Professional Documents
Culture Documents
New technology
saves lives
Econtents
2 Smarter working
with smart pumps
3 A word from David
3 All staff to become foundation trust
members
4 New values awards scheme for staff
4 St George’s
commended for
emergency training innovation
SMARTER WORKING: Joanne
4 Ink stamps for doctors Harding, assistant chief pharmacist
5 New technology saves lives: and Dr Linda Murdoch, lead
a weekend in the life of the radiology clinician for paediatric intensive
care with a smart pump for PICU
department
5 Help fight crime
6 Spotlight on Jim O’Gorman
7 View from the top
Smarter working
Ken Anson
8 Oncology nurses highly commended
with smart pumps
at 2010 Excellence in Oncology
Awards Dr Linda Murdoch said: “Failure to
choose a pump with the appropriate
8 Equality Act 2010: Strengthening your
drug library for the clinical area could
rights The pioneering ‘smart pump’ lead to serious errors in infusion rates.
9 Lansley visits local health centre project has now been rolled out
across the trust and is providing a “The drug X function, which is used
9 Fighting the silent killer
safe and standardised way to when the drug being administered is
10 Productive community services prepare and administer intravenous not in the library or has to be given in a
10 Past and present medicines. way that the library does not allow,
10 Sarah on Board should be rare. This function should
The pumps function with a built-in drug
11 New role for learning disability nurses only be used where there is a good
library, which already contains critical
at the Wolfson clinical reason for not using the
drug information. Use of the drug methods outlined in the preparation
11 Screening clinic is a UK first library will alert staff when errors occur guide and can only be used after
11 World AIDS Day such as drug miscalculations or approval from the doctor or pharmacist.
12 Patient feedback incorrect drug units, thereby increasing
the safety for both patients and staff. “Local practices that differ to the new
12 Cardiac patients’ preparation guide need to be revisited
comfortable recovery St George’s is the first hospital in and brought in line with this guide.
13 Warm reunion as ‘home away from Europe to use such extensive drug The indications for the use of the drug
home’ celebrates fifth year in Tooting libraries and the project has been led by X function are in the medicines
Joanne Harding, assistant chief management policy.”
13 Health visitors lead breast feeding
charge pharmacist and Dr Linda Murdoch, lead
14 Give something
clinician for paediatric intensive care. 8 For further information, please
visit the IV drugs administration
back - volunteer Pharmacy and clinical teams have page or the medicines management
worked hard to develop the drug policy on the intranet.
14 2011 - The year of staff health and
libraries and accompanying preparation
wellbeing
guides which standardise practice
15 Saying hello to the national year of across the trust and it is essential that SMART PUMPS:
communication
these preparation guides are followed. GETTING IT RIGHT
15 One night stay for breast surgery
patients ● Check correct preparation
All smart pumps are colour coded guide
15 HSJ Awards 2010
under six colours – each relevant to ● Choose correct smart pump
16 Charity news a specific area (see below diagram). for your area (colour coded)
It is imperative that staff use the ● Choose correct drug library
Front page picture shows the new CT scanner
situated in the accident and emergency department. correct drug library for their area. entry
● Set concentration and rate
ADULT WARD = BLUE LABEL then double check
the gazette is written and published by the
● If you are unsure, ask senior
communications unit. The opinions expressed ADULT ICU = RED LABEL nurse or pharmacist. Don’t be
do not necessarily represent those of
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust. The next ADULT ONCOLOGY = GREY LABEL afraid to ask!
edition will be published in April 2011. ● Recheck infusion rate
PAEDIATRIC ICU = GREEN LABEL
If you are a staff member with a story for the running correctly
gazette, please email: PAEDIATRIC WARD = ORANGE LABEL Refer to medicines
communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk NEONATAL UNIT = YELLOW LABEL management policy (2010)
2 the gazette
A word from David
I would like
to kick-off the
first gazette of
2011 by wishing
everybody a happy
New Year and
saluting our staff
for the lengths
they have gone to
maintain services
in what has been
an exceptionally David Astley, chief executive
difficult winter period.
The manner in which we have risen to the
seasonal challenges of norovirus, flu, bed
shortages, severe weather and high levels
emergency activity over the last couple of
months both in the hospital and in the
community has made me especially proud STUDENT AMBASSADORS: Students from St George’s, University of London have been recruiting
members as part of the trust’s bid to become a foundation trust. The seven students didn’t go
to be part of the St George’s family. unnoticed in their bright blue shirts – with their help St George’s Healthcare has now signed up
more than 3,600 public and patient members
As the winter pressures ease and the year
progresses we must not lose sight of the
need to continue to push ourselves ever All staff to become
harder to manage the financial challenges
that the public sector faces. For St foundation trust members
George’s Healthcare, our plans to become
By the end of February all stand as a candidate themselves – there
a foundation trust in 2011 hinge on our members of staff will will be five posts available for staff
ability to meet the targets set out in our automatically become members governors. The council of governors will
cost reduction programme. Becoming a of the trust unless they decide act as a critical friend to the executive
foundation trust is crucial to our future and to opt out. Membership is free board and hold the trust to account on
this issue of the gazette updates staff on and will include all those on behalf of the membership.
permanent or fixed term
our progress. As a member you will be sent an
contracts of 12 months or more
and volunteers who are electronic copy of the Membership
As we work to improve patient care and
registered with the trust. Matters newsletter four times a year,
develop new ways of working, so the role
keeping you up-to-date with key areas of
of our clinical leaders becomes increasingly All new members of staff will be
work including news from your
important. In this edition our view from the informed of staff membership as governors.
top focuses on Ken Anson, divisional chair part of their induction.
The trust needs to complete three phases
for theatres, neurosciences and cancer and Membership will enable the public, to become a FT, and is currently in the
his key priorities for the division for 2011. patients and staff to have a greater post-consultation stage of phase one. We
say in how the trust provides and are aiming to become a foundation trust
Integration with community services
improves its services. by the end of 2011.
Wandsworth (CSW) means that St
When St George’s Healthcare
George’s Healthcare responsibilities now For more information email
include prison health, and this month the
becomes a foundation trust,
members will be able to vote in the
8 members@stgeorges.nhs.uk
or contact the membership office
gazette gets an insider view from Jim
elections for staff governors to on 020 8266 6132.
O’Gorman, head of prison healthcare.
represent their views and even
The gazette also provides fascinating
insight into the world of radiology, news of
our HSJ awards finalists, a thoroughly
deserved award for Dr Jonathon Round
and the launch of the new visions and the final effort
values awards. There are now only two more months left until St George’s Healthcare reaches
the end of its 10:10 commitment. While we have done well, there is still more
I hope you enjoy reading the gazette work to do. Neal Deans, director of estates and facilities, said: “It is so
and would be pleased to hear your important that staff make these last two months count and make a few small
thoughts on any of the content. changes to their work and home lives so we can reach our goal of saving ten
Please email me via per cent of our carbon emissions by the end of the financial year.”
communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk.
the gazette 3
ur valu
o
es
St George’s commended for
living
New values
awards scheme
for staff
In 2010 the trust launched four new
values: excellent, kind, responsible
and respectful as part of ongoing
work to improve the culture for
patients and staff.
The work to drive the values has been
ongoing and has now been embedded
into the induction process, staff
HANDS ON: Staff get to grips with the simulation manikin in the SIMULATION SCENARIO:
handbook and soon they will also be new ‘simulation’ room. (l-r back to front) Dr Ying Cheung, A&E; Heather Jarman, consultant
included in an integrated CSW and trust Natalie Holbery, lecturer practitioner in major trauma; Liam nurse in emergency care and
appraisal system. Stanley, charge nurse, paediatric A&E; Kyleigh Shields, senior staff assistant clinical director,
nurse, A&E and Amy Mills, staff nurse, A&E manages the manikin
The success of the values relies on the
support of staff who play a pivtol role in St George’s Healthcare has been The London Deanery’s Simulation and
enhancing our reputation. An example commended by the London Deanery Technology-enhanced Learning Initiative
of the work we are doing is the One for a pioneering initiative that has (STeLI), is designed to promote excellence
Team programme, a joint partnership seen a major trauma manikin in education and innovation in
introduced in an emergency educational methods.
project between the trust and Staff
environment.
Side. Natalie Holbery, lecturer/practitioner in
A new simulation room, the first of its
To acknowledge the good work of our major trauma care at St George’s, said:
kind in London, has been located in the
staff, a new awards scheme has been “Following a successful STeLI bid and
accident and emergency department at
created to recognise those who St George’s Hospital. It allows staff to access to an education grant we have
exemplify the trust’s values. The scheme respond to a ‘mock’ trauma call as been able to build a shop-floor high-
is generously sponsored by the St though it were a real-life situation. fidelity simulation suite to enhance trauma
George’s Hospital Charity. education and improve patient safety.
As well as testing the whole trauma
For each category a team and an system from start to finish, the simulation “This provides a fantastic opportunity to
individual will be named as winners. room will help staff to develop key skills host a range of impromptu and planned
They will receive a certificate and for treating with patients with multiple simulation events using the multi-skilled
voucher. injuries. Staff are assessed on their trauma team.” The trust’s advanced
This month the gazette is asking staff to performance through one-way glass and simulation centre was also recognised for
nominate a team or a member of staff debriefed at the end of each training its work in patient safety focused
who they think embody the value of session. education.
excellent. When making your decision,
please take into consideration the
behaviours which support this value,
and how the person/team incorporates Ink stamps for doctors
these into their working lives. A trust-wide audit of health records conducted in 2010 identified a number
Please download the nomination form of issues relating to legibility of handwritten entries and, in particular, the
from the ‘our values’ page, under the signatures of medical staff.
‘about us’ section on the intranet, and To address this issue, St George’s Healthcare is supporting the use of name stamps to
email it to awards@stgeorges.nhs.uk identify staff entering information into health records. Clinical entries will still need to
The winners will be announced in the be signed, but the name stamp will help identify people who signed them. More than
next edition of the gazette. 200 stamps have been ordered and can be collected in the education centre. At
present, the trust will fund name stamps for all medically-qualified employees. The
information on the stamp will have the staff member’s name and their GMC number.
Dr Cleave Gass, director of medical education, is leading on the initiative. Staff who
would like a free name stamp, should email Sylvie.Luyeye@stgeorges.nhs.uk with your
full name and GMC number.
4 the gazette
TECHNICAL TEAM: (l-r) Rob Morgan, consultant
interventional radiologist, James Halls, special
registrar neuro radiology; and Jane Adam,
consultant radiologist, are kept busy with the
CT scanner
Dr Jane Adam, consultant radiologist, called to a ward in Lanesborough to help “Another patient scanned was in the
recorded the department’s activity a young patient with torrential process of developing a massive stroke.
over a winter weekend to give the haemorrhage who was too ill to be He came immediately into CT to check he
gazette readers an inside view on the moved even to x-ray. The staff had no haemorrhage and then went
life of the radiology team. straight to thrombolysis to minimise the
transported the x-ray machine to the
She said: “I spent the weekend in CT ward and with help from the effect of the stroke. Such very fast
under the new consultant system, using interventional registrar, radiographer and assessment using state-of- the-art CT
the St James Wing scanner, which is now x-ray nurse, by 5am they had embolised scanning will undoubtedly contribute to
fully staffed 24/7. and stopped the haemorrhage – better outcomes for patients with stroke
“In 24 hours, Saturday morning to undoubtedly a life-saving procedure for admitted to St George’s Healthcare in the
Sunday morning, 35 patients were this young patient. future.
scanned which helped to make decisions “Rob came in again on Sunday afternoon
“On the following day we did CT scans
about the need for admission, and to do a procedure on another case – a
on many sick patients, including a very
immediate/emergency treatment. patient in whom we found evidence of
young child who had been transferred
acute bleeding into the chest on the CT
“This represents a huge increase in the form another hospital, and was scanned
scan.
service compared with what we could under general anaesthetic. The child was
offer before with non resident staff. taken straight to theatre from the “I think the trust can be reassured that
Concurrently, there were emergency the investment that was made to make
scanning suite while still under
ultrasound scans and fluoroscopy studies sure that radiology is always available at
anesthesia, and operated on by the ENT
being carried out. the front line is really paying off for
surgeons together with eye surgeons
patient care, which actually makes it more
“In the early hours, Rob Morgan, from Moorfields to help with this
satisfying (if tiring) for our staff too.”
consultant interventional radiologist was complex case.
the gazette 5
kspotlight
6 the gazette
‘view from the top
‘
levels of the division. clinical work on the other days when I’m in research and education and I am very
a working clinician, although obviously keen that we start using staff to their full
I also see my role as a ‘middleman’ in
there are emergencies and problems that potential in this respect.
enabling two-way communication
arise inevitably at other times.
between the executive directors and the
My biggest challenge is catching up with
How long have you been at
clinical directors, and hope that this is
emails! One of the upsides of the job also
St George’s Healthcare and what
reflected down the line in the teams that
happens to be one of the downsides.
is your experience of the trust?
the clinical directors manage.
That is, being involved in and gaining an I have been at the trust for 11 years. I
I have been in post a year now, and studied at Barts and went all over the
insight into the high-level business going
perhaps the most pleasing aspect of it so place to do my higher surgical training
on around the trust and being able
far has been the establishment of a full before coming to the trust.
provide some input into that. This does
team of clinical directors working closely
mean that I am copied into all sorts of
with their general manager partners. The The real pull at St George’s Healthcare is
emails though, and so end up sorting
clinical directors, general managers, care the staff. There are some world-leading
through these in the evenings and at
group leads and specialist managers are clinicians who are modest and hard-
weekends. The secret to managing the
the ones doing all the work and I really working and there are thousands of staff
management / clinical balance seems to
enjoy having the opportunity to work doing really good deeds for patients in
be through delegation and time
with such talented individuals. sometimes difficult environments.
management!
How is this balanced with your What do you do in your spare
What are the key priorities for
role as urology consultant? time?
your division in 2011?
I do my role as divisional chair one day a I spend time with my family and my nine
The key priorities that we are looking at
week. Chloe and her team are fantastic at month old flat coated retriever. I am a
are the establishment of a central storage
helping me actually achieve this by keen salmon fisherman and I also enjoy
system for theatres, the productive
respecting my clinical time and sailing, skiing and cooking!
operating theatre initiative and
the gazette 7
Oncology nurses highly commended at 2010
Excellence in Oncology Awards
Congratulations to Barry Quinn, senior nurse
for oncology and lead chemotherapy nurse and
Lorraine Grover, urology research nurse who,
along with Dr Darja Brandenburg, consultant
clinical psychologist, and Sonia Malikwere,
assistant clinical psychologist, both Pan
Birmingham Cancer Service, were highly
commended in the Best Patient Support
Initiative in the oncology category at the 2010
Excellence in Oncology Awards.
The team was selected for its supportive booklet,
Intimacy and Sexuality for Cancer Patients and their
Partners. The booklet provides practical information
for understanding and overcoming sexual difficulties
after cancer.
Barry said: “The issue of addressing patients’ sexual
concerns secondary to disease and treatment is an
area of clinical practice that is sometimes avoided by
doctors and nurses who feel they lack the skills to
address this sensitive area of care. The booklet which
has been used widely in a number of cancer
networks is aimed at supporting and guiding people
with cancer who may have sexual concerns, it is also
LEADING LADIES: (l-r) Sonia Malik, Dr Darja Brandenburg and Lorraine Grover at the a helpful tool in supporting members of the cancer
award ceremony team to address the issue.”
8 the gazette
Lansley visits local health centre
Secretary of state for health
Andrew Lansley launched the
public health white paper, Healthy
Lives, Healthy People, in December
2010 at the Eastwood Centre for
Children and Families in
Roehampton, with a little help
from St George’s Healthcare health
visitors.
While at the centre Mr Lansley
attended a mother’s appointment with
her health visitor to hear about the
benefits of breastfeeding and found
out about support available for
Wandsworth mothers wanting to
encourage their children to eat a
nutritious diet.
You can have your say on the
8 white paper’s proposals on the
Department of Health website WHITE PAPER LAUNCH: Wandsworth mums Emma Rose
www.dh.gov.uk before 8th March 2011. and Carmen Busuttill with Andrew Lansley and Anne
Milton, parliamentary under secretary of state for health
the gazette 9
Productive community services Sarah on Board
The St George’s Healthcare board
Four teams from the CSW division Nelson Hospital, community nursing welcomed Sarah Wilton in January
took their first steps down the teams based at Brocklebank and the when she joined as associate non-
productive community services (PCS) cluster 11 community nursing team. executive director. Sarah had been
path in December 2010. non-executive director at NHS
Michelle Micklewright, occupational
PCS is a division-wide programme that Wandsworth since 2007 and oversaw
therapist in the primary care therapy
the recent integration of Community
supports staff who deliver frontline team at St John’s Therapy Centre, Services Wandsworth as co-chair of
services such as community nurses, said: “The whole team has found the the joint integration programme
therapists and health visitors. It focuses on first module really useful and we are board.
those areas where teams can make the seeing some really positive benefits Sarah has been appointed to the
biggest difference, quickly, for the largest already. We have rearranged the nominations and remunerations and
number of patients. office, including the stationary and finance committees and to the
The programme is a practical application stock cupboards, so now everything foundation trust and information
of lean based techniques that will increase is more intuitive and accessible which management & technology steering
the capacity and capability for continuous means we don’t have to disturb the groups.
improvement of each team that goes team administrator so much, so she Sarah said: “I am absolutely delighted
through the process, it follows hot on the can concentrate more on the really to be joining St George’s Healthcare at
heels of the productive community important things.” such an exciting time in the
hospital programme that was piloted at organisation’s history. I got to know
Queen Mary’s Hospital in 2009 and 2010. 8 For more information on the
productive community services
the organisation whilst working at NHS
Wandsworth and I am particularly
The first set of teams to go through the programme and to find out when looking forward to learning all about
programme are the primary care therapy your team might be able to take part, the vast array of services provided by St
and integrated falls team, wheelchair email Sue Danks, programme lead, at George’s Healthcare and getting more
services based at Queen Mary’s and the sue.danks@stgeorges.nhs.uk involved in the foundation trust bid.”
10 the gazette
Screening clinic
is a UK first
A new cardiac clinic offering free
screening for young teenagers
(born in 1995 and after) from
London and the South East
opened at St George’s Hospital
in December.
The clinic is run by academic
consultant cardiologist professor
New role for learning disability Sanjay Sharma and is funded by the
charity Cardiac Risk in the Young
the gazette 11
FFeedback
PATIENT FEEDBACK
12 the gazette
Warm reunion as ‘home away Health visitors
from home’ celebrates fifth lead breast
feeding charge
year in Tooting The CSW health visiting
teams have established a
series of breastfeeding
groups across the borough to
support new mums.
The breastfeeding groups are for
socialising and meeting other
mums, no matter what age or
stage of breastfeeding. A health
professional or peer supporter is
on hand at each group to
answer questions on
breastfeeding.
The groups give mums a chance
to get out the house and meet
other mums in a friendly and
informal environment, are free,
and you do not have to book,
just drop-in during the open
hours.
Many mothers and babies
breastfeed well from the
beginning but for others it can
It was a warm reunion as staff and LUCKY TICKET: Sadiq Khan, MP for take a little longer to learn.
guests celebrated the five-year Tooting, chooses a raffle winner with the
Midwives and health visitors can
help of Matthew Martin
anniversary of Ronald McDonald provide mums with information,
House (RMH) in December. vary from a few days to a few months. support and encouragement.
Staff welcomed back the Stone family, Families are not charged for the use of
A growing number of
who stayed at the house in February 2010 the facilities, or for the support services
breastfeeding welcome cafés
when their nine-day-old baby, Sarah, was provided. The charity relies on
and restaurants in Wandsworth
admitted to St George’s PICU with sponsorship and donations from
have been established over the
septicemia. individuals and companies to help
last 18 months to make new
Elizabeth Stone, Sarah’s mother, said: maintain its running costs.
mums feel more at ease when
For more information about
“Sarah was taken to St George’s and put
on maximum support – we were told to 8 RMHC visit www.rmhc.org.uk
breastfeeding whilst out and
about.
prepare for the worst.
These establishments have been
“Being able to stay at the house was great approved by the local NHS as
as the family got to stay together, which breastfeeding friendly and
reduced the stress in a terrible situation. should provide a comfortable
“The house is a lovely place to be in and environment in which young
we were able to maintain some normality mums can breastfeed. Look out
by using the kitchen to cook for ourselves for the Breastfeeding Welcome
and clean our clothes in the laundry room. badge in the window of your
The staff are so friendly too.” local eatery.
The occasion was marked with a buffet For more information on
and celebratory raffle, with winners drawn
by Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting, who
8 breastfeeding support in
Wandsworth contact
officially opened RMH Tooting in 2005. Helen Simpson, specialist health
He said: “It is brilliant to see the house visitor for breastfeeding, at
going from strength to strength. Literally helen.simpson@stgeorges.nhs.uk
hundreds of families have had their lives or visit the Wandsworth Little
improved by this home away from home Feet website, the one-stop-shop
during the most stressful times of their for mums and dads full of
lives.” information on pregnancy,
WARM REUNION: Elizabeth Stone and her breastfeeding and weaning, at
Families can stay at the RMH while their daughter Sarah join the Ronald McDonald
child is receiving care as an inpatient at St House in Tooting in it’s fifth anniversary www.wandsworthlittlefeet.nhs.uk
George’s Hospital – the length of stay can celebrations
the gazette 13
Give something back - volunteer
A friendly face to meet you at the but I just couldn’t think of the words.
front desk, a helping hand when you Then my son said that I needed to be
can’t find your way, a listening ear communicating with people and should
when you need to talk – these are think about volunteering.
just some of the skills you will find
“I don’t get paid but I get so much more –
on offer among the volunteers at
it gives me a reason to get out of bed in
St George’s Healthcare.
the morning, it keeps me active. My first
Susan Taleghany, voluntary services wife was always the one who did the
manager, recruits and manages phoning around, I would rehearse before I
volunteers throughout the trust. She said: picked up the phone, now I have to do
“Members of the public will enquire this on reception. I have gained confidence
about voluntary placements and staff will in certain areas.
request volunteers – the essential element
“Now I say that St George’s has got a
to these requests is to ensure that both
lot to answer for – I met my second wife
volunteers and staff are really happy with
here!”
the resulting arrangement.”
HELPING HAND: (l-r) Eustelle St Aimee, feeding Eustelle St Aimee has been volunteering
Voluntary arrangements can last from six assistant on Heberden ward; Terry Norman,
on Heberden ward for four years. The
months to more than ten years. volunteer sister’s PA and on the reception; and
Susan Taleghany, voluntary services manager feeding assistant also helps with general
Long-standing volunteer Terry Norman housekeeping jobs and carries out
has an affinity with the trust – he has been treated here many times over the administrative work for the sister. She said:
years for a heart condition. Terry works in “I worked for an organisation that was
the anti-coagulant clinic as sister’s PA and very kind to me and I could not afford to
Criteria for volunteers on the reception desk in the Grosvenor repay them financially, so I decided that I
● Volunteers need to be 18 years old, Wing main entrance. would pay back to the community instead.
with no upper age limit, and able He said: “Since 1982 I have had two “I asked to be placed where I was most
to commit to at least three months
separate heart bypass operations and needed as I wanted to play an active part,
volunteering with at least one
three stents fitted, I was constantly in and so I was placed on the geriatric ward
session per week
out for check ups. For years it was all which can be quite challenging. Patients
● The recruitment process involves about my condition – but then my first need almost one-to-one care which
the taking up of two references, a wife died of a heart attack. makes it difficult for the nurses.
CRB (Criminal Records Bureau)
check and clearance by the trust’s “I didn’t know what to do with myself, I “I deal with patients who don’t eat, or
occupational health department started going for long walks around the who just need some encouragement to
area, but I wondered what the point was. eat. You have to relate to them and take
● Good communication skills are
Once I was there, I would just turn around time with them. I enjoy being able to help
essential
and come back. I tried crossword puzzles someone, there is a sense of satisfaction.”
14 the gazette
One night stay for
breast surgery patients
Women who receive breast surgery in southwest London are
benefiting from the new 23-hour discharge model at St George’s
Healthcare, introduced in December 2010, which allows them to
return home after just one night in hospital.
There has been a huge push by the Department of Health to move towards
day-case breast surgery, with 13 pilot sites chosen across England to take
forward the more efficient model. St George’s Healthcare won the bid for
southwest London jointly with the Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation
Trust.
Saying hello to the More than two out of three patients at St George’s Hospital do not need
national year of complex reconstructive surgery and therefore have a short surgical recovery
period which doesn’t require much inpatient care.
communication Dibyesh Banerjee, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon, said: “The service is
running well and we are currently discharging 70 per cent of all breast
The CSW speech and language promotion surgery patients within one day. We are currently setting up a nurse-led
and prevention team launched Hello, the discharge service which will help us to get patients discharged more
2011 national year of communication efficiently over weekends.
campaign, with a ‘words will take you “It is still early days at the moment and there have been a number of
far’ balloon launch at Wandsworth logistical challenges to making it all work, but I’m proud to say that we at St
Museum on 28th January. George’s Healthcare are leading the way for southwest London in having this
early discharge model in place. Our patients are already benefiting so I’d like
The balloons were released by children from
to acknowledge the breast cancer team for all their hard work and Felicity
local community and day centres, West Hill
Surridge, South West London Cancer Network service improvement project
Primary, Garratt Park and St Cecelia’s schools.
manager for her support.
Also releasing balloons into the skies were
David Astley, trust chief executive, Jean Gross, “Our patients are already benefiting so I’d like to acknowledge the breast
the government’s communication champion cancer team for all their hard work and Felicity Surridge, South West London
Cancer Network service improvement project manager, the support of whom
for children, Mayor of Wandsworth Cllr Piers
has been instrumental in facilitating this important achievement.”
McAusland, and Elizabeth McGovern, star of
ITV’s Downton Abbey.
In the lead up to the launch staff, patients and
their families were asked to choose their
favourite words, with the most popular being
used on the campaign throughout the year.
By the time the balloons hit the skies ’cuddles’
was the most popular, but you can still choose
your favourite word on the Hello pages of the
intranet.
Joanna Hardman, co-ordinator of the
promotion and prevention team, said “More
than one million children and young people
have some form of speech, language and
communication need in the UK, and in
deprived areas more than 50 per cent of
children start school with delayed language SHORTLISTED SERVICE: The team behind the innovative Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic
skills. Events like this are a great way to raise Therapy (OPAT) Service which was one of seven finalists in the HSJ 2010 Awards Patient
Centred Care category
awareness of this important issue.”
Launching the event, Jean Gross said: “The
staff at Wandsworth have already done so
much to make sure every child gets the
HSJ Awards 2010
Congratulations to the team responsible for the Outpatient Parenteral
support they need as they learn to
Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) Service which was one of seven finalists in
communicate and I constantly quote their
the HSJ 2010 Awards Patient Centred Care category.
work as an example of outstanding practice
that I hope others across the country will The HSJ received 900 entries, so each category had to be narrowed down to
follow.” an exceptional shortlist, with only 17 winners on the night. It is a huge
accomplishment to be shortlisted – congratulations to all involved.
To find out more about how you can
( spot children who are struggling with
communication and what help and
NHS London won an HSJ award for the reconfiguration of acute stroke
services in the Clinical Services Redesign category. The judging panel said that
support is available, and how to get involved the redesign, which included St George’s Healthcare hyper-acute stroke unit,
in future Hello events, contact Joanna on “has been a great success and the improvements in care and outcomes for
020 8812 4033 or at patients are a fantastic achievement.”
joanna.hardman@stgeorges.nhs.uk
the gazette 15
Rfundraising
Blakley family
Bumper year for
raise £25,000
St George’s Hospital Charity
Following a hugely successful Christmas season, the
for First Touch
fundraising team of St George’s Hospital Charity is planning The Blakley family have succeeded in
a bumper year ahead. raising £25,000 for First Touch in
In celebration of this, a new website www.givingtogeorges.org.uk and promotional memory of their baby boy, Joel.
film were launched in February to make it easier for charity supporters to get the The family sadly lost Joel in April 2006, 17
information they need and make donations online. hours and 48 minutes after he was born.
New features for this year include a Tooting restaurant promotion to mark He had been diagnosed with a Congenital
St George’s Day and to support St George’s Hospital Charity in April, a “Trekathon” Diaphragmatic Hernia in his 20-week scan.
across the South Downs in May, and a London to Paris cycle ride in June.
In memory of Joel, the family started
For more information about these events and many more, or to find out how you fundraising for new equipment to be
can get involved, please call into the fundraising office in the Grosvenor Wing purchased for the neo-natal unit. After a
main entrance, or call the team on 020 8725 4916. couple of successful events, the family
decided in February 2008 that they
wanted to aim higher with a goal of
£25,000 and have recently
reached this target. The money
will be used to buy a ventilator in
Joel’s name.
Sarah Collins, First Touch charity
manager, said: “We are truly
grateful to the Blakley family for
working so tirelessly to enable us
SOUTH DOWNS TREKATHON
to fund a ventilator to help other
babies, particularly at such a very
sad time in their lives. This is a
FLEET HALF MARATHON
Dates for your diary wonderful and lasting memorial to
baby Joel, by an amazing family.”
February
• New website and promotional
film launched
• 20th Brighton half marathon
March
• 6th Silverstone
half-marathon
• 17th Comedy and band night at
the Cavendish Arms, Stockwell
SILVERSTONE HALF MARATHON
• 20th Fleet
half-marathon
April
• 17th London Marathon
• 15th-23rd St George’s Day –
charity and Tooting restaurant
promotion
May
• 7th South Downs Trekathon
June CELEBRITY MASTERMIND:
• 5th Tooting 5k and family In December, First Touch patron
running festival Ortis Deley appeared on Celebrity
• 11th Ambulance pull and Mastermind, coming second and
Balham and Tooting community raising £2,750 for the charity. The
association fun day LONDON MARATHON money is supporting the funding
• 15th London to Paris cycle ride of a vapotherm machine, which
helps babies breathe.
16 the gazette