UHNM Team of the Month: Colorectal Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)

Staff from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) involved in the production of a series of information videos have received recognition for improving the experience of colorectal patients. 

Colleagues from across Colorectal Surgery including consultants, nurses and support staff, worked together in the creation of nine patient information videos detailing the different stages of the cancer pathway from diagnosis and pre-assessment to attending theatre and follow-up care.

The team have been presented with UHNM’s Team of the Month award by Helen Ashley, UHNM Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Strategy and Transformation.

Mr Tim Bullen, Consultant Colorectal Consultant who had the idea for the videos said: “It’s important that we provide accessible information to our colorectal patients, whilst recognising that they access information differently now, for example via online platforms like YouTube. Studies have shown that people won’t read leaflet after leaflet, and the retention of information is poor, whereas you watch a video you absorb a lot more. Having seen how well received patient information videos had been at neighbouring NHS Trusts, we decided to create our own for the benefit of our colorectal patients. 

“We hit a few stumbling blocks during the project, the main one being covid. We debated filming the content with the necessary PPE and masks, but felt it would severely date the videos, so we elected to wait until guidelines were relaxed so we could film face-to-face consultations without them- the videos were about breaking down barriers, not putting them there. 

“The production was an activity that the whole department participated in, it was a great team building exercise where we all got to do our thing. I helped preparing scrips for some people, other colleagues just wanted to do things off the cuff. Some staff also acted as patients and did a fine job as well. It worked really well, and people were proud of what they had produced at the end of it. It was a lot of hard work but worth it in the end.” 

The team were nominated for the Team of the Month Award by Dan Hobby, Matron for General Surgery at UHNM.

Dan said: “The Colorectal MDT have gone above and beyond to create these series of videos which hopefully have a positive effect upon their service users for years to come. The team approach was evident with regard to the wide range of staff involved including clinicians, nurses, admin staff, porters and more. 

“As Matron for this service, I found the videos so informative, and could only imagine what a positive effect the videos have upon our patients by informing them of the pathway which could potentially reduce the stress and anxiety that comes with hospital treatment.” 

The production of the videos was made possible thanks to a £10,000 donation to UHNM Charity by former patient Adam Parry.

Following treatment for bowel cancer in 2018, Adam, from Gnosall near Stafford, donated £10,000 for the benefit of other patients requiring colorectal surgery.

Adam, 35, said: “I was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour that that needed operating on within a matter of days. The staff at UHNM, from surgeons to administrators, went above and beyond with what was a tricky process and required further follow-on treatment for a year.

“Having seen others less fortunate than myself, I wanted to do something to help fellow patients, so I decided to donate the money received through a works initiative to UHNM Charity.

“During my treatment I was given lots of literature to read about various things, and thought there must be something better than all this paper. So I thought of different stages of the cancer pathway covering key questions that the team gets asked a lot.”

Dorothy Munyanyi, Macmillan Lead Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist at UHNM said: “Attending hospital for treatment for cancer and other bowel conditions is a daunting and stressful experience, but we hope these new videos will help our patients better understand the care and procedures that take place. The videos, available on both the UHNM website and Patient Support Group, have been received very well, with patients have commenting they have been very helpful and they are now well informed before they come in for treatment.”