Week three

Week three as a clinical librarian was just one day, the Wednesday before Christmas.  I travelled to the library at Glenfield hospital to meet my line manager, and while there found a section in a book that answered the information need of a visitor, and looked a book up on the catalogue in response to another enquiry.

I then travelled back to the Odames Library, where I caught up with email (two more literature search requests - one a new one and one a revised version of one I did last week), sent some messages to contacts suggested by the Cancer Information Centre, and printed off some thoughts for a meeting that I then had with a doctor in the Clinical Genetics Centre.  At that meeting we talked about three literature searches, and then I came back to the office and did two of those searches.

I had been before to the Clinical Genetics Centre, when I was based at the old Clinical Sciences Library, so it was nice to be back.   One of their other doctors had been at my interview setting the search scenario, but unfortunately she was not there on this particular occasion.

I also answered the phone, renewing someone's books and their library membership.

So, several places where I was close to the clinical work of the hospital, and several where I was doing things that don't form part of my work in my other job.

Yesterday I became aware that there is a site in the original Thunderbirds movie that is called Glen Field - it sounded like it was said as two words, but the sign says "Glenfield". On my next visit, I shall look out for Lady Penelope.  You rang, my Lady?

My first two weeks

So, in my first two weeks as a Clinical Librarian, I have:

Sent an email to introduce myself to some of the members of my departments.   I did this on the first Friday, and had two instant replies, one asking for articles, and one saying hello.   By the next Wednesday (the next work day) I had had four more, including one request for a literature search, and two mentioning the possibility of going to a meeting in that department.  

I have also:

• Visited the excellent Cancer Information Centre, getting two contacts to follow up;
• Done a literature search related to sickle cell anaemia;
• And another related to length of stay in hospital;
• Explored the Evidence Updates that we send out, thought a bit about how we might redesign one, and sent colleagues some bits and pieces for them;
• Let someone into the library;
• Answered two questions at the desk (everyone else was at Christmas lunch), only one of which I had to pass on to colleagues;
• Done induction training on infection control, basic resuscitation skills, moving and handling, equality and diversity, and safeguarding.
• Asked IT colleagues about two matters;
• Found some cancer information sites to put on a webpage.

I have met one person for literature searching advice, and have another such appointment next week, and have a meeting with a research and development lead in the New Year.

Next week, week three.

Hello my name is...

Quite a long while since the last post, and this is partly due to a new job, and partly due to general disorganisation, something I did not mention at the interview.

I have started a second, part time, job, returning to full time working for the first time since 2008.  I have joined the Clinical Librarian team at University Hospitals of Leicester, based in the Odames Library at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.  The Library began life in 1907 as a hospital ward, paid for by Samuel Odames, hosiery manufacturer of Leicester.

I am looking forward to being involved in the NHS again, and especially at the hospital site where I started in Leicester in 2003.  Some of the site I don't remember (some of it has changed, of course), but some of it I vaguely do.  And today I met in the corridor someone I used to meet frequently at the University, as he was at that time a member of one of the departments I support.  

I have a name badge with a photo on it, and another with just my name and role, and the statement "Hello my name is", which I have also put on my email signature.   The trust have signed up to a campaign of the same name, to encourage health staff to introduce themselves when meeting patients.   Dr Kate Granger, the founder of the campaign, noticed when a patient herself that many staff did not introduce themselves.  As a non clinical member of staff, it is nice to be included in the campaign.

On my third day, I met someone at the issue desk, who had come to request a literature search and happened to be in one of my departments.  Afterwards, I realised I had not introduced myself.   I always remember when answering the phone, even at home (how formal!) to say who I am, so it is interesting that I forgot in person.  It perhaps shows how easy it is not to introduce yourself to people you meet in person and why the Hello my name is campaign is so useful.

So, Hello, my name is Keith Nockels.  How can I help?

A and E crisis - amended 20th January

Much in the media in recent weeks about the crisis in Accident and Emergency, with articles comparing A and E unfavourably to military hospitals in the Iraq War, and about the longer and longer wait until you are seen.  Here are some things I have come across in the last few days:

Surviving a night in A and E: a doctor's story - an anonymous diary of one doctor's night duty in A and E, giving an insight into the patients and the staff.  Several patients who ought to be somewhere else, some who are there because they are drunk, and some who are in the right place.

A & E crisis: understanding health at a systems level could drive a better NHS - by Terry Young, Professor of Healthcare Systems at Brunel University, arguing that it is the complexity of the system that needs to be tackled, and arguing that it is time to use the tools that have been developed in other complex areas of life, referring to Atul Gawande's recent Reith Lectures.  This article is part of a series - go to the end of this page to see links to others.

A report in the BMJ about a recent report from the Health Foundation and the Nuffield Trust, which finds that most reasons for the problems do not explain the whole story.  You will need a subscription to read this article.

Rather older, dating from July 2013, a Lancet article by John House (I know, I thought that, but not him!), asking experts about the causes of the crisis.  You will need a subscription to read this too.


An Observer article about operations being cancelled because of the crisis.

The work of the King's Fund on urgent and emergency care. This site includes statistics, publications, and an "alternative guide" which examines the myths.

A new "finally", added 20th January - the BBC's A and E Tracker, which indicates how many patients in the four home nations were seen within 4 hours (England is hiding under "How is your local hospital doing?", at least for me, in England).   You can search by postcode to see how your local hospital is faring.