Family fun day for diabetes patients and families

MORE than 120 families and children with diabetes took part in a fun day organised by the children's diabetes team at Ormskirk Hospital.

There were musical performances from patients, a bake sale, a reptile show, games and a raffle at St Anne's Hall in Ormskirk.

Patient Erin Simpson, 15, wrote on the team's Facebook page:- "It was so lovely to be at this event today. It was great to meet other diabetics and see the young children not letting their illnesses stop them from doing what they love. I am so lucky to have such an amazing team of doctors and nurses looking after me."

Dr May Ng, Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist, said:- "It is important to hold such events to give families and children with diabetes an opportunity to meet socially, away from Hospitals and clinics. We saw some amazing performances from our children with diabetes today and I am so proud of them."

The Southport and Ormskirk Paediatric diabetes team cares for 150 children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes across:- West Lancashire, Southport and Formby, and have won several national awards.

I want a Hospital we can be proud of, says new chief executive

SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk Hospitals' new chief executive says he wants to make sure:- "the Hospital where I live is one we can be proud of."

Silas Nicholls joined Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, in April 2018, where he had been Group Deputy Chief Executive. "One of the most common questions I've been asked since I started is: why Southport and Ormskirk? The answer is simple: it's my local Hospital; and I want to make sure the Hospital where I live is one we can be proud of."

He said the Trust had been through an uncertain time for both staff and local people over the past few years with no permanent leadership of the 2 Hospitals.  "But it's a tribute to every one of our staff that, even in challenging times and with growing pressures on the NHS in general, they have strived to give a quality service for patients. That pride, determination and can do approach is now being channeled into giving our patients the best experience we can. Investment in buildings and staff in A&E at Southport, a new day surgery unit at Ormskirk and two major clinical IT initiatives are each contributing to a safer, calmer Trust," he said.

The new Chief Executive has also been joined on the Trust Board by new Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Therapies Juliette Cosgrove. She succeeds Sheila Lloyd who has moved to a similar post at Wirral's Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust.