babies. Since the arrival of the coronavirus, they have gone above and beyond to meet this challenge, supporting one another to protect women and babies in extraordinary circumstances.

ACT has a long history of supporting maternity services, helping fund the new Rosie in 2013 with £3.5million and continuing to support it today. ACT is now shining a light on the role of these dedicated staff, the essential care they provide to mothers and their new-borns and how they have had to adapt their skills during the current coronavirus crisis.

Lead midwife for the Delivery Unit, Alberto Rodriguez-Cala

Lead midwife for the Rosie Hospital Delivery Unit, Alberto Rodriguez-Cala, is responsible for supporting staff and services to enable the best possible care for women and their families. He said:

“The COVID-19 pandemic is making the day-to-day even more unpredictable, if I had thought that was even possible! The PPE we have to wear does impact on the communication among ourselves and the families we work with. We are also restricting visiting to minimise risk of infection, and as a result, women and their partners are understandably needing a lot more reassurance and emotional support.”

“Public support means everything to us. From an emotional perspective it gives you a sense of purpose and strength to deal with the daily challenges.

Chloe Bagnall is a Midwife and Midwifery Ambassador at the Rosie Hospital. She said:

L-R: Midwife Annette Ballard, Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwifery Officer (CMO) for England, Midwife Chloe Bagnell“

Part of my role as a midwifery ambassador is to visit local schools to promote midwifery as a career choice for young people, but at present, this is on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. My role also helps to influence the media representation of the profession and share the crucial role of midwives with the public. During COVID-19, we have been very fortunate to see the local community come together and support our NHS workers, including midwives. Sharing thanks for our midwives is the key focus of International Day of the Midwife. Using the #IThank[EnterMidwivesName] we are encouraging Cambridge, and the rest of the UK, to raise awareness of midwives and their positive impact on families lives.”

ACT provides funding to help the Rosie support mothers and babies at every stage of pregnancy and motherhood – from delivery and midwife care, to post-natal support and emergency care for vulnerable infants. Rosie Hospital services also support women through the upset and difficulty of issues affecting mental health. The charity has a track record in helping to support specialist services such as those in mental health and is supporting Maternal Mental Health Matters Awareness Week this week. This week-long campaign is dedicated to talking about mental illness while pregnant or after having a baby, as well as raising awareness of how people can seek support.

With your help, we can do even more for midwives, women, their babies and families, providing extra comforts, training, specialist services and funding life-changing research into mother and baby care. To help, please donate at www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/donate.

Cheffins raises over £30,000 for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk
This Highland bolthole for a week was one of the fabulous auction lots on offer

**Cheffins press release**

Cheffins has raised £30,610 for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT). The timed online charity auction was held to support funding for the charity’s COVID-19: Fast Response Fund which has been set up to help Addenbrooke’s Hospital with whatever they need during the coronavirus emergency crisis.

The auction, which was online for a week, featured some 40 lots available for people to bid on.  There were a number of ‘money can’t buy’ items such as the chance to have your name used as a character in the next Jeffrey Archer novel and the opportunity for a party of friends to enjoy a champagne reception and private dinner with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of the City of London in their private apartments in Mansion House.

As was to be expected, there was some frantic last-minute bidding in the final minutes before the auction closed at 9pm on Friday. A Lithograph by Sir Antony Gormley OBE entitled ‘Future’, was the top lot and sold to one lucky bidder for £5,500.

Martin Millard, Director, says: “Cheffins has a long history of working with charities and organisations within our local communities. The decision to host the auction for the benefit of ACT during this period of national emergency is our way of supporting our local hospital and the NHS staff and key workers here in Cambridge.  We are utterly dependant on our Addenbrooke’s Hospital and its staff for the care of our friends, colleagues and everyone in the area who may contract coronavirus. The proceeds from the auction will help to support the funds needed by Addenbrooke’s in the front-line war against this pandemic.”

“We would also like to thank everyone who donated lots for this online auction, and those who took the time to register and bid – we could not have done this without their help, generosity and expediency. Raising over £30,000 for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust is testament to the high regard we all have for the NHS.”

Shelly Thake, CEO at ACT adds: “We are all absolutely thrilled with Cheffins’ support for our staff at Addenbrooke’s. The support the local community is showing our hospital is inspiring! These funds will help staff at the frontline, research and patient care.”

Cambridge Commodities ‘NHS Heroes’ Easter art competition to boost Addenbrooke’s staff

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Local business, Cambridge Commodities, is launching an art competition over the Easter holidays to raise money to support NHS staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

The Ely-based nutritional ingredient supplier is encouraging everyone to get creative with a theme of ‘our NHS Heroes’.

Winners will have their artwork displayed online and, once the current crisis is over, the opportunity to have their artwork displayed opposite the Museum at Addenbrooke’s Hospital – one of the busiest corridors in the hospital – and will receive their artwork framed after the exhibition has finished.

A suggested minimum donation of £3 is encouraged per entry with donations going to ACT’s Emergency COVID-19 fund, which will provide extra medical equipment, hot meals, psychological support and whatever else staff may need during the coronavirus crisis.

Submissions are welcomed from those aged 0–21 years through the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) website with the deadline for entries Friday 1st May.

Entries will be judged in four age categories by a panel including the Head of Addenbrooke’s Arts and representatives from Cambridge Commodities as well as ACT.

James Stevens CEO, Cambridge Commodities said: “As a local business, we’ve always felt it was our responsibility to support ACT. During this uncertain time our passion for showing our appreciation to the NHS front line only increases.

We are thrilled to be hosting another exciting event which we hope will turn into an annual spectacle. Watching the sheer joy of last years’ winners as they saw their artwork up on the walls of Addenbrooke’s next to the likes of Quentin Blake and Anita Klein was an unforgettable moment. We cannot wait to be a part of this amazing experience once again.

Fundraising for our local hospital has never been so important and we’d love everyone in our community to show their love and support by taking part and maybe we’ll find the next Elaine Pamphilon.”

Shelly Thake, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust’s CEO, said: “We are delighted that the team at Cambridge Commodities are working with us on the art competition again this year. It’s a perfect project to run remotely, giving us the opportunity to occupy children and young people alike during these unusual times as well as giving the staff at the hospital the opportunity of seeing the winners. All the money raised by this initiative will support our Addenbrooke’s NHS heroes right across the whole hospital, and we thank them for all they are doing for us – each and every day. We are hopeful that these drawings can bring a smile to the faces of all those that get to see them. Thank you.”

Sir Andy Murray supports Addenbrooke’s staff heroes with video message

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Two-time Wimbledon and gold Olympic medal winner, Sir Andy, has recorded a message for staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital to thank them for everything they are doing through the coronavirus outbreak.

He said: “This is obviously an extremely difficult time for everyone but none more so than for the healthcare workers, so I just wanted to say a big thanks for all of your hard work, dedication and the sacrifices that you’re making at this time for all of us.”

Having recently visited Addenbrooke’s for a scan before the coronavirus outbreak, Sir Andy said: “Everyone there was fantastic and extremely helpful. I have made a donation to the charity to say thank you very much for everything that you’re doing.”

Shelly Thake, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust’s (ACT) CEO, said: “Like Sir Andy, we are in awe of the Addenbrooke’s staff who are fighting every day to save patients in impossible circumstances. I’d like to thank him very much on behalf of our NHS heroes for his kind donation to our ‘Help your hospital’ appeal, which will provide staff with the vital equipment and support they need to continue to save patients’ lives.”

Sir Andy’s message can be heard on ACT’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/act4addenbrookes

If you too want to be a champion and support our NHS heroes please donate at helpyourhospital.co.uk or text NHSHEROES 10 to 70085 to donate £10.

Help support Addenbrooke’s and our NHS heroes by setting up a virtual tea break and donating the cost of your cuppa

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

With most of us at home to protect the NHS and save lives by limiting the spread of the coronavirus, it’s important to keep in touch with loved ones, friends and colleagues. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone who is now working at home to set up a virtual tea break at 3pm every day.

And there’s another way that staying home and having a virtual tea break can help our nurses and doctors. If you donate £3, the average price of a takeaway drink, each tea break, it will help local hospital staff fight the coronavirus crisis.

Your money could help fund emotional and physical wellbeing for staff on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis as well as iPads to allow families of patients in intensive care to communicate with their loved ones. Not being able to communicate can be very distressing especially during a crisis like this.

It’s so easy to do. Simply put the kettle on, pop some biccies on a plate, and set up a video call using WhatsApp, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype – or whatever works best. Then drink up, eat up, and enjoy a bit of company. Chat about everything and anything — just make sure you don’t talk about work!

Once teatime is over, then please donate the cost of your usual cuppa to your hospital and NHS heroes who are working hard on the front line to save lives during this unprecedented healthcare crisis. Donating is simple. As a group email fundraising@act4addenbrookes.org.uk to find out more about setting up a fundraiser or as an individual you can Text NHSTEA 3 to 70085 to donate £3 (standard message rates apply).

Emily Willdigg, Community Relationships Lead, said, “Get friends, family and colleagues to join in and try to have fun. Dig out your best mug and make sure there’s cake or biscuits to hand as you countdown to 3pm. Don’t forget to share your photos (or screen grabs) too.”

Please share online using the hashtags #NHSHEROES #ACTCAFE #HELPYOURHOSPITAL # ADDENBROOKES #TEAATTHREE

Thank you for helping our hospital and our NHS Heroes. Your support means so much to those on the frontline.

ACT launches ‘Help your hospital’ appeal

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Please help raise funds to support Addenbrooke’s hospital and its staff during the coronavirus crisis

Cambridge’s Addenbrooke’s and Rosie maternity hospitals are under increased pressure during the current crisis. The hospital cannot and will not stop caring for people and its staff are going above and beyond to make sure that this care continues.

We are all being asked to keep indoors, or work from home, or maintain ‘social distance’ from our friends and family but our amazing NHS staff can’t. They have to be there for us all.

Helen Mason, an Addenbrooke’s and Rosie supporter said: “I just want to say thank you to all the amazing NHS staff who are on the frontline right now. We will owe you for everything you do and sacrifice for our care.”

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust is asking for your help to support the hospital and it’s amazing people. Unfortunately, due to restrictions the hospital cannot accept physical donations or gifts.Instead, the staff are encouraging people to donate money so that the hospital can best decide where the help goes.

Shelly Thake, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust CEO, said: “It’s truly incredible how many people want to support our fantastic NHS staff and I want to thank their kindness in advance. With their support we can help the hospital and its patients through these uncertain times.”

To donate and make Addenbrooke’s even better for us all please visit helpyourhospital.co.uk or text NHSHEROES 5 to 70085 to donate £5, or text NHSHEROES 10 to 70085 to donate £10.