InsideStory_April - update:Layout 1.qxd - University College London ...

Inside Story
The running man – page 2
AND
Meet Mr Invaluable – page 6
PLUS
Put your hands up for JLS – page 8
Inside Story is the UCLH staff magazine

news
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Email: communications@uclh.nhs.uk, Tel: ext 9897, Fax: ext 9401.
2
Mega marathon man’s tribute to our cancer team
Unstoppable: the word that best
describes 82-year-old cancer patient
Louis Myers.
Just a couple of days after
undergoing treatment for prostate
cancer at UCH, he was standing on
ceremony at Westminster Abbey in
his role as standard bearer to the
Lord Mayor of London.
Now he's preparing for the 100km Del
Passatore race next month – running
up and over the Apennine mountain
range in Italy to raise funds for the
new UCLH Cancer Centre. It's his
way of saying ‘thank you’ to
consultant urologist Mark Emberton,
clinical director for cancer services,
and his team at UCH.
Mr Myers (pictured), who lives in
central London, said: “If I was a
millionaire I could not have received
better treatment. Mr Emberton
doesn’t mess around, I like his
straight talking approach – I have
immense respect for him.
“The treatment was not at all intrusive
and I suffered no side effects.”
Mr Myers’ cancer was treated using
high intensity focused ultrasound
(HIFU) treatment.
Mark Emberton explained:
“This approach uses
powerful ultrasound
waves to target small
areas of the prostate with
millimetre accuracy. By
pinpointing, and then
destroying the
cancerous cells,
the surrounding,
normal tissue
can be
preserved. Not
only is HIFU
less invasive
than more
traditional
radioactive and
surgical
treatments it’s
Cancer care – counting the cost of carbon
Cancer clinicians at UCLH are
spearheading a national campaign to
cut carbon emissions by designing
more sustainable care.
The pledge was made at a one-day
national summit organised by UCLH
and the Campaign for Greener
Healthcare, attended by a number of
key organisations. Sir Robert Naylor,
UCLH chief executive, opened the
high-level meeting.
Mark
Emberton,
clinical director
for cancer
services
(pictured left),
said: “The cost
of carbon
emissions
associated
with healthcare
delivery may
well be a key
factor in
determining funding in the not-toodistant
future. Cancer care needs to
be designed and configured in a
manner that is as sustainable as
possible.”
“Our new Cancer Centre has been
designed to be the most sustainable
building in the NHS by a long way. It
will set a new benchmark for buildings
in the NHS as it will have a low-carbon
impact both in its construction as well
as in its running.”
Delegates (including Professor Mike
Richards, national cancer director at
the Department of Health, pictured
right with Sir Robert Naylor) heard
there were many changes already
under way in cancer services
which were likely to reduce the
carbon footprint. Examples
included supporting patients
to take a greater role in
managing their own health,
reducing unnecessary
follow-up appointments, and
quick – typically two hours – so the
recovery time and the side effects are
greatly reduced. It enables men to be
treated quickly and then to get on with
enjoying the rest of their lives. We are
running several trials of different
types of focal therapy for men with
localized prostate cancer.”
And there’s more good news as
Mark continued: “The standard of
care at UCLH will be even better
when we open the new
Cancer Centre in 2012.
This new £100m centre
will offer cutting edge,
specialist services
together with much
improved facilities to
support many
patients – such as
Mr Myers – who can
learn to live active
lives despite their
cancer diagnosis and
treatment”
bringing care closer to home.
They agreed to persuade their
organisations to develop a carboncutting
strategy and support the
mission to create environmentally
sustainable cancer services.
The NHS in England is currently
responsible for 21 million tonnes of
CO2 equivalents per year, amounting
to a quarter of all public sector carbon
emissions. It is committed to reducing
its carbon footprint by 80% by
2050.
Front cover: l to r, staff nurses,
Lucy Doherty, Eddie Cazenove
and Arabella Stanton, with JLS

Read the new majax policy and be prepared
Dealing with internal and major
incidents: staff need to read the
updated UCLH policy and action
cards which include important, new
information.
The Internal and Major Incident
Management Policy clearly outlines
what action staff need to take if faced
with managing a MAJAX situation.
It can be found on Insight.
Alison Bond, UCLH emergency
planning liaison officer, said: “All staff
should read this updated policy as
Fond farewell for David
UCLH will say ‘goodbye’ to one if its
longest serving members of staff this
month when David Starke retires.
David’s association with the Trust
began in 1972 when he joined as a
soon as possible. Don’t leave it until a
major incident alert – that is leaving it
too late. Familiarise yourself with it
now.
“Ensure the action card for your
particular ward or department is read,
printed off, laminated and is
immediately available to staff if they
need it.”
NEW! Procedures for dealing with
Internal incidents – for example,
power failure, gas leak, flooding – are
now clearly defined in Action Card 1 in
deputy hospital secretary at the
former UCH. He has spent a total of
29 years working for UCLH, most
recently as risk management and
business continuity lead. In total
UCLH Surgeon takes his seat in House of Lords
Consultant surgeon and clinical
researcher Professor Ajay Kakkar has
been appointed a new life peer in the
House of Lords.
Wearing parliamentary robes, he took
an oath of allegiance to the crown
during a ceremony steeped in
tradition.
His appointment which bestows the
title of ‘Lord’, will draw on his
distinguished and varied career in the
fields of clinical and research
expertise.
Professor Kakkar is a consultant
surgeon at the UCH breast unit where
he treats patients with breast cancer.
He is also chairman of the quality
directorate for UCL Partners, helping
to improve the quality and clinical
outcomes as part of the work of the
academic health science systems.
Professor Kakkar holds the chair in
surgical services at Barts and The
London School of Medicine and
Dentistry, Queen Mary University of
London and is also director of the
Thrombosis Research Institute.
He said: “All of these roles have given
me different experiences which will be
useful in my role as a peer and help
me to contribute in a meaningful way
to the working of the House.”
Professor David Fish, managing
director of UCL Partners, said: “I am
the policy’s action card section.
news
NEW! The updated policy includes
new action cards for a host of areas
and staff roles.
NEW! The policy also includes two
new appendices which contain more
detailed information on managing
heat wave and adverse weather
conditions.
A third appendix – the UCH Lockdown
Procedure – is currently being drafted
and will be available shortly.
David (pictured, centre) has over 40
years’ service with the NHS.
Alison Glover, head of clinical
governance and risk has worked
closely with David over many years.
She said: “David has been a valued
member of the governance team,
providing expert advice and
knowledge on a range of issues to
staff across the hospitals. We will
miss his cheerful and friendly
approach.”
David was presented with a cake by
colleagues at one of the Trust’s
regular business continuity planning
meetings. David is looking forward to
retirement and plans to travel and
pursue his passion for cooking.
The clinical governance department
this month also sees the retirement of
Marion Westwood, complaints
manager, who has been with the Trust
for 10 years.
delighted at this public recognition –
Professor Kakkar has been a tireless
champion of high quality patient care
and population health gain. I wish him
well with his new responsibilities –
from which I am sure we will all
benefit.”
3

our trust
Keep it clean
The sterile services team at UCLH
is celebrating after audit inspectors
gave it a clean bill of health.
The team which decontaminates
tens of thousands of surgical
instruments each year has had its
licence to operate renewed
following the recent visit.
These achievements mean the unit
(based on the fourth floor of UCH)
is licensed to decontaminate
surgical instruments from outside
the Trust – a fact that could pave
the way for UCLH forming stronger
partnerships with other trusts and
health organisations in the future.
Quality manager Seelan
Poothathamby said: “We had to
demonstrate that we monitored,
controlled and recorded every step
in a complex process and that
must be maintained every day, the
whole year round. A mistake can
have very serious consequences.”
Surgical instruments are sent to
the unit from all the Trust hospitals
and are meticulously bar-coded
and tracked through the entire
process: from theatres to sterile
services where they are sorted,
cleaned in giant washer/dryers;
sealed in colour-coded bags in an
ultra sterile room; then steamed at
high temperatures (up to 137°C for
three minutes); recoded and
placed in the correct trolleys to be
delivered to the correct hospital
department.
Seelan said: “We must be able to
determine exactly where each
instrument is at any particular point
in the process and tracked back to
the particular patient it was used
on.”
Procedures are monitored
according to 27 European and
international standards. Hospital
records must be kept for up to 21
years.
The inspection audit also covers
water quality, air quality, the
calibration of sterilising equipment,
instrument repair and staff
behaviour. Are staff wearing black
shoes in a white shoe area? Have
they washed their hands after
leaving the sterile area?
“The inspection was a tough one
but to say we are all happy at the
result would be an
understatement!” added Seelan.
Sylvia Martin, sterile services
manager, said the licence renewal
places the unit in a strong position
for the future: “It is a real
achievement and down to Seelan
and a great team effort.”
L to r: David Soffella, Rufina Agduyeng, Arsenio Pongan, Seela
The sterile services unit moved to UCH
from the Middlesex Hospital in October
2006. The unit has 60 staff and operates
a 24 hour service Monday to Friday and
provides a weekend service.
David Soffella sorts through surgical instruments
Seelan Poothathamby in the storage room
4

UCLH awarded unconditional
CQC registration
our trust
n Poothathamby, Lourdes Liongco, Gaspar Rosales and Helena Aranda
UCLH has been awarded a
licence to provide services
under a new, tougher system
for regulating standards.
From April 1, all NHS trusts in
England had to be registered
with the Care Quality
Commission (CQC) by law to
provide care.
To achieve registration, UCLH
has met new standards of
quality and safety set out by the
CQC.
Sir Robert Naylor, UCLH chief
executive, said: “I am very
pleased that we have achieved
registration without condition
under the CQC’s new
monitoring system. We are
never complacent about quality
and safety and we will continue
working together to improve the
patient experience and ensure
the safe delivery of our
services.”
The new standards cover
important issues for patients
such as treating people with
respect, involving them in
decisions about care, keeping
clinical areas clean and
ensuring services are safe.
Future CQC inspections will
involve observation of care,
tracking of case studies and
talking to patients and staff.
Under the new system,
outcomes and the experience
of patients are the main focus
for the CQC’s judgement,
although effective systems and
processes continue to be
required and assessed.
The CQC will draw together
intelligence and information
about NHS care from a range of
sources, creating quality-andrisk
profiles for every trust in the
country.
Research award for physio Claire
A specialist physiotherapist has won a
research fellowship to investigate the
best way to encourage critical ill patients
back to fitness and health.
Claire Black, who specialises in helping
patients with heart or breathing
problems, was one of just two
physiotherapists in the UK to receive the
award and was commended for her
rigorous and high quality research
proposal.
The fellowships are funded by the
National Health Institute for Health
Research and the Chief Nursing Officer
and are part of the clinical academic
training for nurses, midwives and allied
health professionals launched this year.
Claire’s study will focus on patients
recovering in intensive care at UCH and
aims to measure their baseline physical
function in terms of muscle wastage and
cardiovascular fitness.
By validating these outcomes it will help
identify those patients who would benefit
most from rehabilitation and which
exercise strategies will prove most
effective.
She said: “I find it really rewarding to
work with such an amazing group of
people. When you have a patient who
can barely move their fingers and a few
weeks later they are able to take their
first steps, it makes you realise just how
resilient people are.
“Hopefully my research will lead to more
effective interventions to help these
patients recover as quickly as possible.”
Claire, who has worked at UCLH for 12
years, will now divide her time
between the UCH physiotherapy
department and UCL.
“This fellowship is a fantastic
opportunity – I am over the
moon! I’d like to thank my
colleagues who have been so
supportive – particularly when I was
going through the rather gruelling
stressful application process.”
5

interview
Mr Invaluable
Elke Tullett meets Jose Garcia – the Trust’s healthcare assistant of the year.
Jose with Lisa Sadler (left), senior ward sister, and Jayne Bragg, deputy sister on the AMU
6
To the outside world, his job may lack
the excitement of surgery or the highstatus
of a top ranking management
role. But for many patients Jose
Garcia – and the 354 other healthcare
assistants at UCLH – are the ones
with their fingers on the pulse.
They work alongside nurses to make
sure patients are washed, dressed,
fed properly and have clean sheets to
lie on, that their pulse, temperature
and blood sugar levels are taken.
If a patient rings for general assistance
– it’s likely they will be the ones who
rush to the bedside. If oxygen levels
drop, blood pressure is raised, a
patient seems too confused or in pain
to talk, they are the ones who may
well notice first. And their sterling
efforts do not go unnoticed.
“Everybody, all the staff, treat me
nicely. Yes, dear God. I feel valued,”
says Jose.
So valued in fact, that senior
Jose with patient Joan Degnan
“At UCLH, we appreciate the vital
role performed by healthcare
assistants in wards across the
Trust and recognise the invaluable
support they give to their nursing
colleagues and, of course,
patients too." Louise Boden,
UCLH chief nurse
colleagues have paid tribute to his
‘kindness, dedication and hard work’,
particularly when dealing with frail and
elderly patients. As a result he was
named HCA of the year by the Nurses’
League and presented with an award
in memory of Christine Harcourt-
Smith, a former UCH nurse who died
unexpectedly at the age of just 26.
Jose, whose eyes crinkle with
Mediterranean warmth when he
smiles, moved from Spain to the UK
25 years ago ‘to improve my English’,
eventually joining UCLH 20 years ago.
“I like to help patients and 99% of
them are kind to me, they compliment
me. They appreciate that I offer them
company and support and that I try to
reassure them.
“Sometimes I get upset if someone
dies but I try to be professional and
not to show it. I go to the loo to calm
down… but we are all human beings
with feelings, after all.”
Working a 12 hour shift on the acute
medical unit on T1 UCH tower, he
describes his days as ‘always busy, all
the time.’
During his shift, I watch as he wanders
from one bed to another, takes blood
pressure…chats to a Spanish patient
… reassuring yet another. “Oi your
hands are rather cold,” complains one
elderly female patient. He blushes:
“Oops, sorry.”
Up to eight health care assistants
each year are seconded to nurse
training. Others move into clinical
assistant practioner posts – supported
by a Trust training programme which
actively encourages them to progress
up the career ladder. NVQs, study
days, apprenticeships, information and
advice are on offer.
Now aged 64, Jose knows he is too
late for all that. But any regrets?
“Perhaps if I was 20 years old again,”
he says “but you, know, its ok. I love
the job I’m doing.”
Anne Coffey, chair of the UCH
Nurses’ League executive
committee, said healthcare
assistants do not always get the
recognition they deserve. She
added: “They perform the type of
nursing that matters most to many
patients, their work is so very, very
important.”
Other award winners were: Rachael
Alton, for mentoring colleagues on
the acute medical unit, and Maria
Huelmo Fernandez, for her
achievements during nurse training.

our trust
Not empty words: talking aids recovery
Specialist nurse Rachael Nakawungu
knows that words can work wonders.
Her advice sessions have helped
reduce the amount of time the majority
of colorectal patients spend recovering
in hospital, to just six to eight days.
Previously, patients took between 12-
14 days to recover following surgery.
It’s a programme (developed by Mr
Alastair Windsor, UCLH consultant
colorectal surgeon) that could lead to
significant improvements elsewhere in
the Trust and is currently being
introduced for upper GI cancer surgery
patients.
Rachael (pictured with a patient), who
works on T9, counsels patients before,
during and after their hospital stay and
gives them the opportunity to raise any
questions or concerns.
“Some of the advice is very practical.
For instance, I encourage them to
drink regular nutritional drinks to keep
their energy levels high and
tell them what tubes and
drains they will wake up to
after the operation to help
prepare them
psychologically.
“Afterwards I give advice on
breathing and leg exercises
and ensure they are on
appropriate pain relief.
When they get home they
can call me for advice or
pop in to see me in the ward
or clinic. Patients really appreciate the
support we give them and it does
seem to help them get better more
quickly!”
Professor Monty Mythen, Department
of Health national clinical lead for the
enhanced recovery programme, said:
"It has the potential to have a
significant and far reaching impact in
terms of reductions in length of stay,
waiting times and mortality rates. An
estimated 200,000 bed days a year
could be saved across the NHS.
“UCLH is one of the health
organisations leading the way - and
our challenge is to encourage others to
follow. We will be watching UCLH with
interest.”
Monty is professor of anaesthesia and
critical care at UCL and director of
research and development at UCLH.
One of the five approaches to the Quality
Efficiency and Productivity (QEP) programme is to
‘make life simple’. Enhanced recovery shows how,
with some small changes, we can improve
the quality of care our patients receive
and, in doing so, boost productivity by
reducing post surgery recovery times
and length of hospital stay.
Don't forget – second QEP event!
Monday 26 April, 9.30am until 1pm in the Education
Centre, 250 Euston Road. The session will give an update
on progress and share some of the great practice going
on in-and-around the Trust. You can watch it via live web
streaming between 10am and 11am, just visit the
homepage of Insight.
Thinking out of the box
The seeds for his prize-winning
invention were sown in the kitchen at
home. A saw, a chopping board and a
bright idea: that’s what it took for Harith
Akram to turn his brainwave into a
neurosurgical innovation.
Harith, a specialist registrar in
neurosurgery, has been awarded the
Cutlers’ Surgical Prize for developing a
device which makes it easier for
surgeons to accurately target delicate,
hard-to-reach parts of the brain when
planning treatment for tumour biopsies,
cyst surgery and deep brain
stimulation. The adjustable device
attaches to a special head frame
(stereotactic surgery frame) and keeps
it in position.
He said: “One day I was trying to
attach the traditional piece of
equipment to the patients head and it
was quite fiddly, time-consuming and
painful for the patient. I thought ‘there
must be an easier way of doing things’.
So when I got home I picked up my
saw and chopped my kitchen chopping
board to bits and then
used a heat gun to mould
it into shape.”
With the support of NHS
Innovations,
his initial
blueprint
was then
developed jointly
with fellow surgeon
Ian Low of Queen’s
Hospital in Romford.
They were both
awarded The Clarke
Medal and £1,000 in
cash.
The new attachment
(called a new
stereotactic frame
positioning aid and
modelled, left, by Harith) has been
successfully introduced at the NHNN
and at Queen’s Hospital in
Romford – and other health
organisations are beginning to
show a strong interest too.
The annual Cutlers’ Surgical
Prize was instituted in
1981 by the Worshipful
Company of Cutlers to
promote innovation
in the design or
application of
surgical
instruments and
surgical
techniques.
7

the back page
Secret lives
Ironman. Not the sort of name that
immediately springs to mind when you
meet mild mannered clinical scientist
Dr Matt Aldridge.
But underneath that white lab coat is a
man of steely strength and
determination – the type of man who
endures long distance ‘ironman’
triathlons. For fun.
Swimming in icy lakes
(3.8km), cycling up the
French Alps
(180km/112 miles) and
– to round off the day
nicely – straight into a
26 mile marathon.
This August
he’ll face up
to 14 hours
of almost
non-stop
strenuous
activity, with just silver sachets of
concentrated carbohydrate gel to take
his mind off the road ahead.
“I usually spend a lot of the time
thinking how horrendous it all is and
how I will never do it again. You don’t
even get a chance to look at the
scenery. But 10 minutes after I’ve
crossed the finishing line I’m
planning my next event.”
Matt works at the
Institute of Nuclear
Medicine on the 5th
floor of the UCH tower
and, as part of his
intense training
schedule, cycles or
runs to and from
work each day
from his home
near Blackheath.
He completed his
first triathlon in Nice
in 2007. Events in
Lanzarote, Austria
and Germany have
since followed.
Up to 2,000 fellow
entrants take part,
something which can
add to the pressure.
“During the French Alps event,
thousands of us will be plunging into a
cold lake in the dark. It will feel rather
claustrophobic – you are surrounded
by thrashing arms and legs. Then it’s
straight out of the wet suit, into the
cycling kit – and off.”
But why?
“I’m not sure why I do it. I finish the
race and then have a lovely restful
holiday. Good food, a few beers,
camaraderie with the other
contestants. I feel I have earned it!”
JLS visit UCH
Britsh boyband JLS made a surprise
visit to the Teenage Cancer Trust
Ward, before rushing off to perform
with R&B singer Lemar on BBC's
Sport Relief.
The Beat Again chart-toppers spent
time chatting to patients, playing
games and signing autographs.
One staff nurse, said: “There was a
real buzz when JLS came in – I think
some of the nurses were
more excited than the kids!”
Nineteen-year-old Gurpreet
Bhanya (pictured), who was
grinning from ear to ear after
their visit said: “Meeting JLS
was awesome. We spoke
about my studies and my
treatment. They were really
lovely and caring.”
Competition
Win one of three pairs of tickets to see
Carmen at The O2 arena. The O2 arena has
kindly donated three pairs of tickets to see the
first ever fully staged opera to be held at The O2.
The world's most popular opera comes
to the world's most popular music
venue in May 2010, with over 200
performers including dancers, acrobats
and fire eaters.
For your chance to win a pair of tickets
send your answer to the question below
by email to: competition@uclh.nhs.uk
Q: How many staff does the sterile
services unit have?
Competition entries must be received
by 12 May 2010, winners will be
notified by 14 May 2010.
Archives
This image shows the discovery of an old well
beneath the former Middlesex Hospital. A
number of these were discovered during the
rebuilding programme between 1925 and 1935.
8