Members eNewsletter - July 2021

It was a pleasure to see some of you at the Annual Members' Meeting.  I shared what an extraordinary year it has been. We all recognised the hard work, courage and compassion of our staff in managing the pandemic, restoring a high level of elective work and tackling backlogs of care, while also playing a key role in the crucial vaccination programme.  It was a year when we brought in many new innovations that will be of value in years to come, such as remote monitoring to avoid hospital admissions and virtual outpatient appointments when appropriate.  We are proud of our staff and what they have achieved. Thank you for the warm support we received from our Governors, members and committees.

The picture in our hospitals is changing.  Emergency Departments are unusually busy but much of this is not Covid-19. We are starting to see issues with the well-known respiratory virus RSV.    Covid-19 rates are rising in the community and our hospital admissions carrying the infection are rising too. The vaccine has significantly reduced the proportion of people who get very sick. Covid-19 patients tend to be younger than in previous waves and thankfully many are less ill.  Nevertheless this is a dangerous disease which can have serious long term effects.

We have started to make arrangements to manage more very sick patients as a sensible precaution, and we will maintain as much elective care as we can for as long as we can.  If you are called to the hospital for an appointment, please attend.  It is safe to come as we practice thorough infection control and separate different types of patients.

In North West London the NHS has delivered 2.6 million doses of vaccine.  Young people and pregnant women only had access to the vaccine later in the campaign, both groups are vulnerable and should take steps to get vaccinated. It is still clear that two doses are needed to provide the best protection.

Annual Members' Meeting Update

Our Members’ Meeting 2020/21 took place on Thursday, 22 July.  Thank you to those who had an opportunity to join us.  At the meeting staff, patients and members of the public heard about:

-  Annual report and accounts, and external audit report

-  Lead governor update

-  Research, Innovation and Community Engagement during COVID-19.

To view the presentation visit our events online.      

This year we are celebrating the centenary of West Middlesex University Hospital by exploring the hospital's rich history, sharing fascinating stories from our staff and local community, and learning from former staff about the redevelopments that have led to the modern hospital's success.  Our charity CW+ is creating an online exhibition featuring brand new interviews and archive photos - explore here on the CW+ website

The Acute COVID app is a new, one-stop information resource, free for doctors and nurses across the NHS to download and explore. Codeveloped by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Imagineear Health to support NHS staff redeployed to care for COVID-19 patients, the app incorporates a step-by-step guide for both doctors and nurses, including defining stages of COVID-19, providing staff with vital information on triage at A&E, hospital admission, in-hospital treatments, and advanced care management. Find out more about the app here.   

Our HIV/GUM team recently presented an update on some of the great work being undertaken in their directorate.

The DESI Project started because although South Asian communities make up approximately 7.5% of the UK population, uptake of sexual health services is poor.  The number of South Asians attending sexual health services is half what might be expected, due to cultural and other barriers.  HIV testing and treatment is a particular issue, with the least reduction in new HIV infections for any community - heterosexual members tending to test less and be diagnosed much later than average.

The project is supported by an enthusiastic group of staff determined to improve access and outcomes, with funding facilitated by CW+.  One aim of the project is to produce culturally targeted YouTube videos in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Tamil and Bengali; another is cultural training.

The HIV/GUM directorate produces its own Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Newsletter which highlights current issues around racial inequalities within and beyond sexual health and HIV, as well as championing people of colour.  The team are also active within the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV in order to be more active and effective in improving sexual health amongst BAME communities.

New ‘Cancer won’t wait’ campaign

A big thank you and well done to staff at West Middlesex University Hospital who volunteered to front a new sector wide campaign across North West London to increase the number of people taking up screening and referral appointments. Currently more cancer cases are being diagnosed later and through A&E.  The team, who work in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, will feature on campaign posters, videos and social media.

The campaign aims to reassure people that it is safe to come to hospital or see their doctor if they see or experience any physical changes. 

The 5th July saw us mark the 73rd birthday of the NHS.  We took the opportunity to celebrate and appreciate our staff in what has been an extraordinary year for the Trust.

To view a history of the NHS from its inception, take a look at this interactive timeline.

Virtual connections

CW+ has updated its digital arts programme Virtual Connections with a host of new videos for patients and staff, from yoga tutorials to mindfulness workshops, and arts and crafts activities for all!

Patients are encouraged to browse the collection via their Hospedia screens.

CW+ musicians and dancers return to the wards

As COVID-19 restrictions have relaxed, the CW+ participatory arts programme Arts for All has been able to resume with in-person performances on the wards at Chelsea and Westminster and West Middlesex University Hospitals. Emma, a student at the English National Ballet School, reflected on her experience performing for patients – read more in the CW+ Arts Blog.

CW+ Music and Sound Research Consultant Andy Hall has also been working with resident musicians and dancers to share and evaluate their return to the hospitals, including the reception from staff and patients, and how they have adapted their performance styles to suit social-distancing measures. Find out more here.

Your Experience Matters

We want your time at Chelsea and Westminster and West Middlesex Hospitals to be the best possible.

Learning of your first-hand experience of the hospitals' services would provide valuable insights and help us improve our performance.

If you would like to share your experience to make a difference, please contact the Membership Team via email at [email protected] or alternatively via telephone on 020 331 52885.           

Meet A Governor

Our Council of Governors are elected by you. They play an important role in making sure your views as members, and those of the wider public are represented by the Trust.

If you would like to speak to a governor directly, or join one of our upcoming Meet a Governor sessions please click here for more information.

Staying in Touch

We love to share information about our work, and you will find lots of stories about us on social media:

• Instagram:  Trustwide

• Twitter:      Chelsea and Westminster • West Middlesex

• Facebook:   Chelsea and Westminster • West Middlesex

For any queries, or to inform us of changes to contact information, please email our Membership Team at [email protected] or alternatively call 020 3315 6725.

Your next e-newsletter will be out in August with more news and events. In the meantime, keep safe and well and thank you for your continued support.

To unsubscribe click here. Please note this will just take you off our email list, you will still be a member of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.