Listening to our patients

Pages 6&7

5 9 10Tackling teenage rebellion

Caring for the spiritual

MRI-safe pacemakers

The magazine for staff at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust Spring 2010

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PROGRESS TOWARDS BRUs GATHERS PACE

contents2 Welcome

3 Trust matters

4 Career ladder

5 Transition clinics

6&7 Patient surveys

8 Patient story

9 New service

10 In profile

11 Take a break

12 RB&H in the headlines

From the chieF executiveThe results of the general election in May have led to much speculation about the future of the NHS. The dust has yet to settle, and a clear picture will not be apparent for several weeks, but a number of key themes are already emerging.

Firstly, there is going to be no real change in the immediate future, and for us it is very much business as

usual. Our strategy and objectives will not change and our agreed plans for 2010-2011 will dictate the direction and speed of our advancement.

Secondly, and this should surprise no-one, patients will remain the primary focus of everything that NHS organisations, plan, implement and evaluate. In the Queen’s Speech specific reference is made to ‘giving health professionals and patients more say over NHS decision-making’. This is to be welcomed.

Thirdly, outcomes will become a bigger feature on NHS agendas. Measures such as mortality rates have been used to benchmark clinical quality for some years, but in the future, more sophisticated assessments will be made of how patients experience care, and of how their lives are improved as a result of it.

Fourthly, improving productivity and efficiency will become even more of an NHS mantra than it is currently. With the economy facing its toughest challenge in living memory, all public sector organisations have a responsibility to pay increased attention to efficiency savings. I believe our work in this area is quite advanced, and a number of projects have already identified the substantial savings and real patient benefit that improving our systems can offer. Our review of length of stay has generated measurable improvements for cardiology and cardiac surgery, the productive ward programme has delivered significant benefits in the amount of time nurses spend directly caring for patients, and improvements seen at Harefield as a result of the Productive Operating Theatre project, have encouraged roll-out across Royal Brompton theatres and catheter laboratories.

I urge everyone to engage in our drive towards constantly improving our processes. However small you think your contribution might be – please be assured it will be very much appreciated.

Bob

Robert J. Bell Chief executive

Produced by Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust communications team. If you have any comments on intouch, or would like to suggest ideas for features, please contact communications manager Joanna Nurse at editorial@rbht.nhs.uk

welcome

Throughout the spring, work towards completing our two Biomedical Research Units has been progressing steadily.

The development of the Cardiovascular BRU took a major leap forwards in April, with the installation of a state-of-the-art Next Generation Genetic Sequencer – the first of its kind to be used within the NHS.

The sequencer will enable researchers to identify any underlying genetic links with life-threatening cardiac and respiratory conditions, and will put the Trust at the forefront of cardiac and respiratory genetic research in Europe.

Lydia Harris, manager of the Cardiovascular BRU, said: “At the moment, the sequencer can read a person’s hereditary genetic information in weeks. But as sequencing technology evolves, we hope to see a time when it can read that information overnight.

“This will bring clear benefits for patients, because we will be able to investigate a possible genetic cause of their cardiac or respiratory condition almost as quickly as we will be able to give a clinical diagnosis.”

The Respiratory BRU is also progressing at its Fulham Road site, and is

due to open later on this year. In the meantime, eight respiratory medicine research projects within the Trust have been granted funding by the BRU.

Tracy Higgins, project manager for the Respiratory BRU, said: “We wanted to fund a number of research projects which were all related to the BRU’s core interest in advanced lung disease.

“For example, Dr Anita Simonds, who will lead the consortium into sleep-related conditions within the BRU, has received £150,000 in funding to research obstructive sleep apnoea.

“When the clinical research facility opens later this year, these projects will be able to benefit from its state-of-the-art equipment, and the biobank of samples provided by our patients.”

To find out more about the BRUs, please contact Lydia Harris at l.harris2@rbht.nhs.uk or Tracy Higgins at t.higgins@imperial.ac.uk

Cardiovascular BRU manager Lydia Harris with the Next Generation Sequencer at Royal Brompton

trustmatters

Although swine flu is no longer on the front pages, it seems likely that the virus will be

a feature of our annual winter flu season from now on.

But the Trust is still learning from its experience of handling the pandemic of last autumn and winter: looking at what worked well, and putting in place improvements where we can do better.

“Our pandemic flu steering group had been in place and making plans for a number of years,” says Joy Godden, general manager of the lung division and the Trust’s lead for swine flu.

“But once a pandemic was announced, the situation changed very quickly. We had to adapt our plans for a number of possible scenarios: everything from swine flu having little impact, to it affecting most of our staff.”

As swine flu cases increased, it became clear that Royal Brompton’s primary role, as a critical care resource for the UK, would be to care for some of the most

complex clinical cases in the country; several patients were flown to London by the RAF.

And while this was a highly-pressurised time for AICU, it has brought longer-term benefits.

Valuable experience“The pandemic means that we now have valuable experience in providing a formalised ECMO programme for patients, with an AICU team which is expertly trained. If there is an increase in swine flu later this year, we will have the expertise and the experience to manage the situation well,” says Joy.

“Many other staff have also gained experience in caring for patients with swine flu, or providing support to those giving frontline clinical care.”

Another key learning point, believes Joy, has come out of the swine flu vaccination programme, when more than 1,300 staff were vaccinated by the occupational health (OH) team.

“Frontline clinical staff are very busy,” says Joy, “so OH took the

Lessons for the futureThe swine flu pandemic was a challenging time for the Trust but it also brought out the best in many staff. Now that the pandemic is over, there is opportunity now to both take stock, and to plan ahead . . .

If there is an increase in swine flu later this year, we will have the expertise and the experience to manage the situation well.Joy Godden, general manager of the lung division

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vaccination programme to them by running walk-in sessions in clinical areas.

“This approach worked very well, and OH plans to do something similar for this year’s seasonal flu vaccination. It’s clearly important that access to the vaccination programme needs to be as quick and straightforward as possible.”

Although this winter’s flu season may not bring a full-scale pandemic, flu planning continues, preparing for whatever the future might bring.

The possibility of another outbreak is now embedded in the forward planning work of many departments across the Trust, such as human resources.

“We have to make sure that dealing with swine flu is part of our day-to-day practice within the Trust,” says Joy.

n What is your role within the Trust?

It’s extremely diverse but my main responsibilities are to ensure that levels of clinical activity in the lung division are buoyant; that the best staff are in place to deliver services to patients, and that junior doctors are supported through their training.

I work closely with the medical secretaries and administrative team to make sure that important targets, such as the 18-week waiting time target, are consistently met.

But I also love getting involved in less weighty projects, such as working with patients to improve the sitting room on Lind Ward.

n How did your career begin?When I was a teenager I set my heart on being an actor. But I realised this was a pipe-dream so I volunteered at the hospital where my mum nursed.

This gave me the opportunity to see how nurses cared for patients and I thought ‘this is what I want to do’. So I did an introductory course at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, then a nursing degree at The Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham.

n You joined Royal Brompton early in your career.

Yes. When I qualified, my interest was in cardiology and I was determined to come to Royal Brompton because of its strong reputation for cutting-edge care in this field. I came for an interview and didn’t expect to get the job, but I did. I felt privileged to join such a fantastic hospital.

n But you didn’t pursue a career in cardiology?

No. I did a high dependency care course, which involved visiting each clinical department. My session on Lind Ward was a revelation, so I moved to respiratory nursing and eventually specialised in interstitial lung disease.This is an umbrella term for the diseases which affect tissue around the air sacs of the lungs. I was passionate about it and helped to develop services for this group of patients

n How has your career progressed since?

I became nurse specialist for interstitial lung disease in 2004. It was perfect for me, because I could get really involved in developing services. The two consultants at the time, Professor Athol Wells and Professor Ron du Bois, saw the value of a nurse specialist and encouraged

careerladderRoss Ellis’ teenage ambition was to be an actor. But volunteering in a community hospital inspired him to pursue a career in nursing. Now assistant general manager of the lung division, Ross has come a long way since he joined the Trust in 1997 . . .

me to be proactive when it came to providing a patient-focused service.

n How did you progress to assistant general manager?

The post became available when my predecessor, Lorraine Campbell, moved to the heart division. She and the senior nurse Mary Haines helped me to build up my skills and confidence so that I was ready to step up to the challenge when it came along.

n So what’s next for you?I am considering studying for a PhD, but in terms of my role, I am more than happy where I am. My priority is to support the development of the lung division in the coming years.

I was determined to come to Royal Brompton because of its strong reputation for cutting-edge care.

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transitionclinics

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Adolescence is a difficult time for any teenager. For young people with serious respiratory conditions, it can be even tougher. intouch looks at two transition clinics which help smooth the journey . . .

Teenage kicks

Alot of teenage patients say they’re fed up with their treatment regimen and just want

to live life to the full,” says cystic fibrosis (CF) consultant nurse specialist Su Madge.

“The challenge for us is to acknowledge those feelings, but also to help teenagers work through them.”

Like most teens, CF patients reach a stage in their lives when they want to make their own decisions. But this rebelliousness can impact directly on their health.

“Adults in authority can mean their parents,” continues Su, “but it can also mean us in the CF team. Rebelling may mean stopping their regular physio, as well as starting to smoke or take drugs. It’s this kind of natural teenage behaviour that can make them very ill.”

Transition clinicPaediatric respiratory consultant Dr Claire Hogg has similar issues

with her teenage Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) patients.

“Their treatment will have made them different from their peers growing up,” she says. “When they become teenagers, they just want to be like their friends.”

To address these issues, the CF paediatric and adult teams have set up a transition clinic for mid-teens, which brings together everyone involved in their multi-disciplinary care.

“When they are about 15, the paediatric CF team invites them to a pre-transition clinic. Many worry about moving to the adult CF team, so the clinic is an opportunity to introduce ourselves and start to get to know each other,” says Su.

“At 16, patients come to a transition clinic. Here, we monitor their health, but we also talk to them about managing their treatment and the choices that lie ahead, such as university, starting a relationship or finding a job. We want the transition to be as

positive as possible. ”The CF model has proved so effective that Dr Hogg has adapted it for the adolescent PCD clinic and transition clinics.

Empowering teenage patientsSupporting the whole family is an important element of the work done at the transition clinic.

“Parents can find it hard to let go. It’s a brilliant battleground for teenagers trying to assert themselves, so we also spend a lot of time reassuring parents that there will be a smooth transition to the adult service,” says Dr Hogg.

Her transition clinic is now well-established and around 30 patients a year are seen.

Both she and Su are clear that the transition approach brings benefits for both patients and their families.

To find out more about these two clinics, please contact Su Madge at S.Madge@rbht.nhs.uk or Dr Claire Hogg at C.Hogg@rbht.nhs.uk

Chelsea Stracey (right) was diagnosed with CF when she was a year old. She has been cared for at Royal Brompton ever since, and attended the CF transition clinic when she was 15-years-old.

“As a child, I only came to Royal Brompton as an outpatient, but over the years I got to know the paediatric really well. I was especially close to Jackie Francis, the nurse specialist. So I was

dreading the day when I would get the call saying that I needed to move up to the adult CF service.

“I was worried about having to stay overnight in the hospital building, because as a small child I remembered it being creaky and a bit spooky.

“And I didn’t know any members of the adult CF team, so I was worried about meeting a whole new group of people.

“But the transition clinic

was fantastic. I was introduced to the whole team and they really put me at ease. I was also given a tour of Foulis Ward, which was bright and had a friendly atmosphere. Any worries I have about the creaky building vanished.

“The adult CF team is now like a second family to me. Being treated like an adult and making decisions about my own care have become very important to me.

“I’d definitely recommend

the transition clinic to other teenage patients. It can make a world of difference.”

I’d definitely recommend the transition clinic to other teenage patients. Chelsea Stracey

A patient’s view

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patientsurveys

Some of the changes that have taken place in the ILD clinic are small but make a difference.

Pauline Brown, outpatient services manager

“I have attended the outpatient department for years, and have always been treated

with the highest respect and kindness by doctors and other members of staff.”

So said one of our patients who responded to the latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) surveys carried out within the Trust.

Two patient surveys were carried out last year on behalf of the CQC. One focused on the experiences of 487 outpatients at both sites, and was published in February. The second was published this May and is based on the responses of 509 inpatients, again at both sites.

Both surveys represent an extremely positive set of results, and show how well patients rate us in many key areas.

In the outpatient survey, patients were asked to respond to 48 questions about their experiences in our hospitals. They gave the Trust a score of 98 out of a possible 100 when asked if they had been given enough privacy when being examined or treated, and a score of 95 out of 100 for staff explaining clearly how to take new medication. We also scored highly, with a rating of 90 out of 100, for patients’ overall satisfaction with the outpatient department.

The inpatient survey includes similarly strong results. Inpatients gave us a score of 98 out of 100 when asked to rate how safe they felt while staying in hospital, and 94 out of 100 in response to a question which asked whether they trusted the doctor who was treating them. We also achieved a score of 99 out of 100 on the availability of hand gels for patients and hospital visitors.

In many areas, the Trust has improved since the last patient surveys.

For example, inpatients rated the cleanliness of their ward or room as 92 out of a possible 100: a higher rating than in previous surveys, reflecting recent efforts made by the estates and facilities teams at both sites to monitor and improve cleanliness in clinical areas, supported by the appointment of a manager responsible for ensuring high standards.

The need for improvementsHowever, the surveys do reveal areas where patients were unhappy with our services, and where improvements need to be made.

Our communication with patients tended to be weak: outpatients gave us a score of 24 out of a possible 100 when asked if they had been told how long they would have to wait for their appointment in a late-running clinic.

Learning the lessons of careOur latest NHS patient surveys represent an extremely positive set of results, but also show where patients think we can do better. intouch takes a look at the surveys’ findings and asks what happens next?

Inpatients gave us a score of only 68 out of 100 when asked whether they were able to find a member of staff to talk to about their worries, and a score of 76 out of 100 when asked if they would like to be more involved in the decisions made about their care.

Dr Libby Haxby, lead clinician in clinical risk, says: “As a leading specialist trust, we must find out why we are not doing as well in some areas as we should be, and make a concerted effort to improve. In many cases, Harefield has done better than Royal Brompton, so we need to identify best practice and then apply it across the Trust.

“It is crucial that we are an improving organisation. We can’t rely on past achievements, but must look critically and honestly at services from our patients’ points of view, to see where we can improve.”

“As a Darzi Fellow for 2009/10, patient safety has been uppermost in my mind. Many of the projects that both I and my Darzi Fellow colleague Dr Chris Meadows have initiated

during the last year have been about improving patient safety. So I was very encouraged to see in the surveys that so many of our inpatients had confidence in our standards of cleanliness. However, the inpatient survey shows that patients rated us with a score of 90 out of a possible 100 for doctors not washing their hands between touching patients. This should be nearer 100. We’ve made progress on this in recent years, but clearly more needs to be done.”

Three Trust specialists tell intouch why the surveys are important for patient care…

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Putting plans into actionImprovements are already underway in some areas: for example, a review of respiratory outpatient services is being carried out at Royal Brompton.

Patients are being asked for their views and ideas, and new approaches are being introduced in the interstitial lung disease (ILD) clinic first. Those which work best will be rolled out to other clinics.

“Some of the changes that have taken place in the ILD clinic are small but make a difference,” said outpatient services manager Pauline Brown, who is involved in the review.

“For example, outpatients were having to queue up for a second time to hand in their test results, so we have created a drop-in basket where they can put their results without having to queue again. For those with serious breathing problems,

Learning the lessons of careFelicia Cox, senior nurse specialist in the pain management service at Harefield, said:

Dr Will Man, consultant chest physician at Harefield, said:

“I know from experience that patient surveys can lead to improvements. The 2008 inpatient survey raised the issue of how we explain pain management to patients

undergoing surgery. This prompted the pain management service to produce a leaflet giving patients clear information. I will certainly be looking closely at the latest surveys to see where the team can improve patient care, and the explanations and information we give.”

“As a consultant, I think that the surveys are vitally important, because they provide us with feedback that we can use to directly improve our services. I’m particularly pleased

to see that Harefield has done better than the national average when communicating clearly with patients. It was very encouraging to see that our staff introduce themselves to patients. These are simple gestures that take almost no time at all but make a great deal of difference to patients and their experiences in our hospitals.”

Dr Sunny Kaul, specialists registrar in critical care at Royal Bromtpon, said:

this is a real improvement. Melanie Foody, membership and

user involvement manager, said; “In the coming months, action plans will de developed to drive forward improvements.” Each plan will have one person as lead, and progress will be closely monitored.

“Making improvements in those areas highlighted by the patient surveys could also bring extra funding from the NHS Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) programme, which rewards trusts that can demonstrate high standards of service quality and innovation. CQUIN funding would be re-invested in improving our services further.

“Good leadership, working closely together and using innovative ideas will be crucial to ensure our plans are effective and that they bring about real improvements for all our patients.”

A life in words

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patientstory

Stephen Deal is a writer and father of two. He also has Muscular Dystrophy and is cared for by staff on Lind Ward when he comes to Royal Brompton. Here, he writes about his experiences during a recent overnight visit . . .

You tend to have a certain fondness for a hospital that once saved your life.

Ten years ago my local hospital, having yo-yoed me in and out of the intensive care unit for the previous six months, had blued and twoed me across London to Royal Brompton.

Complications arising from my Muscular Dystrophy led to pneumonia and all sorts of lung-based misery.

A regular on LindNow, a decade on, I’m a regular at the respiratory clinic on Lind Ward. The clinic has now equipped me with a BiPap machine (a breathing apparatus which helps me to get more air in to my lungs) and a Cough Assist Mechanical Insufflator-Exsufflator (which clears my lungs by helping me to cough).

At my last clinic appointment I was told my blood gasses were ‘unsatisfactory’, which was unsurprising since for the previous six months the alarm on the BiPap had been going off up to 30 times a night.

FACT BOxWhat is Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular Dystrophy is an umbrella term for the group of conditions which affect the muscles, including those in the heart and lungs

More than 70,000 people in the UK have a type of muscle disease or a related condition

The severity of the condition varies from person to person but does affect the mobility of most people

Muscular Dystrophy can be inherited or it can occur out of the blue where there is no family history

Blogger and inspiration Stephen Deal with his

wife Polly

So I found myself admitted to Foulis Ward for sleep analysis and the fitting of a new pressure mask.

Blood was taken and analysed, masks were tried on and doctors came and went. My room looked out on to a private patients’ room and I watched enviously as a waist-coated young man carried a cafetiere of real coffee into it, as I sipped from my cardboard cup of instant brown stuff.

World classAt home, it takes two experienced carers up to an hour to get me sorted and ready for bed using equipment specifically suited to my needs.

Unsurprisingly, it took several very nice nurses much longer to swing me, conker-like, via a mobile hoist onto and eventually into my bed. It was at this point I realised that whoever had opened the window to the early March weather had also turned off the radiator. I was told that a maintenance crew would come along in the morning to turn it back on. Throughout the long, cold night a nice nurse piled on blankets, one on top of the other until I was warm.

People tend to believe that a hospital must be an ideal environment

for a severely disabled person but this is not, in reality, true. However good the staff are (and the nurses, doctors and support staff at Royal Brompton are world class) it takes time to learn how best to manage day-to-day issues like getting a patient in to bed. But no sooner has one team of nurses learned the best way to deal with a situation, than they are replaced by another team who have to start all over again from scratch.

This is hard work for all concerned so I was exceedingly grateful that my treatment was completed swiftly. My four night stay was reduced to two nights and much to my relief and my wife Polly’s, a new BiPap mask was found that solved the problem of the ever-sounding alarm, and rebalanced my blood gasses to the doctors’ satisfaction.

It will never be easy for me to go in to hospital, any hospital. But at least I know when I have to be an inpatient at Royal Brompton I’m going to be dealt with efficiently and with dignity.

But next time I’m taking my own coffee maker.

You can read Stephen’s blog at http://howtobeaninspiration.blogspot.com

At Royal Brompton, I know that I’m going to be dealt with efficiently and with dignity. Stephen Deal

newservice

Pacemakers have changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the UK: more than 250,000 UK adults currently have a

pacemaker fitted. As well as saving lives, pacemakers can also improve quality of life, give patients back their independence and make physical exercise easier.

But for many who have had a pacemaker fitted, there is one major disadvantage: they make full body MRI scans impossible. Cardiac pacemakers are susceptible to the electromagnetic fields used in MRI scanning, which can lead to the signals sent to the heart by the pacemaker being disrupted, or to the device overheating and damaging surrounding tissue.

As a result, those with pacemakers cannot have their chests scanned and so haven’t been able to benefit from the fast and effective diagnosis which full body scanning offers.

But all that now looks set to change. Royal Brompton is at the forefront of the introduction of a new generation of cardiac pacemakers which are not affected by MRI scanning.

Cardiology specialist registrar Dr Jonathan Lyne, who fitted the Trust’s first new generation pacemaker, said: “Royal Brompton

is certainly leading the way in the use of this new technology. At the moment, we are one of only three trusts in the country fitting them, but I would expect others to now follow our example.”

The pacemaker is safe during MRI scans because its diagnostic element, which is affected by the electromagnetic fields, can be turned off while the scan takes place, simply by holding a remote control-type instrument in front of the patient’s chest.

“This is a significant step forward for our patients,” continued Dr Lyne. “On average, we fit 1,200 pacemakers a year and we know from experience that 50 per cent of these patients may need an MRI scan at some point in their lives. By fitting a new generation pacemaker, this will now be possible.

“It’s particularly good news for young patients. Having this type of pacemaker fitted now means that they can benefit from MRI scans if they develop further cardiac problems.

“As an advance in pacemaker technology, it is ideal for our patient population, as we can now scan the whole chest, including the heart and lungs.”

The pacemaker fitted by Dr Lyne now looks certain to be the first of many which will bring benefits for other patients at the Trust.

The pace of change

We can now scan the whole chest, including the heart and lungs.Dr Jonathan Lyne

Cardiologists at Royal Brompton are leading the way in the introduction of a new generation of cardiac pacemakers that are MRI-safe. intouch talks to the specialist registrar who fitted the first pacemaker of its kind in the Trust and meets the first patient to benefit from the new device . . .

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A patient’s viewPatient Szilvia Jambrik arrived at Royal Brompton after feeling tired and breathless for some time. Her heart rate was far too slow and arrhythmia was diagnosed. As she is only 28-years-old and may need MRI scans for other conditions in the future, the decision was made to give her a new generation pacemaker.

Szilvia, who lives in Shepherd’s Bush, said: “When I first came to hospital, I was not expecting to need a pacemaker or to learn that I would probably need MRI scans in the future. It was a great comfort to me and my family to know that I have one of the first pacemakers that will allow me to have an MRI scan without any problems.”

Specialist registrar Dr Jonathan Lyne with one of the new generation pacemakers

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inprofile

Spiritual health and physical health are closely connected. The Reverend Terence Handley MacMath

Since becoming the new chaplain at Harefield, The Reverend Terence Handley MacMath has been busy introducing new ideas. She tells intouch about her role and her career-longpassion for healthcare chaplaincy . . .

For The Reverend Terence Handley MacMath, life has been very busy since she was licensed as Harefield’s

chaplain last November. She has thrown herself into the life of the hospital, getting involved in a wide range of activities.

“There’s certainly a lot to learn,” she says. “I’m trying to find out as much as possible about the procedures and treatment that we offer patients, so that I can give them and their families the best support I can. Spiritual health and physical health are closely connected.”

Terence supports the work already being done by lead chaplain Father Stan as the chaplaincy evolves to become a more multi-faith service.

“I believe that the chaplaincy should be seen as more than a Christian service: I want it to be relevant to all patients, their families and carers, and our own staff.

“Caring for people who are ill can be emotionally exhausting, and I’m on hand to offer staff spiritual guidance, but also emotional support and a listening ear. And I’d like to feel that I can support all our staff, whether they work directly with patients or not.”

Although a parish priest for 13

Caring for the spiritual

years, Terence had always been interested in healthcare chaplaincy, which led to her eventually becoming chaplain of the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead.

“After I trained to be a priest, I nursed a relative with a terminal illness. It was a profound experience for me, and made me start thinking about how to best care for those who are extremely ill.

“This led to me volunteering as a chaplain at Homerton Hospital in London before joining the hospice.”

As well as all of this, she has also found the time to write for The Church Times magazine and to train as a dancer.

Terence is now bringing the same enthusiasm to her role at Harefield.

“There’s now a weekly Christian service and I also want to promote the multi-faith prayer room as a space for all to find comfort and reassurance.

“I also took part in a session for trainee nurses that helped them to explore their own feelings about death and bereavement, so that they can better support patients and families who are facing bereavement themselves.”

She has already been instrumental in the creation of a staff choir.

“The choir brings together people

from all across the hospital and is a great way to connect with patients: we’re hoping to perform for the transplant unit soon.

“Spiritual care is not a commodity. Its benefits can’t be measured in a conventional way, but it’s part of the ethos in any organisation, such as the Trust, which values its staff and supports its patients.”

To contact the Revd Handley MacMath, please call ext. 6533 at Harefield, or email her at T.HandleyMacMath@rbht.nhs.uk

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A STAR IN OUR EYES

A regular column where we hear what our patients think of our services.

“I was at Royal Brompton Hospital last week for a myocardial scan. I just want to thank all the staff who looked after me: not just the doctors and nurses, but also the receptionist, the radiographers and all the X-Ray team.

“I am 90-years-old and I was also very scared, but your lovely staff put me at ease. It was wonderful to know that people of my age are treated with consideration.

“I hope that I will not need another scan, but if I do, I only want to have it done at Royal Brompton Hospital.”

Peggy Smekal, London

newsroundup

Artist and physiotherapist Jennie Pedley has returned to the Trust to work with patients and staff on her second exhibition, called Unfolding Exercise.

Jennie creates silhouette portraits of her subjects using shadow puppets, and examples of her previous work are already on display at both hospitals.

This time, she has captured people demonstrating their favourite kinds of exercise, working with patients and staff on the pulmonary rehabilitation programme at Royal Brompton, and the cardiac rehabilitation programme at Harefield.

Jennie said: “I wanted to

explore the role of exercise in the lives of patients and staff. It was exciting to see how rehabilitation programmes can help people and inspire them to take up exercise.”

The new exhibition of portraits will go on show between 14th June and 27th August, in the Anzac Centre at Harefield, and in the coffee shop in the Sydney Street wing at Royal Brompton.

It will then move on to Guy’s Hospital and University College London Hospital.

Everyone is welcome to come along to the exhibition opening events, where you can meet Jennie and see the portraits as soon as they go on show. The events

will take place on 16th June at Harefield between 12.30pm and 1.30pm, and at Royal Brompton on 17th June between 5.30pm and 8pm.

The exhibition is funded by the Wellcome Trust and supported by rb&hArts. For more information

about Jennie’s work, or the Trust’s wider arts programme, please call Victoria Hume, arts manager, on ext. 4087 at Royal Brompton, or email arts@rbht.nhs.uk Many of the portraits can also be seen on Jennie’s website at www.jenniepedley.co.uk

Exercise in the spotlight

Consultant cardiac surgeon Hideki Uemura gave his fourth annual Tune Surgery concert on 24th April.

The concert took place at St Luke’s Church on Sydney Street, opposite Royal Brompton, and the programme included music by Chopin, Brahms and Bizet.

Performing on both violin and clarinet, Mr Uemura was once again ably accompanied by Eri Kaishima, a professional Japanese percussionist, and Italian concert pianist Stephania Passamonte.

The event raised funds for the Trust Charitable Fund and will go towards supporting Mr Uemura’s own research work at Royal Brompton.

Two new directors have been appointed to key clinical roles at Harefield which will help drive forward services for patients.

André Simon took up his post new director of transplant in April, and has brought to the Trust a high-profile international reputation in adult cardiac surgery, including transplantation and VAD implantation. He now leads our transplantation and VAD

programmes, as well as running cardiac outpatient clinics and carrying out cardiac procedures.

Prior to his appointment, Mr Simon was based at Hanover Medical School.

Dr Ian McGovern has been appointed director of theatres at Harefield.

Dr McGovern is a consultant in critical care and anaesthesia. He will provide senior clinical leadership to drive improvements

in the quality and efficiency of theatre services, and will work closely with Jackie Burbidge, service manager for theatres and anaesthetics, and Mr Mohamed Amrani, chair of the surgical working group.

To contact André Simon, please call ext. 5056 at Harefield or email A.Simon@rbht.nhs.uk. Dr McGovern can be contacted on ext. 5946 or at I.McGovern@rbht.nhs.uk

Harefield welcomes new directors

Tuning up to raise research funds

Hideki Uemura performing at St Luke’s Church Photograph by Charles Teton

One of the silhouette portraits from Jenny Pedley’s latest exhibition

12

Royal Brompton and Harefield have both achieved impressive media coverage over the last couple of months.

January to April 2010

RB&Hin the headlines

Shima islam, head of media relations

The local press in Middlesex featured the opening of the new LDL Apheresis unit at Harefield.

The article quoted Alison Pottle, cardiology nurse consultant, as saying: “We are delighted to be expanding the services that we can offer to our patients by opening this dedicated unit.

“It is one of only three of its kind in the UK, which does make it special in the context of national provision.”

NEWPAPER FEATURES TRUST CARDIAC ExPERT FITTING MRI-SAFE SCANNER The Daily Mail featured Royal Brompton’s achievement in being one of the first hospitals in the country to implant a new, advanced MRI-safe pacemaker.

The article illustrated how the Trust is leading the way in providing the latest treatment for patients and included an expert quote from Dr Jonathan Lyne, the cardiology specialist registrar who fitted the new pacemaker, which read: “This pacemaker is a big breakthrough and a significant step forward for patients.

“At this hospital, we implant up to 1,200 pacemakers each year and know from experience that half of these patients may need an MRI scan at some later point in their lives.

“Until the development of this new-style pacemaker, these patients have not been able to benefit from this highly sophisticated diagnostic tool.”

PROFESSOR JOHN PEPPER IN THE NEWS

Both hospitals were featured in two episodes of a 10-part reality series following five celebrities as they vowed to give up smoking. In episode two, consultant respiratory physician Professor Michael Polkey met celebrity chef John Burton Race at Royal Brompton.

Professor Polkey provided his expert advice on the harm that smoking can do and emphasised that it is never too late to stop.

He also introduced one of his patients who talked very movingly about how his smoking had led to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

Episode three featured the pulmonary rehabilitation gym at Harefield. TV star Linda Robson met two patients who talked passionately about the need to stop smoking. Linda was clearly impressed by the work of the pulmonary rehabilitation physiotherapists.

In January, the Mail on Sunday, The Sunday Times and Channel 5 News all featured a Royal Brompton patient who had invented a device that surgeons can use to treat patients with Marfan Syndrome.

Marfan Syndrome is an inherited condition which affects up to 12,000 people in Britain. The genetic defect can cause weakness of

connective tissue, including the large arteries such as the aorta.

All of the coverage showed how the patient, Tal Golesworthy, worked closely with cardiology and radiology experts at Royal Brompton, and in particular consultant cardiac surgeon Professor John Pepper, to make his idea a reality.

LOCAL PRESS IN MIDDLESEx FEATURE NEW AND IMPROVED SERVICE AT HAREFIELD

CHANNEL FIVE’S Celebrity quitters MEET PATIENTS AND ExPERTS AT THE TRUST