Inside Story - April 2013 - University College London Hospitals

2 / UCLH on the box
3 / Twitter talk
8 / Crime fighting surgeon
April 2013

2 News
Keeping Britain Alive
Meet the Team
Produced and
designed by:
The Communications
department
Front cover photo:
Consultant neurosurgeons
Andrew McEvoy and Ludvic
Zrinzo
Inside Story magazine
is published by UCLH
(University College London
Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust) for our staff
Contact us
If you have any information
you would like included in
Inside Story, or on Insight,
contact: Communications
Unit, 2nd Floor Central,
250 Euston Road, London
NW1 2PG.
Email: communications@
uclh.nhs.uk,
Tel: ext 79897,
Fax: ext 79401.
Visit us online at:
uclh.nhs.uk
Andrew McEvoy, consultant neurosurgeon
On October 18, 2012 more than 100 camera
crews were dispatched across the UK – their
mission to film every corner of the NHS.
The resulting eight-part-series, Keeping
Britain Alive, captures the grief, heroism, joy,
bitterness, hilarity, frustration, compassion,
tedium and selflessness that are constantly
evident across the NHS.
Five crews assigned to UCLH followed
the life-changing and in some cases, lifesaving,
decisions which our clinicians take
every single day. The series began on March
26. Here is a summary of the UCLH stories:
> > Episode 3 (9 April): Emotional scenes
at the National Hospital for Neurology
and Neurosurgery (NHNN) as patient
Daryl Gittens is reunited with his wife
after an eight hour procedure to remove
a brain tumour – while he is awake.
Thanks to consultant neurosurgeon
Andrew McEvoy and his team, Daryl can
look forward to spending precious time
with his wife and children.
Nearby, Patrick Ronayne talks about the
devastating impact of his wife Laura’s
brain haemorrhage, highlighting tireless
teamwork on the neurointensive care
unit, led by Professor Martin Smith.
> > Episode 5 (23 April): Back at the
NHNN, Rose Growdon is treated for
violent tremors caused by a condition
known as dystonia. Consultant
neurosurgeon Ludvic Zrinzo and his
team perform deep brain stimulation,
implanting an electrode into Rose’s
brain. Truly stunning!
Meanwhile, newly appointed health
secretary Jeremy Hunt tours the
University College Hospital Macmillan
Cancer Centre with chief executive Sir
Robert Naylor and chairman Richard
Murley. The secretary of state enjoyed
a full and frank discussion with senior
managers about the challenges facing
the NHS.
> > Episode 6 (30 April): It’s a dark
Thursday morning outside the
Whitechapel Mission and the UCLH
mobile TB van is in town to ‘find and
treat’ the homeless. The documentary
captures the work of the unit and its
superintendent radiographer, Jane
Knight; administrator/driver, George
Curley and nurse specialist, Emma
Diggle.

News
3
UCLH aims to
‘Recruit 500’
UCLH has launched a major campaign to
recruit hundreds of new staff nurses and
nursing assistants this year.
A series of open days and special oneday
assessment and interview sessions are
part of the targeted approach focused on
hiring the very best applicants, quickly and
efficiently.
The ‘Recruit 500’ campaign aims to
reduce the vacancy rate from 13 per cent to
eight per cent by September and to five per
cent by this time next year. We are on track
to meet the first target of filling 200 vacant
posts in May.
Chief nurse Katherine Fenton said:
“UCLH needs to fill all of its vacant nursing
posts to meet an increasing demand for our
services. We’re taking a strategic approach
to fill posts with staff who can offer the
absolute best care for our patients, based on
our organisational values which stress the
importance of kindness and teamwork as
well as clinical excellence.”
The campaign has been widely
advertised in a number of trade magazines
and websites including the Nursing Times
and the Royal College of Nursing bulletin.
Matthew Chapman, deputy charge nurse and Debbie
Williams, deputy sister
NHS staff pay
The Government has announced that all staff
employed on NHS Agenda for Change and
doctors’ and dentists’ contracts will receive a
‘cost of living’ pay rise this year.
The Government has accepted the Pay
Review Body recommendation that all NHS
staff on AfC terms and conditions receive a
one per cent rise in their basic pay effective
from 1 April 2013. The announcement also
included information about the high cost area
supplement that is paid to staff on Agenda for
Change contracts who work in London. This
will also be increased by one per cent – with
the minimum supplement now £4,076 and
maximum £6,279.
The Government has also announced
that it has accepted the recommendations
of the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body
which will also see a one per cent increase
to the salary scales for doctors and dentists
from the same date.
Word on
the Tweet...
Follow us: @uclh
@Casey_41287: WOW!
#KeepingBritainAlive, so
so amazing that they are
literally performing brain
surgery while the mans
awake! #LoveTheNHS
@mokumalef: Nurse-led
rheumatology service at
@uclh is amazing. Skill,
compassion and humanity.
Lets remember MOST
nurses deliver good,
excellent care
@katherine1409: @uclh
massive thankyou to all the
staff in the radiotherapy
department who helped me
through my treatment, you
are all AMAZING!!!!
@148Matt: The brain
tumour op with the man
talking was the most
amazing TV I have ever
seen. Huge respect
to all within the Nhs
#keepingbritainalive
@tobyhillman: Last day
working @uclh > has
been a great year – and
my overall impression has
been that it is on its way to
being an effective learning
org
@matiasformica: “Class
A” A&E care Service
@UCLH. When our
questionable NHS works, it
does it so well.
@mercyfoundcork: @uclh
- great work. Amazing care
#KeepingBritainAlive
@cassiocassio: Thanks
to all at @uclh children’s
ward. Baby Alice
discharged, on our way
home.

4 Spotlight on

Spotlight
5
A top team
leader
They are hidden away from the limelight: prestige, power and
glory is not part of the job description. But for many patients they
are the voice of the NHS. Elke Tullett finds out what makes one
of our medical secretaries so special.
“I think we are the backbone of the Trust,”
says Innica Halsey, who manages a team of
medical secretaries in the medical specialties
division. “We may not make life-changing
decisions but we are an integral cog in the
wheel and a massive link between doctors,
departments and patients.”
If you are elderly or unwell, a friendly,
concerned voice is just what you crave. ‘Dr
Shipley’s PA Innica is always very helpful,’
wrote one patient in a letter to UCLH chief
executive Sir Robert Naylor.
Innica says: “They know a member of
my team is always at the end of the phone,
there’s not just a recorded message and
option buttons to press. I hope that clinicians
find us a source of knowledge too – if a
clinician needs information about a patient
we should know where to find it.”
She says the best medical secretaries
are those who are good team players
and deal with issues quickly, politely and
with empathy. “The best ones also take
ownership of an enquiry or call and deal with
it, rather than passing it on.”
Innica joined UCLH 16 years ago with
100 words-per-minute typing skills, an
NVQ in business studies and a stint as a
temporary admin assistant at Chase Farm
Hospital under her belt.
When she typed up her first medical
letter, her knowledge of French, Spanish
Italian and German proved invaluable.
“It was filled with medical terminology,
like a strange language. I was pretty good
at languages at school and I think that’s why
I took to it so quickly. It was just another
one to learn. I loved typing… it’s rhythmic,
relaxing. Rather like ironing!”
The team has faced change and
restructuring over the past six months, like
other clinical and admin staff. Throughout
it all Innica has retained the loyalty of her
team.
‘She works tirelessly’, ‘I’m proud to be
your colleague’, ‘you are an inspiration to
us’ were a few of the comments posted
on Insight following the UCLH Celebrating
Excellence Awards.
Innica was one of the finalists nominated
by Melanie Watts. Melanie, general manager
for the medical specialties division and acting
divisional manager for infection, describes
her as a fantastic role model and team
leader who ensured her colleagues were
listened to: “Although Innica was herself also
part of the changes that her team were going
through, she remained amazingly positive
and supported her team throughout.” Clinical
colleagues also report on her helpful attitude
to both them and patients.
Innica, however, insists she is not
unique. “Many medical secretaries at UCLH
go above and beyond to fix a problem for
the patient, the doctor or the wider team.
Working for the NHS gives you a greater
sense of purpose.”
“Working for the NHS
gives you a greater
sense of purpose.”
Innica (pictued front row, second from left) with her team

6 In the know
60-seconds with...
Robert Peston
BRIGHTLIGHT on
cancer services
Award-winning BBC
journalist Robert Peston was
at the University College
Hospital Macmillan Cancer
Centre to record a feature
about lung cancer research
for The One Show.
What inspired you to
become a journalist?
It was a happy accident. I
didn’t know what I wanted
to do. I tried journalism and
loved it.
How do you cope with
being recognised in the
street?
People are always nice when
they come up to me. They
are only rude when they
email or write.
How do you like your eggs
cooked?
All ways. I love eggs.
What is the last film you
watched?
Argo, Ben Affleck’s
Oscar-winning film of how
Hollywood rescued hostages
from Iran more than 30 years
ago. A lovely old-fashioned
movie
What did your last tweet
say?
Making film on lung cancer
diagnosis, research &
treatment for #bbcOneShow.
As you may know, this is
stuff I have thought about a
good deal.
If you were Mayor for the
day what would do to
improve London?
Abolish cars.
UCLH is leading an exciting
new study that will ask
teenagers and young adults
with cancer what they think
about their care.
The nationwide study –
aptly named ‘BRIGHTLIGHT’
by young people themselves
– is open in 81 trusts and
aims to recruit all young
people aged 13-24 years
diagnosed with cancer in
England over the next 12-18
months.
BRIGHTLIGHT will follow
young people for three years
to determine if specialist
teenage and young adult
cancer services, such as
those at UCLH, improve
outcomes.
The UK has pioneered
many aspects of cancer care
for young people thanks
to the work of charities
like Teenage Cancer Trust
and Clic Sargent who work
closely with UCLH.
Professor Jeremy
Whelan, chief investigator
based at UCLH, said:
“Despite leading the way in
cancer care, we don’t yet
know if specialist cancer
care is better for young
people and if it is, why.
BRIGHTLIGHT is the largest
study of young people with
cancer in the world, and the
international community are
watching the UK and waiting
for the results.”
The BRIGHTLIGHT
survey was developed in
conjunction with patients like
Paris Tompkins who was 15
when she was diagnosed
with papillary carcinoma
of the thyroid. She lives in
Leicester and had to travel to
UCLH for her specialist care.
Paris said: “I’ve learnt a
lot about life since having
cancer and see it in a whole
new perspective now. I
find helping with projects
like BRIGHTLIGHT and
volunteering with charities an
incredibly beneficial way of
using my cancer experience
in a positive light.”
In February 2012 Paris
was given the ‘all-clear’. She
was able to return to sixth
Paris Tompkins
form college and her former
way of life.
If you have a patient who
you would like to consider
for BRIGHTLIGHT please
contact Dr Rachel Taylor
(rtaylor13@nhs.net).
For information about
recruitment and study
progression please see the
BRIGHTLIGHT website
www.brightlightstudy.com

In the know
7
Safety on the
horizon
On top of the
world
Explorers from UCLH and UCL have
embarked on a second expedition to Mount
Everest to learn more about how the human
body responds to extreme environments
and to increase understanding of critically ill
patients.
Back in May 2007 clinicians – including
a number from UCLH – and scientists took
part in the largest ever medical research
expedition to altitude. They made the
arduous trek up 18,000ft to Everest base
camp undergoing rigorous tests along
the way. Eight others continued on to the
summit.
Their mission was to investigate hypoxia,
low oxygen levels in healthy volunteers at
altitude, and bring benefits to the bedside
of patients with low levels of oxygen in
intensive care.
Six years on from the initial trek and the
Xtreme Everest team still have questions
they need answered and another expedition
is underway, involving more than 150 healthy
volunteers.
The first Sherpa trek has now arrived
back in Kathmandu having completed their
testing schedule in north-eastern Nepal in
the first leg of Xtreme Everest 2.
During the trip they were tested in the
‘Sherpa capital’ Namche, which has an
altitude of 3,500m, and is home to the UCL
Institute of Sports Exercise and Health
(ISEH) High Altitude Research Group.
Raise your hats
How can surgeons avoid
making catastrophic mistakes –
and what lessons can be learnt
from airline pilots, fire fighters
and Formula 1 racing drivers?
That was the question posed
by UCLH consultant Kevin
Fong in a recent BBC 2 Horizon
programme. How To Avoid
Mistakes In Surgery looked
at how simulation training
at the University College
Hospital Education Centre
is arming clinicians with
the tools they need to
respond in a crisis.
Staff on the Molly Lane Fox Unit at the NHNN donned their hats for research
into brain tumours. Wear a Hat Day is organised by the Brain Tumour
Research charity. Kathy McDougall, specialist physiotherapist; Nazia Ahmad,
specialist occupational therapist and Louisa Gilpin, specialist speech and
language therapist (pictured left to right), all embraced the event in style.
Nazia said: “The reaction from staff and patients was really positive. Most
people smiled at us and asked where our D’Artagnan was! It was a really fun
way to raise the profile of such an important issue.”

8 Inside out
Secret lives
He’s been sprayed in the
face with CS gas, stood in a
snow covered field dressed
in shorts and a vest, found
a knife in a suspect’s socks,
handcuffed a dodgy looking
character, filled in reams of
paperwork in black biro (it
has to be black), had his own
fingerprints taken. And sworn
allegiance to the Queen.
It’s been a busy few
months for crime-fighting
urological surgeon Rohan
Nauth-Misir
When he pounds the
pavements of Westminster,
his intensive training will be
really put to the test. “I think
I will be terrified,” admits the
softly spoken 54-year-old.
Two hundred would-be
volunteer special constables
– many decades younger –
signed up to Hendon police
academy. Fifty fell by the
wayside. When they were
lined up and sprayed with
CS gas during training,
many fell to the floor. But
not Rohan, who shows
off his police badge – CW
5114 – with justifiable pride.
“Apparently about ten per
cent of the population are
immune to CS gas – and
luckily I’m one of them!”
When Rohan was
younger he wanted to be a
pilot but he was steered into
medicine. “My father was
a doctor and my mother a
midwife and it was somehow
expected of me. I enjoy it
hugely but after 30 years I
felt I wanted to try something
completely new.”
He underwent rigorous
written tests and security
checks, put in extra training
at the 52 Club (‘the club staff
were very helpful’) to get into
shape for the timed sprints
and practised the crucial
phrase ‘You do not have
to say anything. But it may
harm your defence...’ until he
could rattle it off in a riot.
The emergency resus
sessions were the most
nerve-wracking. “Everyone
was looking at me. It
would have been really
embarrassing if I had failed
that.” But, he didn’t, of
course. So now he has the
full kit – body armour, baton,
CS spray, handcuffs and
caps.
Rohan, who’s been
burgled three times, will have
the same power as regular
police officers and will be on
patrol (unpaid) at weekends.
Rohan – we wish you luck!
Archive
A nursing recruitment advert
for University College
Hospital from the late 1960s.
The prospectus described
nursing as a career and the
qualifications required (five
O-Levels – one of which had
to be English Language).
The accommodation
available for students is
described as ‘separate
bedrooms for students,
the majority of which are
provided with hot and cold
running water and radiators’.