thegazette

Issue 28 January 2009

Trust Chair Naaz Coker provides

1 thegazette her view from the top - page 7

welcome to thegazette
Working in UNISON
Jane Pilgrim, UNISON’s Staff Side Secretary at St George’s,
talks to the gazette about why it is important for staff to join a
union, and what’s in it for them.
As staff side secretary I am involved
in negotiating changes in policies,
transformation and coordinating the
views of the many trade unions and
professional bodies representing
staff at St George’s.
The staff side committee meet
senior management of the Trust six
times a year to discuss and debate
issues. These meetings are carried
out under the auspices of the
partnership forum.
Trade unions help staff in a number
of ways. They can help with
representation at any meetings with
management. Unions are here to
offer advice and support to you at
work. On top of this, many unions
offer specialist legal advice.
As UNISON branch chair I am
dealing with a number of cases at
the moment, including advice and
support on grievance, disciplinary
action, sickness and redundancy.
Union representatives can also
help with writing statements and
supporting you at meetings.
Unions nationally and locally work
tirelessly to improve your pay and
conditions. It is a well known fact
that workplaces with active unions
are places where the staff are paid
more, where discrimination is less
and there are fewer accidents.
2 thegazette
If an individual has issues about their
work or the way they are treated,
unions are here to help them resolve
them.
One example of the way unions work
is the current UNISON campaign
on behalf of theatre staff, where
significant changes in terms and
conditions have been proposed.
The staff side team are always keen
to meet the challenges of providing
health care in the 21st century at
St George’s hospital, but we believe
that it is important to safeguard
staff’s pay and conditions.
Through the unions and professional
bodies staff have a voice at work.
Both management and human
resources recognise the important
role that staff side play.
If there is something you feel
passionately about and feel the need
to be heard, why not contact your
union representative and get them to
raise it for you. If you are not already
in a union, join today.
Information about all the different
unions and professional bodies
serving the Trust can be found on
the intranet. Click on units and
departments on the left and then
on unions.
A WORD
FROM DAVID
St George’s
Happy New Year and
welcome to the January
edition of the gazette, another
displays major
lively issue bringing you news
from across the Trust.
I hope you agree that this is an effective way of
trauma plans
communicating to staff and others – we send the
newsletter to a wide range of local stakeholders
as well.
I am always interested to hear from people who
are doing innovative things that improve the
way we care for our patients, and the gazette
will always profile both clinical and managerial
improvements.
In this edition we talk about how we are
dramatically improving outpatient services so that
patients can make appointments more easily and
use a telephone system that is much more friendly
than the old one.
We also put the spotlight on our new breach
managers in A&E. Of course they can’t solve all
the problems caused by unpredictable activity,
whether that is as a result of norovirus, winter
pressures or other factors. However, it is one step
forward in a long process that we hope will ensure
more effective bed use while still treating patients
in A&E within the target guidelines.
...and talks about stroke In addition we have our usual sprinkling of happy
stories, mostly about staff and others going that
extra mile to raise funds for our charity. We also
A London-wide exhibition where St George’s Robert
have a new feature called View from the Top and
and conference in McFarland, Clinical Director
what better person to start with than with our
December provided the for Trauma, led a seminar
Chair, Naaz Coker?
ideal opportunity for on major trauma in London.
St George’s to demonstrate I wish all staff the very best for 2009, which is
At the same conference
“
plans for the South West sure to be challenging, but I hope will also be
Staff side
London trauma network, another St George’s
professionally satisfying for all of you.
which has passed the first consultant, Geoff Cloud,
presented at a seminar on
keen to meet
hurdle for approval by NHS As ever, if you have any comments on this edition,
London. delivering the stroke strategy.
please email me at
”
This is another specialty in
the challenges A display about the
network and how it would
which the Trust is leading the
way, having recently made
david.astley@stgeorges.nhs.uk.
operate was set up in it through the accreditation
the London Health 08 stages to become a
conference in Islington hyper-acute stroke unit.
thegazette 3
 Beating the superbugs at St George’s
Work to reduce the number of MRSA
and C diff cases at St George’s is
paying off, with a dramatic reduction
in both infections.
According to statistics from the Health
Protection Agency the number of
MRSA cases at the Trust fell from 87
during 2006/07 to 23 last year – a
reduction of 74 per cent.
With C.diff, the Trust saw a 13 per
cent reduction in the number of cases
last year and recorded a yearly total of
415 cases. The Trust has continued to
see a month on month fall and, so far
this year since March 31, has recorded
25 cases compared to 133 during the
same period last year.
Director of nursing Dr Geraldine
Walters said: “We are pleased with the
progress being made, which is due to
the hard work of the infection control
teams and the continuing vigilance of
all staff.
Fairy Godmother
Louise Dearman, who this
winter plays the role of
Fairy Godmother in New
Wimbledon Theatre’s
production of Cinderella,
brought a little magic into
the lives of children and
parents at St George’s on
Friday 19 December.
Louise visited patients
at the hospital’s Freddie
Hewitt ward, introducing
some festive excitement
just in time for Christmas.
4 thegazette
“Controlling hospital-
acquired infections is a
top priority for the Trust
and it is gratifying to
see real progress being
made. Earlier this year,
key parts of the hospital
were deep cleaned and
this programme will
continue on an on-
going basis. We also
had a very positive
report from the Healthcare Commission
following an unannounced inspection of
cleanliness and infection control systems
earlier in the year.
“Our aim remains to improve the
environment of the hospital and make it a
cleaner and more pleasant place to stay
in as a patient.”
adds sparkle to St George’s
Patient Sophie Huisman, with mum, meets the Fairy Godmother on Freddie Hewitt Ward
St George’s staff mark
World Aids Day
Hospital staff marked World AIDS Day Senior health
on Monday 1 December by raising advisor Wendy
both public AIDS awareness and Majewska said:
funds for HIV patients. “Early diagnosis
of HIV is key
It is estimated that six out of every to preventing
1,000 Wandsworth residents aged the spread of
between 15 and 59 have HIV, but infection but it
a third of those have not been also increases our
diagnosed. Staff from the Courtyard chances of being
Clinic, St George’s onsite genito- able to manage
urinary medicine (GUM) service, this serious chronic
held events at the hospital and at condition in
Wimbledon Station. individual patients.”
Deep cleaning underway At St George’s members of the public Dr Mark Pakianathan, an HIV specialist
were given facts and advice about based at St George’s, said: “We’ve
AIDS and HIV testing by staff manning now had experience of using highly
Clean bill of health from the an information display in the entrance
commission active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)
of Atkinson Morley Wing. for over 10 years and are now in
St George’s was recently tested by the
Healthcare Commission and was found to a position where we can minimise
In addition, commuters in Wimbledon
be doing everything expected to combat toxicity of treatments and aim to keep
were encouraged to wear a red
infections such as MRSA and C diff. people healthy for the rest of their
ribbon, the symbol of World AIDS Day.
natural lives.
Any donations received will be used by
Out of 51 acute Trusts visited, only
the Courtyard Clinic for the benefit of “Of course HIV is a serious, chronic
five, including St George’s, were given
its HIV patients. This is the 10th year illness, but people should not be afraid
top marks. that Courtyard clinic staff, coordinated to take up testing and primary health
by health advisor Paul Brewer, have care staff are key to early diagnoses.”
marked World Aids Day.
Outpatients ring in the changes
Patients calling St George’s to book or amend outpatient visible. Staff and managers will have the ability to monitor in real
appointments are benefiting from a much improved telephone time the number of callers, how long they have been waiting, how
booking service. many staff are taking calls and what types of calls are coming
through.
The Central Booking Service (CBS) has upgraded its call centre
telephone software to make it easier for operators to deal with the One other major improvement is the ability to record calls for
huge number of complex calls placed every day. training and monitoring purposes. This will assist with staff
induction and on-going training, and allow managers to monitor
The new software tells callers where they are in the queue and
the quality of call handling.
lets them choose to speak to a specialist trained to deal with
their query. The introduction of these advanced call management functions,
coupled with recruitment to a large number of vacant posts in the
Shola Adegoroye, general manager for corporate outpatient
Central Booking Service, is expected to reduce call waiting times
services, said: “Long call waiting times represent the largest issue
significantly.
patients accessing the service complain about.
The same system is also being rolled out to the Trust’s IT Helpdesk
“It is important that the CBS is able to deal with patients’ calls
and there are plans to implement this upgraded software in other
quickly and efficiently. The upgrade will support the Trust’s aim to
areas across the Trust.
ensure that patients are seen in the shortest time possible.”
The upgrade forms part of the Trust’s outpatient transformation
project and commitment to service improvement; ultimately
resulting in a more patient-focused and accessible delivery.
The new system makes vital call management statistics easily
thegazette 5
 IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Meet the man who knows where
everything is at St George’s – Greg Kelly
Hospital porters play an essential role in providing a
24-hour service to move people, equipment and
supplies between different areas of the Trust.
Greg Kelly has been a general porter at St George’s
Hospital for just over six years after a 30-year career
in the hotel industry. He works across the hospital,
moving people or equipment from place to place. This
includes bodies to the mortuary, patients in beds from
ward to ward and patients in wheelchairs for diagnostic
imaging.
Greg says: “To be good at this job, I think you have
to be good at risk assessment. When I’m moving a
patient in a bed, I will look for things like drips and
catheters because you don’t want to find those things
are there when you are passing another bed in a
corridor.
“You also have to be good with people. Visitors are
always asking me things, even when I’m pushing a bed
around, because I’m in a uniform.
In May, the portering service introduced a new
computerised system for logging calls and allocating
jobs, according to priority, to the nearest free porter.
General porters telephone the system from wherever
they are in the hospital to get details of the next job.
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Naaz Coker, Trust Chair
Since becoming Chair of St George’s in 2003, Naaz Coker has
overseen the development of the Trust as it prepares the ground for
Greg is one of Foundation Trust status.
the porters who
took a National Being the Chair of an organisation with nearly 6,000 staff and a
Vocational budget of £400m brings with it both pressures and pleasures. In
Qualification (NVQ) this first Gazette of 2009 Naaz talks about her work at St George’s. Naaz Coker talks with Sister Stephanie
in support services Sweeney during a visit to Ben Brodie Ward
in healthcare
earlier this year. Can you explain the role of a Trust Chief Pharmacists in London when What do you see as the key challenges
This provides Chair? I worked at the Royal Marsden and in 2009?
Greg lends a hand to Portering
formal training and To understand the role of the Chair you then went on to become a District If we are to achieve our long-term vision
Manager Tony Shiel
assessment in a must first understand the role of the Trust Pharmaceutical Officer in South East for St George’s then we have to become
number of areas, many of which are mandatory for Board. The Board is responsible for London. These roles gave me a good more productive and more focused on
porters, such as manual handling, health and safety, making the strategic business decisions insight in to both secondary and primary improving the patient experience. We
infection control, customer service, first aid and in that drive St George’s and to scrutinise care and also honed my management must make sure that all patients have fast
storing chemicals. the Trust’s performance. It is made up skills. I left pharmacy to join the King’s access to our services and their enquiries
of Executive Directors, who are full-time Fund where I gained valuable experience are dealt with quickly and efficiently. We
Greg says: “Doing the NVQ is good because it gives employees of the Trust, and Non Executive in organisational development. must give them all the information they
you a chance to understand why you need to do things Directors who are non Trust employees need to empower them to make choices
a certain way, and to reflect on how you can do your and who serve to bring an independent My background means that I understand about their treatment and care. We must
what good quality healthcare is about
job better. The thing that causes most problems for me and objective view to the Board. also work to enhance our position as an
and can also manage change and tackle
is miscommunication between the place I’m moving a academic hospital and develop the quality
As Chair I have a key leadership role, financial issues. Perhaps most importantly,
patient from and the place they are going to. Being a of our innovation and research.
ensuring that the Board works effectively for the many meetings I attend, it also
porter can be a tough job, but then there are a lot of
to deliver St George’s corporate aims and means that I understand `clinical speak`. By becoming more productive and
people who work hard in this place and everyone does
objectives. My role is like a conductor of stabilising our finances we will be in a
their bit to help. It is about being part of the team.” an orchestra, ensuring effective processes, What changes have you seen at St position to enter the Foundation Trust
and good team working creating an George’s during your time as Chair? assessment process and demonstrate to
The porters’ lodge can be contacted on ext 2134. When I first joined as Chair I felt strongly
enabling environment by Board members Monitor, the FT regulator, that St George’s
can contribute creatively and productively that St George’s was punching below its is a financially viable organisation. Achieving
to the Trust’s business of delivering the best weight. As one of the country’s foremost NHS Foundation Trust status will enhance
possible patient care. teaching hospitals it just wasn’t getting the St George’s reputation as a London
recognition it deserved.

Tackling that tricky A&E problem

St George’s has a new weapon in
the challenge to ensure the Trust is
meeting government targets to see
A&E patients within four hours.
Four breach managers, a dedicated
and fearless force in the battle against
unnecessary delays and difficulties,
have been appointed: Johnny Wells,
Emily Williams, Gerry Fogarty and
Sara Bahadoor.
Johnny Wells, formerly a senior
A&E nurse, explains: “Our role is
to troubleshoot and problem-solve
to achieve a timely flow of patients
through A&E to discharge or
admission to the hospital. We will be
based within A&E but working with
staff across the hospital.”
“By working closely with the medical
admissions units and wards across
the hospital the team will work to
solve the problems which delay
patients being admitted from A&E.
“The target to have 98 per cent of
A&E patients seen within four hours is
not just an A&E target, it is a hospital
target. If A&E can’t admit patients
to the wards, they stay in A&E and
its cubicles become gridlocked. This
means that sick patients arriving at
A&E may then experience delays
being treated. We are working on
behalf of the Trust as a whole to
support a positive patient experience.
“The breach managers are there to
try to remove obstacles when they
arise, providing a practical extra
resource to get things done, but we
also want to identify the issues which
frequently re-occur and facilitate
discussions to get those resolved
long-term.”
What do you most enjoy about being
Chair?
I get a real sense of pride and a buzz
from seeing St George’s recognised for
its good work. Our staff work hard to
deliver quality services to patients and
it is particularly pleasing when we get
recognised for our efforts. Recognition
comes in many forms from a simple
thank you letter from a patient to being
nationally recognised by the Healthcare
Commission for our good work on
infection control. In terms of interaction
among Board members I particularly
enjoy seeing individuals come together
as a cohesive team.
In your early career you worked as
a pharmacist, has this helped you in
your role at St George’s?
My pharmacy background has certainly
helped. I became one of the youngest
Today there is a much clearer focus of
what St George’s is and importantly what
it wants to be. That’s not to say that there
isn’t room for further improvement, but
we have certainly made great strides in
recent years. Clinicians have a key role to
play in our continued development and I
am pleased that many are beginning to
understand the challenge of managing the
hospital. This understanding is helping to
develop a winning team at St George’s.
Five years on one of the biggest changes I
have seen is the way in which our external
stakeholders view the Trust. I am pleased
to say that has moved in a positive
direction which is important as the support
of our local PCTs, government, GPs
and politicians will be vital as we work to
transform St George’s.
teaching hospital and complement our
vision for the future.
What interests do you have away from
St George’s?
I am Trustee of the Royal Society of Arts
and also run a leadership development and
executive coaching consultancy. In my
free time I exercise regularly by going to the
gym and enjoy listening to Flamenco and
Indian classical music, particularly that of
Paco Pena. I have also just started to learn
to play the sitar.
Have you made any New Year’s
resolutions?
If you really want to achieve something I
believe you must start straight away and
not wait for a particular date. So no, I won’t
be making any New Year’s resolutions.

6 thegazette thegazette 7
 A&E gets a make-over goodbye to
Healthcare has changed a great deal since St George’s A&E Bolingbroke
was built in Tooting back in the 1980s. Emergency teams When Maria met
perform more immediate care and certainly conduct more

investigations and interventions than they would have done
30 years ago. St George’s is raising efficiencies throughout
its services and A&E forms an essential part of that.
Attendances in A&E have increased significantly in recent
years so there was a need to create a modern environment.
Building on the refurbishments made to the resuscitation
room in 2007, the majors area received a make-over during
a 12 week blitz in the summer of 2008 and helped the team
to drive efficiency.
Staff were very keen to get as much out of the work
as possible, and were quick to identify the need for a
dedicated room for mental health patients, comfort and
safety being the key features. New patient consultation
rooms were also a high priority, which will speed up the
patient journey.
Integrated systems for each treatment bay were introduced,
accompanied by a major power upgrade which is all
backed up for safety – the whole place was gutted to
accommodate this before being reconstructed, piece by
piece.
The final design and layout were the result of a five minute
sketch, as matron Nicola Shopland explains, “We didn’t
have a precise architectural plan for the layout, but after
discussions with staff I knew what we needed. I sketched
out a rough plan on a piece of paper, to give the project
manager the gist of it – that sketch eventually became the
blueprint for the whole project!”
the queen
Staff said an emotional goodbye to Bolingbroke Hospital at
a farewell party, hosted at the site’s day hospital, on Friday
28 November. The party was a celebration of the hospital’s
significant past, which stretches over 128 years caring for
Lead midwife Maria
the local community.
Brown was among
around 250 NHS staff
invited to Buckingham
Palace in November for
a celebration of the 60th
anniversary of the NHS.
Maria, who was nominated for the
(L – R) Rebecca Prior, Maxine Petgrave and Kema Smith
honour by the Royal College of
demonstrate one of the new cardiac monitors.
Midwives, attended an evening reception
where she was introduced to the Queen
Project manager Jeff Legge worked closely with Nicola to and had an opportunity to view not
tweak the design and changes were incorporated in stages just the splendours of the Palace but a
as the project moved on, though it couldn’t have been special exhibition of healthcare-related
treasures from the Royal archives.
achieved without the hard work of staff, says Nicola: “A huge
There was also the chance to meet
amount of credit goes to the fracture clinic, who housed
NHS colleagues from a wide variety of
some majors services while the work was carried out. It professions and from across the UK.
really couldn’t have happened without their support and the
flexibility of the nursing team, who coped fantastically well “We entered through the front gates of
during the building work.” the palace and had champagne and
canapés, and then about 45 minutes
The team is looking forward to installing a new CT scanner in later the Queen arrived and was
2009, and is also considering plans for refurbishment of the introduced to every single person there,”
Germaine Symester (left) and Lorna Terry pictured at the farewell party
A&E minors area. she said.
At the event the Gazette caught up “It has for many years provided An experience to treasure
with two of Bolingbroke’s most long- convenient care, close to people’s
“Guests were then able to walk
standing staff members, matron homes. Many patients that visited

St George’s Clinician sets

Lorna Terry and senior staff nurse
Germaine Symester, who both spent
around the Palace rooms and look at
for treatment went home to their
the collection of historical artifacts.
own beds afterwards – the hospital
There were anatomical drawings by

national standards for bowel disease

A St George’s clinician has written
the first set of guidelines for
the management of paediatric
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Clinical Scientist Dr Sally Mitton,
who is chair of the British Society
of paediatric gastroenterology,
hepatology and nutrition
(BSPGHAN) UK inflammatory
bowel disease society, drew up the
guidelines, which will be shared
with hospitals across the country.
She said: “It took two years and
a great deal of hard work and
cajoling to get to this stage but it
has been worth it.
“A lot of children with IBD are
misdiagnosed when they present
at district general hospitals. Too
often conditions such as Crohn’s
disease are put down to being
anorexic or the patient just being a
fussy eater.
“There is a set of guidelines in
Japan but we haven’t been able
to find another set anywhere else
in the world, so this is breaking
new ground in the management of
these conditions.”
over 28 years treating patients there.
“I enjoyed my time working at
Bolingbroke very much,” said Lorna,
“I built my career here and feel very
privileged to have worked with such
lovely people. It was a challenging
and rewarding environment and has
been of great benefit to local people.
Today is a very emotional day but,
although it is very sad for all of us, it
is time to move on.”
Germaine agreed that the local
community would greatly miss
the hospital, and added:
really made a difference in their lives.
Leonardo da Vinci; Queen Victoria’s
However, moving services away
journal detailing her experience of
from Bolingbroke does not mean a
using chloroform as pain relief during
reduction in the quality of care – the
childbirth, paintings and antiques, and
healthcare that people will receive at
you could touch them and examine
St John’s and other centres will still
them.
be of the highest standard.”
“It was a lovely evening and one which
Following the party, staff worked
I will remember for a long time. Being
tirelessly to prepare for the service
a midwife is a rewarding career and
migration under what, for many,
meeting the Queen because of my
were difficult circumstances. Staff
profession is an experience that I will
and patients remain very fond of
treasure always.”
Bolingbroke and the service it has
provided will not soon be forgotten.

8 thegazette thegazette 9
 1000 mile ride raises £4000
Two students at
St George’s raised
thousands of pounds
this summer for the
hospital’s stroke unit.
During two weeks of our wettest
August ever, James Houston and
Ed Mew, challenged themselves
to a cycle ride from John O’Groats
to Lands End. In doing so they
raised over £4000 for St George’s
Hospital Charity, travelled 1029
miles, burnt 48,000 calories and
spent 76 hours in the saddle.
After visiting the stroke unit at
St George’s Hospital, James and
Ed felt moved and compelled to
help raise these funds. Every year,
an estimated 150,000 people in
the UK have a stroke. Most people
affected are over 65, but anyone
can have a stroke, including
children and even babies.
Ed (left) and James complete their journey in Lands End
deals with over 400 new cases
a year, including some of the
most serious and rare referrals
Nurses alert for early warnings
An early warning scoring system (EWS)
has been developed by intensive care and
ward staff to help identify patients whose
condition is worsening. The system alerts
nursing staff to review the patient and refer
them to medical staff.
Ward nurses score each set of patient
observations: respiratory rate, heart
rate, blood pressure, conscious level,
temperature and urine output, to provide
an EWS.
Staff might only see slight changes in the
patient but if their score increases from 0 to
1 or 2 it can be a sign that their condition
is deteriorating. At this stage a qualified
nurse carries out a further assessment of
the patient, informs the nurse in charge and
requests that a doctor reviews the patient.
If a patient scores more than 3 a medical
review is requested within 30 minutes and
the patient observations increased to hourly.
The boys have funded two state-
of-the-art communication aids and
a standing hoist, which are much
In the most serious cases, a patient will
score more than 5. This indicates that
there is something seriously wrong. At
this stage, ward staff call the registrar
to carry out an immediate assessment
and if the patient’s condition remains
unchanged the crash team is called.
Deborah Dawson, consultant nurse
in critical care, explains the benefits
of using this scoring system for all
St George’s inpatients: “If we can
recognise early on when someone is
becoming unwell, we are able to start
treatment before the patient’s condition
worsens.
“This early intervention can prevent
patients from becoming more seriously
ill or even from having a cardiac arrest.
This has a positive impact on the
patient’s experience of care and also
enables the Trust to manage its beds
more efficiently”.
Deborah continues: “I visit one ward a
week to do an unannounced ward round
to assess the early warning scoring
system in practice. Staff appear to
welcome the ward rounds as it gives
them the opportunity to talk about any
issues they are experiencing in using the
system”.
An alert course has been developed for
all senior nursing staff and foundation
year 1 doctors as well as a separate care
of the acutely unwell course for other
nursing staff.
To find out more about the training
courses, please contact Philippa
Newman on ext 4157 for ALERT and
Dorothy Thompson ext 1319 for care of
the acutely unwell.

St George’s is a National
Referral Centre in the UK for
stroke. The acute stroke unit,
William Drummond Ward,
from surrounding counties. St
George’s is keenly backing the
Department of Health’s current
appreciated pieces of equipment
that will help patients who have
had a stroke.
Cardiac arrests halved on the wards
health promotion and awareness Since implementing a more targeted life support training “Although the number of crash calls has remained more or
campaign around stroke. programme for staff, St George’s has seen the number of less the same at approximately 500 a year, we are actually
inpatients suffering cardiac arrest drop by more than half. intervening before patients arrest. The actual incidence of
cardiac arrest as opposed to what is known as peri arrest –
Paula McLean, resuscitation service manager, explains how where the patient is deteriorating but has not actually had a
the change has been achieved within existing resources. cardiac arrest – is 50/50 whereas previously it was 90/10.
“We took the opportunity to review and change the way we “St George’s is now achieving
deliver life support training when the NHS Litigation Authority

St George’s Doctor
a 20-25% survival rate to
introduced new standards for monitoring life support training. discharge for those patients
who have a cardiac arrest in
honoured with CBE
“Our new service strategy recommended that a higher level of
life support training should be targeted at staff caring for the hospital, against a national
most acutely ill patients, with the aim of reducing the number average of 10%.
Congratulations to Dr Patricia Hamilton, of cardiac arrests suffered by inpatients”. “Not only is this new approach
who was named in the Queen’s New Over 2000 nurses have now done the training which is good for patients, it has
Year’s honours list and will be awarded classroom-based followed by teaching on the ward. It increased staff confidence.
includes immediate life support (ILS) and a refresher on EWS, Staff don’t feel concerned
a CBE. A Consultant Neonatologist at about calling the crash team
the early warning scoring system which teaches staff to
St George’s Hospital and Senior Lecturer recognise and prevent patients suffering cardiac arrests. because they know that even
in Neonatal Paediatrics at St George’s if the patient has not arrested,
Paula continues: “Staff have embraced the new training if their condition is worsening
University, Patricia receives her honour programme and as a result of their efforts have seen the it is better for them to have
for services to medicine. number of inpatients having confirmed cardiac arrests reduce the benefit of immediate
from 450 in 2003 to 196 in 2007. medical attention and access New approaches have improved
to intensive care.” patient care and outcomes

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 New PET joins the wards
Ten wards at St George’s are taking part in a pilot
project for electronic patient experience tracking.
The handheld machines contain five-
question surveys about what it’s like to
be a patient at St George’s, drawn up
by the PET Steering Group and based
on feedback from previous patient
surveys.
Participants do not have to give their
names, but the date and time of the
survey is recorded. The data is collated
by the PET Steering Group every week
and trends are identified, helping to
ensure problems are picked up quickly
and action plans can be drawn up.
The action plans are then discussed
at staff meetings, so that members of
the team at all levels can contribute to
finding solutions to problems as they
arise.
Jayne Quigley, Head of Nursing, who is
leading the project, said:  “We receive
feedback from patients in all sorts of
ways but sometimes this is after the
event, for example, through the annual
patient survey.
Patient George Yorke gives his
point of view via the PET
“This is a method of capturing views
‘here and now’ on the issues we
think are relevant, so we can respond
promptly to improve our patients’
experience.  We can also build up a
picture of improvements over time,
demonstrating that the changes we are
making are having positive results.”
Support for
patients with
hearing aids
The RNID is funding a community support
worker to help patients adjust to life with a
hearing aid.
Beverly Lynch, the support worker based
at St George’s audiology department,
makes sure that once patients have had
the device fitted, they feel comfortable
using it on a day to day basis.
Helen Hickey, sensory team manager
for the RNID in Essex, said: “Community
support workers are very important to
people when they are given hearing aids.
“A high number of patients are elderly,
and if they can’t get on with a hearing aid,
in a lot of cases they will just put it in a
cupboard and leave it there.
“We provide the follow up support in the
community that in a lot of cases a hospital
cannot supply.”
Ms Lynch said: “I’m thrilled to be joining
the department and the feedback from
patients so far has been very positive.”

Surprise for St George’s kids

Children being treated at St George’s Hospital
got a welcome surprise when they received
visits from two generous local groups.

The paediatric ward’s Puffa charity fund

received a £500 gift from Royal Mail’s South
London Postal Sports Social Club, part of an
annual donation from the group to selected
healthcare centres in South London. Social club
chairman Colin Williams and office manager
Yvonne Brown were shown around the ward
and met some of the children before presenting
their donation.

The ward was also visited by a delegation

from local Muslim school Gatton Primary.
Children and staff from the school presented
60 shoe boxes full of gifts and messages of
encouragement to children at St George’s.
Donating gift-wrapped shoe boxes are Gatton Primary School
Council Members (left to right) Aleena Salim (year 5), Mariam Elalfy
(year 5), Ayoub Siddiq (year 3) and Muhammad Suleman (year 3)

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