June 2005 Issue No. 134 Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust

Trust NEWS• News from the

Chief Executive page 2

• Burns and ICUjoin forces

page 5

• What not towear... inTheatres

page 12

In thisissue...

Just under 90 per cent ofpatients felt that they hadreceived adequate painrelief. The UK average wasapproximately 75 per cent.

The national patientsurvey for emergency carewas carried out by theHealthcare Commissionand is based on a randomsample of patientsattending the Emergency

Department in June 2004. Emergency Nurse

Consultant Jane Tippettsaid: “This is veryencouraging and animprovement on theprevious year’s performance.It shows that our effortshave really paid off.”

Several nurses in theEmergency Departmentcan now supply and

administer more medicinesto patients to help relieveany pain they may have.This initiative has been ledby Emergency NurseConsultant ClaireWashbourne and the aim isto train all nurses whoundertake initial assessmentof emergency patients. Thisallows nurses to administerpain relief at a much earlier

stage such as when they aretriaging a patient on arrivalto the department.

Jane said: “We have alsodeveloped new standardsfor the department. Thisincludes targets on the timespan in which pain reliefshould be given.

“This feedback is a goodindicator of the quality ofclinical care we are

Healing hands24/7Chelsea and Westminster’s Emergency Department is the

best in the UK for providing adequate pain relief at theright time - according to the national patient survey.

Learner of the year ■ Midwifery Assistant LyndaMaxwell, pictured with firsttime mum Pranee Conleyand three day old JackConley, picked up anIndividual Learner Awardsponsored by the NationalHealth Service University aspart of Adult Learners Weekin May.

Lynda, a mother to three,had been out of education formore than 20 years butdecided to take a chance andembarked on an intensivelearning programme tobecome a midwife. Turn topage three to find out more...

providing andcomplements other targetswe are measured againstsuch as waiting times.

“A significant reason whypatients attend theEmergency Department isbecause of pain and thissurvey has demonstratedhow we have improved caresince 2003.”

Emergency DepartmentConsultant Dr JeremyBooth said: “This is a majorachievement towardsproviding effective andefficient patient care. It’svery gratifying to know thatthe diligent work of nursingand medical staff has beenofficially recognised.”● More on page 2

At the May meeting the Trust Board approvedthe new Security Policy. This policy willunderpin the re-establishment of the Trust-wideSecurity Group which will lead thedissemination and implementation of thepolicy. The health and security of our staff,patients and visitors are of paramountimportance to the Trust. We will do everythingwe can to provide a safe environment for staff,patients and visitors. We will support staff totake the appropriate first response to any incident, throughlistening and attempting to understand differences, to useappropriate de-escalation techniques and, where possible, tofind local resolution to any incident or concern that mayarise at work. Ultimately, we will take appropriate actionagainst anybody threatening staff, either verbally orphysically, or committing violent or criminal acts.

★★★★I am delighted that we now have five out of seven theatres

in operation in the Treatment Centre. I would like to thankall our staff and the Project Team for working through whatturned out to be a challenging building scheme. Theartwork is very effective and will help provide the rightenvironment for our patients. We will be having a formalopening in the late summer and I hope many of you willhave the opportunity to look around. We now need toincrease the amount of day surgery we undertake and secureour position as a provider of choice for the specialties we

provide. Being a provider of choice is alsoabout ensuring we respond and act on thefeedback we receive from the National PatientSurveys. Whilst we are praised for many things- as this edition of Trust News demonstrates weare one of the top hospitals where adequatepain relief is provided for patients in A&E -there are still areas where we need to worktogether to improve, particularly aroundconsistent communication to patients and their

relatives. Edward Donald, Director of Operations andHelen Elkington, Facilities General Manager are workingwith our partner ISS Mediclean to ensure we are able toprovide clean toilets and all times, which is another majorconcern.

★★★★Patient care is delivered by teams and this is good, but

we can enhance this by accessing patient information ateach bedside using the PatientLine terminals. You shouldnow be in receipt of your security pass to access thesystem. In this way we will engage patients more activelyin their care.

★★★★Key issues for this year are going to be the 98% A&E

target, a whole-hospital target; cancer; booking; Agendafor Change and MRSA. We now need to build on thesuccesses of the last year to ensure we can be successful in2005/06.

by the Chief Executive, Heather LawrenceHeather’s view

● From page 1As highlighted in the April issue of

Trust News the survey also showed that89.4 per cent of patients felt that theywould rate the care they received in theEmergency Department as eitherexcellent, very good or good. In 12 areasof the survey the department was in thebest 20 per cent of NHS Trusts across thecountry and in 49 areas performedwithin the average. There were only twoareas where the Trust performed belowaverage. There was also positive feedbackabout communications with 94 per centof patients reporting that doctors andnurses explained their condition andtreatment in a way they couldunderstand.

Turn to pages 8 and 9 for news abouthow we met the Government’s four hourwaiting time targets in the EmergencyDepartment.

Healing hands

Do you have a story for Trust News? It might be something interesting, exciting,

or remarkable that a colleague is doing.Whatever it is, we should be pleased to hearfrom you. Call Jeanette Albert on 6829 or

Sarah McKellar on 020 7808 9899 or emailsarah.mckellar@nexuspr.com

2

A new consent form for adult patients receiving treatment atChelsea and Westminster is being published.

New consent form for adult patients

There is a legal requirement forclinical staff to obtain consent for aspectsof patient care. This includesdocumenting clearly both a patient'sagreement to a procedure and thediscussions, including the intendedbenefits, risks or alternatives which leadup to agreement for any procedure.

Head of Clinical Governance ViviaRichards said: “Over the next fewmonths we will be introducing a slightlyrevised and simplified consent form foradults scheduled to have a plannedprocedure or test. The new consent formreplaces the old forms, one and three. Itshould be used to take consent to gain apatient's agreement to undergo aninvestigation or treatment for proceduresthat require a general anaesthetic,sedation or local anaesthetic.”

The changes to the new form includea sturdy writing shield to improve thecarbon-copy quality, a thick blue borderwhich should help staff to quickly findthe forms within the patient clinicalrecords. The forms will be supplied pre-hole-punched to speed up filing withinpatients' records so you won't have tosearch for a 2-hole punch!

When ordering new supplies the ordercode remains the same as before butdepartments will be supplied with thenew document.

The other consent forms available inthe Trust will be reviewed this year inconsultation with the clinicians in therelevant areas.

These are: form two, (used forparental consent for children and youngpeople); and consent form four (used foradults who are unable to consent toinvestigation or treatment).

The new forms will be phased in overthe next few months, so please use yourexisting supplies of consent forms oneand three until the end of July 2005 inpreparation for the Trust-wide launch ofthe new form on 1 August 2005.

Don’t miss this month’sBric-a-Brac Bonanza in aid

of the Friends of theChelsea and Westminster

Hospital. Bargains galore ofsecond hand and new itemswill be on sale in The Mallbetween 11am and 4pm on

Wednesday 8 June.

Wednesday 8, 1-1.45pmThe Mall (Ground Floor,

Lift Bank B)HOHODZA BAND

Original African music and dance group.

Thursday 16, 1-1.45pmThe Mall (Ground Floor,

Lift Bank B) SHE’KOYOKH

Eastern European folkmusic.

Monday 20 & 27, 1-2pmThe Café (Ground Floor,

Lift Bank B)Pianist-in-Residence

ALEX VYDELINGUM

Midwifery Assistant Lynda Maxwell has provedthat it’s never too late to pick up the text booksand start learning.

Lynda proves it’s never too late

■ Pictured at the Trust are Midwifery Assistant LyndaMaxwell (left) with Practice Based Trainer, Megan Stowe.

She was presented with anIndividual Learner Award,sponsored by the NationalHealth Service University(NHSU), as part of AdultLearners Week 21-27 May2005.

The award officiallyrecognises her dedication andcommitment to learning bythe organisers of the UK’slargest festival of adultlearning, the NationalInstitute of Adult ContinuingEducation (NIACE).

Lynda, a mother of three,left school at 15 and hadbeen out of formal educationfor more than 20 years untilshe decided to take a chance ayear ago. She had alwayswanted to be a midwife butnever felt there would be anopportunity for her to obtainher goal.

Lynda saw an advertisementfor a Pathway into MidwiferyProgramme here at Chelseaand Westminster, and gave upher job as a classroom assistantto accept a position on thecourse.

“Lynda has successfullymanaged to maintain herhome life, work and

education,” said Lynda’snominator Practice BasedTrainer Megan Stowe. “Hersecret to success is to studyafter her three children go tobed.”

Lynda does not onlymanage 25 hours a week ofstudy, but also continues to bea full-time Midwifery CareAssistant as well as managingher husband’s company.

Lynda said: “I continue tolearn on the job everyday, Ihave met a lot of new peopleand made new friends, not

only with work colleagues, butwith patients too. I have alsogained a new job with endless

opportunities for growth.” Lynda hopes to become a

Midwife once her training iscomplete.

Arts programmefor June

■ The ‘Chelsea Bruisers’ all women’sTrust finance football team won afive-a-side tournament in April,organised by the Health FinancialManagement Association (HFMA).

Pictured on the day are winners(from l-r) Head of FinancialManagement Carol McLaughlin,Accountant Grace Oyedemi, ProjectAccountant Narindar Liddar,Grace’s niece Bimbola Akinloye, andFinance Manager Lisa Harlen.

This year was the first time thatan all female team from the Trustentered the annual London NHSFinance Department event.

■ Lynda’s success story wasalso highlighted in the

Daily Mail on May 24.

Finance women’s team success

3

e-KSF has arrived!

4

Q What is e-KSF?

A e-KSF is an internetbased system which

means you will be able toaccess it from outside theTrust. You have your ownunique user identity andpassword so you can accessthe system. An electronicemail will be sent to you onceyou have been registered.

Q What do I have to donow?

A Once you receive youruser identity and

password you should go tothe website www.e-ksf.organd enter your details.

You will then need toactivate your user identity bychoosing option (3) on thethe login page. This will takeyou through a series ofquestions to add somepersonal and contactinformation and change yourpassword. Some of themandatory questions havealready been done for you.Once you have done this youwill be able to login and usee-KSF in the normal way.

Q What can I do withe-KSF?

A You can view yourappraisal

documentation, personaldevelopment plan, KSF postoutline and your workobjectives. There will be anarea for you to maintain yourown electronic learningportfolio of developmentactivities you haveundertaken, although this willnot fully replace theportfolios you already have.Only you and your managerwill be able to view thedocumentation you keep onyour e-KSF.

Q How soon can I startaccessing my

information?

A You can access thesystem once you have

activated your user identity.You will not find very muchon there until your managerhas assigned your KSF Post

During May all staff were given access to e-KSF.KSF is the new Knowledge and Skills

Framework for all NHS staff which has nowgone electronic. It is part of Agenda for Changeand looks at the skills and the knowledge which

you need to do your job effectively.

Outline to you. This willthen be available for you toview.

After your first review youwill also be able to see a copyof your personal developmentplan and your appraisalreview record. You can beginusing your records of learningand updating them as soon asyou have your user identity.

Q I already have aportfolio, do I need

to update this one too?

A No. Many employeesalready have portfolios

and e-KSF is not designed toreplace these. It is designed tobe used for those staff whodon’t have portfolios and whowish to keep records oflearning. If you have aportfolio, you may choose touse the electronic version torecord learning activities as

well - it’s completely up toyou.

Q What happens if Imove to another job?

A If you move to anotherjob within Chelsea and

Westminster yourinformation will simplytransfer across and access willbe given to your newmanager. If you move toanother Trust which is alsousing e-KSF your personalinformation will be updatedand your records will movewith you.

Q Will I receivetraining on how to

use the system?

A We will be runningsome short training

sessions on how to use e-KSF and these will beavailable soon. The system isquite easy to use and you may

find you don’t requiretraining, so it would be bestto have a look at the systemand see how you get on withit.

Q What support willthere be?

A e-KSF has a very goodsupport facility online.

There are also a number ofFAQs which are useful if youhave an initial query orproblem.

Q How soon will e-KSF be fully active?

A We have a target tocomplete all KSF Post

Outlines by the endSeptember 2005. This meansall the outlines will be onlineby then. There are already anumber of outlines approvedand these are available on e-KSF.

More questions? If youstill have questions orcomments about KSF,please email our own

KSF hotline:ksf.hotline@

chelwest.nhs.uk

Thirty-two staff from the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) have entered into the competitive JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, a 31⁄2mile run around Battersea Park on Thursday7 July.

The t-shirts are printed, the entries are in, the traininghas started and the competition is heating up. All staff arerepresented, doctors, nurses, and the physiotherapists willbe there to ease the aches and pains after they too havecompleted the course.

The JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge is a way ofcorporations getting staff involved in exercise, not only inLondon, but also many cities and countries throughout theworld, along with raising funds for charity.

If you would like to sponsor the ICU, who are giving themoney raised to a chosen charity, you can contact the Uniton ext 8516/8518 and ask for John Gough.

320 students from 17secondary schools andfurther education colleges inNorth West London attendedthe Schools Science

Keep on running

Conference at KensingtonTown Hall as part ofNational Science Week inMarch.

This event was principally

organised by ConsultantClinical Scientist inImmunology at the Trust Dr.Don Henderson. The day hadinteractive workshops,demonstrations, quizzes, talksand displays. The conferencefocussed on the wide range ofcareers that the NHS has,which adds up to 359 careers!

Healthcare professionalsbased at Chelsea andWestminster Hospital andother NHS Trusts volunteeredtheir time and energy to makethis day happen. Theprogramme was educational,enjoyable and in line with theNational Curriculum. Studentfeedback was extremelypositive.

If you would like topromote your career in thisevent next year, please emailDon Henderson at:d.henderson@imperial.ac.uk

Scientists of the future

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Monday 20 June 2005 Lunchtime lecture in the Gleeson Lecture Theatre

Professor Trisha Greenhalgh: “Narrative based medicine – the evidence: Thepatient’s story – Narrative based medicine in an evidence based world”

Professor Trisha Greenhalgh is Professor of General Practice at University CollegeLondon. She is a regular reviewer for the British Medical Journal and the Lancet,

and author of “How to Read a Paper - the basics of evidence-based medicine”. Herarticles on Narrative-based Medicine have also been published in the BMJ. Many

clinicians will remember her facilitating Evidence-based Health Care workshops atLondon Colney and elsewhere. All staff and students welcome!

For details contact Reinhard Wentz, Medical Library, ext 8109, or e-mailr.wentz@imperial.ac.uk

A state-of-the-art science laboratory was opened at Kensington andChelsea College in April.

Staff working on our Burns andIntensive Care Units arecombining their specialist skillsto provide better care forpatients.

£470,000 was awarded to theTrust by the Department of Healthin 2005 to develop intensive careservices for burns patients.

The money is being used todevelop a new way of workingwhich means that staff on theIntensive Care Unit at the hospitalwill also be providing support topatients on the Burns Unit.

Acting Burns Clinical NurseLead, Michelle Das, said: “This isa positive move forward for bothpatients and staff.

“This will create opportunitiesfor staff to develop new skills andknowledge in very specialist areasincluding burns nursing andintensive care.

“It will also allow us to treatmore burns patients who need oneto one intensive care.”

Chelsea and Westminster’s BurnsUnit treats more than 400 patientsa year from across the South East

of England. The Unit is currently in final

negotiations to gain ‘centre status’for adults. This means that theUnit would be classified as havingthe highest level of service offeringa full range of services fromventilation, rehabilitation and

outreach. The Intensive Care Unit looks

after our most critically ill patients- about 400 a year. The highstandards of the Unit wererecognised when it was awarded aprestigious Government CharterMark in 2004 for the third time.

10% off all treatments at

CamilleHair DesignCamille is pleased to offer apermanent discount of 10%on all treatments for staff ofChelsea and WestminsterHospital. Simply show yourvalid ID badge when youpay your bill (cash orcheques with bank cardsonly). For an appointmentplease call 020 8746 8681.

Specialists join forces

■ Pictured (l-r) are staff from Burns and ICU:Elaine Manderson, Gerry Fitzgerald O’Conner, DrJonathan Handy, Maria Stockmayr, Sieh-LingDixon, Alexis Gallagher, Ann Hinds, RodneyFernadez, Debbie Steer, Emily Brown and AndreaBlay. Inset: Acting Burns Clinical Nurse Lead, Michelle Das.

The new lab will helptrain health care workers ofthe future.

The investment is theresult of the College pickingup a Centre of VocationalExcellence in Health Awardin 2004 which recogniseshigh quality trainingprogrammes in health whichaim to improve recruitmentin the NHS.

Kensington and ChelseaCollege Deputy Head ofHealth and CommunityVerna Lyus said: “We have aclose partnership with theChelsea and WestminsterHospital and local PrimaryCare Trust who have beenextremely supportive in thenew project. The ultimategoal is to give more peopleeducational and career

opportunities and to help inreducing the skills gap inhealth care. The new lab is afantastic part of this aim.”

Director of NursingAndrew MacCallum said:“Supporting local people tolearn and develop skills thatthey can then use in the

workplace is very importantto Chelsea and Westminsteras a major employer.

“The work the college isdoing to prepare people forcareers in healthcare isencouraging and anapproach the Hospitalsupports.”

New science labs open

6

Forty-four drawings by children affected by theTsunami from the Ampara region of Sri Lanka weredisplayed and auctioned at the Trust in May.

A picture of hopeThe crayon drawings,

brought over by Dr NatalieRyan raised more than£2,000. This money will helpto rebuild the children’scommunity in Thirrukovil.

The launch of theexhibition at thebeginning of Mayattracted more than 150people. Some of thesilent bids receivedthroughout the two weekexhibition exceeded£100. The exhibitionattracted media coverageranging from BBC Newsto the Tamil TVNetwork.

When describing howshe felt about theexhibition, Dr Ryan said:“Everything has been agreat success. People are stillvery keen to support thoseaffected by the Tsunami andwere very interested in whatwe did out there.

“It was lovely to attract theattention of people justwalking through the hospitaland it has been interesting tosee which pictures people

chose. Although somewere more popular thanothers, almost all thepictures received bids sothere were aspects of eachone that appealed todifferent people.”

Dr Ryan originallywent to Sri Lanka inFebruary to help victimsof the disaster. She alsospent time playing withthe children at therefugee camps where shewas working, spendingmany hours in specialdrawing sessions.The children expressed

themselves through theimages they drew and

asked for the pictures to bebrought back to England.This inspired the idea toexhibit their work and tofundraise for them.

Nursing issueshighlighted atconference

Hygiene and patientsafety were two issuesthat topped the agendaat a Trust nursingconference.

On May 29, 88 membersof staff from all directoratesattended the event at Guy’sand St Thomas’ Hospital tolisten to talks and attendworkshops.

These includeddiscussions on nutrition,pressure ulcers, privacy anddignity, record keeping,continence andcommunication.

There was also a debateentitled ‘Too Posh to Wash -As highly-educated healthprofessionals we should notbe undertaking basic care.’ Itwas proposed by ActingClinical Nurse Lead inCritical Care, Liz Saunders,and opposed by SharonTerry, Assistant Director ofNursing. The overwhelmingmajority voted with theopposition.

Patients’ experiences at theTrust were discussedalongside the workshops,highlighting the results fromthe National Patients Survey,as well as personaldevelopment topics such asAgenda for Change.

The next conference willbe held on July 15 atFulham Town Hall inFulham Broadway under thethemes of equality anddiversity.

Nominations for the freeevent should be made toMaria Lee in the CorporateNursing Department on ext2480.

■ Dr Natalie Ryan

Agenda for Change Update...Terms and conditions – your questions answered

During May we started tooffer staff the opportunityto move onto the newAgenda for Change termsand conditions. Here aresome answers to thecommon questions staffhave been asking about thenew terms and conditions.

Will my pay be different?In the overwhelming majorityof cases staff will beassimilated to the closestpoint equivalent to, or above,their current salary or newpay spine.

Is there still incrementalprogression through payspines under Agenda forChange?Each pay band will have anumber of pay pointscontaining two gatewaypoints - the foundation and asecond gateway near the topof the pay bands. Each yearstaff on pay points betweenthe gateways can expect toprogress to the next pay point.What are the newincremental dates?If you are on the maximum

of your current scale yourincremental date will be thedate of assimilation. Staffassimilating from below themaximum of their currentscale will retain their existingincrement date. For new staffthe increment date will be thedate they take up post.

Do discretionary pointsdisappear? Yes.

What about allowances,leads and bonus schemes?Most leads and allowances aretaken account of by the JobEvaluation Scheme and aretherefore consolidated intobasic pay. It was viewed thatmany bonus schemesappeared to conflict withEqual Pay principles and soare consolidated into basicpay on assimilation.Is superannuation affectedby Agenda for Change?No. Pensions are separate andnot affected by Agenda forChange. What if I don’t agree withthe matching outcome?It is expected that themajority of NHS jobs will be

covered by the profile. Ifsomeone does not agree withthe match or evaluation thereis a review process.

Individuals who wish tohave the outcomereconsidered will be requiredto complete a review formsigned by both the individualand manager and submit tothe Agenda for Change Teamfor action. In accordance withDepartment Of Healthguidelines another panel isreconvened to review theinformation. The outcome ofthe second panel is binding. Agenda for Changementions nothing aboutmaternity leave, redundancypayments and sick leave.What happens to theseentitlements?Redundancy and sickness payremains the same. Maternitypay has been improved upon.During the first eight weeksof maternity leave theemployee will receive eightweeks full pay, followed by 18weeks half pay plus anystatutory maternity pay ormaternity allowance.

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Improving Working Lives... Improving Working Lives...

Donna Nelson, Bereavement Officer, is this month’s winner.

If you would like to nominate someoneyou feel has gone that extra mile to bringa smile to your face then place your votenow.

Every month we are looking for you tounmask the hospital’s super heroes.Winners will appear in Trust News andreceive a month’s free membership toDavid Lloyd Leisure Centre.

Nomination forms are available from theintranet or from Human Resources Office

4, lower ground floor, Chelsea andWestminster Hospitals or emailcaroline.chalmers@chelwest.nhs.uk

You can also use the handy secure boxlocated outside Human Resources on thelower ground floor to nominate yourEmployee of the Month Award.

Staff are reminded that all nominationsmust be received on the official form thatcan be found on the intranet or outsideHR Office 4.

This month’s Super HeroDonna is one of the most

friendly and outgoing members ofstaff at Chelsea and Westminster.She often has to deal with verystressful situations at times whenmany families are dealing withgreat sadness and loss. Donnaalways remains upbeat andfriendly and is a credit to theChelsea and Westminster Team.

Donna bringswarmth to theTrust in her

own special

way.Other staff that should be

commended in the month ofMarch are: ● Martin Lincoln, Senior Staff

Nurse Victoria Clinic● Paul Brady, Senior Staff Nurse

A&E● Kevin Igoe, Workforce

Information Manager● Megan Stowe, Practice Based

Trainer Corporate Nursing● Kathleen Marshall, Staff Nurse

Outpatients 2.

Vote for your Super Hero

Caring for the carersA new support group for carers is being launchedduring National Carers Week at Chelsea andWestminster Hospital.

Time to chill outDue to popular demandUrban Chill, the coolestLondon Head and ShoulderMassage Company, will bevisiting the Trust everyThursday.

Staff will be offered a fiveminute head and shouldermassage in return for a smallfee depending on what theybelieve their ‘chilling’experience is worth.

UrbanChill will be locatedoutside the canteen on thelower ground floor.

Visit their website to seewhere else you can findUrbanChill services:www.urban-chill.com

Fighting fit Fitness First at South Kensington brought a team of Healthand Fitness Professionals to the Trust on Wednesday 9 Mayto conduct fitness tests, blood pressure analyses and otherhealth checks for staff. Due to the overwhelming response

from staff, Fitness First will be back next month to continuesupporting staff to improve their working lives!! Keep an eye

for the Fitness First Stall outside the canteen this month.

The inaugural meetingwill take place on Friday 17June between 11.30am and12.30pm in the boardroomon the lower ground floor.This will be an opportunityfor carers to discuss thechallenges they face and howthey can be supported.

If you provide care forchildren and otherdependants the Trust canprovide support, carer’s leaveand flexible working. There

are also policies regardingadoption, parental, paternityand compassionate leave.

Watch this space as therewill also be a carer’s forumin the near future givingcarers the opportunity todiscuss issues related tocaring and to find out aboutflexible working options.

If you would like toattend or would like moreinformation please call

Amber Payne (pictured) onext 5869 or email:amber.payne@chelwest.nhs.uk

Summer play scheme Places are available at a local play scheme at Fox PrimarySchool, Kensington Place. Run by the Royal Borough ofKensington and Chelsea, it is available to children (aged five-13) of NHS staff only and costs £10 a day. Availability islimited as the scheme is used by several NHS Trusts. If you are interested in enrolling your child for the summerholiday please contact Working Family Advisor Amber Payneon ext 5869 or email amber.payne@chelwest.nhs.uk

Chelsea and Westminster’sEmergency Departmentsees about 85,000patients a year - thisincludes 28,000 childrenwho are seen in thepaediatric A&E which isstaffed 24 hours a day butwith trained children’sdoctors and nurses.

Consultant Peta Longstaffsaid: “All staff have reallypulled together. It’s thanks totheir commitment and hardwork and I can’t praise themenough. It would not havebeen possible without inputfrom the rest of the hospitaltoo.

“Two years ago 75 per centof patients were seen in fourhours and now we havemanaged to increase this to 98per cent of patients being seen.We are also seeing more andmore patients - which makesmeeting this target even morechallenging.”

A number of innovationshave been introduced withinthe Emergency Department.

There is now a dedicatedarea to treat patients with

SPOTLIGHT ON... SPOTLIGHT ON...

Emergency careThis year the Trust achieved tough Government targets to ensure that 98per cent patients attending our Emergency Department were seen, treatedand discharged or admitted within four hours of arrival.

So how did we do it? Trust News talks to the lead Consultant forEmergency Care, Peta Longstaff and other staff across the hospital whohave worked hard to achieve the target.

minor injury and illness and asix bedded observation unit.

Peta added: “We haveimplemented ‘see and treat’which means doctors assess allpatients on arrival so a decisionon their condition can bemade immediately. There arealso rapid assessments in majorareas so that bloods and otherinvestigations such as x-rays areordered early on.”

Two new consultants havebeen appointed to theDepartment Patrick Robertsand Francesca Garnham -bringing the total number ofconsultants to five. They workalongside Peta, WendyMathews, Jeremy Booth andDr Ed Abrahamson PaediatricA&E Consultant.

It’s been a massiveachievement for PaediatricA&E. In the last five years the

number of children seen hasincreased from 20,000 to28,000. In the first quarter ofthis year numbers increased by20 per cent - faced with thesechallenges staff still managed toachieve the target.

Paediatric A&E ConsultantDr Ed Abrahamson said: “Thisis thanks to the hard work anddedication of staff. It’s an

extraordinary achievementgiven the challenges we face.”

He added: “In the summerwe will be employingadditional staff including anextra emergency nursepractitioner and two seniorhouse officers which will gosome way to making this targetsustainable in the longer term.”

Staff on William Gilbert

■ Two new consultants in the Emergency Department - PatrickRoberts and Francesca Garnham

■ From left to right (back) are staff from William GilbertWard: Senior Staff Nurse Georgina Clark, Charge NurseSteve Burwell, Senior Staff Nurse Debs Bovey, (front) StaffNurse Racheal Kadete, Staff Nurse Helen Fikremariam andStaff Nurse Myrna Mesinas.

■ The hospital’s Discharge Team.

8

SPOTLIGHT ON... SPOTLIGHT ON...

Ward have also changed theway they work. The ward is thedesignated admissions unit forall medical patients coming tothe Emergency Departmentwho need to stay in hospital.After their initial assessmentpatients are fast tracked to theward.

Charge Nurse on WilliamGilbert Ward Steve Burwellsaid: “It has been a real teameffort. We’ve had to workclosely with the other wards tospeed up the patient’s journeyso that there are beds available

for emergency patients in theward.”

General Manager forMedicine, Nicola Hunt, said:“There has been a strong focuson speeding up discharge sothat beds are free for patientscoming from the EmergencyDepartment. The DischargeTeam has been working closelywith the Local Authorities andPimary Care Trusts to makesure care packages are in placefor patients as soon aspossible.”

Discharge Team ManagerMark Stilling said: “In Januarythis year we appointed threenew recruits to the Teamwhich has made a bigdifference. It was a tough timefor them to start as this is

traditionally a very busy timefor the hospital. But they didreally well.”

More than 200 people amonth are now using thedischarge lounge. This providesa place for people to wait to gohome rather than them havingto stay on the ward.

Mark added: “I must alsothank staff working in thedischarge lounge - they startedto come in an hour earlier sothat they are ready for patientsat the start of the day.”

Clinical Site Manager JanTranter works across thehospital trouble shootingproblems which may arisethroughout the day. Jan and hercolleagues have an importantrole to play in helping thehospital meet targets.

She said: “Our role is to act asa middle person between theEmergency Department and allthe wards to ensure there arebeds available so that there areno delays in the system.”

■ Staff from Pathology.

■ Left: By the nursingstation in the EmergencyDepartment are SeniorHouse Officers Manjeet Brar(left) and Edmond Jack.

■ From left to right are Emergency Department HousekeeperBeatriz Benfodil, Porter Abde Raouf, Patient EnvironmentTeam Leader Clarise Lindsay and Housekeeper Francisco Ruano.

■ Pictured (left to right): Radiographer Michelle Burrows,Superintendent Radiographer Paul Haigh, Senior RadiographerMagda El Sherbini and Radiography Assistant Nazir Rasul.

■ Some of the Paediatric Accident and Emergency team.

Director of OperationsEdward Donald said: “Deliveryof the A&E target is asignificant achievement whichhas been achieved throughinvestment, changing practiceand an enormous personalcontribution and effort from allstaff across the Trust.

“Working alongside staff ona daily basis to supportachievement of this target I wasimpressed by the team workand commitment at all levels -a big thank you to all involved.

“The challenge now will beto sustain performance at thislevel.

“We have also achieved thisat the same time as receivingpositive feedback from thepatient survey about emergencyservices at Chelsea andWestminster.

“Success brings newchallenges, not least the 7,500increase in A&E attenders lastyear, which will require us tokeep reviewing our models ofcare, practice and facilities.”

9

10

Monday 6thSHE - ladies clothing

Tuesday 7thM & E Jewellery - gold jewellery

Wednesday 8thMade You Look - Czechoslovakian

crystal glasswear and jewellery

Friends’ Bric-a-brac Bonanza

Thursday 9thDiane Philips - Accessories

Friday 10thVishani - Pashminas, blankets, shawls

Friends - Book Sale

Monday 13thPresence Décor - gifts and interior

design items

Tuesday 14thStaff Shop Cosmetics - toiletries,

perfume, cosmetics

Wednesday 15thFriends - Bric-a-Brac

Thursday 16thToddlers2Kids - clothing

Friday 17thValentino Shoes - Italian shoes

Friends - Book Sale

Monday 20thRoger Mantell - CDs, DVDs, Videos,

Books

Tuesday 21stChris Poland - Luggage & leather

goods

Wednesday 22ndFriends - Bric-a-Brac

Thursday 23rdJonathan Stoops - miscellaneous items

Friday 24thGillian Shooter - handbags

Friends - Book Sale

Monday 27thPresence Décor - gifts and interior

design items

Tuesday 28thM & E Jewellers - gold jewellery

Wednesday 29thFriends - Bric-a-Brac

Thursday 30thStaff Shop Cosmetics - toiletries,

perfume, cosmetics

Everyone needs a friend – asGynaecology found out in Aprilwhen a much needed bladderscanner was donated by theFriends of the Hospital toOutpatients Two and Annie ZunzWard.

The Friends fully funded the £7,700scanner, which works by showing theamount of urine inside the bladder.

The new equipment is used inoutpatients to diagnose problemsquickly and to help avoid admission to hospital.

The scanner will also be used toeffectively manage patients withchronic or irritable bladder conditionson a long term basis. It’s portable andeasy to use.

On the ward it can help reducelength of hospital stay by avoidingunnecessary catheterisation which issometimes associated with urinarytract infections. The nurses are able tomake assessments without having towait for busy doctors.

Sister in Outpatients Two, ClaireBellone said: “We wanted this piece ofequipment for a very long time, butwe never had the funds to purchase it.We have used it everyday sincereceiving it!

“The Friends are absolutelyfantastic. It has helped to transformthe Urogynaecology Nurse SpecialistSharon Marsh’s role, helping her andher team to be more effectivepractitioners.

“None of this would have beenpossible without the Friends.”

Friends donation to gynaecology

Benefiting Friends – benefiting us – June trading

■ Pictured with the bladder scanner purchased by the Friends forGynaecology Outpatients and Annie Zunz Ward are (l-r), Friend TonyRobinson, Sister in Outpatients Two Claire Bellone, Urogynaecology NurseSpecialist Sharon Marsh, Chairman of The Friends, Victoria, Countess ofNormanton and Friends Pamela Griffiths and Frances Taylor.

Models wanted - your chance to take to Chelsea and Westminster’s ‘catwalk’

Local fashion designer, Beatrice von Tresckow, is showing her latest collectionat 8pm on 28th September 2005, here in The Mall of the Hospital. Thisfundraising event, which will be attended by Friends and supporters, is in aidof the Friends of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital - your help is needed!

Attractive, extrovert and cheerful models of 5’ 7” or over in height and who are asize 10; 12 or 14 are needed to wear her exotic and colourful range on the ‘cat walk’.

If you are a member of staff and would like to take this opportunity to be afashion model for the evening please contact The Friends Office on 020 8746 8825or email: friends.office@chelwest.nhs.uk with your contact details. Auditions willtake place between 1pm and 6pm on Tuesday 21 June and there will be a rehearsalon the day of the Fashion Show (successful volunteers need to be available from1pm until 9pm on 28 September).

Strut your stuff!

Patients to book appointments within 24hrs

11

Life saving equipment for patients with heart problems has beendonated to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team by the Friends.

Life saving FriendsThe automated external

defibrillator is for patients on theteam’s new 12-week communityexercise class. This allows patients tonot only exercise in a communityfacility but also alongside generalmembers of the public. This scheme isone of the first of its kind withinLondon.

Cardiac Rehabilitation NurseSpecialist, Fiona Milligan explainedthat without the Friends it would havebeen difficult for the programme togo ahead without this particular pieceof equipment, which cost £2,400 witha discount.

Fiona said: “Phase III patients, whohave had a heart attack or heartsurgery have a high risk of having lifethreatening problems associated withexercise.

“An automated external defibrillator

is an essential piece of equipment inrisk management when exercising thesepatients. In the possible event of aproblem occurring, it can help to savelives.

“Normally Phase III patients exercisein hospital, however this communityexercise programme is one of a numberof initiatives endorsed by groups suchas the British Heart Foundation andThe British Association for CardiacRehabilitation to promote exercise.

“There is a need to move appropriatepatients away from hospital basedprogrammes which are often viewed asa short term treatment to communityprogrammes which encourage them toview exercise as a life long activity.”

Fiona added that the departmentgreatly appreciate the assistance of theFriends in helping them continue theirpioneering community exerciseprogramme.

■ Pictured with the automatedexternal defibrillator, purchased by TheFriends for Cardiac Rehabilitation are,left to right, Cardiac RehabilitationNurse Specialist Fiona Milligan withFriends Tony Robinson, PamelaGriffiths and Frances Taylor.

This month patients whochoose to come here forgeneral surgery will begiven the opportunity ofbooking an appointmentwithin 24 hours.

Patients who are referredby GPs using Choose andBook software will be given aspecial password and phonenumber which will allowthem to call the hospital thatday, or later if they wish, toarrange an appointmenttime.

In the past patients wouldhave to wait until theyreceived a letter which couldtake up to six weeks and thiswould not always give thema choice of dates or times.

The new scheme is part ofthe national Choose and Bookinitiative which, when fullyoperational, will allow patientsto book an appointment directfrom their GP’s consultingroom at a hospital of theirchoice or the opportunity totelephone a call centre directlythemselves.

Head of Bookings andOutpatients Debbie Ensor-Dean explained: “Patients willbe able to book direct fromtheir GPs consulting roomwhen we have fully rolled out

the Choose and Book systemwhich we hope to do by 2008.

“In the meantime they willget an electronic print-outwhich will include a phonenumber and unique identifierallowing them to call thehospital and arrange anappointment which isconvenient to them as soon asthey have been referred.”

Staff have been very busybehind the scenes setting upthis new system. Informationhas been gathered onconsultants, clinics andwaiting times so that GPs caninform patients through theDirectory of Services of theoptions open to them.

The appointments office hasincreased its staffing andimproved telephone systems so

that they can provide a moreefficient service to patientscalling the hospital.

Debbie added: “This newsystem will be rolled out to allspecialties over the next four

months. I would like to say abig thank you to everyonewho has helped get thisscheme up and running.”

If anyone has anycomments or queries pleasecontact Debbie Ensor-Deanon extension 8284 or MikeDelahunty on 8869.

■ Pictured left aremembers of theAppointments Team (l-r):Teresa Preston, NathanielBoateng, Debbie Ensor-Dean, Steven Vouthas,Gary Bellars, IshtiaqRasool, Tracey Wheeler,Christopher Culpin, JuliaHenson Margaret Browneand Eileen McCormick.

■ Appointment Officer Eileen McCormick.

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Do you know what you should and should not be wearing in the hospital’s theatres?

If the answer is no then check outsome of the latest advice for staff workingin or visiting theatres. The Trust’s fulluniform policy is available on theintranet. Also check out the Februaryissue of Trust News which is on theintranet and has more advice for all staff.

In this issue of Trust News SeniorOperating Department PractitionerAndrew Snell provide some advice forthose working or visiting theatres.

Andrew said: “What you wear isimportant as it not only helps peopleidentify who you are and what you dowithin the hospital but it can also help toreduce the spread of infection.

“Theatre scrubs are provided dailyfrom the linen room. These must not betaken outside the hospital (including theresidences) under any circumstances andmust be laundered by the Trust. TheTrust’s laundry services are provided bySunlight.

“If meetings are attended they shouldbe covered with a white coat. Clogs areprovided by the hospital and must beeasily cleanable. The wearer is responsiblefor cleaning them daily and as necessary.”

If you would like any furtherinformation you can contact SisterUrsula Garrett (pictured opposite) on ext8338 or any of the theatre sisters viamain reception.

What not to wear... theatres Top tips

● Scrub suits must not be wornbeyond the main reception doorsof the theatres.

● No members of staff or the publicshould go beyond the theatrereception areas unless they arewearing a gown or gettingchanged.

● The Trust is investing in moredisposable gowns. Members oftheatre teams will need to wear awhite coat or disposable gownthen they leave theatres.

● Staff should always have their hairtied back and no jewellery shouldbe worn.

Senior nurses in theradiology departmentwill be taking on a newrole which will help toreduce waiting times forpatients.

They can now carry outa diagnostic procedurepreviously done byradiologists following ayear long pilot project.

The procedure, calledHysterosalpingography(HSG), is a radiologicalexamination to assessfertility.

Sister in RadiologyKirsty Harkness has beendoing the procedure for thepast year and examiningwhether a nurse led servicemeets the same standards as

the traditional consultantled service.

Following this pilotproject the Trust’s Nursingand Midwifery Committeehave officially approvedproposals that theprocedure can be carriedout by appropriatelytrained nurses.

Sister Kirsty Harknesssaid: “This will help to freeup the radiologists’ time sothat they can concentrateon more specialist work. Italso means that we canreduce the waiting timesfor women needing thisprocedure.”

Kirsty is now developinga training programme forstaff at this hospital but

also supporting otherhospitals who might be

interested in developing theservice.

New roles for nurses

■ Pictured (l-r) are: Staff Nurse Debbie Sawtell, SpRDr Katie Wessely, Senior Staff Nurse Paula Cupitt,Senior Staff Nurse Gena Holmes, Consultant RadiologistDr Simon Padley and Senior Sister for Radiology KirstyHarkness.

✔ ✘✘✔

Ad Lib Bar246 Fulham Road SW10Tel: 020 7376 777510 per cent discount (exclFri/Sat after 7pm).Brasserie De L’Auberge268 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7352 185920 per cent off a la carte menu(excl. drinks)Chelsea Bun 9a Limerseon St SW10Tel 020 7352 363510 per cent discount Mon-Fri,7am - 6pmChelsea Meze294 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7351 004410 per cent discountExquisite Bar andRestaurant343 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7352 096725 per cent discount on maincourses and house wine withmeals (takeaways included)Feng Sushi 218 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7795 190010 per cent discount (excl. deliv.)Finch’s Pub andRestaurant190 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7351 504310 per cent off foodGlaister’s Bistro4 Hollywood Road SW10 Tel: 020 7352 035210 per cent discount for (groupsof less than 10).Above 10, a complimentarybottle of wine with dinnerKhan’s Restaurant13-15 Westbourne Grove, W2Tel: 020 7727 542010 per cent discountLa Bottega del Sole -Gourmet Italian food 323 Fulham Road, LondonSW10 Tel: 020 7351 737015 per cent discountMade In China Restaurant351 Fulham Road, SW10 Tel: 020 7351 293910 per cent off meals (10 percent off takeaways)Nirvana Restaurant430 Kings Road SW10 Tel: 020 7352 7771

25 per cent discount on food.Takeaways 10 per cent discount(collection only on smallorders). Show staff ID beforeordering Oddono’s Gelati Italiani -Ice cream parlour14 Bute Street SW7 Tel: 020 7052 073210 per cent discountPizzaExpress363 Fulham Road SW10Tel: 020 7352 530015 per cent off lunch, 10 percent off dinner (incl takeaways) PJ’s Bar and Grill52 Fulham Road SW10Tel: 020 7581 002510 per cent offTampopo Restaurant140 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7370 535520 per cent discount 12-7pmThai Noodle Bar7 Park Walk SW10 Tel: 020 7352 722215 per cent discount off total bill(cash only). Show staff IDbefore ordering.Vingt-Quatre325 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7376 722420 per cent discount

DV Hair and Beauty353 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7351 001520 per cent discountGinger Group HairInnovations(Fulham Branch only)445 North End Road SW6 Tel: 020 7381 577710 per cent discount Mon-FriJames Hull Associates -dentist and hygienist242 Fulham Road SW10Tel: 020 7376 333010 per cent discount off regularprocedures (excl. specialist andtechnician treatment)Hair Razer (barber)258A Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7351 0777£15 for a cut wash and blow dryMon- FriHari’s Hairdressers305 Brompton Cross, SW3 Tel: 020 7581 5211

10 per cent off colouring andcuts Mon-Thu. Free cuts onWeds with Nancy. £25 forcolouring Tue/Wed.Head Masters HairdressersFulham 020 7371 7939,Putney 020 8780 5555,Wimbledon 020 8947 503425 per cent discount, Mon-Fri9am - 5.30pm. Must quotecompany partnership schemewhen bookingMahogany Hairdressers17 St George Street, HanoverSq, W15 Tel: 020 7629 312125 per cent discount Mon-FriMr B Hairdressers360 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7352 941010 per cent off, Mon- Fri, 10am- 6pmNapiers Herbal Health Care236d Fulham Road SW10 Tel:020 7352 560310 per cent off products,reduced price treatmentsNaya Hairdressers260 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7376 368210 per cent discount on cut andblow drySaks Hair and BeautyDavid Lloyd Centre, FulhamBroadway Centre, SW6Tel: 020 7385 247420 per cent discountToni&Guy Hairdressing(Fulham Branch)10 Fulham Broadway SW6 Tel: 020 7386 997715 per cent discount oncolouring, cutting and blowdrying. Mon-Wed 10am -5.30pm; Thu-Fri until 1pm.Ze Hair and Beauty270 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7351 226620 per cent off when you spend£20 or more, Mon-Fri

Chelsea Sports CentreChelsea Manor Street, SW3Tel: 020 7352 9006Discount membership offer,phone Zeena or Carly David Lloyd Leisure Fulham Broadway RetailCentre, Unit 24, SW6 Tel: 020 7386 2200

No membership joining feeFitness First (SouthKensington only)29 - 37 Harrington Road,Petersham House, SW7Tel: 020 7590 5000Discount membership offer,telephone Chris or FabioHolmes Place188a Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7352 9452Discount membership offerOsteopathic ConsultationsThe Chelsea Practice186 Fulham Road Tel: 020 7376 764925 per cent discount, Wed - Friand every 2nd Sat of monthPure Massage35 Vanston Place, London,SW6 Tel: 020 7381 810010 per cent discount onmassages, Mon-Fri before 7pmSweatshop188 Fulham Road SW10 Tel: 020 7351 442110 per cent discount

Chatterbox369 Fulham Road, SW10 Tel: 020 8237 2486Special deals and discountsHotel Ibis London EarlsCourt47 Lillie Road SW6 Tel: 020 7610 088010 per cent discount onreservations. Must mentiondiscount deal when bookingOdeon Cinemas(Kensington branch only)263 Kensington High Street Tel: 020 7602 5491Tickets reduced to £7.00 (Mon-Fri, Sat late night)Orange Mobile phonesTel: 0800 168 16815 per cent discount offstandard line rentals on acontract hand set (excl. specialpromotions). Must quote yourNHS Payroll or GMC NumberVue Cinemas (FulhamBranch only)Fulham Broadway RetailCentre, Fulham Road Tel: 020 7385 2025Tickets £5.50 before 5pm;£5.70 at other times.

Discounts available for Trust staff...

Please contact Jeanette Albert, Public Relations Assistant with any comments you have about these staff discounts on ext 6829 or email jeanette.albert@chelwest.nhs.uk

You will need to show your hospital ID to qualify for these discounts

Staff news... Staff news... Staff news...

14

■ Trust SpR Dr Laura Waterswon a prize for giving the bestpresentation out of 48 papersdelivered to the joint BritishHIV Association (BHIVA)and British Association forSexual Health and HIV(BASHH) conference thisApril in Dublin.

At the event, with morethan 800 people present, DrWaters spoke about theimpact of HIV resistance on the success of HIV therapy.

She follows the success of previous Trust SpR, Dr YvonneGilleece, who was awarded the best presentation at last year’sannual BHIVA event. Dr Waters won £1,000 and an engravedcrystal bowl.

■ Pictured left is UllaKamara, ISS MedicleanAssistant CateringManager. She started workat the Trust in March.

Prior to coming here,Ulla worked at HomertonHospital in the same role.

Ulla has worked for ISSMediclean for five years.

■ Trust SeniorPhysiotherapist SianMacRae is flying to Americain June for the LacrosseWorld Cup.

Sian has been theEngland’s Women’s LacrosseTeam Physiotherapist forthe past six years, travellingwith them for bothInternational and Europeangames. In the run up to the

World Cup, Sian hastrained with the team forbetween two to threeweekends a month over thepast two years.

The team are hoping toget a medal position in theWorld Cup, which happensevery four years. It is thehighest level to compete atin the game, andqualification is automaticfor a country’s team.

■ Welcome to Julian Tomlinswho is the new CancerInformation Officer at theTrust. Prior to joining us,Julian was the Risk SupportOfficer at North HampshireHospital in Basingstoke. Hehelped to set up a Trust-widerisk register to improve patientservices. Before this he was thePatient Information Co-ordinator there. Julian is basedin the Medical Day Unit andcan be contacted on ext 5107.

Doctor wins prestigious prize

■ ConsultantDermatologist, Dr KarenAgnew, pictured above,was appointed in January.Before this, she was aLocum at the Trust for twoyears, and a registrar herefrom 2001.

Originally fromAuckland, New Zealand,Dr Agnew did herphysician training there.She was also a registrarat Auckland Hospital.

Physio supports England team

■ Senior PhysiotherapistSian MacRae

■ Maxine Foster, pictured(below) centre front with someof her team, is the HumanResources Director at Chelseaand Westminster. Prior to this,Maxine was Acting Directorhere for six months.

Maxine said: “HumanResources is a team effort andwe have a good team withprofessional qualifications whoare specialised in quite a fewdifferent areas of human

resources management.“I am really looking forward

to putting down my roots,working with everybody for thebenefit of staff and patients atthe hospital.”

Maxine has worked for theNHS for more than 15 years.Before joining us, Maxineworked for the South WestLondon Health Authority asDirector of WorkforceDevelopment.

■ Welcome to DoulineSchoeman, pictured below,Therapy Services Managerwho joined the Trust inMay.

Douline previouslyworked at the OxfordRadcliffe Hospitals NHSTrust, where she was DeputyServices Manager andOccupational Manager forOccupational Therapy.

Before this she was anOccupational Therapist inWatford and Three RiversPCT. Originally fromJohannesburg, Douline heldseveral senior posts inOccupational Therapy inher native country,including a clinicalspecialist post in neurologyand a Head ofRehabilitation position.

Staff news... Staff news... Staff news...

Trust PharmacyTechnician, DebraRadford, pictured below,has quoted the saying,‘when the going getstough, the tough getgoing’ to describe herefforts to fundraise forbreast cancer research.

She was diagnosed withbreast cancer last June andis taking part in theBreakthrough Breast Cancercharity walk on 23 - 25September, with friend andformer pharmacy colleague,Jo Cassidy.

Debra, who had a doublemastectomy wanted to dosomething to help find acure for the disease, whichaffects one in nine women.She explained that untilbeing diagnosed, she hadnot realised the numberswhose lives the disease hastouched.

To sponsor them, pleasevisit:www.breakthroughweekend.org click on donate and typein ‘Debra Radford’ or ‘JoCassidy’ to access either oftheir personal pages.

You can also donatecheques, made out to eitherof them or cash via thePharmacy Department atthe Trust, for the attention ofClaire Kempton on ext 8842.

Debra would like to thankall the people who havebeen so supportive towardsher, helping her to remainfocused and determined toget through her treatmentand to beat the disease.

■ The St Stephen’sVolunteers say a hugethank you to Starbucks

On February 27Starbucks Directors andManagers from severalstores held a fund raisingwalk in aid of the StStephen’s Volunteers.They started thesponsored walk atthe Wimbledonstore and finishedhere at the Chelseaand WestminsterHospital. They raised atotal of £807.90.

The Volunteer Daily Co-ordinator Errol Meyerssaid: “We would also liketo thank Starbucks fortheir continued support insupplying the Volunteerswith freshly ground coffeefor the T-Bar in KoblerOutpatients and onThomas Macaulay Ward.”

Debra’scharitywalk

■ Pictured in the Kobler Clinic is Starbucks Store Manager Sylvain Dosson (left) presenting St Stephen’s

Volunteers Michael Vaudin and Dee Dee Wilde with thecharity money collected.

■ Jean Hunt, picturedbelow left, a St Stephen’sVolunteer for 20 years willtake part in her eighth‘Crusaid Walk for life’ thisJune, to raise money forHIV/AIDS.

Jean, pictured right, willlead up a team of StStephen’s volunteers, whowill walk across centralLondon with friends andfamily.

Starbucks Coffee, whohave chosen the StStephen’s Volunteers astheir charity to support forthis year, will also walkwith the St Stephen’sVolunteer team to helpraise money.

The St Stephen’s

Volunteers will get 75 percent of all the money theyraise, which will gotowards HIV patientservices and facilities at theTrust.

If you would like tosponsor Jean and the StStephen’s Volunteers, or ifyou would like to take partin the walk, please contactthe Information Exchangeon ext. 5929.

Alternatively, contact theProject Manager forHIV/GUM Services, JohnPickett on ext 6189, oremail john.pickett@chelwest.nhs.uk

For more information onCrusaid, go online andvisit www.crusaid.org.uk

Walk for life

■ Some of the ‘Pink Ladies’ also known asthe members of staff from David ErskineWard who took part in the CancerResearch UK Race for Life in May arepictured here.

The team managed to collect more than£1,100 by doing the 5km stretch inBattersea Park. This money will go towardsresearch to cure, treat and prevent cancersthat affect women. The team are still

collectingmoney until theend of June. Ifyou would liketo still sponsorthe team,please contactWard Sister,Lesley-AnneMarke atLesley-anne.marke@chelwest.nhs.ukor phone ext8551. Well doneladies!

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Photographs by Jeanette Albert. Trust News is written and produced by the PR and CommunicationsDepartment of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10. Tel 020 8846 6829

New research published this month has revealedthat the visual and performing arts can have apositive effect on the well-being of patients whenthey are in hospital.

The healing arts I had dreaded

going into hospital butit turned out to be aplace of beauty andcalm. The space, the

light, the artwork andthe use of music helped

make this a specialenvironment at a

difficult time.

A cancer day care patient

The research took placehere at Chelsea andWestminster over three yearsand was commissioned byhealth think tank, TheKing’s Fund, which awardedthe Trust £70,000 for theresearch. It was led by SeniorResearch Scientist DrRosalia Staricoff, ResearchAssistant and artist JaneDuncan, and MedicalStatistician Melissa Wright.

Acting Manager forHospital Arts Barbara Preyersaid: “This is the firstclinical scientific evaluationof the visual and performingarts in health care. Althoughit has been widely believedthat design, colour andmusic can have a strongimpact on people’s well-being - most of the evidencehas been anecdotal. Untilnow.

“What this researchdemonstrates is that patientsrecover more quickly and

they don’t need as muchpain control. And it’s notjust about patients, staff alsobenefit from a much betterenvironment in which towork.”

As part of the research thehospital introduced varioustypes of artwork and musicinto different clinical areas.For example a brightlycoloured illustrated screen wasplaced in the room withwomen during labour and in

the medical day unit a variedprogramme of light, classicaland world music wasprovided.

The project team thenmeasured the effect of musicand arts on patients’ levels ofanxiety and depression andhow their bodies reactedphysiologically. Patients in theMedical Day Unit receivingtreatment in the presence ofmusic showed 32 per centlower levels of anxiety and 31per cent lower depression

levels than the control groups. Project Director Dr Rosalia

Staricoff said: “This workoffers a good indication of thebeneficial effects ofintegrating the arts into thehospital’s work in caring forpatients. Conducting thisproject has been very excitingand we hope it will raiseawareness of the real value ofusing arts in health.”

To find out more visitwww.chelwest.nhs.uk or call thehospital arts team on 6821.

’

‘

■ The Connaught Opera sings on one of our wards.

A life on the ocean wave... Staff from Chelsea and Westminster won third placein the NHS Regatta sponsored by B Braun in April.

They were the top London boat, improving from 10thposition last year and the only boat in the top three not to havea Sunsail skipper. Instead they had Director of OperationsEdward Donald at the helm!

Sailing from Port Solent (Portsmouth), the team took part inthe event which included a stop-over in Cowes on Saturdaynight. Two races were sailed on Saturday and one on Sunday(with all three races counting), due to the light conditions (nowind!).

The team also included Roger Marwood, Rick Richardson,Kate Hall, Olivia Egan, Caroline Dowd, Andy Platts andMandy Platts.

A record 50 boats, representing all corners of the NHS inEngland and Wales made it to the start line this year.

Director of Operations Edward Donald said: "It was a greatteam effort on board and good fun. We played thepercentages on every start, went for clear air, kept out oftrouble, and had a consistent score card. In a big fleet whereall races count, it's not about winning each race it is about

consistency. We also had some luck!"If you are interested in joining the Chelsea team next year,

email edward.donald@chelwest.nhs.uk

■ Chelsea and Westminster team relaxing in Cowesharbour after a day’s racing.