Part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
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The newsletter for Trust members with an interest in heart and lung care
December 2021
Dear Member,
As 2021 draws to a close, we wanted to thank you, our members, for your continued support of our hospitals and our staff throughout the year.
While we cannot overlook the challenges that have greatly defined much of the last two years, as the world continues the fight against Covid-19, it is also important for us to recognise the extraordinary work, effort and achievements of the people who help us continue to deliver the best care to our patients – this includes the vital contribution by our members. Here are just some of the many ways you have played a part this year:
Members elected 6 governors to the expanded Guy’s and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors. These governors, members of the Trust, are now actively participating in a number of committees and working groups which will help shape future services and contribute to the Trust’s strategic direction. The governors look forward to meeting you at future webinars.
Over 500 members participated in our monthly member webinars covering a range of health and wellbeing topics including the role of genetics in diagnosing heart and lung conditions, artificial intelligence and the future of patient care.
Members also were involved in a host of initiatives including joining our Patient and Public Engagement Group, participating in patient and carer surveys, attending feedback workshops, volunteering, becoming patient influencers for the Apollo programme, joining research Lay Support Groups and supporting the work of The Brompton Fountain and Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity.
One of the final events the year saw 14 patient and carers become our hospitals first members to complete the Peer Leadership Development Programme run by the Personalised Care Group, NHS England and NHS Improvement. We will introduce you to these Peer Leaders throughout 2022 and will share how you too can participate in this personal development programme.
We wish you and your family and loved ones a safe and happy holiday season and look forward to collaborating with you in 2022.
Best wishes,
Nancy
Nancy Dickinson
Membership manager
Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals
Royal Brompton Diagnostic Centre in its final stages after keys are handed over
After nearly five years of planning, designing and building, the Royal Brompton Diagnostic Centre (formerly known as the Imaging Centre) is entering the final stages of completion after being officially handed over to the Trust by main contractor, Kier, as construction has now completed. The imaging facilities offered at Royal Brompton and Harefield provide cutting edge services to help diagnose cases of heart and lung disease. The new diagnostic centre will build on this capability by enabling the expansion of clinical services, optimising the patient’s experience and enhancing research, education and training programmes for staff. The new centre will see the great majority of the hospital’s imaging services re-housed into the state-of-the art building. Read more.
World COPD day: how far have we come
For World COPD Day, Professor Pallav Shah, consultant physician in respiratory medicine, and James Tonkin, clinical fellow in respiratory medicine, explain what chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is and highlight some of the innovative developments in the treatment of the disease, many of which have been pioneered at Royal Brompton Hospital.
It is an exciting time for COPD research at the moment. There has been a great effort to develop new treatments to treat different aspects of COPD and to expand treatments to those with less severe disease. Targeted Lung Denervation is another new procedure which “zaps” a network of nerves that surround the airways. This aims to improve the flow of air in and out of the lungs during breathing and to specifically help people who suffer with COPD flare-ups. Likewise, metered dose cryospray uses a liquid nitrogen freezing spray to help people with COPD who regularly cough up phlegm. These treatments are currently going through clinical trials here at Royal Brompton Hospital. This is an extract from the blog interview with Professor Pallav Shah and James Tonkin, to read the full blog, click here.
What is COPD?
COPD are lung conditions that include emphysema (where air sacs in the lungs are damaged) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the tubes in the lungs), which often causes a restriction in the flow of air in and out of the lungs. People with COPD often have difficulty in breathing, cough and wheeze. It is often caused by smoking but also can be due to genetics, air pollution and lung infections. The diagnosis of COPD is confirmed by a lung function test called spirometry, a simple blowing test that measures how much air you can breathe out in one forced breath.
Professor wins prestigious award for his service during Covid-19
Professor Andrew Menzies-Gow, consultant respiratory physician and director of the lung division at Royal Brompton Hospital, has been awarded by the British Thoracic Society (BTS) with their Meritorious Service Award for 2021. The BTS presents one award each year to an individual who has provided exceptional service to the Society in the advancement of thoracic and respiratory medicine, often over a far longer period than would normally be expected. Read more.
Innovative project wins awards for patient care
A project to help improve patient care designed by clinicians from Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, in collaboration with colleagues from across King’s Health Partners (KHP), has won in two categories at this year’s ‘Health Tech Digital Awards’ for New Health Tech Innovation of the Year and Best Innovation Project of the Year.
The Royal Brompton and Harefield surveillance team, working with their colleagues from across KHP, designed a new platform that allows patients to take images of their surgical wounds post-operation and send them to their clinical teams without having to travel to the hospital. The RB&HH surveillance team record data about wounds post-operation so that practice can be improved to prevent infections in patients.
Play team recognised by national children’s charity
Our play team was last month awarded Play Team of the Year by national children’s charity, Starlight.
Led by play services manager, Maxine Ovens, the team works throughout the hospital in various wards, including the paediatric intensive care unit, the main children’s ward, the sleep lab, various clinics, and the main children’s outpatients department. Starlight commended the team, saying: “The knowledge, passion and commitment this team has for the power of play helps them to make a difference in their patients and families’ lives every single day.”
Read more about the award here.
News from RB&HH Specialist Care
Partnership with Ain Shams University Hospital
On Monday 15th November 2021, Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals officially signed an important partnership with Ain Shams University Hospital, one of the largest educational medical institutions in Africa and the Middle East.
This collaboration sees London’s Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust, come together with Ain Shams’ cardiac surgery services to develop a bespoke aortic surgery offering at Ain Shams University Hospital.
Using a multidisciplinary approach with clinical care, education and research excellence at its core, this partnership will deliver an exceptional and sustainable service at the hospital.
British Ambassador to Egypt, Gareth Bayley, said: “I am delighted that Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, among the world’s leading heart and lung hospitals, is partnering with Ain Shams. This agreement will enable two outstanding institutions to join forces in delivering a world-class cardiac service to Egyptian citizens. In 1983, a team of doctors led by world-famous Egyptian-British heart surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub performed Britain’s first heart-lung transplant at Harefield Hospital, so it is fantastic to see the cooperation continuing with this latest announcement.”
Member events
Book now for our upcoming
winter 2022 events
All member events are free
Health and Wellbeing with the Mind & Body Programme webinar
Wednesday, 8th December
5.30-7.00pm
Online
To register, please click here.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and the Mind & Body Programme invite you to join an online session to learn more about how we support the health and wellbeing of our patients and staff.
We recognise the importance of considering both the mental and physical health of the patients and in promoting a holistic model of health and recovery. Katy Lowe and Jackie Waghorn from the Trust’s Mental Health team, together with the Mind & Body Programme team, will outline some of the innovations we have introduced at Guy’s and St Thomas’ to support the mental health needs of patients.
Focus on Pulmonary Hypertension
Thursday, 20 January
11am – 12pm
Online
To register, please click here.
Join us to gain insight into pulmonary hypertension (PH), a heart and lung condition where the pressure in the pulmonary arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs), is higher than normal. Symptoms can include shortness of breath. Dr John Wort, consultant and the clinical lead for the PH service at Royal Brompton & Harefield hospitals, will discuss symptoms, diagnosis, novel treatments and current research. The PH team at Royal Brompton Hospital works closely with colleagues at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and the only charity in the UK supporting people affected by the disease, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, UK.
Physiotherapy and diet- rehabilitation and beyond
Wednesday, 9 February
11am – 12pm
Online
To register, please click here.
Please join us to meet members of our physiotherapy and dietetics team who will discuss how and why they work so closely with clinical colleagues to support our heart and lung patients. Participants will gain insight into the importance of diet and exercise, practical advice on how to make appropriate choices and how to build healthy eating habits and exercise, including breathing exercises, into your routine.
To view a full listing of upcoming events and to access recordings to previous member events, click here.
Rb&h Arts team festive programme of events
From sing-alongs and comedy to violin performances and wreath making, don’t miss this flurry of holiday activities this December.
To view the full programme and register for the events, please click here.
Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity
This December all donations made to Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity will be doubled.
Supporters have provided £20,000 so that your gifts in the month of December will have twice the impact for patients. We are hoping to raise £20,000 this December and double it to £40,000, which will make a huge difference for the hospitals.
The funds raised will go towards Road to Recovery: Post Covid Mental Health Programme, a new initiative to help with the psychological recovery of Covid-19 patients. Many patients and their families have been left with acute and post-traumatic stress after they have been critically ill. Road to Recovery will mean that these patients can get the help they need.
You can find out more and make a donation on our website. For more information, click here.
Brompton Fountain charity
The Brompton Fountain charity fair is back! After a two-year absence, our stall is returning on Thursdays 2nd, 9th, 16th December from 11am - 2pm. Get your Christmas shopping started early and support the charity's toy appeal while doing it. From baubles to bunnies, calendars to cards, and lunchboxes to lanyards, we have plenty to offer. You can find us in the main reception in the Sydney Street building. We are accepting both card and cash payment so there really is no reason not to stop by and buy, buy, buy!
Our Christmas Toy Appeal is gathering pace! Raising money for those spending the festive season at the hospital, we will be buying toys and funding treats, parties and special experiences for patients, their families, and staff. Text TOYAPPEAL to 70085 to donate £5 (plus one message at standard network rate),or follow the link to make a donation of a different amount. l
This year's Brompton Family Christmas Party is happening on Sunday 12th December, featuring entertainment, music, crafts, and special messages from hospital staff. As with last year, this will be a virtual event with party boxes being sent out to families ahead of the party. If you have a child who is a young patient at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals and would like to join us at the party, email [email protected] to find out how you can register.
From our archives
Christmas has long been a time for healthcare charities to make targeted fundraising appeals. This December, our update from the archives focuses on a collection of “Christmas seals” collected by Dr John R Beal, who worked at Royal Brompton Hospital when it was a specialist hospital for tuberculosis. The seals were sold around the world to highlight the global impact of tuberculosis and to raise funds for the treatment of the diseases; the seals looked like stamps but were not used for postage.
The idea was first developed in 1904, by a Danish postal clerk, Einar Holbøll, and over six years it had raised enough money to build a sanatorium, the Christmas Seal Sanatorium (Julemærkesanatoriet) in Kolding. The images used in the stamps were mostly Christmas themed, although several showed nurses caring for children, sanatoria, or anti-tuberculosis slogans. Many included the double-barred cross of Lorraine, chosen at a conference in Berlin in 1902 as the symbol of the international fight against tuberculosis, which became a common emblem used by tuberculosis charities, much like the pink ribbon for breast cancer is today.
GiST- the latest news, developments and achievements from the Trust
Don’t forget to look out for the latest issue of GiST where you can read about how the Trust is supporting our staff who have a disability or long-term health condition, find out about some of the things we are doing as a Trust to reduce our carbon footprint and read about how our refugees and asylum seekers service works to support some of the capital's most vulnerable people. You will receive a copy of GiST in the mail and can access it online here.
To learn more about your Trust membership, share your feedback or update your contact details, please contact Nancy Dickinson at [email protected]
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