The Northern Health and Social Care Trust recently launched its ‘Starting a Conversation about Loneliness’ resource. This useful resource comprises of Prompt Cards and a Guide and aims to support Trust staff help identify loneliness with service users and carers and enable them to discuss ways to address it.

Even before Covid-19, where feelings of loneliness more than doubled, loneliness was fast becoming recognised as a growing public health concern.

People of all ages can experience loneliness and most of us will have felt lonely at some time in our lives.  Statistics within a 2020 report by the Campaign to End Loneliness and the Action Group on Loneliness Policy in Northern Ireland indicate that 1 in 3 people in Northern Ireland are ‘more often lonely’ while 1 in 20 people are chronically lonely.

Chronic or persistent loneliness can be as damaging to our physical and mental health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, obesity, heart disease and other health conditions including an increased risk of anxiety and depression. The effects of loneliness can also impact the numbers of people contacting their GP, which can in turn place pressure on public services.

Dr Petra Corr, Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Wellbeing, Northern Trust said, “I am delighted to launch this new loneliness resource. Within the Northern Trust we are committed to finding ways to support all those who may be feeling lonely or who are at risk of loneliness.  This new resource will be a valuable tool to help staff talk about loneliness with service users and carers and help them find ways to address it”.

Yvonne Carson Lead for Loneliness Northern Trust commented “Feeling lonely is a normal human emotion and whilst loneliness is not a pleasant experience this resource will help break the stigma of loneliness by giving staff the the confidence to talk about it more openly and discuss ways to improve social connections”.

Janine Gordon, Mental Capacity Act Governance Lead added, “We know the links between loneliness and poor mental and physical health are well established and without support mechanisms to cope, loneliness can become problematic. We involved staff from the onset and we have received a lot of support and positive feedback from staff who very much welcome this exciting new loneliness resource”.

Twenty Northern Trust Loneliness Champions were also recognised at the event and they were presented with a Certificate of Recognition, Loneliness Champion badge and pack by Dr Petra Corr, Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Wellbeing.

Janet Potts, Macmillan Volunteer Beauty Therapist and Look Good Feel Better Volunteer in the Macmillan Unit, Antrim Area Hospital has been announced as winner of the Volunteer of the Year: Northern Ireland Award at the Helpforce Champions Awards 2022.

The awards are an opportunity to recognise the invaluable contribution that volunteers give towards helping NHS staff, patients, families and other organisations.

Janet was shortlisted and crowned winner for her commitment during challenging times and outstanding contribution to volunteering in the health and care sector through her volunteering services as a Beauty Therapist to patients and families receiving palliative care in the Macmillan Unit, Antrim Area Hospital.  In addition to this Janet also volunteers with the Look Good Feel Better charity who work in partnership with the Northern Trust.  She organises virtual beauty therapy sessions via zoom to patients who are receiving treatment after a cancer diagnosis.  This was particularly important during the covid 19 pandemic providing that much needed connection and support to patients.

Nicola McAleese, Macmillan Volunteer Coordinator said: “Janet has been volunteering for over 21 years and is passionate about her volunteering roles.  She brings so much joy and happiness to the lives of so many when their mood is low and they are at their most vulnerable.  Volunteering is a huge part of Janet’s life and she is the embodiment of what a volunteer can bring to an organisation like Macmillan Cancer Support, LGFB and the Northern Trust”.

Janet expressed her delight: “It was a wonderful day celebrating at the awards ceremony in London, which was made even better by winning the Volunteer of the Year (NI) Award. I am delighted to accept this award for all the volunteers at Macmillan in Northern Ireland who give up their time freely and willingly to help others. It is a pleasure to work with patients and is very humbling to help others feel great about themselves when they are going through a really tough time.”

Mark Lever, Chief Executive of Helpforce, said: “This year, the Helpforce Champions Awards have received a record number of entries with so many brilliant examples of innovation, great practice, commitment, and real passion for patient care and support for staff across the health and care sector in the UK.

The Northern Trust would like to congratulate Janet on achieving this significant award!

During Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 Oct), we are hosting Butterfly Remembrance walls at Antrim and Causeway Hospitals, where you can come along and place a butterfly to remember your baby or child.

The wall at Antrim Area Hospital (outside the old emergency department) will open on Monday 10 October (from 11am-12 noon) and Thursday 13 October (from 3-4pm and 6-7pm).

The Butterfly Remembrance Wall at Causeway Hospital (outside the main entrance) will open on Monday 10 October (from 3-4pm), Tuesday 11 October (11am-12noon) and Wednesday 12 October  (7-8pm).

A new Wellness Pathway for people living in nursing and residential care homes has shown significant benefits in the area of resident falls.

Tested as part of the regional Enhancing Clinical Care Framework (ECCF) project, the Pathway has provided the tools and resources to enable care home staff to support residents who are at high risk of falls, managing their care within homes.

Rathmena House in Ballyclare is one of a number of care homes in Northern Ireland which has tested the Pathway.  This work is being led by the Department of Health and is supported by the Northern Trust’s Reach Team (Responsive Education, Support and Anticipatory Care to Care Homes), in collaboration with staff within the home.

After commencement of the Falls Pathway, Rathmena House has had no resident falls in the months of July and August 2022.  There has been an increase in staff awareness and a more holistic approach to the care of residents with the potential to fall.  The Pathway has also resulted in timely assessment and intervention by General Practitioners, multidisciplinary team and Allied Health Professionals and better rehabilitation opportunities for residents.  In addition, Reminiscence Interactive Therapy and Activities are provided to help provide therapeutic engagement and meaningful activity for residents.

The Testing phase is now complete however due to the benefits of the Falls Pathway outcomes the care home continues to use the Falls Pathway tools and resources.

Speaking about its success, Elizabeth Graham, Assistant Director of Nursing with the Northern Trust said:

“The Falls Pathway is just one of many resources currently being tested across a range of care home settings in NI as part of the regional Department of Health plan to coproduce a new framework for enhancing clinical care for residents in care homes, working in partnership with the Independent Sector.

“The aim of the Enhancing Clinical Care Framework (ECCF) project is to ensure that people who live in care homes are supported to lead the best life possible and that their right to access equitable healthcare provision is upheld.”

Antrim Area Hospital Neonatal Unit has become the first neonatal unit in Northern Ireland to receive full Baby Friendly accreditation by UNICEF.

The Team at the unit has worked towards Baby Friendly accreditation since 2017.  Following funding by the Public Health Agency for breastfeeding lead roles in neonatal units, they gained the knowledge and skills to implement the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Neonatal specific standards.

The Team implemented simple but effective measures including:

• comfortable recliner chairs for use by breastfeeding mothers
• Breast pumps for each cot space
• More privacy screens to encourage mothers to pump beside the cot
• Meal vouchers for parents to have a hot meal each day
• Small fridges in each nursery for mothers to manage their own breastmilk supply
• Car parking tickets to enable free car parking on the Antrim Hospital site
• A hydration station for parents and staff to drink water/juice throughout the day
• Coat hangers for parents to feel at home and have somewhere to hang their belongings
• A baby library to encourage parents to take a book and read to their baby
• Promotion of breastmilk while supporting all choices/methods of feeding

The Neonatal Unit also offered access to both parents and grandparents, however temporary changes were necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supporting families to breastfeed and increasing the number of babies who are breastfed offers the best possible start in life.  This improves infant health and provides health benefits for mothers.  Neonatal staff involve parents as true partners in care; they encourage relationship building, support breast milk use and the transition to breastfeeding.

Ruth McKinstry, Breastfeeding Lead Nurse, Neonatal Unit, Antrim Area Hospital, said,

“We are absolutely delighted to receive the Baby Friendly Accreditation.

“This work has helped both staff and parents to focus on family-centred care, ensuring families stay together at a most vulnerable time, surrounded by a supportive and welcoming environment and team.

“Breastmilk provides the unique nourishment required to meet babies nutritional needs, it helps fight infection, stimulates gut growth, aids digestion and research has also shown it can have an analgesic effect which is important for preterm and sick babies.”

Yvonne Palmer’s baby was born at just over 31 weeks.  She said,

“I decided to breastfeed because it was the one thing I could do while the nurses and doctors helped with the other care.

“No one else can make the same tailor-made milk as my body can, which helps to build and grow my baby.”

The Northern Trust Maternity Service was accredited as a Gold Baby Friendly Service in May 2018. This good work has continued with the Neonatal Unit now achieving the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Neonatal specific standards.

Additional Information

• There is extensive evidence that breastfeeding saves lives, improves health and cuts costs.  In infant health, breastfeeding protects children from a vast range of illnesses, including infection, diabetes, asthma, heart disease and obesity, as well as cot death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).  There are also maternal health benefits.  Breastfeeding protects mothers from breast and ovarian cancers and heart disease.  It also supports the mother-baby relationship and the mental health of both baby and mother. (UNICEF)
• Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organisation for babies until six months’ old and thereafter with other foods for two years and beyond.
• In the UK, many mothers stop breastfeeding before they want to. The Baby Friendly Initiative responds to particular barriers they face by supporting health professionals to provide sensitive and effective care so that mothers can make an informed choice about feeding, get breastfeeding off to a good start and overcome any challenges.
• More information about Baby Friendly Standards for Neonatal Units:
  https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/implementing-standards-resources/neonatal-guide-to-the-standards/
• Baby Friendly Accreditation statistics and awards:
  https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/about/accreditation-statistics-and-awards-table-2/