Last Friday we waved a fond farewell to nurses Brenda Daley and Jeanette Lee from Glendon Hospital in Montserrat, who have been with CHFT for the last four weeks as part of a managed education partnership with NHS England.

To say the pair have had a brilliant experience and learned a lot would be an understatement, and we had to share their feedback, sent to us by Brenda:

"The observership programme was such a valuable opportunity for Jeanette and I, and one that could not be missed. Kudos to Senior Clinical Educator, Rosie Bevan and Theatre Clinical Educator, Zoe Matthewman for putting together a well thought out programme tailored to our every need.

"Over the past four weeks we covered topics in or related Leadership and Management the Operating Theatre and Maternity. Each week was based on the Trust’s nursing ambitions, Leadership in Every Seat, Lifelong Learning, Professionalism, Inclusivity and Civility and Models of Care.

"The Trust’s core value of One Culture of Care was very evident on our first day of our arrival. We felt the warmth and the love shared by everyone we met. At first, we wondered if this was real. However, as the days sped by and we interacted with various staff members across the Trust we knew that yes, it was real. We not only felt that Culture of Care, we saw it in action in the way staff were cared for by their supervisors, especially evident during the heat wave.

"A few highlights for me were:

• Our welcome ceremony how everyone made us felt at home.
• Training in Infection, Prevention and Control and Fire Safety.
• Observing technology at its best in the Operating Theatres: Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgery was a first for us.
• How using digital systems can improve patient care and outcomes. Through support of your nursing care plans, escalating patient care based on News and Mews scores, improving operating theatre times and safe staffing also flagging patients with cognitive impairments. Using digital platforms to deliver antenatal care especially with booking of clients.
• Observing the birth pool at the Birthing Centre at Calderdale
• Freedom to Speak Up we found very interesting and necessary
• Insights
• Human Factors training
• Sepsis
• Staff wellbeing
• Succession planning
• Being a part of high-level meeting and Leadership discussions.
• Being lucky enough to attend the CHuFT Awards.

"Spending two days with Matron Belinda Russell and her Infection Prevention and Control Team made us realise a lot more needs to be done within our hospital. We appreciated the training and the conversations on IPC. Nurse Lee believes this is a path in nursing she would like to pursue and be a part of within our hospital.

"My thoughts are that Montserrat and CHFT’s partnership will be lifelong. There is so much to learn.

All in all, an amazing programme. Thank you and well done CHFT."

Rosie added: “We've loved having Brenda and Jeanette as part of our teams and they have thrown themselves into every experience. They even met up with ED Consultant, Andy Lockey, to reminisce about Montserrat as that was where he carried out his medical elective in 1990. Andy even had a plaque of the country on his wall which is a souvenir from his visit all those years ago!

"I'm proud of how every department was so keen to help and welcome the observers and share best practice. We will miss them!”