A BIG “Thank You”to the Co-op stores!

WelcomeLucy!

▪ Dates For Your Diary▪ ‘Ophthalmology Engage’▪ Rafi ’s Fundraising Efforts

▪ David Probert’s First Year▪ Sickle Cell Disease

IN THIS ISSUE

We are delighted to announce that The Institute ofOphthalmology, which is next door to Moorfi elds and veryclosly linked to the Trust, will be launching a new programmeof six ‘Ophthalmology Engage’ patient days over the next threeyears; funded and supported by Friends of Moorfi elds and theUCL public engagementdepartment.

Patients and scientistsrarely communicatedirectly, despite therebeing numerous shortand long term benefi tsfor both parties. In2014, the Instituteheld its fi rst patientengagement day called‘Cornea Connect’. The event was a huge success in spreadingthe word to patients about what researchers do, and bringingthese groups of people together. This had an overwhelminglypositive impact on everyone involved.

These Ophthalmology Engage days are designed to helpscientists better understand how visual impairments affectpeople’s lives, and to offer those with a visual impairment animproved understanding of the research into the conditions thataffect them. Research Associate, Dr Victoria Tovell said “Weare very excited to welcome patients into the institute and feelpositive that forging these mutually benefi cial relationships willultimately improve the quality of our research”For more information please contact Friends Offi ce on0207 251 1240 or email: friends@moorfi elds.nhs.uk

JUNE 1st - Art Sale 5th - Book People

13th - Mini Mart 23rd - Book People 27th - Book Sale

JULY 3rd - Book People11th - Mini Mart

25th - Book Sale 26th - Book People

AUGUST 8th - Book Sale 9th - Book People

15th - Mini Mart 25th - Book People

It is with great honour to have the privilege oftaking over editing duties of Peacockmagazine from Lynne. My name is DianaGriffi th. I started volunteering in the Friends’offi ce early in September 2016. Having comefrom a graphic and marketing background inthe US, I feel gratifi ed volunteering my timeand skill to such an amazing charity.Since becoming a volunteer, I have seenfi rst-hand how grateful patients and visitorsare for the help, contributions and personal individualcare the Friends’ offi ce provides. It is an amazingprivilege to be part of such a dynamic team.I do hope you enjoy the new look of the Peacock.

All the best,Diana

Hi!

Dates For Your Diary

Patient & Research ScientistEngagement Days

Friends recently held a contest asking children to colour andname their new “Peacock” for the 2017 summer launch ofthe upcoming children’s Peacock magazine. We would liketo thank everyone who took part. All of the creative entriesexceeded our expectations. After much consideration, weare proud to announce that Gwen’s peacock, “Lucy”, Lucy’speacock “Eyevor” and Antonisha’s peacock “Giggles” havebeen chosen as three best “Friends”. A BIG WELL DONE! tothese children who have each won a £10 Amazon voucher.

Welcome Lucy, Eyevor & Giggles!

EYEVORLUCY

GIGGLES

Rafi ’s Fundraising EffortsTremendous thanks from Friends to Rafi ,who was fi rst diagnosed with PrimaryCongenital Glaucoma in earlyDecember, 2009, when he was justsix weeks old, and he has been underthe care of Mr John Brookes’ team atMoorfi elds ever since.

Since 2009, Rafi has undergone numerousprocedures, including laser treatments, anincision to his eye, and fi nally, in 2015, atube inplant. He has endured a number ofexaminations under anaesthetic and copedwith different types of eye drops.

The tube inplant has been hugely successful at stabilisingthe pressure. For the fi rst time in seven years Rafi ’s visionin his good eye is improving. He now sees Mr Brookes andthe team at Moorfi elds a little less frequently; which is goodnews.

Recently Rafi has learnt to make loom bands. Initially hegave them to friends and family as gifts, then decided tosell them for £2.00 each as a donation to Moorfi elds. Todate, he has raised £131.00; a fantastic effort for a sevenyear old!

Patricia Collins, PA to John Brookes said “Rafi is such awonderful boy and I was thankful to have received one ofhis colourful loom bands myself.”

Moorfi elds’ Chief Executive, David Probert, has been in postfor over 12 months, and he says coming to Moorfi elds waseverything he hoped it would be.

Can you tell us about three highlights from yourfi rst year? “One highlight was when we achieved thereaccreditation of our Biomedical Research Centre Status.This is what allows Moorfi elds to play on a global platformand therefore support local patients in England and the UKwith world leading science. This year we had to re-apply fora further 5 years and with Sir Peng Khaw’s leadership, andwith The Institute of Ophthalmology we were able to achievethis accreditation. It was a tough process to go through, butwe are now one of only 20 biomedical research centres in theUK.

The second highlight was going through the Care QualityCommission inspection. It is always diffi cult when peoplecome and look at your organisation because you are neverquite sure what the result will be! I was delighted that theyrated us as a ‘good’ organisation with some outstandingareas, particularly in paediatrics and young people, whichI was delighted to have recognised.

The third highlight may sound a bit generic, but it hasjust been getting to know people. 2,500 staff work atMoorfi elds, and I can’t claim to have met all of them, but

I have tried as hard as possible tomeet as many as possible, and theyare just a fantastic, educated, caring,intelligent, forward thinking groupof individuals.”

What has been your biggest challenge? “Getting out andabout, and getting to know my organisation has also beenmy biggest challenge this year. This is because Moorfi elds isspread across 32 sites in the UK and also has 140 staff workingoverseas. But it has been an enjoyable challenge, and I do reallyget a sense now of what it is like to work not just at City Road,but also at Bedford, St Georges, Barking, Potters Bar etc. Thishas helped me shape our strategy for moving forward.”

How do you see Friends supporting you and theExecutive Team in the future? “I see the Friends playing acritical role in ‘The Moorfi elds Family’. We are all different groupsof people working towards a common goal – to defeat blindnesswhere we can; and to support people going through diffi cultjourneys by caring for them and helping them along the way.And it is the second part that I think Friends play a strong rolein. Literally guiding people through the hospital and supportingthem on their journey, and doing the things that our busy clinicalstaff do not always have the ability or the time to do, which issupporting the holistic nature of what people are going through.So I particularly welcome the drive on increasing volunteers –that is so important for us, it has made a big difference already.

Secondly, the grants that are givenby Friends that pay for things thatare really important, that keep uson a global stage and allow us toattract and grow talent, but thatunfortunately the NHS has nottraditionally been able to support.This is what makes us different –Friends of Moorfi elds help makes usdifferent.”

David Probert’s First Yearas Moorfi elds Chief Exec.

Sickle Cell Diseaseand the eye...

Sickle Cell can also cause retinaldetachment - the seeing part of theeye contains many blood vessels andthese can be pulled off by theabnormal cells in the jelly.”

What treatments are availablefor Sickle Cell? “Vitrectomy surgeryhas been very successful with goodresults for Sickle Cell patients. Oftenpatients don’t notice the problems withtheir eyes at the early stages becauseSickle Cell affects the peripheral part of the retina. We nowscreen patients to pick up the condition at an early stageand monitor them to detect complications before they causeserious vision loss.”

Is there a long term cure? “For the condition in general,there are reports about stem cell bone marrow transplantsthat can help, and as a genetic condition specifi c patientsmay benefi t from gene therapy, but for the eye itself it’sreally dealing with the complications during the patient’slifetime.”

Is the new Optos Widefi eld Camera, recently boughtby Friends,useful for spotting early stages of SickleCell? “Absolutely, this is the only device that gives you asnapshot of the whole retina at a wide angle view so we cansee all the way out to the peripheral edges. When we takephotographs of Sickle Cell patients, we can now capture thewhole condition in one shot. Another benefi t is that we canuse angiography, where you injectdye through the blood vessels whichlights up the Sickle Cell problems inthe eye.”

Regular Peacock readers will be aware of longterm volunteer, Basil Bramble and his journeywith Sickle Cell Anaemia. In spite of recentcomplications that left him in hospital, Basil isalways positive and always smiling! He is trulyan inspiration to so many of us, and we aredelighted that he is on the road to recoveryand has returned to volunteering at Moorfi elds.

Friend’s Executive Manager, Angela Smith, spoke toConsultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon, Mahi Muqit to fi nd outmore about Sickle Cell Disease and how it affects patients.

What is Sickle Cell Disease? “Sickle Cell Disease is agenetic condition very prevalent in African, Caribbean andMediterranean populations as well as the Middle East. Everyonehas a protein in their blood called haemoglobin and in SickleCell patients, this is abnormal. This means the cells looseoxygen and they become like a sickle shape, or like smallrods. These abnormal cells block up the circulation around thewhole body such as the heart, the central nervous system andespecially the eyes. Here at Moorfi elds, we have a very diversepopulation and treat patients from all over the world, so SickleCell is something we see a lot in a vitreo-retinal practice.”

How does Sickle Cell affect the eyes? “Blockage fromSickle Cells starts from a very young age, meaning that thepatient’s circulation does not develop normally, this can causeabnormal growth for blood vessels in the retina. This can leadto complications such as bleeding, small holes, and scar tissuebuilding up in the centre of the eye called the macula.

“Paging Ways To Help”

On Saturday, 20th May, Moorfi elds Arts Committee, which isfunded by Friends of Moorfi elds, opened the solo exhibitionof a digital artist and patient, MarcusInniss. He has Usher Syndrome andsuffers from deaf blindness. This ispart of the London-wide Open SensesFestival, and will run for three monthsin the Optometry corridor of Moorfi eldsCity Road.

Marcus told us “Since my diagnosisin 2003 with Usher Syndrome atMoorfi elds, and then completing mystudies in Digital Media, I have beenvery interested in organising anexhibition exploring the condition.

The idea was always to createan exhibit allowing individualsto get a glimpse into the livesof those with Usher Syndrome.This exhibition celebrates whatMoorfi elds Eye Hospital is about: ithighlights the work of the medicalprofessionals and specialists in thefi eld; it showcases the innovativeand life-changing achievementsthat enable those with eyeconditions to lead a full andindependent life.”

A NEW ‘PATIENT PAGER’SYSTEM AT CITY ROAD

Friends have recently agreedto fund a new patient pagersystem which will allowpatients waiting for longperiods in clinics to leavetheir seats for a drink orcomfort break, as they will bealerted by a buzzer when they are due tobe called.

Outpatients’ Matron, Tina Nemeth, said “This will makea huge difference to the patient experience at Moorfi eldsas it means clinic staff will have a better understanding ofwho is waiting in their clinic and who is absent; patientswill be able to move around the building without theanxiety of missing their appointment and waiting areas willbecome less congested. It will alsobe benefi cial to patients who arehard of hearing and may fi nd itdiffi cult to hear their name beingcalled.”

With Thanks & AppreciationQuite often The Friends’ offi ce receives letters of gratitude frompatients thanking Moorfi elds for the care they received,experience they had, commending a specifi c doctor, volunteeror member of staff. We would love to share this poem writtenso kindly by Mr. & Mrs. J Stamp:

A big WELL DONE! to Moorfi elds ChiefFinancial Offi cer, Steven Davies – hecompleted the London Marathon in5hrs 31mins and has raised £3,001for Friends! Thanks to all who have

donated items whichhave made our artand jewellery sales sosuccessful! If anyone isinterested in makingjewellery bags for oursales, pleasecontact theFriends’ offi ce.

Friends are extremely grateful to staffand customers at three local Co-opstores – at Old Street, Great EasternStreet and The Angel Petrol Store. Wewere one of nominated charities toreceive a share of their ‘Local Community Fund’ achievedfrom sales of carrier bags and own-branded products,purchased by Co-op members locally. We received anamazing £5,190 which will go towards expanding thevolunteer programme at Moorfi elds. Throughout the UKthis fund raised over £9 million and has helped 4,000local causes.

Friends’ Executive Manager, Angela Smith and Trustee,Derek Jenkinson went to two of the stores to meet thestaff, talk about what Friends are doing and say apersonal “Thank you.”

DRAW MADE BYMR. MARK WILIKINSConsultant Ophthalmic SurgeonService Director, External Diseases

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -I would like a PEACOCK LOTTERY lucky number please!

Name:________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________ Postcode: __________

Tel: ___________________________Email: _____________________________

PLEASE TICK THIS BOX IF THIS IS A BRAND NEW APPLICATION OR

PLEASE TICK THIS BOX IF YOU ARE RENEWING

Please send with your cheque for £20.00 (payable to Friends of Moorfi elds) toPeacock Lottery, Friends of Moorfi elds, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD

PRIZE WINNERS: FEB 2017AVAILABLE POT : £465

1ST PRIZE: token No 484:Ms. Tessa Humphrys - £279

2ND PRIZE: token No 166:Mr. Donald Brookfi eld - £116.25

3RD PRIZE: token No 322:Mr. & Mrs. Jim & Eve McClean - £69.75

After the Friends’ greatsuccess with our poppy appeal, we

are endeavouring to double the£900 we raised last autumn,

half of which goes to TheRoyal British Legion.

To boost sales in 2017 we willsell poppies in the Friends’ shop in

the hospital, in the children’s unit and theFriends’ offi ce. We will also ask our friends who

knit for us to kindly sell them directly and send usthe money, or simply donate knitted poppies for us to

sell - at a suggested donation of £2 per poppy.

If you are one of those people who can’t watch the TVwithout some knitting in your hands, please may I ask you toconsider knitting some poppies for us? They are fairly simpleand quick to knit and I have a fairly easy pattern which I canhappily email or post to you. I am really looking forward tohearing from you.

LynneLynne.moorcroft@moorfi elds.nhs.uk

Knitting for A Cause

The next draw takes place at theend of August, so newcomersplease send in your applications.The annual fee (covering entryto four quarterly draws) is£20.00, of which 50% goes tofunds and the remainder to theprize pot.

The Peacock Lottery is a fundraiser and is entirely separate frommembership of the Friends itself. You can be part of either or both!

Registered Charity 1161546

• The Friends of Moorfi elds Eye Hospital • 162 City Road , London EC1V 2PD

Phone: 020 7251 1240 • Email: friends@moorfi elds.nhs.ukwww.friendsofmoorfi elds.org.uk

@Moorfi eldFriend www.facebook.com/friendsofmoorfi elds