News

The impact of technology and social media on mental health is the focal point for this year’s Men’s Health Week.

The annual event, organised by the Men’s Health Forum and supported by the Trust, runs this week. With the aim of raising awareness about the health issues facing men, while encouraging them to speak out when faced with difficult personal situations. Recent statistics revealed that 40% of men do not talk about their mental health with their friends or family, meaning many suffer in silence, while also a quarter would not feel comfortable speaking to a GP about their mental health.

Not only does Men’s Health Week emphasise the importance of men’s health, but it also reminds us that there is help and advice out there. Whereby men can access information, services and treatment to live healthier, longer and more fulfilling lives.

Dr Jeremy Sandbrook, Consultant Psychiatrist says, “I think we are getting better at overcoming stigma, and it is becoming more acceptable for people to seek help in relation to their mental health. This said, in our society we still have a perception in some that ‘men do not cry’ or similar, and this sort of attitudes contributes to the situation where men are less likely to seek help when they really need it. We can tackle stigma by tackling myths about mental health, raising awareness, and making it easier and more acceptable to see help for mental health problems.”

Last year Men’s Health Week focussed on ‘DIY Man MOT’s’, which encouraged men to take notice of what’s going on in their body and mind

For 2023 Men’s Health Week is looking at men’s health and the internet and asking: Too much time on your tech? With technology as prominent as it has ever been in our lives, we are being asked if we are spending too much time looking at our electronic devices, from mobile phones to tablets.

While there are many upsides to owning the latest tech, with everything you need at your fingertips, there are pitfalls too and while all those apps you are so familiar with are great to use they can also be addictive, taking up hours of your day when your time can be devoted to more ;meaningful things away from the glare of a screen.

Technology and social media can have a serious impact on mental health. 1 in 8 men have a common mental health problem such as stress, anxiety or depression. Some men feel uncomfortable about speaking out which could lead to a detrimental effect on their mental health if their problems are left unattended. The latest statistics show that 75% of UK suicides are male. It has also been revealed that suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45.

“Men are just as likely to experience significant mental health problems as women. Men are statistically less likely to seek help for these problems. Unfortunately men are also more likely to die by suicide than women. It is therefore really important that we raise awareness about men's mental health and to all we can to promote more people seeking support when they need help.” Dr Jeremy Sandbrook

For men’s health support you can check out our Talking Therapies webpages which provides free, confidential talking therapies for people who are registered with a GP in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, aged 16 years and over. You can also access support via our Mental Health Helpline, which is open 24/7. Staff are available to provide advice, guidance, signposting, and support over the phone to anyone who may be worried about their own or somebody else’s mental health. Call free on 0800 038 5300.;

Read Men's Health Week…

The Trust is delighted to announce that Bodmin Community Hospital’s minor injury unit opened its doors at new premises today, 14 June 2023.

The move is part of our strategy to deliver improved services closer to people’s homes in what is another positive step for north and east Cornwall.

Following the completion of the new community diagnostic centre towards the end of last year, the second phase of the project sees the minor injury unit and its staff relocate a short distance from the existing hospital building to the centre which is located closer to the entrance to the site.

The new minor injury unit boasts a dedicated triage room, 4 treatment bays, an isolation treatment bay, and all the essential areas necessary for delivering exemplary care standards. The Bodmin minor injury unit is 1 of 10 minor injury units run by the Trust across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The services make a vital contribution to the delivery of urgent care in our system taking pressure off Treliske and Derriford Hospitals.

Work is now underway on phase 3 with the second floor being turned into a multi-use clinical space and additional community diagnostic facilities. The diagnostics centre delivers a range of diagnostic services, and includes x-ray, CT scanner and ultrasound services, supplemented by a mobile diagnostic imaging space that has facilitated MRI capabilities at the site. The centre is home to the fifth CT scanner in Cornwall and the first east of Truro.

“It’s wonderful to be at the new site here in Bodmin. We now have a fantastic new unit to work from and I think this is another important step in the right direction as we aim to provide the best possible service for patients.” Sister Laura Innis

Call 111 for non-emergency help and remember to check waiting times for our emergency and urgent care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Read Bodmin minor injury unit opens at new premises…

The Trust is assisting patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) ailments, the second-largest cause of work sickness absence in the UK.

Responding to the NHS 5-year plan which identified a shortage of GPs, the Trust has introduced the first contact practitioner role. They will help streamline care for patients with MSK ailments, improve patient experience by cutting wait times and expanding access to primary care.

The Trust has piloted the role since 2017. It has recently become a funded model through the Cornish GP contract, as well as nation-wide. There are now 22 first contact practitioner physiotherapists within the Trust. They work part of their week in Cornish GP surgeries, with the workforce model continuing to grow.

Part of the team of 22 first contact practitioner are 15 MSK physiotherapists. The physiotherapists are celebrating having recently achieved post graduate diplomas in first contact practitioner MSK practice. They will continue to provide support to Cornish GP surgeries.

“We would like to celebrate this huge achievement by 15 of our highly specialised physiotherapists who have attained formal accreditation. They are now verified first contact practitioners in accordance with the Health Education England’s roadmap to practice framework. This is an outstanding achievement for the clinicians and their supervisors. It really gives assurance to patients that they will receive the highest standard of care.” Maria Stickland, Senior Operational Manager for Prevention and Primary Care

MSK problems account for up to 25% of GP appointments. Evidence shows that 85% of MSK problems can be dealt with effectively by an appropriately qualified physiotherapist without the need to see the GP.

By the patient being able to see a first contact practitioner when they visit a GP surgery, they have swifter access to diagnosis, advice, exercises, investigations, and treatment. This helps them to manage their condition more effectively for an accelerated recovery.

“The roles are designed to support GPs as part of an integrated primary care team and to optimise the patient care pathway, by seeing the right person, in the right place and at the right time.

“Our first contact practitioners are highly specialist, expert musculoskeletal physiotherapists. They do not provide hands-on physiotherapy treatment during your appointment. They will undertake with you an in-depth consultation to understand the problem. They will then give their working diagnosis and advise you on what you need to help your musculoskeletal problem.

“You could be offered self-management advice, which in most cases is all that is required. If the issue is more complex or if they feel that you would benefit from investigations such as X-ray, MRI, or tailored interventions such as a course of physiotherapy, they can arrange a referral. Additionally, if they feel that a secondary care opinion is needed, such as a surgical opinion, they can arrange an onward referral.” Maria Stickland

In a study conducted in 2020, The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy found that first contact practitioners benefit patient care and the expansion of skills and expertise on offer in primary care. They also contribute to very high levels of patient satisfaction.

“I am a huge advocate for having physiotherapists in first contact roles in primary care. First contact practitioners are excellently placed to provide up to date, evidence-based information, and care for our communities. This means people do not have to sit on long waiting lists.

“We can provide timely treatment and help to prevent the development of chronic MSK illness quickly. By seeing patients in a timely fashion, we can positively impact a person’s quality of life.” Jessica Grenfell, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist and First Contact Practitioner

Read How we are helping to tackle GP wait times…

Andy White, who is a nurse coordinating NHS-funded community care for our learning disability service, has recently travelled to Ukraine to provide support at the Magala orphanage.

Prior to Russia invading Ukraine, Magala orphanage was caring for 12 children. It now cares for over 50 children, who are mainly boys with learning disabilities and some with additional physical disabilities.

Andy funded the trip himself and travelled with an NHS volunteer group of 5 other learning disability nurses. The group travelled with Teams4U, who are a development charity that takes essential products to areas in need and enables individuals or teams to get together and experience giving aid to support vulnerable children and their families.

“I have supported various charities over the years but wanted to provide direct action to support vulnerable people suffering the war in Ukraine. Working with Teams4U provided an opportunity to help on the ground and see for myself what would be needed for the long-term development of a specific care service in the country.

“I travelled with a group of NHS volunteers who connected through Teams4U who did the groundwork for our mission including where we would stay and who would guide us in Ukraine. We flew in and out of Romania for safety and were looked after there by a young professor at Suceava University. We were dropped off at the Ukraine border and I felt quite nervous to be entering a country at war.”

Andy and the NHS volunteers were guided to the orphanage in the west Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi which is around 500 miles from the nearest frontline.

“We were met with children of varying ages and abilities roaming outside the old building. The boys were excited to see new people and we spent a couple of days with the children who were lacking positive interaction due to the orphanage struggling to cope with the number of children in its care” comments Andy.

Although knowing Ukraine is a country at war, Andy still found the lack of person-centred care in Ukraine challenging.

“The staff were overwhelmed, there are little resources to occupy the children, limited toys are often locked away, and the communal clothes are worn by different children each day. Most distressing was the lack of basic interaction with the children so whilst I was there, I spent as much time as I could with them, doing simple things like holding their hand, going for a walk around the grounds, singing songs and offering comfort. It was profound; I came away feeling like I had made a bit of difference, but there is much more needed over the years to come.

“I feel very humbled to have spent time with the children and see the challenges they and the orphanage staff face, all of which is compounded by the fact they are in a country being attacked by a global superpower. I will stay connected with my fellow volunteers and Teams4U to see what we can do. One positive outcome that our group has achieved already is funding for a skilled play-therapist to work in the orphanage for a year.”

Tim, Beth, Sharon, who are all Welsh learning disabilities nurses, Sorena a local Ukrainian official who arranged access to the orphanage, Andy White,Trust learning disabilities care coordinator, Ruth, who is a nurse lead for learning disabilities in Wales, and Nadya, a Ukrainian translator.

Read Trust nurse provides aid in war-torn country…

Sowenna Sounds, an album of remarkable new music written and performed by the young people at the Sowenna adolescent mental health unit in Bodmin, will be released on all streaming platforms. The album will also be launched at the Royal Cornwall Show on 8 June 2023. Visit stand 67 to listen to the album.

"For some of our young people, the opportunity to create music and experiment with sounds has been a small ray of light and hope during a very dark period in their mental health.” Jonathan King, Head of Education at Sowenna

The album has 17 new tracks. It was created by young people during their inpatient admission at Sowenna. The work was enabled by visiting music producers working with many new music forms. The album includes hip hop, intelligent dance music (IDM), folk, indie pop, drum and base, soundart and dubstep.

Listen to the album on SoundCloud.

"We are incredibly supportive of this project, our school and our charity and their work to improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing," Debbie Richards, Chief Executive

The young people and the staff team at Sowenna worked with creative partners, dBs Pro at the dBs Institute in Bristol and dBs-i ,a non-profit sound and music company, for 2 years.

“We all know that music can be powerful and in some cases change people's lives. Having access to instruments and the confidence to pick one up is not always within reach. During the making of this album, we worked with young people who, in some cases, had no previous experience with music and sound creation. Using simple-to-operate and affordable technology, we helped remove the entry barriers for engaging with a creative practice. In this case, music and sound art. It was a privilege to have been involved with the project and see first-hand the enormous benefits playing with sound and music can have for young people dealing with so much in their lives.” Jay Auborn, Creative Producer at dbs Pro

"The new tracks are both imaginatively creative and thought-provoking. It would be great to hear them on the radio.” Dr John Matthias, Head of Research at dbs-i

The Sowenna Appeal Charity funded the project. This provided crucial and easy-to-use music technology equipment and visiting music producers which enabled the young people to create hip-hop and pop music song forms. The tracks were mixed in Bristol at dBs Pro at The dBs Institute by Jay Auborn and Bristol-based music producers Gemsski, Tugkan Mutlu, Louis Marcell, Pauls Lux, Dr P, Gutnose, Jamie Bird, Matt Smith and Elise Livingston.

"The work that Sowenna does is amazing. There is nothing else like it in Cornwall and it is so needed for our young people.” Parent of one of the young music creators

About Sowenna

Sowenna is run by our Trust and provides inpatient treatment for young people aged 13 to18.

Sowenna welcomed its first patients in October 2019, delivering on the NHS commitment to reduce the number of young people treated miles away from home. It's Cornwall's only adolescent mental health inpatient unit.

Young people access Sowenna as either day patients or inpatients. They provide all the usual facilities you would expect from a hospital. Sowenna also has a multi-purpose activity barn, an educational wing with equipment for arts, music, cooking; a gym, and therapeutic outdoor areas. There is also accommodation for parents.

Read Young people from our Sowenna mental health unit launch an album…

Staff past and present, dignitaries and invited guests have attended a re-dedication ceremony to celebrate 100 years of Helston Community Hospital.

It first opened as a cottage hospital on 21 May 1923, thanks to funds raised by the people of the Lizard Peninsula. It has also served as the area's central war memorial since the end of World War 1, during which 200 local men lost their lives.

Today the hospital still provides essential NHS services, both for inpatients and to the wider community in their homes.

After a period of reduced operating hours, the minor injury unit is now open 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, with plans to increase its opening hours later in the year.

Matron Lynda McHale has worked at Helston Community Hospital for over 40 years, and was among those who gave a speech at Sunday's ceremony.

"Over the years the hospital has seen many services integrating into the hospital, enabling us as a trust to care for people closer to their home. On site we have 24 inpatient beds, a minor injury unit and minor illness department, a day hospital, outpatient departments, a birthing unit, a relatives' suite, therapy teams, a district nurse team, a community rehab team, Home First, community matrons, specialist nurses and a palliative care team.

"Helston Community Hospital is an integrated hub, providing services to meet the needs of their community".

The re-dedication of the hospital was carried out by the Bishop of Truro, the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen.

Following the ceremony, a plaque was unveiled by Lord St Levan, whose ancestor opened the hospital back in 1923. He reflected on the changes over the last 100 years. "Through the sifting sands of different governments and different health policies, the hospital has found ways to adapt, to expand, to repurpose its buildings and to provide new services. Nowadays, there are some 250 people working here, and the emphasis is on rehabilitation back into the community rather than on long-term care.

"I think that anyone who visits, as I did for the first time last month, would be struck by the warmth of the welcome, the sense of purpose, the air of optimism, the comradery that exists between the people who work here".

The re-dedication ceremony ended with a rendition of Trelawney and Happy Birthday, played by Helston Town Band.

Staff and guests were then invited to a private garden party, complete with a special birthday cake!

Watch Matron Lynda McHale speaking about Helston Community Hospital's achievements over the last 100 years.

Read Helston Community Hospital celebrates 100 years…

Anna Mitchell, who is a meaningful activities coordinator and the inpatient team at Launceston Community Hospital were presented a 'providing valued activities to inpatients award' by representatives from the Community Hospital Association. The representatives were Sue Greenwood, Matron for Camborne Redruth Community Hospital and David Seamark, Vice President and Director.

The meaningful activities coordinator is an innovative new role. They encourage patients to take part in a wide variety of activities and social events to help keep them focussed, busy and occupied. This helps to reduce accidents, trips, and falls.

Anna Mitchell joined the Trust at the start of the pandemic as a general worker then progressed to health care assistant. Anna was then successful in her application to become a meaningful activities coordinator at Launceston Community Hospital.

“When I joined the Trust, I felt that some meaningful activities could be done with patients to help them through the uncertainty of the pandemic. By spending time with patients and taking the time to build relationships with them, and their families, I have been able to find out what their hobbies and interests are or might have been in the past. I try to adapt activities to suit their interests and minimise stress during their hospital stay.”

Activities include flower arranging, arts and crafts, singing, games, gardening and growing vegetables and even making mocktails to help increase hydration. Activities take place both inside and outside the ward and are sometimes themed on events such as the Queen’s Jubilee and annual celebrations such as Easter and Remembrance Day.

Sue Greenwood commented: “It was a delight and privilege to be able to present this award to Launceston Community Hospital. Anna, along with the support from her Matron Sarah Washer and the inpatient team, have championed this new role. It's had such a positive impact to the people we care for in our community hospitals. Huge congratulations.”

Since the role commenced, nurses and therapists have reported the new role has improved their working lives. This means that they can concentrate on more specialist tasks and technical duties, without worrying about the safety of their patients. Additionally, the hospital has seen a reduction in falls. The work has been that successful, that doctors are now socially prescribing time with a meaningful activities coordinator.

The role is also helping with nutrition and hydration by creating a social event for mealtimes, with music and conversation. “I join the patients for their meals and have been focussing on making mealtimes an occasion. This encourages positive eating habits and improves their appetites” adds Anna.

The role does not end when the patient leaves hospital. They are essential to creating a successful transfer of care, either back to the patient’s own home, or to a care home.

Anna explains: “The meaningful activities coordinator would have gained a wealth of information and knowledge about the patient from spending time doing activities. I get the patient ready to leave hospital, explain what will be happening next with their care and travel with them to their next destination. I share information about activities they have enjoyed and things which have helped prevent further illness. As I have created a strong bond with the patient, I stay for a while and make sure that they are happy and settled. I then check back a few weeks later to see how they are doing.”

Before the pandemic, Anna ran a bistro. When she had to shut her business, she joined the Trust as a general worker. “I had no experience of working in health or care before my role. However, it is something I absolutely love and have such a great passion for. I was so pleased to be asked to be the meaningful activities coordinator. It is a role I am thoroughly enjoying and embracing.”

Patients have sung praise for the role. Some feedback to the Trust has included:

• “The meaningful activities coordinators and other patient interaction helped me recover from my operation. I loved the time I spent in the garden.”
• “Nobody likes being in hospital, but I really enjoyed the activities.”
• “I loved the craft room, singing and making things. The meaningful activities coordinator creates a great atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.”

Matron Sarah Washer commented: “It was so great for the inpatient team to receive recognition for the innovative work they provided during the pandemic. I am immensely proud of them and the work they continue to do with meaningful activities and how beneficial they are for our patients.”

Currently the Trust plans to expand the role to all community hospitals within the Trust.

Read Launceston Hospital awarded for innovative new role…

We are deeply saddened to hear that Mark Duddridge, a non-executive director on our board, has passed away, and our thoughts are with Mark’s friends and family at this difficult time.

Mark joined our board with a wealth of experience as both a director and non-executive director in Cornwall, was the chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership and Coastline Housing.

Mark was an inspiration to all the people he has worked with and his humour and humanity meant that he was a treasured colleague and friend to many of us. He was committed to our work to deliver the best outcomes for both our patients and staff and towards eradicating health inequalities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. He strived to create a more integrated health services for all in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and he will be greatly missed by all the colleagues who knew him.

Read Mark Duddridge…

A pioneering apprenticeship programme in the NHS, which started out in Cornwall, has been given national recognition for the ‘Best Educational Programme’ at the prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Partnership Awards.

Delegates from the Trust and its educational partners at the University of Plymouth were in London to receive the Best Educational Programme award for the clinical associates in psychology programme. They were there alongside other partners from the group of trainers.

Alongside being named Workforce of the Year at last year’s HSJ awards, the innovative programme was also highly commended in the category of Best Mental Health Partnership in the NHS during the recent ceremony.

“It’s excellent to receive this level of recognition for our partnership work. As well as the contribution it’s had towards establishing and training a new psychology workforce in the NHS. The positive impact the programme has had on our own workforce is incredible. To see it being rolled out so widely now across the country is great. Through some real collaborative work with our educational partners at the University of Plymouth, it’s allowed us to build a new, sustainable, and diverse psychology workforce. The programme has over 100 clinical associates in psychology.” Dr Lynn Olver, Associate Director and Head of Psychology Professions

The HSJ Partnerships entry was led by the national group of clinical associates in psychology trainers. The group is co-chaired by Dr Pete Keohane from the University of Plymouth. Both Dr Olver and Dr Keohane were present at the event which was attended by over 900 guests. The event brought together national healthcare leaders and professionals from both the NHS and the private sector.

“Cornwall is where it all started. The Trust has done a fantastic job in terms of leading the way with clinical associates in psychology. They’ve been at the forefront of the growth of this new professional role since the very beginning. Right now, we’re just very proud of the programme. It’s clear that clinical associates in psychology are having a substantial impact on the services where they’ve been deployed. We have reduced waiting times, improved care, and enabled meaningful transformation within the NHS.

“It’s been so rewarding to work with our NHS colleagues. It’s been done in a true partnership fashion. As the employer, they’ve been very engaged with the programme. We’ve worked closely with the service leads, supervisors, and clinicians. As well as people with lived experience across Cornwall. Throughout the entire process they’ve helped to develop the curriculum content, assessment design. As well as just generally helping co-create the programme to best meet the needs of the NHS. Most importantly, the people using services. It was lovely to be able to invite representatives from the Trust to the award ceremony and stand alongside them whilst we collected our award.” Dr Keohane

The initial development of clinical associates in psychology was led and pioneered by Professor Ken Laidlaw at the University of Exeter. The initial cohorts were trained to work in Cornish NHS services. Clinical associates in psychology are now trained across the south west and the majority of England. The team has grown quickly to meet the need locally and regionally. They work alongside stakeholders to provide the highest quality clinical associates in psychology training.

“I was working for the Trust already as an assistant psychologist within the forensic service. I was aware of the clinical associates in psychology training. I spoke to a couple of qualified clinical associates in psychology to find out about their experiences. They were incredibly enthusiastic about it. They're absolutely loving their jobs and the training they’d done. It really drew me towards this pathway.

“It’s provided me with a good alternative to a 3-year doctorate. It’s a shorter course that places you within a particular team or service for the duration of your clinical practice. That really suits me. It’s a great additional pathway, which I feel provides me with a better balance between work, study, and family life.” Tonnie Cooke, Trainee Clinical Associate in Psychology

Read Our pioneering apprenticeship scheme wins Best Educational Programme…

In a unique partnership between Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Tate St Ives, a series of creative workshops titled 'Walking with Art' has provided support and healing to people who have been bereaved by suicide.

The sessions were led by environmental artist, Greg Humphries. They took place at Tate St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden and around St Ives.

The workshops aimed to provide a safe and welcoming environment for individuals who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide. It also offers them an opportunity to find healing through art. Participants were able to engage in a range of creative activities, including painting, sculpture, and other forms of visual arts.

On their 4th and final session, the group took at short walk along St Ives’ Porthmeor Beach to collect pebbles as inspiration for their carved soap sculptures made from fragrant, glycerine soap. Their creations were inspired by the artist Barbara Hepworth and Tate’s ‘Art and Life’ exhibition which showcases the influential British artists’ body of work.

One participant reflected on how beneficial the workshops had been for them. “It’s been a real joy to be a part of this wonderful project. Considering the subject matter. Being able to talk so openly about the difficulties of processing such an extreme death has been very nourishing for me. I cannot thank the staff enough.”

Tate St Ives provided the venue, creative expertise, and resources for the workshops, which involved Hepworth’s art in every session.

The project was supported by the Trust and our Suicide Liaison Service.

“The collaboration between Tate St Ives and our service, focused on the work of Barbara Hepworth, offered hope and inspiration to those who participated. It gave them an opportunity to be involved in creative activities with others who have experienced a similar bereavement. The warm welcome of the team at the Tate, and the positive benefits of being involved in this project, will leave a lasting legacy for all who took part.” Anne Embury, who leads the service for people bereaved by suicide

Another of the participants added: “Myself and my Mum have really found it enjoyable, especially as my brother has recently died by suicide, so this was really good for us to meet people who are or have gone through this type of grief. It’s only been 4 months, so it’s been nice to do this to take my mind off what's going on at the moment. It’s been such a hard few months and this has really helped my mind. Just talking to other people who have gone through this has felt reassuring. Greg has been amazing, and he has such good energy, is very informative, and I’ve loved learning about art. The Tate staff have been so lovely and have made my anxiety less.”

For information about the Barbara Hepworth exhibition at Tate St Ives and the Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, visit the Tate St Ives website.

Read Creative arts project 'Walking with Art' provides support and healing…