Libraries

We are a multi-disciplinary library service providing support to all staff and placement students at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridgeshire Community Services. 

We are here to help our staff:

  • Find evidence to support best practice or service development
  • With support for research or an educational course

We have libraries at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and at Peterborough City Hospital. Both libraries have modern, comfortable facilities including study desks, computers and printing, copying and scanning.

Book Loans

You can search the ELMS library catalogue to see books held in our library collections. Choose one of the following options from the drop down menu:

  • North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (this is the default option)
  • Hinchingbrooke Healthcare Library
  • Laxton Library, Peterborough

Books are available for loan to registered library users, with a maximum of eight concurrent loans

Logging in with your Library user ID and PIN will enable you to place books on hold and renew loans. 

If we do not have the book you need, please contact us with the book details. In most cases we can obtain requested books from within our library networks.

NHS OpenAthens and Online Resources

NHS OpenAthens login enables access to the national and local electronic resources available to you via your organisation.

To register for NHS OpenAthens:

You will need to register from a computer within the NHS network or use an NHS email address - Register here

Online resources:

OpenAthens resources for North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust staff currently include:

  • NHS Knowledge and Library Hub Provides access to all Library online resources under one platform, including Healthcare databases, e-journals and e-books etc.  You will need an OpenAthens login to access resources. OpenAthens registration is available via the Hub – Choose “Start your search” from the home page then use the yellow bar at the top of the search page to login with your OpenAthens login
  • BMJ Best Practice: point of care decision support tool (login free access available via Trust intranet for internal staff)
  • Clinicalkey  - Elsevier collection of e-books, e-journals, images and multi-media
  • ClinicalSkills.net - clinical skills and procedures for healthcare staff (login-free access available via Trust intranet for internal staff)
  • NICE BNF and Guidance Apps
  • The Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical and Cancer Nursing Procedures  - Please see the license & conditions of use section regarding the use of this resource including copying and printing restrictions etc.

Journals and Articles

We hold some print journals in the Library and manage collections of online journals.

  • Print journals
    • Please contact us to ask about the availability of print journals in the Library
  • Online journals
    • NHS staff have access to a large range of online journals. All the e-journals available to you via your organisation can be accessed with an OpenAthens login from the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub. OpenAthens registration is available via the Hub - choose “Start your search” from the home page, then use the yellow bar at the top of the search page to login with your OpenAthens. You can then choose the “Browse Journals” link from the top left of the page.
  • Request article copies
    • If articles are not available to you online, registered users may request article copies. Please contact us and if possible include the following   
      • Journal name
      • Article title and author
      • Volume, issue and page numbers

Our document supply standard states that we will aim to supply articles to you as soon as possible, and at least within 10 working days. Large numbers of article requests may take longer and we will discuss this with you if necessary.

Literature Searching and Enquiry Services

Our librarians will carry out mediated literature searches on behalf of registered users, in support of patient care, service development, research and learning.

Please contact us and give the following information:

  • Search topic or question
  • Suggested search terms – including any alternative terms, abbreviations etc
  • Date range for search – evidence from last 5 years, 10 years etc
  • Why search is required
  • Your contact telephone number - we may need to discuss your search or ask for further information.

The Library’s literature searching standard states that we will aim to provide search results within 10 working days, or to the users’ timeframe. More complex searches may take longer and we will discuss this with you if necessary.

KnowledgeShare Alerts

Current awareness alerts via KnowledgeShare

KnowledgeShare is a targeted current awareness service that can provide you with high-level evidence updates, personalised for your own areas of interest. To register to receive KnowledgeShare alerts, please contact us.

Library Skills Training

Our librarians offer training to individuals or small departmental groups. Training can be arranged at a time to suit you, and can be tailored to your own search topic. Please contact us to discuss your training needs. 

Training sessions include:

  • Searching the Healthcare Databases - this can take up to 1-2 hours and covers effective searching of the Healthcare databases - Medline, CINAHL, BNI etc.  Planning your search; searching using keywords; searching using database subject terms; combining terms; applying limits; viewing and downloading results; saving searches and creating alerts.
  • Searching the Cochrane Library – to find systematic reviews of healthcare interventions.
  • Other training - The Library offers other training including training in Reflective Writing, Health Literacy and Academic Writing.