West Ham stars at King George - Barking, Havering and Redbridge ...

West Ham stars
at King George
Footballers bring joy to
youngsters and their families
Turn to page 2
The magazine for Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust January 2010

West Ham
Santas on
the ball
Children at King George Hospital
were given a festive surprise
when a group of West Ham
players arrived on the ward to
hand out Christmas presents.
Four of the Premiership squad –
Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Daniel
Gabbidon and Radoslav Kovac –
arrived at Clover Ward just before
the big day armed with goody bags
and presents for all the young
patients.
They spent a long time chatting to
the children and their families, who
were over the moon at the starstudded
arrival.
Scott Parker said: “It was
great to meet all of the patients.
No-one wants to be in hospital at
this time of year, and they were all
very brave. We’ve really enjoyed
the visit.”
As well as individual goody bags for
every child - packed with presents
including footballs, teddy bears,
scarves, calendars and mugs – the
team also bought a raft of presents
for the ward.
Thanks to West Ham’s generosity,
youngsters at King George will be
able to enjoy Nintendo DS Lites, Wii
Sports Resort, a range of other
computer games, Baby Annabell
dolls and a host of other toys.
Photos
Top - Danny Gabbidon, Mark Noble
and Radoslav Kovac meet Jonathan
Fielding, six
Bottom - Scott Parker meets young
patient Mir-Nibras Rasheed
Front page - The West Ham boys on
the ward
2 H O S P I TA L L I F E

High praise for
Maternity Services
The Trust’s maternity service –
one of the busiest in the country
- has been given a glowing
recommendation by safety
assessors.
Almost 10,000 babies a year are
delivered at Queen’s and King
George hospitals but, despite its
size, it has been given an excellent
safety score of 44 out of 50.
Risk management assessors from the
NHS Litigation Authority looked at
more than a thousand pieces of
evidence to check whether the
service was running safely and in
line with national guidelines.
They were so impressed with what
they found that they have awarded
the Trust a Level 2 for maternity
clinical risk management standards.
After a two-day visit to the Trust,
lead assessor Lynne Saunders said:
“We have looked at a huge amount
J A N U A RY 2 0 1 0
of evidence and have decided that
the Trust is compliant at Level 2. This
is no mean feat, particularly for a
large maternity service in a complex
area. Forty-four out of 50 is an
excellent score and the Trust is to be
congratulated.”
The maternity service is awarded
marks out of ten for five key areas.
It had to reach an overall score of
35 to pass.
• It achieved nine out of ten for
‘organisation’, covering strategies,
staffing and training
• Clinical care was given a score of
eight, described by the assessors as
“a very excellent score. This category
can be very tough. There was
particularly good care of women in
labour”
• High risk care was given top
marks of ten out of ten
• Communications was awarded
eight out of ten, with particular
praise given to mental health
services
• Post-natal and newborn care
received a score of nine.
Reporting her findings back to staff
Mrs Saunders said: “I am very
impressed with the maternity
service. An awful lot of hard
work has gone in to it.”
Carol Drummond, Divisional Director
for Women and Children, said: “I
am absolutely delighted that we
have been awarded Level 2. Our
staff work so hard to ensure that
women have the best possible
experience here, and to have that
endorsed by national assessors is
very gratifying.”
• Some of the maternity team are
pictured following the safety
assessment
3

Well-deserved a
As Hospital Life had a break over Christmas, there are two
employees and a volunteer to thank for their hard work in
this edition.
Colleagues and members of the public can nominate any of
our hard-working staff and volunteers for an award and the
recognition they deserve.
Nomination forms are available at the information
desks at both Queen’s and King George hospitals, in
the volunteers’ booklet and on our website,
www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk
Nurse went above and beyond
Incredible dedication was shown by Staff Nurse
Chris Pocock to ensure that he could communicate
with a special patient.
Chris, who works on Ocean B ward at Queen’s, spent
many hours on the internet learning to deaf/blind sign
so that he could communicate with a patient who was
deaf, blind and mute.
His Matron, Rosie Eadon, was so impressed that she
nominated him for an Employee of the Month Award.
She said: "Chris went above and beyond expectations.
His commitment and enthusiasm ensured the patient's
experience was the best he could make it."
Thanks to stalwart volunteer
• June and Beryl at the information desk at
King George.
She added: “With all of the work pressures that our
nurses have, it was so moving to see the extra effort
that Chris put in to communicate with this patient.”
Chris was presented with vouchers, a certificate and a
bottle of bubbly by Acting Chairman, Barbara Liggins in
a surprise ceremony.
After 22 years helping out at
hospitals, Beryl Tolley has
been given the Trust’s
Volunteer Appreciation
award.
Beryl, who works on the
information desk at King
George, was nominated by
fellow volunteer June Green.
June said: “I am always amazed
at the care and effort Beryl
puts in to help all who make
enquiries.
“Nothing is too much trouble,
and time and time again people
come back to thank her for her
help. I have even known her to
keep in touch after work to
make sure all is well.
“She truly deserves an award.”
Volunteer Co-ordinator Jean
Thompson said: “Beryl has
volunteered for around 22 years,
working at the Friends Tea Bar
at Goodmayes Hospital for 13 of
those years.
“She started her voluntary work
with the physiotherapy
department at Newbury Park
Health Centre. In 2003 she was
working in the physiotherapy
department at Barking Hospital
and also on the information
desk at King George. It seems
that voluntary work has been
part of her life for a long time -
she is amazing.”
In a surprise ceremony at the
information desk at King
George, Jean presented Beryl
with £50 in vouchers, a bouquet
of flowers and a certificate.
4 H O S P I TA L L I F E

wards all round
Amazing nurse wins December award
A Nurse who has been described as an
“amazing person” has been presented
with a special award.
Anna Watts is a Sister working in cancer
services at both Queen’s and King George
hospitals.
She was named as Barking, Havering and
Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust’s
Employee of the Month for December
after being nominated by a Student Nurse.
Lisa Mulock was on a placement at the
Cedar Centre at King George Hospital when
she worked with Anna.
Lisa said: “She constantly gives such a high
level of care to each and every patient, their
relatives and people she works with. She shows so
much compassion and is always positive. She really is an
amazing person.
“This has been the most fantastic placement for me.
Anna has a great sense of humour and a huge heart -
she is such a credit to the nursing profession and she
deserves recognition for her services to cancer care."
Trust is Most Innovative
in London
Clinicians at our hospitals have
seen off competition from across
the capital to scoop a top award.
Barking, Havering and Redbridge
University Hospitals has won the
Innovative Trust of the Year Award
2009 by submitting more groundbreaking
ideas to improve patient
care than any other organisation.
As well as winning the overall gong
at the NHS London Innovator
Awards, a doctor from the Trust was
given an individual honour.
In the Medical Devices and
Equipment category, radiologist Dr
Prem Rangi won the top prize for
developing a cerebral aneurysm
catheter system. It is much easier to
use than previous systems, and
allows clinicians carrying out brain
surgery much greater control.
Other clinicians at the trust were
shortlisted in their category.
J A N U A RY 2 0 1 0
In Healthcare ICT, Dr
Aklak Choudhury was
praised for his
development of a
web-based handover
system, to increase
efficiency and cut risk
when doctors are
handing over a patient
to another clinician.
And in the Medical
Devices and Equipment
category, Drs Harith Akran
and Ian Low made the final
five for designing a Stereotactic
frame holder.
Before this invention, it would take
four staff up to an hour to make
adjustments to the frame, used
during radiotherapy to the head. The
positioning aid they have developed
reduces the time to just 15 minutes
and requires only one member of
staff.
Friends and colleagues gathered to congratulate Anna as
she was presented with vouchers, flowers and a certificate
by Acting Chairman Barbara Liggins in a surprise
ceremony at the cancer day unit at Queen’s Hospital.
• Anna Watts is pictured receiving her award from Acting
Chairman Barbara Liggins
Around 5,000
stereotactic
frames are
used
worldwide,
and every
one would
significantly
benefit from
the frame
holder
developed by
these two Trust
doctors.
Chief Executive John
Goulston, who collected the award
at a special ceremony, said: “I am
absolutely delighted that the
innovative work carried out at the
Trust has been recognised. Our
clinicians are dedicated to improving
patient care, and developing new
and exciting ways of working which
will benefit healthcare.”
5

Oh yes they did!
On yer
Bike!
Youngsters at Queen’s Hospital
will benefit from a bicycle
marathon – which never made it
out of a shopping centre.
The Brewery in Romford threw
down a challenge for shoppers to
cycle the 495 miles to Romford's
twin town, Ludwigshafen in
Germany, to raise funds for two
local charities – including Tropical
Lagoon children’s ward.
Local ice hockey team the Romford
Raiders started off the cycle ride and the
warm-up obviously had amazing
benefits, as the team went on to win
their game later that day!
The distance was more than completed
– with a fit and healthy public helping to
cycle a total of 530 miles on exercise
bikes in the centre.
Rubie Charalambous, Centre Director at
The Brewery, said: “As well as the obvious
health benefits, the charity cycle ride
created a great atmosphere in the centre
and we are thrilled that so many people
took part to help us reach our target.”
For every mile completed, The
Brewery donated £1 to be shared
between Tropical Lagoon and
Shopmobility. The generosity
continued with additional donations
being made to the Trust’s charity
through collections and face
painting. In total the day raised more
than £600.
Cath Cole from BHR Hospitals
Charity said: “It was great to have
the opportunity to raise awareness
of, and funds for, our work. A lot of
people don’t realise the Hospital
Trust has a charity but it’s vital for us
Pantomime characters
Dick Whittington and
his cat stopped off at
Clover Ward at King
George while on their
way to London to find
fame and fortune.
Dick (Dean Kilford) and
cat (Antionette Harrison),
popped in to the ward to
spread a little Christmas
fun, handing out cat
masks and balloons to the
children.
Young patient Keiran
Carr, eight, is pictured
joining in the fun on the
ward.
Dick Whittington was
shown at the Broadway
Theatre at Barking over
the festive period.
to raise money through events like
the cycle ride in order to fund those
little extras which make all the
difference to our patients, staff and
visitors.
“Hopefully the money raised from
this event will enable us to ‘spruce
up’ the consulting rooms in the
Tropical Lagoon children’s
outpatients department and make
this clinical space a little more child
friendly.”
• Cath Cole is pictured, centre,
pedalling for the Trust’s charity
6 H O S P I TA L L I F E

Hospital holds clinic
for former cancer patients
Women who have been left with
long-term damage after
treatment for breast cancer have
been helped at a special clinic.
Radiotherapy Action Group Exposure
(RAGE) is a group of women who
are living with the effects of
radiotherapy that they received in
the late 1970s or early ‘80s for
breast cancer.
Now Macmillan Cancer Support,
RAGE and the national Cancer
Action Team have joined forces to
hold pilot sessions to address the
problem.
They approached Barking, Havering
and Redbridge University Hospitals
NHS Trust and invited us to hold a
pilot clinic to help local women.
Countless women who had
J A N U A RY 2 0 1 0
radiotherapy almost 30 years ago
were left with long-term problems
including breathing difficulties, bone
and soft tissue destruction and
continuous pain in their arm.
A specialist team was put together
at Queen’s Hospital to look at ways
of supporting these patients – many
of whom were discharged by their
oncologist many years ago, with the
side-effects remaining untreated.
The team included oncologists,
breast nurses, a tissue viability nurse,
occupational therapists and
physiotherapists, and representatives
from pain management, patient
information, neurology and skincare.
During the one-off clinic, each
woman had a consultation with the
appropriate specialists who then
decided a care plan for them to suit
their individual needs.
The oncologists then sent a letter to
the patients and their GPs giving
details of their assessment and the
recommendations made for future
treatment.
Nana Ababio from the oncology
team said: “The clinic went
extremely well. All of the patients
felt that it had been very worthwhile
and felt reassured by the advice and
recommendations from the
specialists.
“Many of the patients felt that their
problems had not been properly
addressed before.”
The Trust is now waiting to see if
Macmillan decides to support a
regular clinic at Queen’s.
Lionhearted work by charity group
A charitable group has raised more than £3,000 to buy a new heart monitor for
King George Hospital.
The Lions Club of Seven Kings handed over a cheque for £3,339, and President Bob
Jandoo said: “We will always be here to support the hospital and it gives us great
pleasure to help such a worthwhile local cause.”
Divisional Nurse Caroline Moore received the cheque in front of staff and Lions
members, adding: “I would like to thank the Lions on behalf of the Trust and really
appreciate that they have selected us to receive the money. It shows tremendous
community spirit.”
• Caroline Moore is pictured receiving the cheque from Lions President Bob Jandoo
7

Choose well
this winter
A national campaign has been launched encouraging people to think about the most
appropriate place to go for medical treatment.
Like most hospitals, the A&E
departments at Queen’s and King
George have been extremely busy in
recent weeks.
Unfortunately, many of the people
who arrive at the doors to Accident
and Emergency do not need critical
care. They could be treated more
quickly and appropriately elsewhere,
leaving our specialist doctors to deal
with the patients who are seriously
ill.
Our staff routinely see people complaining
of minor ailments such as
colds, headaches and mouth ulcers.
The Choose Well campaign, run by
the Department of Health, reminds
people that A&E should only be used
in critical or life-threatening
situations.
There are various other options
to consider in the community
that would be more appropriate for
the majority of people who are
currently using Accident and
Emergency.
1. Self-care: Minor illnesses can be
treated at home by combining a
well-stocked medicine cabinet with
plenty of rest
2. www.nhs.uk or NHS Direct 0845
46 47: For information on all aspects
of health. You can check your
symptoms, look at hundreds of
conditions and treatments, and find
contact details for most NHS
organisations
3. Pharmacist: Your pharmacist can
provide advice on most common
illnesses and the best medicine to
treat them
4. GP: If you have an illness or injury
that will not go away, make an
appointment with your GP
5. NHS Walk-In Centre: These
centres treat minor illnesses and
injuries including strains, sprains and
broken bones. You do not need an
appointment and will be seen by an
experienced nurse
6. Urgent Care Centres: These
centres, including the one at King
George Hospital, are open around
the clock and can handle the vast
majority of patients who mistakenly
go to A&E
7. A&E, 999: For life threatening
conditions and emergencies.
Choosing the best place to be
treated will lead to shorter waiting
times and better outcomes.
For more information about your
nearest GP surgery, pharmacy, walkin
centre or urgent care centre, log
on to www.nhs.uk
Have your say on the future of local healthcare
Many of you will have already heard
about the proposals to redesign
healthcare in this area.
A major piece of work - called Health
for North East London - has been
taking place, looking at ways of
improving people’s health and
making sure that they receive highquality
services.
The proposals have been developed
by clinicians themselves - doctors and
other health professionals who work
in this area - and have now been put
out for public consultation.
One of the suggestions is that the
Accident and Emergency department
at King George Hospital should be
closed, with a 24/7 Urgent Care
Centre remaining on site.
Improving out-of-hospital care and
providing services closer to people’s
homes is a key element of the
proposals.
Heather O’Meara, Chair of Outer
North East London PCTs, said: “In the
21st century, many health services
that were once available only in a
hospital can be provided closer to
where people live.
“We want to ensure that children
and adults receive high-quality
hospital care, to complement the
increasing amount of care now
available in health centres,
polyclinics, GP surgeries, pharmacies
and other local centres.”
Dr Mike Gill - one of the consultants
who helped to draw up the
proposals - said: “Life expectancy in
north east London is low compared
to other parts of London and the UK.
Many patients are not happy with
the quality of services they receive.
We must ensure that, if people are ill,
they get the right services from the
best clinical teams.”
The full, detailed proposals are
available by logging on to
www.healthfornel.nhs.uk or
consultation documents are available
in the main entrances to both
Queen’s and King George.
The public are being encouraged to
have their say on the plans, with a
consultation running until March 8.
There will be a series of public
meetings and roadshows held where
you can make your views known.
A roadshow will be held at King
George Hospital on Thursday
February 11, with another at Queen’s
on the afternoon and evening of
Wednesday February 17.
Contact us: If you would like to see a particular service featured in Hospital Life, contact Niki Eves on
01708 435314, or email nicola.eves@bhrhospitals.nhs.uk