Championing change Making healthcare accessible for all - Issue 36 | 2021 - Guy's and St Thomas' NHS ...
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News from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Issue 36 | 2021
Championing change
Making healthcare accessible for all
THIS ISSUE
Contents
5 Ward rounds to work outs
New garden gym Welcome
As an organisation and a Disability Confident
6 A sustainable future Employer, we are committed to supporting our staff
Riverboat delivery service who have a disability or long-term health condition,
and we are constantly striving to ensure that our
services and buildings are accessible to everyone.
Our magazine cover stars are Grace Spence
Green, a junior doctor at St Thomas’ Hospital, and
Ras Kahai, a cardiorespiratory dietitian at Royal Brompton Hospital. They are
passionate about increasing representation of disabled people and improving
physical access for patients and staff across the Trust. Read their interview about
what is being done to support wheelchair users on page 14.
At Guy’s and St Thomas’, we are aware of the close link between nature and
8 Hidden figures health and wellbeing and we are committed to reducing the impact of our work on
Supporting vulnerable patients the environment. You can read about some of the things we are doing as a Trust to
reduce our carbon footprint, on page 6.
12 Syeda shines bright Our refugees and asylum seekers service supports some of the capital’s most
Life changing treatment vulnerable people. Find out about the work of the team on page 8.
Hugo Pattison was 14 years old when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Read about how he benefited from pioneering robotic surgery, and the
collaboration of surgeons from across the Trust, on page 16.
You can also read about the history of Royal Brompton Hospital, which has 180
years’ experience in respiratory disease and is now a centre of excellence in heart
health, on page 21.
I hope you enjoy this issue of the GiST.
16 Robotic surgery first Editor’s note
A partnership between teams Photos within the
Dr Ian Abbs, Chief Executive
magazine were taken at
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
different stages of
the COVID-19 response when
guidance for personal
protective equipment and
social distancing
Meet the team
varied.
Words and photos by Shammi Anand, Matthew Barker,
Kelly Cook, Maxine Hoeksma, Daisy Holden, Maxine Lenza,
Eloise Parfitt, Joe Parry, Anna Perman, Ania Rainbird
and Lesley Walker. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
21 History corner Cover photo by David Tett.
If you have any comments about the
180 years of Design: AYA-Creative www.aya-creative.co.uk magazine or suggestions for future articles,
Royal Brompton Hospital Print: O’Sullivan Communications please contact the communications
Front cover: department, St Thomas’ Hospital,
Junior doctor Grace Spence Green Westminster Bridge Road,
and cardiorespiratory dietitian Ras Kahai London SE1 7EH, or email press@gstt.nhs.uk
Visit us online at:
We are delighted that the GiST scooped the award www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk
for ‘Best Corporate Publication – External’
at the CorpComms Awards 2019, the GiST
and a bronze award for is published
‘Best Branded Content Publication’ by
at the Corporate Content Awards 2020.
2 the GiST
ROUND-UP
Guy’s Head and IN THE NEWS
Neck Cancer A round-up of media coverage
featuring Guy’s and St Thomas’.
Centre launches BBC News
Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Ambitious plans have been unveiled to visited the Simulation and
transform care for patients affected by Interactive Learning Centre at
head and neck cancer. St Thomas’ Hospital to meet staff
With the support of charitable donations, and conduct an interview with the
Guy’s Head and Neck Cancer Centre has BBC’s health editor Hugh Pym.
launched to improve how head and neck Naema Abubaker outside Guy’s Cancer Centre The visit and interview were to
cancer is diagnosed and treated. coincide with the Government’s
Head and neck cancer is the sixth most patient education and support services to announcement of a new funding
common cancer globally and around 1,000 improve the quality of life for those living settlement for health and social
people in the UK are diagnosed with the with and beyond head and neck cancer. care.
condition every month. The centre will care for people like Naema
Guy’s Head and Neck Cancer Centre will Abubakar, who was diagnosed with an
bring together a range of programmes to extremely rare form of head and neck
offer patients the best possible care. cancer in August 2018, at the age of 23.
The centre aims to speed up diagnosis After being treated by the head and neck
for patients and improve the ways they are cancer team at Guy’s Cancer, she is now in
treated for their condition by minimising remission.
side-effects, maximising treatment Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity is
effectiveness and reducing rates of fundraising for a further £5 million to fund
recurrence. this fantastic service for head and neck
It will also provide state-of-the-art cancer patients. Daily Mirror
Richard Hart raised nearly
£25,000 for Guy’s and
St Thomas’ Charity after two
years of challenges which
Recognising
culminated in him running the
London Marathon. He smashed
his fundraising target which he
support for had set up to mark 21 years since
he donated a kidney to daughter
LGBT+ inclusion
Emily. The Daily Mirror ran an
exclusive, heart-warming story
about Richard and Emily.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ has received an
BBC Radio 4
award which recognises its dedication to
improving access to healthcare for LGBT+ Professor Jo Howard, consultant
people and creating an inclusive culture. Staff wear the NHS Rainbow Badge haematologist, was interviewed
The Trust took part in the NHS Rainbow live on BBC Radio 4’s Today
Badges Second Phase pilot scheme being recognises the many different ways LGBT+ programme about the
led by NHS England. staff and patients are supported. An action announcement of a new drug for
NHS Rainbow Badges first launched at plan was also drawn up to support further people with sickle cell disease.
Evelina London Children’s Hospital as a work to overcome healthcare barriers for Professor Howard, who leads the
way to signal support for staff and patients LGBT+ people. sickle cell service at the Trust,
who are LGBT+. The scheme was adopted Joe Parry, co-chair of Guy’s and St Thomas’ spoke about the treatment
by NHS England, who have used it to LGBT+ network, said: “We are proud that vital crizanlizumab, which is the first
benchmark and recognise NHS work to support LGBT+ staff and patients has of its kind in 20 years, and how it
organisations for their work on LGBT+ been recognised, and excited to continue to should benefit patients with the
inclusion. make improvements which will have a positive disease.
The Trust received a Bronze award which impact on the entire Trust.”
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk 3
ROUND-UP
Staff cared for hundreds of patients
in critical care
Our COVID-19 story
Last year Guy’s and St Thomas’
captured a range of individual staff
stories and experiences during the
first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their moving accounts reveal
what it was like during the early
days of the Trust’s pandemic
response, and provide an invaluable The flagship fundraising event for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, the St Thomas’ Abseil, returned
historical record. having taken a break in 2020 due to COVID-19. This year’s event was the biggest and best yet, with
almost 400 brave abseilers taking part and collectively raising almost £300,000.
More than 30 interviewees
represent only a snapshot of the
views of the Trust’s staff but each
have an extraordinary story to tell.
From scouring the world for
Your voice
We love to hear from our patients, staff and supporters so join the
ventilators and PPE and chartering a
Virgin jet to fly them back from
conversation by following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
China, to building a new oxygen tank
and driving a pipe through the @LucyMangan (from Twitter)
Thank you @GSTTnhs Children’s A&E,
hospital in 16 days.
especially Dr Emma, for dealing with
Staff reflected on what it was like
my 10 year old’s smashed teeth and
to move the paediatric intensive care
face today. We are very grateful xxxx
unit at Evelina London to make room
#ThankyouNHS
for adult patients, and how they
organised the donations that @DaveStephenson7 (from Twitter)
flooded in, starting with 100,000 @RBandH As always, the standard of care
Greggs biscuits. that I received as an outpatient at the
Every member of staff played Royal Brompton today was simply
their part – from nurses, fantastic. The folk conducting the exercise
consultants, junior doctors and test were fabulous, and the echo son-
managers, to porters, engineers and @EastEndKids (from Twitter) ographer an absolute delight. Thank you!!
financial planners. So proud of this kid! We had our very
It was what they trained for, what first MRI without General Anaesthesia @Beard001Denise (from Twitter)
they studied for and what the NHS yesterday and he aced it! I was bored My husband had keyhole heart op today
was founded to do. For many, it was senseless but he didn’t move for 45 @GSTTnhs he was amazed by the
the most intense experience of their mins! Big thank yous to Elouise from brilliance of the surgeon and the care of
working lives. the Play team at @EvelinaLondon the nursing team. Thank you for looking
To read the collection of stories, visit @NHSuk #NHSgotyourback after him so well.
guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/
OurCOVIDstory Twitter @GSTTnhs
facebook.com/gsttnhs @RBandH @EvelinaLondon youtube.com/gsttnhs
4 the GiST
ROUND-UP
From ward rounds to work outs
overlooks the River Thames and Palace of
Westminster.
It was built by The Great Outdoor Gym
Company, who have installed more than 1,500
outdoor gyms across the world, including in
London's Olympic Park and on Australia's
Bondi beach.
Some of the equipment can convert the
energy generated by users into electricity so
that gym goers can charge their devices as
they work out.
Funded by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity,
the project was the brainchild of neonatal
Chief Nurse Avey Bhatia opens the gym nurse Marie Hines who works at the hospital Dr Katherine Henderson
and is also a physical trainer.
Staff and patients at St Thomas’ Hospital can Avey Bhatia, Chief Nurse at Guy’s and MBE honour
now take a break from the wards to enjoy
working out at a new gym with spectacular
St Thomas’, said: “We know that getting
outside and exercising has real benefits for
for consultant
riverside views. our physical and mental health. Now, as we A consultant at Guy’s and
The move is part of ongoing efforts at Guy’s recover from the pandemic, focusing on our St Thomas’ was recognised in
and St Thomas’ to help staff recover from the wellbeing has never been more important. the Queen’s Birthday Honours
impact of COVID-19, including wellbeing zones, “It is absolutely fantastic that thanks to list for her services to emergency
and psychological and spiritual support. donations to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity we medicine during COVID-19.
The outdoor gym and movement garden, have such a great facility here at the hospital Dr Katherine Henderson was
which is accessible for wheelchair users, that people can use for free.” made an MBE (Member of the
Order of the British Empire). She
has been an emergency
medicine consultant for more
Bigger and better Marian Ridley, Director of Evelina London,
said: “This is a huge step for us – it will allow
than 20 years and has worked at
St Thomas’ Hospital since 2006.
Dr Henderson became the
children’s hospital us to continue with our exciting plans to grow
the hospital into a world-leading centre of first female President of the
Royal College of Emergency
life-changing care for even more children,
gets go ahead young people and their families.” Medicine in 2019.
She was instrumental in the
redevelopment of the
Exciting plans to build a bigger and even emergency department at
better children’s hospital have been St Thomas’ Hospital, which was
unanimously approved by Lambeth Council. officially opened by The Princess
Since Evelina London Children’s Hospital Royal in 2018.
opened in 2005, the number of children and Dr Henderson said: “I am very
young people who visit has more than pleased to receive this honour
doubled. which I consider to be for all the
The new building, joined to the existing emergency medicine teams who
children’s hospital and set to open in 2027, have worked tirelessly
will allow staff to continue to meet the needs throughout the pandemic.
of the sickest children with the most “Emergency departments
complex conditions from across the country. have been there 24/7 for
It will also provide space to expand everyone who needed to see a
specialist heart and lung services as, subject doctor or nurse face-to-face in
to consultation, some children’s services will whatever medical emergency
move from Royal Brompton Hospital to they found themselves in.”
Evelina London in around six years’ time.
Artist’s impression of new Evelina London building
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk 5
SPOTLIGHT
Kelly Cook finds out about The pilot is just one of the initiatives that
some of the things Guy’s the Trust has introduced to help reduce its
carbon footprint and to become more
and St Thomas’ is doing sustainable.
to become more In 2019, the Trust worked with CEVA
Logistics to open a consolidation supply
environmentally friendly. chain hub in Dartford close to the M25,
which has reduced the number of daily truck
deliveries onto Guy’s and St Thomas’
hospitals by 90%.
The Trust is now planning to introduce
three large electric trucks, which will
transport items from the supply chain hub to
the hospital sites.
Creating a Amy Butterworth Fernandes,
sustainability manager, said: “At Guy’s and
St Thomas’, we have long been aware of the
sustainable close link between nature and health and
wellbeing. In recent years we have built on
that knowledge and now our sustainability
strategy sets out a clear path for us to follow
future Samantha Buckner, supply chain manager, joins
until 2031.
“We’ve made a great start but we know
it’s not going to be easy. That’s why we’re
the riverboat delivery service
going to be working with everyone at the
Trust, including patients, staff, senior leaders
The service would help Guy’s and and our community to get the help we need
St Thomas’ work towards its aim of to put our mission into practice.”
reaching net zero carbon emissions by For more information about the Trust’s
2030, and support the Mayor of London's sustainability work, visit
aim to reduce the number of lorries and www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/sustainability
vans entering central London in the
morning peak by 10% by 2026.
The riverboat service runs twice a day,
five days a week. Parcels are loaded onto Fast facts
The Trust is trialling a riverboat delivery service
the boat at Dartford International Ferry
Terminal in Kent, before making the journey
• Pathology samples are delivered
by cargo bike between Guy’s
to Butler’s Wharf Pier in London. Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital,
The parcels, which include items such as replacing vans and motorbikes
Guy’s and St Thomas’ has become the first clinical supplies for operating theatres, are
NHS trust in the country to pilot a daily then transported by electric cargo bike to • 650 bike racks have been installed
for staff, patients and visitors
riverboat delivery service as part of plans to Guy’s Hospital.
reduce its carbon footprint. David Lawson, Chief Procurement
The Trust teamed up with CEVA Logistics Officer for Guy’s and St Thomas’, said:
• More than 40,000 water bottles
have been refilled on the Trust sites
and Livett’s Group to trial the service on the “The riverboat pilot forms a key part in our since installing four water
River Thames. ambition to remove over 40,000 truck fountains in 2018-19
If the pilot is successful, the service will deliveries from central London roads each
operate on a larger scale, removing trucks year. • A ‘green screen’ of ivy has been
installed at the St Thomas’ nursery
from the capital’s roads while providing a “We also want to encourage and support to reduce pollution entering the
reliable delivery route into London during other organisations to adopt the use of zero playground
the day. emission delivery models to improve air
The Trust’s three delivery trucks
currently travel around 1,500 miles per
quality for the communities that we serve.”
In June 2021, Guy’s and St Thomas’
• 2 electric vehicle charging points
have been installed at Guy’s
week. For each truck removed from the unveiled its sustainability strategy which Hospital.
road, approximately 708 kgs of CO2 could sets out a clear path towards more
be saved every week. sustainable healthcare for the next 10 years.
6 the GiST
SPOTLIGHT
Royal Brompton and Harefield
hospitals have developed the first
programme in the UK to help
improve the survival of patients with
cardiogenic shock.
Maxine Lenza investigates.
Expert help is a
heartbeat away The Randall family
When David Randall’s wife, Christina, oxygenated blood around the body while colleagues from hospitals around the
suffered from cardiogenic shock in a patient recovers. country about the various treatment
February 2021, he was relieved to find out David said: “I was still holding options available to patients with
that experts from Royal Brompton Christina’s hand after the baby was cardiogenic shock. This can take place
Hospital would be there to provide delivered when she turned to me and said through an emergency virtual team
specialist care. she couldn’t breathe. Watford said they meeting or, if necessary, the team will
Cardiogenic shock is a would need to move her travel to where the patient is to deliver
life-threatening condition, to Royal Brompton, but life-saving care.
where the heart is unable “People always tell that she might not When the patient is stable, they are
to pump enough blood survive the journey. brought to Royal Brompton or Harefield
around the body, leading
me it’s a miracle “When I heard that, for ongoing treatment.
to organ failure. Patients Christina survived, my world crumbled. The Cardiogenic Shock Programme
need immediate but it’s definitely People always tell me it’s includes many groups of staff, including
treatment to increase not. It’s thanks to a miracle Christina specialist nurses and perfusionists,
their chance of survival. survived, but it’s cardiac and transplant surgeons,
Moments after a
the experts at Royal definitely not. It’s thanks cardiologists and intensive care
planned caesarian section Brompton.” to the experts at Royal specialists.
at Watford General Brompton, and for staff Professor Susanna Price, who leads the
Hospital, Christina’s heart at Watford General for service at Royal Brompton Hospital, said:
failed due to an amniotic fluid embolism, knowing who to call when it happened, “Our hospitals are uniquely placed to be
a rare but serious condition where the that she survived and this story has a able to offer this service as we have all the
amniotic fluid that surrounds a baby in different ending. I was so grateful when required expertise to provide assessment
the womb during pregnancy enters the she was home with me and the kids after and management for the full range of
mother's bloodstream. just two weeks.” complex cardiac conditions.”
Royal Brompton’s Shock Team The Cardiogenic Shock Programme
collected Christina from Watford and took has been developed by teams at Royal
her back to Royal Brompton Hospital Brompton and Harefield hospitals so that Fast fact
where she was placed on an ECMO their specialist expertise and technology The Cardiogenic Shock Programme
(extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) is available to patients no matter where receives between 20 to 40 referrals
machine, which takes over the function of they are. every month.
the heart and lungs by pumping Clinicians from the team advise
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk 7
IN FOCUS
Maxine Hoeksma
finds out how the
refugees and asylum
seekers service works
with other health
organisations, charities
and GP practices to
support some of the
capital’s most vulnerable
people.
Hidden
figures The mindfulness gardening group
Aminata Diop has diabetes and high blood She added: “The team are excellent. diabetes, and are supported to register
pressure and has lived in a hostel for They always want me to look after my with a local GP.
almost two years alongside more than 150 health. They offer blood tests, eye test Carmen Rojas, manager of the team,
people. appointments and said: "Our teams have specific skills in
Originally from cervical smear tests. They supporting people who have experienced
Senegal, the 47-year-old
“Our teams have always call me to find out significant challenges and sometimes
has been awaiting the specific skills in whether I am checking very distressing events in their lives. For
outcome of her asylum supporting people my blood sugar too.” example, we are skilled in assessing and
seeker application since who have experienced Aminata is one of supporting situations in which people
2016. significant challenges around 1,300 people in may have experienced female genital
While living with and sometimes very south east London who mutilation, torture, sexual exploitation or
uncertainty proved even distressing events in may be helped by the post-traumatic stress disorder.
more challenging during their lives.” refugees and asylum “Our team also provide training for
lockdown, Aminata seekers service, which colleagues in other healthcare, social care
remains grateful for the includes GPs, nurses, and voluntary sector teams.”
support provided by Guy’s and St Thomas’ therapists and administrative staff. Dr Shazia Munir, a GP and Joint Clinical
refugees and asylum seekers service. The team provide clinics in health Lead for the refugees and asylum seekers
She said: “One of the nurses, Jasmine, centres, a hostel, day centres and hotels service, said: “We aim to reduce
is a very good nurse and she talked to me in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, presentations to A&E and support our
about getting the vaccine because I am working closely with other health local GPs, who are working so hard
diabetic. During the lockdowns, Jasmine organisations, charities, and GP practices. already.
and my doctor would call and tell me that I People receive health screening for a “As GPs we've seen how social isolation
needed to get out every day and go for range of conditions including through COVID-19 can affect the mental
walks in the park for exercise.” tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and C, HIV and health of anybody. But for this group, with
8 the GiST
IN FOCUS
their extra vulnerabilities, the impact has
been even bigger.”
The team set up a 12-week mindfulness
gardening group for asylum seekers and
refugees, and were supported by the
Lambeth GP Food Co-op.
The group practise mindfulness
techniques and grow flowers and
vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes
and aloe vera.
Members of the Nurse Doctor Caller team
A lifeline for patients
Clinically vulnerable nurses and doctors who were shielding and working
from home during the COVID-19 pandemic made more than 15,000 calls to
support patients.
The team of 12 staff from Guy’s and St Thomas’ were redeployed to the
Nurse Doctor Caller team, a service set up to support a range of patients of
all ages who were discharged from hospital.
Martine Burke, a wellbeing practitioner They followed up with patients within 48 hours of them leaving hospital
who leads the group, said: "We create an during the first wave of the pandemic, and supported people for up to 14
opportunity for people to socialise with days after being discharged from hospital during the second wave.
one another, to break away from the The team focused particularly on people at greater risk of COVID-19,
isolation of their day-to-day lives. based on their age, ethnicity and whether they had other health conditions.
“When they experience unwanted During the second wave, more than 1,280 patients with COVID-19 were
thoughts, feelings or pain, they can use closely monitored, with 50 fast-tracked for further assessment and
breathing or mindfulness movement treatment at St Thomas' Hospital.
practice as an anchor, to guide themselves Nikki Helder, lead nurse for the team, said: "I'm incredibly proud of the
back to the present moment. These Nurse Doctor Caller team. These are nurses and doctors who were unable
techniques are particularly useful for to work at our hospital and community sites during the first and second
managing fear, post-traumatic stress wave of the pandemic, but who were desperate to support their colleagues
disorder, anxiety and pain. and patients at a time when the wards were incredibly busy.
“Participants practise new skills and "As well as keeping the discharged patients safe, they also provided
take these home with them, helping them updates for relatives by calling them twice a day, and providing reassurance
to relax, sleep and function better. There is for many patients and their loved ones."
also ongoing support — they can call me
and I call them during the week."
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk 9
IN FOCUS
Kelly Cook speaks to patients
who have benefited from
an innovative programme that
is tackling waiting lists for
non-urgent surgery.
A hit with patients
weekends. They require careful planning patient’s pathway in detail to see where
to select suitable patients – and in most we can safely improve on efficiency and
cases have been able to treat at least save time, increasing the surgeon’s
three times the number of patients operating time and reducing non-
compared to a regular surgical list. operative time. The process requires a
Lidia, from Bermondsey, benefitted dedicated team and lots of preparation
from the HIT list when 12 hip and this is the key to our success.”
replacements took place in one day.
She said: “The care from start to finish
was excellent. I’m getting my quality of life
back and feel like a weight has been lifted
Lidia Gonzalez had been in chronic pain – it’s a wonderful feeling to not be in pain
since 2014 following a car accident. every single day.”
The pain got worse during lockdown and Between February and October 2021,
scans showed that she needed a hip the Trust held 10 HIT lists and treated more
replacement, but the 49- than 200 patients across
year-old feared she could a range of specialities,
be waiting years for the including gastrointestinal,
procedure due to a
“The care from gynaecology,
nationwide backlog for start to finish was orthopaedics and ear
surgery caused by the excellent. I’m getting nose and throat. Andy Cohen, a doctor from Bermondsey,
pandemic. my quality of life The HIT lists have been was one of the patients who benefited
Thanks to an innovative led by Dr Imran Ahmad, from the HIT list for a hernia repair, which
new initiative at Guy’s and
back and feel like a consultant anaesthetist saw 19 patients treated in one day.
St Thomas’, Lidia was able weight has been and deputy clinical The 53-year-old said: “I knew I would
to have her surgery within lifted.” director for anaesthesia need surgery but I expected to wait 18
a few months. and theatres. months to two years because of the
Staff at the Trust have Dr Ahmad said: “For pandemic. I was really surprised that the
developed a super-efficient but safe many surgical procedures, the time procedure was scheduled six weeks later
programme to maximise the number of required to perform the actual surgery is as part of the HIT list.
patients treated in one day. significantly less than the time spent “It was incredibly busy on the day and
They are using high intensity theatre lists preparing and anaesthetising the patient, everybody was there for the same
– known as HIT lists – to help reduce the setting up the equipment and helping the procedure. Everything ran very smoothly
backlog for non-emergency surgery caused patient to recover – in some cases the and was really efficient. The nurses and
by the pandemic. operating time can be as little as 30% of surgeon were fantastic and even though
The HIT lists focus on one type of the duration of the whole operating list. there were lots of us, I felt like I was getting
procedure at a time, and take place at “We have looked at every aspect of the individual attention.”
10 the GiSTIN FOCUS
How do the HIT
lists work?
• anaesthetic,
By increasing the number of
surgical and theatre
staff to minimise the turnaround
time between cases, making
more time available for the
surgeon to operate
• teams
Using two theatres and three
allows the surgeon to go
between cases without having to
wait for the patient – this means
many more cases can be done in
the same time period
• plan
Several meetings are required to
each HIT list and to select
suitable patients and team
members. Also to plan the
equipment and the order of the
lists, managers, administration
staff, therapists, nurses,
pharmacists, anaesthetists and
surgeons must work closely
together.
Dr Imran Ahmad,
consultant
anaesthetist
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk 11TRUST LIFE
Five years after appearing
on the front cover of the
GiST, Syeda Mannan tells
Daisy Holden why she
considers the staff at
St Thomas’ Hospital
to be part of her family.
Syeda
shines
bright
Staff from St Thomas’ Hospital attended Syeda’s wedding in 2019
Syeda Mannan was 20 years old when a she went into a coma. Her legs were
devastating illness left her with both legs amputated to save her life.
amputated above the After spending five
knee and without eight months recovering in
“I had a stress-free
fingertips. hospital and a further 14
She was only a
pregnancy and weeks of rehabilitation,
teenager when diagnosed delivery because I Syeda returned to
with lupus, an incurable knew I was being university where she
condition that affects the looked after by the graduated from her final
immune system, and best hospital and year studying politics
lked down
the aisle Raynaud’s phenomenon medical professionals and law.
Syeda wa arents which causes your fingers in the country.” Syeda said: “My final
wit h h e r p
and toes to turn numb year of university was
and white. hard, and straight after
The 26-year-old said: “In October 2015, graduating I went back to St Thomas’ for
my health deteriorated and I had a severe around six months because I was
allergic reaction after suffering from a suffering with seizures. But I didn’t let it
fungal infection. I went downhill and into get me down. I kept up with my
septic shock.” physiotherapy, learning how to walk again
Several of her organs, including her liver, and regain my strength, determined to
heart and lungs, failed while she was being have the best future.”
transferred to St Thomas’ Hospital and In 2018, Syeda got engaged to Samsul,
12 the GiSTTRUST LIFE
and more than 150 staff from St Thomas’ “I had a relatively easy pregnancy and waited by the hospital doors with
Hospital attended their wedding the despite being very anxious. I balloons to greet me as we were
following summer. had extra scans to check discharged.
Syeda said: “St Thomas’ how the baby was growing “The care I’ve received from St Thomas’
is like my second home and News from Guy’s
and St Thom
as’ Issue 19 | 2016 and was so fortunate to has been incredible. I truly believe the
the staff I’ve met along the have the same midwife, reason I had a stress-free pregnancy and
way have become like family. Sophie Tewkesbury, delivery was because I knew I was being
Standing tall
My proudest moment was Syeda’s incre
of recovery
dible story
throughout my whole looked after by the best hospital and
being able to walk down the pregnancy – it was very medical professionals in the country. Over
aisle without my crutches and reassuring. the last seven years, they’ve been right
holding my bouquet with my “Every antenatal beside me and my family, every step of
mum and dad on either side of appointment Sophie the way.”
me. It was a dream come true.” would be there – and just Nina Khazaezadeh, interim head of
Fast-forward to May 2021, by luck she happened to midwifery at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said:
Syeda and Samsul welcomed a be the midwife on duty “Providing continuity of care where
baby boy into their lives. when I went into labour and stayed after possible, and individualised care, is a core
Syeda said: “My son Ahiyaan was born her shift to deliver my baby. My dad chose part of a midwife’s role. I’m delighted for
in May. Due to my auto-immune condition my son’s name, it means ‘gift from God’ in Syeda and grateful to her for sharing her
I was classed as a high risk pregnancy but Arabic which perfectly describes him.” story, as it demonstrates how our midwives
knew straight away I wanted to be looked Syeda added: “One of the ICU nurses support every woman and their partner to
after by the maternity team at who played a part in saving my life in 2015, develop a personalised care plan, with
St Thomas’. Ana Alves, heard about the birth of my son relevant health professionals.”
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk 13THE
INTERVIEW
Kelly Cook and Shammi Anand
meet Grace Spence Green and
Ras Kahai to find out how
Guy’s and St Thomas’ is improving
accessibility for patients, staff
“For wheelchair
and visitors. users, life rolls on
and we want to be
able to have the same
experiences, whether
we are walking or
rolling.”
Breaking down
barriers
Ras Kahai and Grace Spence Green
What is your role Conditions Forum. Both groups are open Also, as healthcare workers we need to
Q at the Trust? to people with all kinds of disabilities, as
well as allies.
dispose of items every day, which usually
go into a pedal bin. They are not accessible
Grace I’m a junior doctor in general for wheelchair users so I’ve been trialling
medicine at St Thomas’ Hospital. I know What are some of the alternative adapted bins.
the halls and wards well, having rolled
through them many times as a medical
Q challenges you face?
student. I’m really passionate about
reducing stigma and increasing
Grace It’s exhausting reminding people
that I need adjustments in order to make
Q toWhat’s being done
improve accessibility?
representation of disabled people. Every the places I visit accessible. Some
Grace Anything that can be done to help a
day I get mistaken for a patient – it’s tiring adjustments for disabled people are with
patient prepare for a visit to hospital can
but not something I take offence to. I want the view that you’ll have an able bodied
make it less daunting. The Trust has
to emphasise that disabled people have person with you, but that isn’t
worked with AccessAble to provide
jobs, lives and families – they are not just independence to me. It’s not a ‘me’
detailed information and guides for all
being cared for. problem, it’s a problem with the building.
departments, wards and services at
Ras I’m a cardiorespiratory dietitian at Ras I get a bus to work but found that the Guy’s Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital, the
Royal Brompton Hospital. As co-chair of bus drivers were unable to get close Cancer Centre at Guy’s, our community
the staff Disability and Wellness Network enough to the curb for the ramp to services and Evelina London Children's
(DAWN) for Royal Brompton and deploy. I got in touch with Transport for Hospital.
Harefield hospitals, I’ve worked hard to London and the local council and they Also, Guy’s Hospital and St Thomas’
change the hearts and minds of others agreed to create a larger bus stop. It’s Hospital have both installed a fully
around how disabled people are viewed. reduced my commuting stress and will accessible Changing Places toilet for
Guy’s and St Thomas’ also has a staff hopefully help other wheelchair users patients, staff and visitors.
Disability and Long Term Health who visit the hospital.
14 the GiSTTHE
INTERVIEW
“I’m really
passionate about
reducing stigma and
increasing
representation of
disabled people.”
Ras I’ve worked closely with Director London for medical students in their ramps, are needed because everywhere
Robert Craig and estates general fourth year, which will involve teaching needs to be accessible.
manager, Chris Rivers, to prioritise sessions and speakers.
Ras Unfortunately, the world isn’t built with
making physical changes to the buildings.
Ras A ramp doesn’t equal access as accessibility in mind so it’s everyone’s
It takes several months for the surveyors
many adjustments are needed to make a responsibility to help improve access. For
from AccessAble to map out all the
building accessible. I’ve created the wheelchair users, life rolls on and we want
corridors, wards, parking facilities, clinics
‘wheelchair challenge’ where I invite one to be able to have the same experiences,
and public areas. We’re currently working
of the Trust’s directors to spend 90 whether we are walking or rolling.
with them to create guides for Royal
minutes with me in a wheelchair. I’ve had
Brompton Hospital, Harefield Hospital
a fantastic response and been able to
and the Wimpole Street private care
highlight that mobility aids, which give Fast fact
facility. We’re also planning to install a
disabled people independence, only work
Changing Places toilet at Harefield Sunflower lanyards are available for
when the rest of the hospital environment
Hospital. patients and staff who have a hidden
improves.
disability and highlight that they may
Tell us about the projects need extra support. This includes
Q you’re involved in.
What are your hopes
Q for the future?
people with a hearing or visual
disability, those with a physical
disability that may not be obvious,
Grace When I’m with my colleagues they Grace I don’t want to be labelled
people with learning disabilities,
instantly start noticing more about ‘inspirational’ just for doing something
those on the autistic spectrum, and
accessibility around the building. They ordinary, like going to the shops. I would
people with anxiety or any mental
see the world through my eyes which is like people to be inspired by me to work
health condition.
really important. I’m working on a towards more accessible futures, and to
disability module with King’s College think about where adaptations, such as
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk 15IN FOCUS
Daisy Holden meets a
teenager who not only
benefitted from
pioneering robotic
surgery, but a
partnership between
teams to deliver a first
of its kind.
Robotic
surgery first
for teen’s
testicular
cancer
Hugo Pattison was 14 years old when he
Hugo Pattison
was diagnosed with stage 3 testicular
cancer in February 2021.
After undergoing
surgery to remove a with his friends within specialist clinical team over from Guy’s
cancerous tumour and
“I am so relieved to three weeks. Hospital and designing new clinical
chemotherapy at his have avoided the Hugo said: “I feel protocols as not all adult surgical
local hospital, Hugo was significant scarring incredibly lucky to be procedures are available for paediatrics.
transferred to Evelina and recovery time the first young patient to “This five-hour operation was an
London for specialist undergo robotic surgery excellent collaboration of surgeons,
treatment.
that would have at Evelina London. I am anaesthetists and nurses across Guy’s
The Norfolk-based come from open so relieved to have Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital and Evelina
teenager had robotic surgery.” avoided the significant London. Hugo’s surgery paves the way for
surgery to remove scarring and recovery the future of paediatric robotic surgery.”
potentially enlarged time that would have Typically, removing lymph nodes from
cancerous lymph nodes from the back of come from open surgery. the back of the abdomen after
his abdomen at the end of June. “Hopefully it means that other children chemotherapy is a major open operation
He was the first teenager to have can receive this procedure in the future.” with a number of potential complications
robotic surgery at Evelina London and to Ben Challacombe, consultant and patients face months of recovery.
receive this type of procedure by surgical urological surgeon and clinical robotic As a leading centre for robotic surgery
robot in the UK. surgery lead at Guy’s and St Thomas’, in the UK, Hugo was transferred to the
Instead of a lengthy six-month operated on Hugo. Trust to have his procedure using the
recovery period with conventional He said: “It was a huge team effort to robot, which is less invasive and allows
surgery, Hugo was back playing cricket make Hugo’s surgery happen, bringing a patients to recover far more quickly.
16 the GiSTIN FOCUS
New robot
for the Trust
Guy’s and St Thomas’ is the first NHS trust in London to use a new
robotic surgery system.
The Versius robot, built in Cambridge by CMR Surgical, will
mainly be used to treat cancer patients.
Versius has been designed so that the individual robotic arms
can be moved between hospital sites and departments.
This means that a number of different procedures can be
performed efficiently across the Trust’s busy operating theatres,
Ben Challacombe, consultant urological surgeon and more patients will have access to innovative robotic
technology.
Hugo’s dad Arthur said: “We knew During a robotic procedure, surgeons control the robot’s arms
Hugo’s surgery needed to go ahead but while sitting at a console in the same room with a 3D HD view.
the risks and the recovery time for major The robot is already helping surgeons to perform prostate and
open surgery didn’t sit well with us. We kidney removal and will be used for colorectal, general and thoracic
were already conscious of how much he surgeries in the future.
had missed through lockdown and then Versius will complement the Trust’s existing fleet of Intuitive da
through his chemotherapy treatment. We Vinci robots in what is the largest robotic surgery programme in
were determined to minimise the the UK.
disruption to Hugo’s summer of sport and Prokar Dasgupta, professor of surgery and honorary consultant
outdoor activities. For us, this is such an urological surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “We have
important part of his mental wellbeing. pioneered the use of robotic technology in the UK. With our latest
“We felt Ben and his team really addition, even more patients awaiting surgery in London will be
addressed Hugo’s concerns around open able to receive high quality care using the latest technology.”
surgery. We were supported every step of
the journey. Having robotic surgery
allowed Hugo to leave hospital just two
days after his surgery and he was back
playing cricket with his teammates just
three weeks later.”
Lance Tooke, clinical director for
paediatric surgery at Evelina London, said:
“I’m really proud of the adult and
paediatric teams that worked together so
that Hugo had the best care Guy’s and
St Thomas’ could offer.
“We’re excited to support Ben
Challacombe and the children’s urology
service to continue developing our
paediatric robotics service.”
Fast fact
Testicular cancer is the most
common cancer in men aged 15 to
49, with around 2,400 men
diagnosed in the UK each year. The Versius surgical robot
17IN FOCUS
As Guy’s and St Thomas’
celebrates the third term of its
NIHR Biomedical Research
Centre, Anna Perman asks
its incoming Director,
Professor Robin Ali, what this
means for patients.
Picture courtesy of UCL
Professor Robin Ali
Celebrating world class research
What are Biomedical Research highest safety standards to keep those adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic,
Centres? taking part safe. We also have a unit at including setting up a mobile clinical
Biomedical Research Centres turn Evelina London research facility for
research into new treatments for Children’s Hospital. vaccine studies. We
patients. The centres are a partnership We provide training supported work on post-
between an NHS trust and a university and funding for staff to
I am certain that the COVID lung scarring,
and our partner is King’s College London. develop their research coming years will which affects many
They are funded by the National Institute skills, and all of this helps see greater use of AI people recovering from
for Health Research, and we were one of to move research in healthcare, with COVID-19. Our experts
the first to be set up in 2007. We have projects and ideas into developed an advanced
received three rounds of funding and, so better treatment for
high powered therapy using patients’
far, have been awarded £170 million. patients more quickly. computers speeding own cells to reverse this
up research. scarring which is now
What does our centre provide? What are you being tested in a clinical
Our centre provides researchers with particularly proud of? trial. Other advances
cutting edge technologies and facilities, A key focus for us has been advanced include a same-day test that identifies
ranging from laboratories to specialist therapies. Some of these therapies secondary infections in intensive care
ward areas and expert research staff to involve taking a patient’s own cells, patients in hours rather than days.
undertake the work. altering them and putting them back into
Our clinical research facilities support the body to treat cancer and immune What does the future hold?
patients taking part in clinical trials. diseases. This year our centre opened a I look forward to enhancing our expertise
Guy’s Hospital has a specialised unit for specialist facility to speed up the in heart and lung disease, following our
testing treatments for the first time in development of advanced therapies. merger with Royal Brompton and
humans. This means we meet the I am very proud of how our teams have Harefield hospitals in February 2021.
18 the GiSTIN FOCUS
A specialised facility has been opened to speed up the development
of advanced therapies
The Biomedical Research Centre turns research into
new treatments for patients
Researchers have developed a safe radioactive dye that highlights
tumours during scans
Our centre has led in the use of Artificial through summer schools, where young
Intelligence (AI) and imaging in health people find out about science and the
research. Recent examples include incredible career opportunities it offers. Fast facts
imaging to diagnose heart disease before
birth and using machine learning to find
• supported
Our Biomedical Research Centre
Guy’s and St Thomas’
the best position in the chest for a COVID-19 research. The Trust has
pacemaker. I am certain that in the hosted 110 COVID-19 studies,
coming years we will see greater use of AI recruiting over 19,000 patients
in healthcare, with high powered
computers speeding up research. I am • developed
In 2017, the centre’s researchers
an easy to make, safe
excited that we are part of this work, which
radioactive dye that highlights
we hope will improve care for our patients.
tumours during scans. It means more
patients will have access to high-
How can our readers get involved?
quality lifesaving treatment
We always look to find new ways to
involve patients and volunteers in our
research. Our centre has 13 patient and
• attended
Over 200 GCSE students have
the King’s Health Partners
public involvement groups, where Summer School since 2017
patients meet with researchers to advise
on designing and delivering our research. • developed
In 2020, work supported by the centre
an app that helps identify
We also have a Young People’s Advisory and treat women who are more likely
Group for younger people to get involved to give birth prematurely.
in our research activities.
We inspire researchers of the future
Since the start of the pandemic, the Trust
has hosted six vaccine trials
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk 19TRUST LIFE
Behind the scenes
Diane Wallis, administrator in St Thomas’ anaesthetic department.
How has your What’s your favourite
Q role changed? Q part of the role?
The job has been a joy, but it’s
A I started in the anaesthetic
department 34 years ago – as
only the third administrator there
A the people you are surrounded
by and work with every day who help
since the department was founded you to thrive, to achieve great things
in 1947. At that time I was working and who make everything so very
for 13 consultant anaesthetists and worthwhile.
now there are more than 140.
How did you get
I used to use an electric
typewriter and carbon paper to Q into this?
make copies – there were no cut,
paste or delete buttons. Daily rotas A While I was temping at the
Churchill Clinic, the
anaesthetic secretary at St Thomas’
were done with paper, pencil and
eraser; now everything is electronic. handed in her notice. The then-
When email was introduced, my chairman of the department lost no
What does your
Q job involve?
I manage the roster for
colleague and I announced we didn’t
think we would be using those.
time in asking me if I would apply for
the job, was relentless in his efforts
to cajole me and eventually asked
A consultant anaesthetists working
in theatres at St Thomas’ Hospital,
Smoking was allowed anywhere in
the hospital and some consultants me just to look at the anaesthetic
department.
smoked at their desks. Now it is
matching their specialist skills to banned on hospital grounds. I reluctantly agreed and the rest,
patients’ needs. as they say, is history.
From the frontline
Amberley Lewis, learning disability dental nurse at Guy’s Hospital.
I am part of the dental team and provide support them. I assess any potential
support to patients with learning triggers which may make them
disabilities, making sure they get the best distressed and make reasonable
possible experience when visiting us. adjustments to work around them.
I became a dental nurse eight years Sometimes it’s simple – some of my
ago and, after noticing there were many patients are extremely light sensitive so
patients with learning disabilities, I put I make sure the dental lights aren’t
myself on an advanced course to learn shining in their eyes.
more about people with disabilities. I also work with different teams to
When I saw the learning disability make sure patients are fully looked
dental nurse role advertised at Guy’s and after, which includes helping them get a
St Thomas’, it couldn’t have been more blood test, the COVID-19 vaccination or
perfect for me. an ultrasound.
My brother has a disability so I had I absolutely love my busy paced role.
early exposure to people with a learning We can now offer more personalised
disability, giving me first hand care for those with learning disabilities.
experiences of some of the challenges It feels really good to know that the
they may face when accessing care. work I’ve done to support our patients
I look at each patient as an individual means they are able to get the dental
and find out their needs and how best to care they need.
20 the GiSTHISTORY
CORNER
Maxine Lenza shines a light on Royal Brompton Hospital, which has 180 years’ experience
in respiratory disease and is now a centre of excellence in heart health.
Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums
Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums
Late 19th century photo of Royal Brompton Hospital
A history of
excellence Surgery in the 1920s
Royal Brompton Hospital started out as a principal casualty-clearing stations in the used for almost a century before modern
tuberculosis hospital in 1841. area for seriously wounded cases. pain killers took its place.
It was set up by 25-year-old solicitor, During the Blitz, the hospital was In the late 1980s, the Brompton pack
Philip Rose, who was shocked to discover seriously affected twice – on one occasion was developed – the first ventilatory
that one of his clerks who had the disease the roof and upper floor of the North Block support machine replacing the traditional
was unable to gain admission to any (the original hospital built by Rose) were ‘iron lung’ which saw patients confined to
hospital in London. damaged by fire when bombs hospital. It prolonged the lives
At the time, general hospitals were fell nearby, and then, in 1942, of many patients who needed
reluctant to admit and treat people with the nurses’ home and south help with their breathing and
tuberculosis due to the fear of the disease wing were badly damaged by a has evolved into a mask and a
spreading. blast from a landmine. small portable machine.
Rose leased a house in Chelsea, and in When the war ended and the Nowadays, the hospital
1842 the Hospital for Consumption and NHS was formed, drugs to treat carries out some of the most
Diseases of the Chest opened. It quickly tuberculosis were introduced complicated heart and lung
became clear that a larger hospital was so the workload and focus of surgery and procedures
needed, so Rose set out to build a hospital the hospital gave way to new available anywhere in the
especially suited to the needs of interests – including the study Joy Godden world. It is the only specialist
tuberculosis patients. of other chest conditions. heart and lung unit in the
In 1855, the new hospital building on Then, in 1991, the Sydney Wing was country that treats both adults and
Fulham Road was completed and 27 years opened by The Queen and the hospital was children.
later, in 1882, the South Block was opened granted Royal Charter. Joy Godden, Director of Nursing at
thanks to a substantial donation from a Research, innovation and education Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals,
local resident. have been constant themes at the said: “For me, the importance of our
By 1894 the College of Physicians and hospital, and over the decades doctors history is the strength that it gives us now.
Surgeons recognised the Brompton as a from the hospital have made substantial This includes expertise across many
place of medical study, and to this day, contributions to the field of medicine. different disciplines, alongside research,
doctors, nurses and other health One example is the famous Brompton education and training, which allows us to
professionals from around the world come cocktail – a mixture of morphine, cocaine, attract pioneers and innovators.
to the hospital to learn. alcohol, syrup and chloroform water – “All of this is done to improve care for
During the Second World War, the given in the terminal stages of certain our heart and lung patients now and in the
Brompton was designated as one of the illnesses for pain relief. The mixture was future.”
www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk 21FOUNDATION
TRUST LIFE
Meet the governor
Jordan Abdi explains why he is passionate about
health technology and how it can benefit patients.
The Council of Governors ensures that opportunities to use data and artificial
patients, members of the public, staff and intelligence to improve services.
partner organisations have a say in He said: “Health technology has the
shaping their local health service. potential to completely transform how we
Jordan Abdi stood for election in July interact with healthcare and look after
2021 and is one of eight public governors. ourselves, but patient safety and trust
He is a medical doctor and has been need to remain at the centre of innovation. The governors are your elected
working in health technology for the past “Guy's and St Thomas' is a global health representatives and are keen to hear
nine years both in the UK and China. technology leader and I hope to use my your views. If you have a question,
Jordan, from Southwark, said: “I wanted experience and skills to make sure the comment or idea please email
to become a governor because I’ve missed Trust continues to bring patients and the governors@gstt.nhs.uk
having that connection to the NHS and public along with it on that journey.” or call 020 7188 7346.
wanted to give something back to the Jordan is encouraging more people to To reduce costs and care for our
community. become members of the Trust. environment, most of our member
“It’s a really exciting time to see how my He said: “There’s so many amazing communication is via email. Please
background can support the Trust as it things that are organised so that members share your email address if you would
prepares to launch a new electronic health can have a deeper view of what is going on like to receive monthly updates from
record, which will be an amazing system at the Trust. If you care about the NHS and the Trust, as well as invitations to our
for patient centred care.” the future of the NHS, do become a members’ only webinars. If your postal
Jordan believes there are lots of member.” address or contact details have
changed, email
members@gstt.nhs.uk.
Meet the member If you are a member of Royal Brompton
and Harefield hospitals, please contact
trustmembership@rbht.nhs.uk
Andy Wood reveals who inspired him to become a member
after his wife was cared for at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ and the lungs. joined the Patient and Public Engagement
counts on its members for Andy, from Cranleigh in Group and is encouraging more people to
feedback, local knowledge Surrey, said: “Leigh had a get involved with the Trust.
and support. fantastic clinical team, I He said: “The more members, the more
The membership is made can’t praise them enough. input you have. I wholeheartedly
up of thousands of patients, She called her clinical recommend to anyone interested to join. If
carers, staff and local nurse specialist, Carl you can make another patient’s life easier
people who can vote in the Harries, her guardian that can only be a good thing.”
Council of Governors angel. He encouraged me
elections. to become a member and I
Andy Wood decided to have tried to be involved To become a member
become a member after ever since. COVID-19 really call 0800 731 0319, email
seeing first-hand the restricted that, but I joined members@gstt.nhs.uk or visit
incredible care his wife, online meetings and www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/
Leigh, received at Royal seminars where I could.” membership
Brompton Hospital. He added: “Consultant cardiologist For Royal Brompton and Harefield
Leigh sadly died in October 2019, aged Professor Kostas Dimopoulos was an hospitals call 020 7352 8121, email
48. She received treatment at the hospital absolute star to Leigh, and Dr John Wort trustmembership@rbht.nhs.uk or
for over 40 years for pulmonary was brilliant – becoming a member was visit www.rbht.nhs.uk/aboutus/
hypertension and Eisenmenger syndrome, my way of saying thank you.” become-a-member
a rare condition that affects both the heart Andy, a maintenance supervisor, also
22 the GiSTYou can also read
