St Gazette 20new7_a:Layout 1 13/12/10 12:40 Page 1

the

issue 21 December 2010

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contents
2 Building bridges respectful
3 A word from David
3 Reflection from the chair
4 Integration update
4 Landmark diabetes study
remembered
5 Be my guest excellent
5 Facebook and Twitter – a year on
6 AHSCN conference
6 Pioneering professor makes surprise
visit
7 Civic Award for Queen Mary’s
archivist
7 Changing gear
7 Transport awareness day
8-9 Celebrating 30 years in Tooting
10 View from the top
Di Caulfeild-Stoker BUILDING BRIDGES: Elderly care staff show off the ‘blocks’ they will use to improve
team work and customer service
11 Spotlight on Paul Silke
12 Past and present – Hunter Wing
12 10:10 campaign Building bridges in elderly care
13 Simulation brings trauma to life
13 AGM respectful ‘bridge’ and the actions agreed have been
displayed in the staffroom, helping people
14 Round-up kind A presentation on the One Team to focus on the things they discussed.
from the chaplaincy project has inspired the elderly care “Communication was a key theme in the
14 Patient feedback nursing team to begin a series of discussions – most staff admitted that if
workshops looking at customer they spent more time being polite and
14 New appointment
service and communication. more considerate of their colleagues then
15 FT update
Alison Hempstead, matron for elderly care, everyone would get along better and work
15 St George’s Nurses league identified the need to address issues of more efficiently as a team. We also asked
16 HCA on wards responsible communication and teamwork between staff to focus on the trust’s values – kind,
nurses on the wards and developed the excellent, responsible, respectful – which
16 Women and children’s hospital takes ‘building bridges’ workshops, with support are key fundamentals for team working on
shape from practice educators and the training the wards.”
17 Long service dinner awards and facilities team.
“Our nurses have taken ownership of the
17 Safeguarding event “I didn’t feel that there was much unity issues raised and put into action their own
17 Mobile scanning unit around the ward between team solutions. It has helped us to get to the
18 Theatres get productive members,” says Alison, “so I went to the bottom of some of the issues on the wards
training and education team to develop a and has really improved the way people
18 Renal centre exchange programme
programme to help address issues in the communicate. It’s easy to damage the
19 Patient safety week workplace.” overall patient experience just through one
19 Hand towels initiative The workshops help staff to identify what simple incident, like poor communication.
20 Charity news good customer service is and how it is I’m hoping that the project will improve
The front page main picture shows HRH the delivered in successful organisations. They staff satisfaction and reduce complaints
Queen officially opening the Tooting site in then talk about barriers to good teamwork from patients.”
November 1980. and how these can be conquered. 90 per cent of the nurses across Caesar
Goals are identified and staff create Hawkins, Heberden and Thomas Young
the gazette is written and published by the
communications unit. The opinions expressed ‘blocks’ from the changes they’d like to wards have been on the workshops
do not necessarily represent those of make in the workplace. These blocks and others wards have taken interest,
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust. The next represent parts of the ‘bridge’ they will so the model could be rolled out in other
edition will be published in February 2011. piece together to reach their goals. The areas soon.
If you are a staff member with a story for the
gazette, please email:
communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk
It’s easy to damage the overall patient experience just
through one simple incident, like poor communication.
2 the gazette
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:36
A word from David Reflection from the chair
The last the
gazette of 2010
is a special edition
celebrating the 30th
anniversary of St
George’s official move
to Tooting. Inside,
readers will find a
double page spread
featuring photographs
from November’s
anniversary
celebrations as well as
pictures from the day David Astley, chief executive
in November 1980,
when HRH Queen Elizabeth officially opened
the Tooting site after Hyde Park Corner closed.
The trust has come a long way since it was
originally founded in 1773 but while there are
difficult goals ahead, such as achieving financial
security and becoming a foundation trust, staff
must always be looking forward and adapting
to new and innovative ways of working. It is
important that, while we plan for the future, we
don’t forget the great work of those who have
gone before. In past and present this month we
reflect on the life and legacy of John Hunter.
There is a strong emphasis on patient safety and
improving care in this edition, as the spotlight
falls on Paul Silke, lead for prevention of falls
and we look back at patient safety week. In
view from the top we speak to Di Caulfeild-
Stoker, divisional chair of community services
Wandsworth.
I am pleased to say that staff have made great
strides in adopting the trust’s new values of
excellent, kind, responsible and respectful which
were launched in the summer. The stories about
our building bridges workshops on page 2 and
the role of health care assistants on the wards
on page 16 are both great examples of staff’s
willingness to adopt positive change which will
benefit patient care. Someone who can teach us
a thing of two about excellent customer care is
Antonio Garcia-Fernandez, a housekeeper on
Allingham Ward whose story is featured on
page 5.
As always, this edition of the gazette highlights
and celebrates our many successes, showcasing
examples of the great work throughout St
George’s Healthcare. We have some great
picture spreads and round-ups of recent events.
Finally, I would like see 2010 out with a massive
‘well done’ and ‘thank-you’ to colleagues
for your continued support and commitment
and wish all staff a safe and very
happy Christmas and New Year.
Page 3
St George’s has a long and distinguished
history stretching back over 270 years,
but we are relatively new to southwest
London. Indeed, November marked 30
years of being in the heart of Tooting.
Much has happened since that time and
today we are a large teaching hospital
embedded in our local community, and
proud to bring leading-edge, specialist
care to the people of Wandsworth,
southwest London, Surrey and beyond.
We also continue to work closely with St
George’s, University of London to
undertake high quality research and
develop the healthcare professionals of
the future.
There have been many achievements this
year of which we can all be proud of. In
addition to receiving the green light to
become one of four major trauma
centres and one of eight hyper-acute
stroke units for London, many of our
staff and teams from across the trust
were recognised for their work and
received awards and prizes.
We also continued with our programme
of refurbishments across the trust; this
includes the refurbishment of the main
restaurant in Lanesborough Wing and
the improvement of the standard of staff
accommodation at The Grove.
A significant achievement this year is our
integration with community services
Wandsworth (CSW). This is an exciting
development that will enable us to
provide improved care, especially for our
Wandsworth residents, who will be
looked after by the same clinical teams,
whether they are in hospital or in the
community. This means that patients will
only have to come into hospital when
absolutely necessary. I would like to take
this opportunity to welcome all CSW
staff and hope that they are beginning
to feel like they are part of the St
George’s Healthcare family.
Going forward, the next twelve months
will present challenges and opportunities
for the trust as we progress our
foundation trust plans (FT). FT status is
crucial for our future. As a FT, greater
financial freedom coupled with
accountability to our members will allow
us to develop facilities and services that
are better suited to our patients’ needs.
The process leading to FT will test both
our financial management and patient
safety standards and will undoubtedly
make St George’s stronger as an
organisation.
A key focus of mine for 2011 will be
staff health and well-being. At our
Annual General Meeting this year
colleagues from the diabetes team gave
a presentation
on their work
and we
reflected that
by 2025 over
four million
people will
have diabetes
in the UK.
This means
that of our
7,000 staff,
up to 25 per
cent could be
at risk of Naaz Coker, chair
getting
diabetes. This is a serious concern, and I
am keen that we work together to
maintain and improve the physical and
mental wellbeing of our staff.
St George’s Healthcare is also committed
to doing its part for the environment.
We pledged to cut our carbon emissions
during 2010 by signing-up to the
national 10:10 campaign. I am pleased
that we have stayed true to this pledge.
An example of our progress is the fact
that in 2009/10 we recycled more then
333 tons of plastic, paper, cardboard,
cans and glass compared to just 35 tons
in 2005.
I am convinced that the outlook for St
George’s Healthcare is brighter than ever.
Our plans will set us on track to achieve
our vision for 2015 which sees us as a
successful foundation trust delivering
cutting edge local and specialist services
of outstanding quality in community and
hospital settings, supported by nationally
recognised programmes of research,
education and staff development.
However we are also mindful that in the
current financial climate, delivering safe
patient care economically and efficiently
will pose a significant challenge for all of
us - the board and the staff. We will
continue to need robust cost
improvement programmes in place and
everyone will be required to pay
attention to patient quality as well as
efficiency and costs.
I would like to end by saying a big thank
you to all our staff for your hard work
and dedication this year. I would also like
to take this opportunity to extend my
warmest thanks to our volunteers,
charities and the chaplaincy for the
ongoing support that they provide to
both patients and staff.
Season’s greetings and merry Christmas
to all and good wishes for the New Year.
May 2011 be our best year yet!
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Fstaff news
Welcome to the family
NEW FACES: (l-r) Joel Cullen, community nurse; Georgina Essenhigh, community matron;
Josephine Odogwu , community nurse; Pius Akubue, community nurse
This autumn the St George’s
Healthcare family grew by 1,200 as
the community services Wandsworth
(CSW) workforce transferred over to
become employees of St George’s
Healthcare.
From October 2010, St George’s
Healthcare now provides a wide range of
nursing and therapy services to children,
adults and older people in the community.
Many people will already be familiar with
services provided at Queen Mary’s
Hospital in Roehampton. These include
outpatient rapid diagnostic and treatment
facilities, a minor injuries unit, limb fitting
services and 70 elderly, intermediate care
and rehabilitation beds.
Community services are also provided at
St John’s Therapy Centre, 11 health
centres across the borough, Dawes House
intermediate care unit, GP surgeries,
schools, nurseries, and in people’s homes.
Landmark diabetes study remembered
A small retirement dinner was held for
two St George’s Healthcare staff, Dr
Mary-Anne Whitehead and Mary
Andersen, who were involved over
many years in the United Kingdom
Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS).
The UKPDS was the largest clinical research
study into diabetes ever conducted and St
George’s Healthcare played a key role,
recruiting a large number of patients to take
part.
The study on type 2 diabetics was conducted
in the UK from 1977-1997 and the results
were published in 1998. On completing the
4 the gazette
Page 4
The community services Wandsworth
division also provides a full range of
health services at Wandsworth Prison, the
largest prison in the UK with up to 1,665
inmates at any time.
Community services Wandsworth has
become our fourth care division, and is
responsible for providing a range of
specialist services across the borough.
These services include:
District nursing, health visiting, school
nursing, specialist nursing, sexual health
and family planning, HIV services,
haemoglobinopathies, community
dentistry, occupational therapy,
physiotherapy, speech & language
therapy, dietetics, rehabilitation services,
people with learning disabilities
An extended service portfolio is not only
good news for our patients, it also means
that there are now greater opportunities
for our staff to gain experience in
different areas. Staff who are interested in
trial, the patients involved were entered into a
ten-year, post-trial monitoring programme.
This was completed in December 2007 with
results published in 2008. Many patients
continued being seen in the Thomas Addison
Unit after the trial finished.
The trial produced more than a hundred
major publications, a number of them
landmarks in the field, between 1983 and
2009 on all aspects of type 2 diabetes. Indeed
the acronym UKPDS is recognised throughout
the world by anyone who works in the clinical
care of diabetics. The results threw particular
light on the factors affecting progression of
sampling life in another service should
speak to their line manager for advice.
In addition, community services
Wandsworth’s corporate teams provide
key support functions of human
resources, clinical governance, nursing
and therapists, professional leadership,
finance, information, research and IT.
Many of these staff have had a busy
October, moving into their new homes in
the corporate offices at St George’s
Hospital.
A more joined up workforce will enable St
George’s Healthcare to play a greater role
in the prevention of ill health and focus
our resources on developing integrated
clinical teams providing even better care,
closer to where people live.
This is a fantastic opportunity to develop a
truly integrated health service for local
residents, by building on the strengths of
both organisations and enabling GPs,
primary, community and hospital services
to work together to provide the continuity
of high quality care we all want for our
patients.
These changes will not affect local GPs or
other healthcare providers. If outpatient
care is needed, GPs will still refer patients
to the hospital or healthcare centre that
they and their patients choose.
David Astley, chief executive, said: “We
are delighted to welcome CSW staff and
services to the trust. This is an exciting
change, one which will improve the
healthcare choices available to local
people by providing more care in their
own homes, reducing unnecessary
admissions to hospital and helping
patients leave hospital as soon as it is safe
for them to do so.”
Find out more about Di Caulfeild-
Stoker, divisional chair of community
services Wandsworth, on page 10.
type 2 diabetes and its complications and
affected the various forms of treatment used.
Professor Stephen Nussey, consultant in
endocrinology, who was involved in the trial
in the early 1980s said: “The trial itself was a
tribute to Rob Turner in Oxford, who
overcame many difficulties to ensure its
longevity and locally to Professor Tom
Pilkington and Dr Nigel Oakley, who ensured
local interest and recruitment. Sadly, Rob
Turner did not live to see its completion and
the legacy for diabetes care.”
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:36 Page 5

Antonio recognition among his colleagues

excellent
Be my guest
The gazette meets the man who
makes no room for complacency,
housekeeper Antonio Garcia-
Fernandez to find out more about his
revolutionary take on the patient as
the customer and how this applies
across the board.
Spanish-born Antonio has been around
the block and knows a thing or two about
customer service. After working world-
wide for 25 years at every level of the
hotel industry, he decided it was time for
a change.
“I wanted to do something different so I
decided to work in a job that would give
me the satisfaction of working with
people again.
“Even though this is a hospital we are still
dealing with people, and customer service
is terribly important to any business that is
dealing with people. To me it makes no
difference whether I’m working in the
Dorchester Hotel with people who are
paying £500-600 per night or working
here – I see people as my guests, my
customers, and without them I have no
job.”
This is evident in the personal touches
Antonio has put in place in Allingham
Ward, where he has worked for the last
three years.
Antonio explains: “I put a selection of
complementary newspapers out in the
common room for people to choose from
and make sure it is clean and quiet. I leave
a trolley with teas and coffees and I come
through from time to time to check that
everything is ok. I try to get the
CUSTOMER CARE: Antonio Garcia-Fernandez
delivers a paper to patient Monica Gilbert
atmosphere like they were in a coffee
shop somewhere – it is very relaxing.”
In addition to this, Antonio makes sure he
talks to the patients each morning
ensuring they have a complementary
newspaper. He stresses communication is
key in ensuring problems are solved
quickly, maintaining an excellent level of
customer service. “I talk to my patients
every morning; I ask how they are and
how their evening was. People tend to tell
me things they probably wouldn’t tell the
nurses because they see me in a different
role.”
It is this level of dedication to his
‘customers’ which helped to turn the
ward around – last year it was judged as
the best medical ward by the health
commission, described as being
‘wonderful’ and ‘well-organised’. This
commitment to the job has gained
around the trust. All new housekeepers
starting in medical wards are sent to
spend two weeks with him so they can
employ some of his personal tactics.
He said: “It was hard work at the
beginning but we saw the light at the end
of the tunnel, and we arrived at our high
point. However, we mustn’t become
complacent – complacency is the worst
enemy people can have. Once you have
built a reputation you cannot afford to
make a mistake as everybody is looking at
you and expecting the best from you.
“In my opinion, hospitals need to learn a
lot of the customer service that they give
in hotels, especially as the NHS is
changing. People don’t realise that this is
going to become a very competitive
business.”
In these challenging times when all trusts
must gain FT status, when patients can
pick one trust over another, it is going to
be more important than ever to
implement these changes to ensure we
are the first choice for patients.
Antonio continued: “We have to realise
that there is always room for
improvement, we should be open to
constructive criticism and always take new
ideas on board. People become engrained
in a way of working and think that
changing is not an option. But everything
changes, and a business that doesn’t
change will die – you have to be
innovating all the time.
“It is not enough to have an excellent
reputation medically. You can have the
best consults in the world but if the
service the patient receives after the
consultation is bad, our reputation will
never be good.
“People expect a certain standard, and if
we want to survive, we have to exceed
their expectations.”

Facebook and Twitter – a year on

It has been a year since the trust first launched its Twitter and Facebook pages.
These help the trust communicate with patients, public and staff on a daily basis.
Staff are unable to access these sites at work, but are encouraged to join up and
view at home.
The communications team looks at different ways to use social networking sites to
reach new audiences. One example of this was in September, when updates of the
AGM were ‘tweeted’ in real time to allow people who were unable to attend to
follow the meeting’s progress and ask questions.
St George’s Healthcare now has more than 500 followers on Twitter and is ‘liked’ by
more than 370 people on Facebook.
Colin Wren, new media officer, said: “There is a really big shift in the way people access
and share information nowadays due to the impact of social media. It is important that
the trust explores how it can use this medium to engage with key audiences.”

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First AHSN
conference
a success
The Academic Health
and Social Care
Network (AHSN) held
its first conference in
October at St
George’s, University
of London.
The conference was
entitled Crossing
Boundaries: Networks
and Nudges. New
opportunities for joint
working between the
NHS, local government
and universities.
Presentations were
made by keynote
speakers, including
Paul Ormerod,
behavioural economist
and fellow at Durham
University, whose
books include ‘The
butterfly effect’ and
‘Why most thinks fail’

Pioneering Professor meets

and Matthew Horne,
managing partner at
the innovation unit,

young cochlear patients

who described his
project on radical
efficiency.
The AHSN was
MEMORABLE DAY: Prof Clark meets some of the children who have benefited from the cochlear implant
established in 2009 and
is a partnership of all
Children from across southwest London and cochlear implant programme, which has been the key health and
Surrey who have had their lives transformed running for four years and is the youngest in the social care
by a cochlear implant got the chance to meet country. Since the programme was established organisations in
the device’s inventor, Professor Graeme more than 60 procedures on children from southwest London’s six
Clark, at St George’s Hospital in November. boroughs, together
southwest London and Surrey have been
with Kingston
Professor Clark met several children and their performed at St George’s Hospital. University and St
families, including seven year old Amie Lundberg, David Selvadurai, consultant ENT surgeon and George’s, University of
the first patient to have the implant at St London.
director of the cochlear implant programme, said:
George’s, and her brother Jack, who had his Laurence Benson,
“I am so thrilled that the children have had the
second cochlear implant earlier this year, to find director for the
opportunity to meet the man whose life long
out how their lives have been changed since their network, said: “The
operations. work has changed their lives. He is truly
conference had real
inspirational and the children and staff will never
A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device buzz with more than
forget today.” 100 people attending
that replaces the function of the damaged inner
ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds Amie Lundberg, the first child to have the from across southwest
louder, cochlear implants do the work of cochlear implant at St George’ Hospital three London. The mix of
years ago, is now seven years old. She said: “I am academics and
damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) to send
clinicians from acute
sound signals to the brain. a special girl here because I was the first person
and community
Professor Clark was in London to deliver the Lister to have the cochlear at the hospital when I was providers, along with
Oration at the Royal College of Surgeons, one of only three years old and I had a second side primary care and social
the most prestigious awards available in surgery. implant last year. I come to see Mr Selvadurai care leaders, triggered
He visited St George’s Hospital to open a two-day every year. lots of shared learning
cochlear implant course for surgeons from across and provided a
“I have really been looking forward to meeting
reminder that we all
the UK and Europe. the professor and it was nice telling him that I am need to work together
St George’s Hospital was chosen to host the getting on well. I like my peach cochlear implant to deliver better care
course by Cochlear Europe as recognition for the and I put stickers on it, and it helps me to watch for local people.”
great strides made by the St George’s Healthcare my favourite films, like Cinderella.”

6 the gazette
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:36
PATIENT TRANSPORT: G4S, the trust's non-emergency patient transport providers, held a patient
transport awareness day in September. This provided an ideal opportunity for staff to find out what
the patient transport service entails and there was an opportunity to see the vehicles used to
transport patients. Information leaflets were also handed out
Civic Award for
Queen Mary’s archivist
Gordon Jones, chairman of the Queen
Mary’s Hospital archive and museum
group, was honoured by the Mayor of
Wandsworth with a Civic Award at a
town hall ceremony in November. The
award was in recognition of the
significant contribution he has made
to life in the borough.
In 2000 Gordon took on the task of
preserving many of the historic artefacts
and documents at Queen Mary’s as the
development of the new hospital gathered
pace.
Gordon’s work has seen the Queen Mary’s
archive classified by the National Archive as
being of national significance, covering not
only medical history but many aspects of
military, social and political history.
In his ten years as chairman of the archive
and museum committee, Gordon has
overseen the opening of the new Queen
Mary’s Hospital museum and has secured
funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for
the Queen Mary’s oral history project.
The project has seen the museum
committee interview 60 people who have
been a patient or worked at the hospital
during its 95 year history. The project will
draw to a close next summer, when the 60
recorded histories will be published on the
Queen Mary’s website.
Di Caulfeild-Stoker, divisional chair of
community services Wandsworth, said: “I
am absolutely delighted for Gordon, this is
very well deserved recognition for the
tremendous amount of time and effort he
and his team have put into bringing the
Page 7
history of Queen Mary’s Hospital to
life. Without his leadership and
dedication, an important part of local
history could have been lost forever.”
Gordon said: “Documenting the work
of Queen Mary’s has been a pleasure.
Since opening in 1915, the hospital
and its staff have worked continuously
to retain the accolade of being one of
the best limb fitting and amputee
rehabilitation centres in the world.
“These archives not only narrate the
history of a world renowned
establishment, but also tell the story of
a small group of people, amputees,
whose experiences may have gone
unnoticed if it was not for the work of
the Archive Group and its dedicated
volunteers.”
To find out more about the archive
and museum committee’s work check
out the Queen Mary’s website
www.queenmarysroehampton.nhs.uk
AWARD WINNER: (l-r) Mayor of
Wandsworth Cllr Piers McCausland with
Gordon Jones
Changing gear
delegates
prepare for the
fast lane
In October staff from the
community services
Wandsworth division came
together for the last time at the
climax of the six month
changing gear programme.
The programme, run by Adnan
Bajwa, organisational development
manager, with tutorials led by
senior CSW staff, aims to arm
middle managers and senior
clinicians with the tools they need
to effectively manage change and
to take the next step in the careers
in the NHS into more senior
positions.
Topics explored on the course
included personality type, self
awareness and self management,
coaching skills, finance and data for
service improvement and
relationships management. Those
taking part also worked on a
change project of their choice,
which fits in with the trust’s vision
of developing a culture of employee
engagement and responsibility.
Before being able to collect their
certificates, the delegates all faced
the daunting task of delivering a
final presentation on the change
project they had been working on
for half a year. The panel included
Di Caulfeild-Stoker, divisional chair
of the community services
Wandsworth division, Paula Swann,
NHS Wandsworth director of
finance, and other senior managers,
as well as the other 25 people on
the course.
Staff from a wide variety of
backgrounds took part in the
course, including therapists, health
visitors, specialist nurses, service
administrators and corporate staff.
Di Caulfeild-Stoker said: “I feel very
proud that the common goal of all
this tremendous work is to improve
services for our patients. I applaud
everybody for all the time and effort
that they have invested in this
programme, and feel sure that
everybody who has completed the
course, their colleagues and our
patients, will reap the benefits for a
long time to come.”
the gazette 7
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:39 Page 8
Celebrating
Celebratin
November was a month of celebration as the trust and
university marked the 30th anniversary of St George’s move
to Tooting and an official opening by the Queen.
On Monday 8th November, the ingredients
restaurant, first floor Lanesborough Wing,
went all 80s by offering a 1980s themed
menu, music and staff dressed up in 80s-
inspired fashion.
500 complementary cupcakes were
handed out to staff, students,
patients and visitors as they
were invited to join the
celebration by looking at a
special display, charting
the life of St George’s
Healthcare NHS Trust and
OFFICIAL OPENING: Her Majesty the
Queen officially opened St George’s
Healthcare on 6th November 1980
TOP TICKET: Tickets were distributed to allow admission to the
‘official opening and tea’ in the Monckton Theatre. Above, Staff,
students, patients and visitors were invited to join the trust in
enjoying a celebratory birthday cake, kindly sponsored by MITIE
JOINT CELEBRATION: Peter Kopleman, principal of St George’s,
University of London and David Astley, chief executive of St George’s ROYAL VISITOR: The Queen took the time to visit some
Healthcare NHS Trust celebrate the 30th anniversary patients and staff on the wards at the official opening
8 the gazette celebrating 30 years in Tooting
30
St George’s, University of London.
Staff were also invited to get more hands-on
with the anniversary celebrations by entering
a photography competition, entitled St
George’s – 30 years in Tooting.
Although the history of St George’s
Healthcare stretches back over
270 years the last three
decades have seen both the
trust and university become
very much part of the fabric
of life in southwest London.
The gazette’s editorial team
put out a trust-wide appeal to
find your stories and experiences
of St George’s Healthcare over the
last 30 years.
Here is what you told us:
Roger Skinner, previous trust legal services
manager, who retired in 2005, recalls his
experience of the Queen’s visit to the trust.
He said: “Before the Queen's visit we had
various security visits followed by a full
rehearsal of those to be presented lining up
around the route. My secretary at the time,
Hilary Cartwright, stood in as ‘Her Majesty’.
“The Palace told us that as well as having
Earl Grey tea for the Queen at the reception,
a dedicated powder room should be
identified. Subsequently known as "the Royal
flush" an office in Grosvenor Wing (now part
of HR I believe) was identified.
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:40 Page 9

0years
ng 30 in Tooting
“When the Grosvenor Wing was in its planning
stages an on-call room was included there for some
reason, hence the additional facilities.
“During her speech, the Queen, who was the Patron
of the hospital, said how she would "miss having
her own hospital at the bottom of her garden.”
Matthew Haswell, deputy mortuary manager
cellular pathology, was born in the hospital
on 12th November 1980. He said: “Today,
I work in the mortuary in cellular pathology, after I
started work in the medical school
ten years ago.”
Robin Dobinson worked in the theatres as a
porter at Hyde Park corner, and moved to the
Tooting site when HPC closed. He recalls:
“I was the first theatre porter to collect a
patient from Nicholls ward for an operation in
Lanesborough Wing theatres, which was
reported in the local guardian.”
Robin moved from Lanesborough Wing 80s TEAM: The staff at MITIE went all out for the
theatres in 1981 to become a mortuary 1980s themed day in the ingredients restaurant
technician and today is still working at the trust as the
mortuary manager.
St George’s 1980-2010
Berit Moback, senior Macmillan nurse who works in
the palliative care team, said: “I was a student nurse
1980 St George’s at Hyde Park Corner (HPC) formally closes on 30th June
at Hyde Park and was actively involved in the campaign 1980 The Queen commemorates the transfer of services from HPC to
to keep Hyde Park open. I even have an old badge Tooting on 6th November. Lanesborough Wing opens
which reads “Stop the cuts – keep St George’s 1984 Jenner Wing added
SW1 open!”
1988 St James Wing opens following closure of the St James Hospital,
After working across southwest London, Berit returned Balham
to work at St George’s Healthcare four years ago.
1993 St George’s Group becomes St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust
Helen Greensmith, haemophilia clinical nurse specialist
has worked with the trust since 1978 when she started 1995 The Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences is established, jointly
as a student nurse. She recalls the Queen’s visit: “I was run by Kingston University and St George’s
working in paediatrics in 1980 when the Queen came 2000 The medical school introduces MBBS Graduate Entry Programme
to open the medical school and new wing. I recall her (GEP), and new building work begins on new Atkinson Morley
visit to the children’s ward.” Wing where the NHS trust’s cardiothoracic and neurosciences
will based
2003 Atkinson Morley Wing opens following a transfer of services from
the Atkinson Morley Hospital in Wimbledon
2005 St George’s Hospital Medical School is renamed St George’s,
University of London
2009 Grosvenor Wing main entrance is refurbished in March
2009 St George’s Healthcare was named as Dr Foster’s large trust
of the year
2010 St George’s Healthcare became one of London’s four major trauma
centres (MTC) in April and one of eight hyper-acute stoke units
ROYAL ASSEMBLY: Eager staff members waiting for
for the capital
their turn to meet the Queen

the gazette celebrating 30 years in Tooting 9

St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:40
 view from the top
Di Caulfeild-Stoker,
divisional chair of
community services
Wandsworth
What does your role as divisional
chair involve?
For the last year or so most of my
attention has been focused on the
integration of community services
Wandsworth (CSW) with St George’s
Healthcare. Now we have integrated and
established CSW as the trust’s fourth care
division, service transformation is very
much on the agenda.
I am ultimately accountable and
responsible for all activity within the
division, working very closely not only with
my own senior management team, but
also with the other divisional chairs and
directors and GPs and commissioners to
make sure that the pathways between
services are working as smoothly and
effectively as they possibly can.
We provide so many services from so many
places, from hospitals and health centres,
to Wandsworth prison and in schools, that
no two days throw up the same
challenges!
How did you get to where you are
now?
I am still a registered general nurse and
also have an MA in marketing. I firmly
believe that you should never stop trying
to improve your skills and push yourself
outside of your comfort zone to help your
development.
I trained at Guy’s Hospital specialising in
intensive care and cardiac nursing, working
my way up to nursing officer and senior
nurse positions. In 1990 I moved to Queen
Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton to become
director of nursing for acute services.
I have held three other director of nursing
posts at the former Richmond,
Twickenham & Roehampton Trust, the
South West London Community Trust and
most recently Wandsworth PCT, before
becoming director of provider services at
Wandsworth PCT in 2005.
In April 2009 the provider services
directorate became an autonomous
provider organisation in line with
Department of Health guidance and
became known as community services
10 the gazette
Page 10
Di Caulfeild-Stoker
Wandsworth, and I took the role of chief
operating officer. Now we are part of the
St George’s Healthcare family my role has
evolved into divisional chair.
What benefits do you think
integrating CSW with St George’s
Healthcare will bring?
I am excited to see the benefits this
integration will bring for patients over the
coming months and years.
I think that integrated acute and
community services will significantly
improve care for people in Wandsworth
by providing more services in their own
homes, reducing unnecessary admissions
to hospital and helping patients leave
hospital as soon as it is safe for them to
do so.
A more joined-up workforce will also
allow us to play a greater role in
preventing ill health and focus our
resources on developing integrated clinical
teams providing even better care closer to
where people live. It also means a whole
new world of fantastic opportunities for
staff to go and get experience in different
areas that they previously didn’t have easy
access to.
The key to a joined-up health and social
care system is appreciating the
differences and values of each
service so we can best work
together for the benefit of all
Wandsworth residents,
including patients who choose
to go to another hospital.
Several clinical working groups
have been exploring how we
can improve services and
pathways, not just across
acute, community and primary
care, but also with social
services and the voluntary
sector. Although the work so
far has been focused on
specific areas, over the next
few months clinical and
management teams will
identify additional areas where
clinical pathways can be
changed to improve quality of
care and patient experience.
Do you still get the urge
to treat patients?
Once a nurse always a nurse! I
would like to be able to put
aside more time to spend with
our nurses and therapists but I don’t get
out as much as I would like. Last year we
ran a successful back to floor programme
where all the senior management team
spent time shadowing clinicians.
I think it can become too easy to get lost
in paperwork when you become a
manager and lose touch with what
happens at service level, so I am
determined that my team and I have as
much contact as possible with the people
who are treating patients, service users
and clients every day.
It is important for the staff to see us out
and about and to realise that although we
spend a lot of our time behind a desk or
in meetings, we all share the same goal of
improving patient care.
What do you do to relax?
I’m a pretty keen golfer! I play as often as
I can, and have got myself down to a 21
handicap. I like to keep active, and have
been known to tear up the dance floor
from time to time! I am also very excited
about volunteering at the London
Olympics, it is the biggest event to hit
London in my life time and I hope to be a
part of it.
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:42
Fspotlight
Meet Paul Silke,
matron for neurorehabilitation and lead
for prevention of falls
As part of the nursing quality agenda,
the Royal College of Nursing identified
eight high impact actions for nurses –
areas of care that should be focused
on to deliver the best outcomes for
patients. One of these is the
prevention of falls, and matron Paul
Silke is taking the lead on a nurse-led
programme of work to achieve a year-
on-year reduction of inpatient falls
across the trust.
Paul explains, “If each ward can reduce its
number of falls by just one each month,
this equates to 350 patients who are not
going to suffer an injury – it makes a
massive difference to their lives. The
amount of additional time nurses spend
looking after patients that have fallen is
significant and it can be avoided by
introducing some simple daily systems that
take just minutes to carry out.”
During 2009/10 there were 1110 falls
recorded among inpatients at St George’s
Healthcare and Paul aims to meet a 20%
reduction this year. “The plan has been to
raise the profile of falls across the trust and
look to develop sustainable systems on the
wards which reduce falls.”
Sarah Teague, physiotherapist, had a
particular interest in falls and became joint
lead with Paul. They identified the wards
with the highest number of falls. These
wards cared for medical, elderly and
cancer patients.
Paul said: “Patients often suffer significant
fatigue from treatments like
chemotherapy, which is why the number
of falls on wards like Trevor Howell tends
to be higher than average.”
Starting with these wards, Paul and Sarah
visited and spoke to the nursing teams
about introducing some form of visual
management tool which allows them to
assess, at a glance, which of their patients
are most at risk of falling. They also asked
teams to look at how they can optimise
their environment to further reduce the
risks. “All patients over 65 are considered
vulnerable to falls so these patients should
always receive a full risk assessment on
admission to the trust,” Paul says.
“Paul brought ideas across from the falls
work introduced at the Wolfson. He
Page 11
successfully reduced the number of falls at
the neurorehabilitation centre in
Wimbledon from around 15-25 a few
years ago to approximately four to eight
per month presently. “But each
department at St George’s Hospital is very
different, so it has really been up to the
wards themselves to agree systems and
tools that suit the way they work,” adds
Paul.
The full trust roll-out didn’t take as long as
expected and all wards throughout the
trust were involved before the end of
September. Paul reflects on the enthusiasm
of staff: “When we first met about the
programme in June 2010 we had a goal of
getting all the wards onto the programme
before December but the response from
nurses has been fantastic and people have
really recognised the value in this area of
care. Every nursing area is on board, apart
from A&E, which is a very unique
environment and we hope to start work
with them soon.
“We’ve added about 10 minutes to the
nurses’ day by asking them to identify
which patients are most at risk. They make
clear who is at risk, why they are at risk
and what the action is for the day. This
raises the profile and, by talking about it
daily, ensures that all staff are aware.”
Some wards are using their patient status
at a glance boards to flag up high risk
patients, some include it as part of their
daily handover or on their board rounds –
the important thing is that they talk about
it every day.”
The programme is about ensuring that
high risk patients are always given the
extra attention they need. Caesar Hawkins
ward reduced falls by more than 40 per
cent by simply introducing discussions as
part of their daily handovers and a traffic
light system to flag up this group of
patients.
Most interventions are about assistance,
observation and making adjustments
where needed. For instance, ensuring that
a patient who is meant to be bed-bound
has the arms of their bed up at all times,
that patients always have the right sort of
footwear on, and that commode brakes
are always secured.
Paul Silke
Simple activities like de-cluttering ward
areas to remove obstacles and not leaving
commodes by the bedside at night are
ensuring that the environment is as safe
as possible and that patients receive
assistance and can be observed when
required.
Paul continues: “We’ve organised reviews
every two to three months with each
area. They all have an action plan so
know what their falls performance looks
like and where they can make
improvements. We’re also trying to
introduce ‘falls champions’ in each area,
who are a mix of people from sisters to
healthcare assistants.”
The work is only looking at inpatient falls
so doesn’t tie into falls in the community
or at home. However, once the inpatient
falls programme is fully embedded, Paul
hopes that a long-term strategy for all
types of falls can be put into place,
including visitor and staff falls.
Paul concedes that you can’t stop all falls
– and this isn’t the expectation. “In areas
like neuro, where patients have cognitive
impairment and wards with very young
children, it is impossible to prevent all
falls. But we can minimise the number of
falls at the trust by becoming more aware
of the risks. The benefits are clear –
reduced length of stay, better patient
experience, less nursing and therapy time
and a cost saving to the trust – and it just
takes a few minutes each day.”
Work on the programme is ongoing and
there is still plenty to do to ensure it’s
embedded, so anyone interested in
helping with falls prevention, or anyone
with any ideas around improvements
should get in touch with Paul.

For more information contact Paul
Silke on ext 6500 or bleep 7933.
the gazette 11
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:42
a hospital
Energised by saving energy
Staff, patients and visitors renewed
their commitment to cutting carbon
at a special one-day event, get
energised about energy, held in
October.
The event marked a six-month milestone
in the trust’s 10:10 campaign. Patients,
visitors and staff pledged their support by
signing the 10:10 banner, which will be
framed and displayed in the trust. They
were also given an eco-inspired tote bag
filled with eco-friendly goodies and
carbon-cutting tips.
David Astley, chief executive, highlighted
the importance of the campaign. He said:
“Making changes to how we offer
services now is the first step towards
improving the future health economy. We
will always be looking for ways
to make our services, and the
way we deliver them, more
sustainable.
“The long-term benefits of
reducing carbon include a
reduction in climate-linked
health risks and a healthier
community. Rather than
treating climate-linked lifestyle-
related diseases, we will offer
more preventative care.
“In the long term this will save
money – which can be invested
into new technology and
clinical developments.”
In May this year, the national 10:10
campaign – to cut ten per cent of our
electricity, on-site fuel, road transport and
air travel carbon emissions – was
12 the gazette
Page 12
GREEN TEAM: (from front to back) Gemma
Astafanous, capital projects; Alan Hall, waste
manager; Rachel Gerdes-Henson, capital
projects manager; Jackie Young,
accommodation manager; Hazel Gleed,
emergency planning and liaison officer;
Darren Maytham, facilities; Peter McDermott,
health and safety manager; John Broughton,
principle engineer; Andrea Wright, general
manager facilities; Elly Edwards,
communications officer; Catherine Leak,
assistant facilities manager; and Jenni
Doman, general manager facilities
absorbed into the trust’s Think Green
campaign, and was rebranded as Saving
carbon, Saving lives.
St George’s aims to work with the local
community, raising awareness of
environmental issues and their impact on
the health and the healthcare system.
FULL SUPPORT: (l-r) Neal Deans, director of
estates and facilities; David Astley, chief
executive; and Alison Robertson, director of
nursing, patient safety and infection
prevention and control, lead the way in
showing support for the 10:10 campaign by
signing the 10:10 banner, which will be
framed and displayed in the trust
Past and Present
John Hunter
This month the gazette takes a closer
look at the life of John Hunter. Born in
1728, Hunter was a Scottish surgeon
and is regarded as the father of
modern surgery.
He was famous for dragging surgery into
the modern age by applying scientific
methodology. Prior to his revolutionary
methods, surgery practice was outdated
and tended to be inexact. He was also
dedicated to improving medical education,
which partly led to his death in 1793, as
he suffered a heart attack after having an
argument with colleagues over the
admission of students.
He joined St George’s Hospital in 1756 as
assistant surgeon and was appointed
surgeon in 1768. Following his arrival in
1756, Hunter was very involved in training
doctors at the hospital’s medical training
section before it officially became St
George’s Hospital Medical School.
Edward Jenner, famous for developing the
smallpox vaccine in 1796, studied under
Hunter and was a great friend.
John Hunter wrote many books, some of
which were published after his death and
show the wide breadth of knowledge and
expertise he accumulated over his lifetime.
Among the books are works on animal
anatomy and gunshot wounds, which
were both based on his experiences with
the army, after he was commissioned as an
army surgeon in 1760. There is also a book
on venereal disease (a sexually transmitted
disease), which he was considered the
leading authority on.
The Hunterian Society was founded in
John Hunter’s honour in 1819, and is a
society of doctors and dentists based in
London. The Society is dedicated to the
pursuit of medical knowledge and
learning. Since 1813, the Society has
issued the ‘John Hunter medal’ to the
presenter of the Hunterian Society Oration.
Today, Hunter Wing sits in St George’s,
University of London and houses the
university’s busy main entrance, lecture
theatres and teaching rooms. A display of
Hunter’s artefacts are on display in the
main entrance, and include the couch on
which he died as well as personal effects
such as his shaving mirror and spectacles.
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:42 Page 13

=technology

Simulation brings
trauma training to life
Trauma staff are benefiting from a new state-of-the-art
simulation manikin, SimMan 3G, designed to teach and test
staff working with severely injured patients.
The £60,000 manikin, funded through a bid to NHS London, is
completely wireless and self contained, making it easy to transport
to a variety of settings. It is used as an educational tool to enhance
the care of patients with multiple serious injuries, allowing staff to
practice a trauma call from start to finish.
Consultant nurse in emergency care, and assistant clinical director
Heather Jarman, said: “This new technology will play a key role in
helping staff to develop the skills needed to respond to a major
trauma call. Our aim is to use the manikin to test the whole
trauma system – it is not just to teach staff how to deal with
clinical issues, we can look at how the team works together as well.
“The SimMan 3G will be programmed with real-life situations
experienced by our patients and used in a ‘mock’ trauma call; we
can video this and use the video to feedback as a training tool. DUMMY RUN: (l-r) Heather Jarman, Ben Patterson, vascular
We are very excited by this new equipment as it presents a great registrar and Natalie Holbery, lecturer practitioner in major trauma
opportunity for us to develop and test our trauma service.” care, get to grips with ‘Bob’ – a challenging patient

AGM
This year’s annual general meeting (AGM)
was attended by more than 150 staff,
patients and foundation trust members.
The meeting, which took place on 28th
September in the Hyde Park Room,
Lanesborough Wing, provided an
opportunity for the attendees to learn more
about the work of the trust during the
2009/10 financial year.
Presentations were given by chair Naaz
Coker; chief executive, David Astley and
director of finance, Richard Eley. The work
of the diabetes service was highlighted by
clinical nurse specialist Angela Flanagan
and dietitian Tutangi Amataiti. Diabetes
patient Ciara O’Toole then gave an
account of her experience as a patient at
St George’s Healthcare.
The audience also received an update on
the major trauma centre from Simon
Bridle, clinical director, Kelvin Wright,
clinical director for the South West
London and Surrey Network and
consultant nurse in emergency care and
assistant clinical director Heather Jarman.
The evening ended with the presentation
of the Special Achievement Awards by
David Astley, to staff who have made an
outstanding contribution to the trust over
the last year.
Individual Staff Achievement
Award winners
Jo Bratchell, lead nurse for pre-op
assessement
Glen Brice, genetic counsellor
Ann Broughton, senior nurse in the
emergency department
Charlotte Ennis, volunteer patient
advocate in the urology department
Sandra Linton, fetal medicine unit
matron
Monica Morris, clinical nurse
specialist in haematology
Carol Simms, administrator, Wolfson
Rehabilitation Centre

Team Staff Achievement

Award winners
Cardiology ACS nurse
practitioners
Cavell ward team
Portering department
JUST REWARDS: Deputy Mayor Cllr Jennifer Nicholls presents Richard Shannon, Hayley Richards, Preoperative assessment team
David Harvey and Simon Julian with the porters’ team award

the gazette 13
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:42 Page 14

!Feedback

PATIENT FEEDBACK
In the last edition we introduced a section for
patient feedback which offers a chance for
our staff to be recognised by our patients.
Each edition will highlight some of the best
feedback we receive, so if you, your team or your
SEASONS GREETINGS: (l-r) Canon Hilary Johnson, chaplaincy team department receives a compliment, be sure to
leader, Rev’d Martin Taylor, Free Church chaplain and Father Philip forward it on to the complaints and improvements
Pak, Roman Catholic chaplain
department via
complaints.compliments@stgeorges.nhs.uk for a
Seasonal message chance for it to be included in the gazette.

from Hilary Johnson, ● For Dr Hussain, Dr Whitehead, Dr Lofts

and Mr Robert Hagger

head of chaplaincy “I would like to take this opportunity to

kind
Christmas is nearly upon us again and is traditionally a
time used for reflection and celebration by all.
The birth of Jesus continues to be celebrated by Christians at
Christmas, and just as God gave the gift of the Christ child to the
world so we give gifts to one another.
Those of many different faiths and no faith have adopted this
time of year as a time to enjoy a break from the routine of work.
Some of us will rest and have fun with family and friends, some
will give the gift of their time, skills and money to charities to
benefit those who struggle to keep hope alive in our day.
Christmas is a time to step back from the busy routine of our
lives and to rediscover friendships, offer reconciliation to
members of our families that we have grown apart from, nurture
our spiritual lives with walks in the countryside, or on holidays in
warmer climates, or whatever it is that we do that makes our
hearts feel lighter.
Even those who will be working here at St George’s Healthcare
over the Christmas and New Year holidays will still feel a sense
that this is a special time. The atmosphere here changes as the
decorations go up and parties take place. Our senses are
heightened so that the joys of a new birth or a patient healed
enough to return home seem more joyful, and the sad events
that sometimes occur here strike us more painfully.
Members of the chaplaincy team will be working across all this
holiday period to provide care and support to staff, patients and
their visitors. We are here to help everyone have the best
experience possible in their particular situation, and to be
alongside those who will find themselves having a difficult time
this Christmas.
On behalf of the chaplaincy team, I would like to wish staff
a happy and peaceful Christmas.
NEW APPOINTMENT:
Congratulations to
Dr Andy Rhodes on his recent
appointment as president of
the European Society of
Intensive Care Medicine,
which is a non-profit
organisation that promotes
the advancement and
distribution of knowledge in
intensive care medicine.
recommend my GP, Dr Hussain at Streatham Park
Surgery, Mitcham Lane, my diabetes consultant,
Dr Whitehead at St George’s, now retired, and her
assistant Mary; Dr Lofts in oncology and last but
not least, Mr Robert Hagger.
“I owe so much to them for their outstanding
work in doing so much to keep me well. They all
work together as a team, communicating very well
by letter, informing my GP every time I visit the
hospital and I always receive a copy of the letter to
my GP.
“I am so grateful to them for all that they have
done so far and I just wanted you to know the
wonderful job they are doing.
“It is now coming to the end of the year and I feel
strongly that these doctors need to be
acknowledged for the work they are doing at the
hospital. Thank you!”
● For the attention of Mr Scott Lonnee,
dietician in weight loss surgery
“I have seen many dieticians throughout my life
both at St George’s Healthcare and other medical
practices, as well as diet organisations and I can
honestly say I have never come across someone
with so much passion and ability in their job. It felt
like he understood how I felt and could explain
things to me in a way that noone else could, and
that made complete and utter sense to me.
“He has ability in adapting himself and his skills to
each and every person’s individual needs – I feel he
is a true credit to St George’s Healthcare.”
● For the attention of the A&E
department
“I am writing to compliment you on the service I
received when I recently had reason to visit your
A&E department. The triage nurse system works
very well and although I was told it may be a
long wait, I only had to wait for slightly more than
an hour. The doctor who treated my injury gave
me expert care and advice; I was very pleased
with that.”

14 the gazette
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:43 Page 15

FT status

Local MP becomes St George’s

1,000th foundation trust member
George’s Healthcare staff will
automatically be signed up as members in
February 2011 with the chance to opt-out
if so wished.

Membership Matters
As part of our commitment to keep
members informed about the work of the
trust, a new publication, Membership
Matters, was launched in November.
Published quarterly, Membership Matters
will highlight key trust work and
developments and also bring news and
views from patient, public and staff
members.
All staff will receive a copy of
Membership Matters via email.

NEW MEMBER: (l-r) Sadiq Khan MP with St George’s Healthcare nurses Kate Fincham, Vennessa
Matemtebers rship Winter 2010

A time of change
Issue 1

Sookhoo and Kimberly O’Hara From Naaz Coker

,
chair of St George’s
Thank you for the
Healthcare
interest you have

Local Tooting MP, Sadiq Khan, became was born at St George’s hospital,
shown in becoming change across the
a member NHS and we will
of St George’s Healthcare keep you informed
NHS about how this
Trust. As part of our will affect St George’s
commitment Healthcare
to keeping you informed through the pages
of Membership
our work I am pleased about Matters.
to
Membership Matters, launch

the 1000th member of St George’s becoming a member is a great way for publication for those a new As part of our ongoing
who have commitment
signed up to be part to patient care we
of our future. have developed
a new set of values
that places
Published quarterly, patients at the very
Membership centre of every
Matters will keep decision we make.
you up-to-date These values
with all of our key are: excellent, kind,

Healthcare in October and is me to be involved in shaping the future of

developments responsible
including foundation and respectful.
trust
integration with communityplans,
services Wandswort A set of behaviours
h and the underpin
development of new these values and
healthcare will help ensure
services. In future that our staff deliver
editions we will high quality

supporting its plans to become a healthcare services that will best serve the
also bring you news care to patients across
from community,
governors (once elected) your hospital and specialist
and take settings.
an in-depth look
at the
work going on across excellent These are undoubted
the trust ly exciting
from a patient and and challenging times.
staff perspective. I hope you
enjoy reading this
first edition of

foundation trust (FT) in 2011. needs of the local community.”

The health White Membership Matters
Paper Equity and will
and excellence: be pleased to hear
Liberating the your thoughts
NHS, published in and suggestions for
the summer, future articles.
has signalled plans Please email these MEET THE
for great to me
members@stgeorges. via Stephanie
CHAIR: Naaz
Coker (r) with
nhs.uk. Sweeney ward sister

Speaking about becoming a member The FT membership team has worked Local MP becomes
St George’s 100
Sadiq said: “St George’s Healthcare hard on a membership recruitment drive member
0 th

provides expert and specialist healthcare

Tooting MP, Sadiq

and a number of promotional actions,

Khan, became
the 1000th member becoming a member
of St George’s is a great way
Healthcare when for me to be involved
he visited in
the trust in September the future of healthcare shaping
SIGNING UP: (l-r) Sadiq Khan MP with St George’s nurses and is that will best serve services
supporting its plans
Kate Fincham, Vennessa Sookhoo and Kimberly O’Hara to become the needs of
a foundation trust. the community.”

to patients in Tooting and beyond and I such as a major mailing to patients and
Speaking about becoming
a member Sadiq
Khan said:
“As a local resident
who was born at
and someone
St George’s,
As Membership
print St George’s
Matters went to
Healthcare had
3000 members. Please
your family and friends
www.stgeorges.nhs.
encourage
to join via

am pleased to support its plans to

uk.

the new GP surgery poster and leaflet

become a foundation trust.” campaign. As the gazette went to print,
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS: The new FT
“As a local resident and someone who 3,000 members had signed up and all St newsletter was launched in November

St George’s Nurses League annual conference

Integration of Health Care, the
autumn conference of St George’s
Nurses League was held in October.
The conference provided an
overview of the recent changes in
the local health service, including
St George’s Healthcare’s integration
with community services
Wansworth (CSW) and gave some
examples of how the changes will
affect patient care.
This year’s conference was chaired by Dr
Deborah Hennessy, who was chief
nurse for the Wandsworth community,
matron at St George’s Healthcare and is
current president of the St George’s
Nurses League, and Kath Start, chair of
the Nurses League.
Presentations were given by key
members of St George’s Healthcare
staff, including Di Caulfeild-Stoker,
divisional chair of CSW; Alison Ludlam,
associate chief operating officer and
Alison Robertson, director of nursing,
patient safety and infection prevention
and control.
The league aims to serve nurses who
have worked or trained at St George’s
Healthcare by valuing the experience of
nurses who have worked for the benefit
of future nurses.
Kath Start, chair of the Nurses League,
said: “The conference was a great
success and really displayed the
relationship developing between
hospital and community nursing. This
relationship will create a culture of
innovation that will aim to provide the
very best care for patients.”
Membership of the Nurses League is
open to all nurses who trained at
St George’s Healthcare or worked at the
Trust for at least six months.
For further information on the league,
visit the website at
www.stgeorgesnursesleague.org.uk

the gazette 15
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:43
Rolling out One Team training
TOP TRAINING: Staff on the One Team training
One Team training is currently being
rolled out across the trust, following the
successful pilot project. The training
focuses on the central theme “we are all
saving lives”, which demonstrates that
every job in the hospital is
equally important in contributing to
saving lives.
The training is being rolled out in a phased
approach, currently focusing on clinical
areas, including medical wards, elderly care
and outpatients.
Staff in bands one to four take
part in high impact, two-day
service partner training to become
One Team ‘champions’. The
feedback received from staff that
have gone on this training has
been very positive.
All other members of the teams
from bands one to five are
attending one hour service
energisers which have been
developed to highlight the trust LEADING THE WAY: Jodie Carr’s team in front of her One
values, alongside One Team Team notice board
behaviour’s and team
development.
One team continues to be led in partnership
with the trust and the unions. Alan Thorne,
general manager for therapies and Jane
Pilgrim, Staff Side secretary, co-lead the
project. Chantelle Donald has recently
joined the team as the One Team
coordinator and is also a qualified One Team
Service Educator. Chandelle is helping to
organise and deliver the One Team training.
Jane Pilgrim, Staff Side secretary said: ”One
Team is about all staff, in every department,
being professional by listening and sharing,
16 the gazette
Page 16
having the right attitude and showing that
we care in order to make a difference.”
During the last six months the team has
been able to train ten One Team service
educators who are now helping to deliver
the One Team training. The team is hoping
to train more educators at the end of
January. Staff in any band can attend this
three-day training course. Passion for One
Team is required! For more information
please contact Jane Pilgrim on
jane.pilgrim@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Jodie is a One Team shining
example
Jodie Carr, senior sister on Richmond ward,
has been so inspired by One Team that she
is planning a daily focus during her ward
meetings along side her productive ward
focus. A dedicated notice board will be set
up, with a visual display of the One Team
behaviours. Time will be set aside daily to
show appreciation for staff who have made
a difference individually or as a team.
Team leaders inspired by Jodie’s idea are
encouraged to contact Jane Pilgrim.
Plans to build
Children and
Women’s hospital
take shape
An exciting new redevelopment
of Lanesborough Wing has been
approved, in principle, by the
trust board. The redevelopment
would create a modern, fit-for-
purpose children’s and women’s
hospital.
The proposals will enhance the
healing environment and experience
for patients, families and carers. The
changes will improve the existing
facilities by providing same sex
accommodation and increasing the
number of single rooms, space
around beds and the number of
en-suite bathroom facilities.
The next stage will be to develop a
full business case for the first phase
of refurbishment, which will take
place on the fifth floor,
Lanesborough Wing and create the
new children’s wards.
The trust will be working with St
George’s Hospital Charity to provide
a charitable contribution to this
project.
Frances Elmslie, clinical director for
children’s services, said, “We are very
excited about the prospect of a
children’s and women’s hospital at
the heart of St George’s Healthcare.
The refurbishment gives us the
chance to provide children of all ages
with areas equipped specifically for
their needs and women the best
possible chance of the privacy they
deserve.”
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:43 Page 17

Dinner celebrates staff
The annual dinner celebrating
long serving members of staff
and special achievement award
winners was held on 11th
November.
The dinner was held in the Hyde
Park Room and was attended by
more than 100 award winners, their
guests and senior members of staff.
Entertainment was provided by the
Ismaili Community Ensemble.
Long service members received a
gift from the trust which was
presented to them from Naaz
Coker, St George’s Healthcare chair.
Sally Storey, interim director of
human resources, read a short
citation on each of the special
achievement award winners.
David Astley closed the evening
with a vote of thanks to the long
service staff and award winners
for their outstanding contribution
to the trust.
New mobile
scanning service
In September, the radiology
department started using a
mobile PET CT van on-site, in
order to deliver positron emission
tomography (PET) computed
tomography (CT).
PET is a nuclear medicine imaging
technique, which is combined with a
CT scan, performed on the patient
during the same session, in the same
machine.
This means that cancer patients who
are under the care of St George’s
Healthcare will be referred to the
on-site PET CT scanner, rather than
having to travel to other hospitals for
this service. The mobile unit is on site
for one day each fortnight.
The trust is working with Alliance
Medical, a private organisation that
provides the mobile PET CT, to offer
patients access to this service in the
Knightsbridge Wing car park on
alternate Fridays.
WINNING NIGHT: (l-r) Anne Walton, diabetes clinical
nurse specialist, receives her gift from Naaz Coker, chair

Long service award

winners:
Mary Allan Children first: Safeguarding event
Lydia Appiah-Kyei
Lutcheemee Armoogum aims to raise awareness
Sylvia Attryde
Audrey Barros St George’s Healthcare staff are therefore
Barbara Bashford responsible not alone, but colleagues must share
Betty Brack information and speak openly about the
Geoffrey Cattini An event to raise staff awareness of
barriers. “Share, share, share is what I say
Elaine Connelly child safeguarding issues is taking
to people. We must create a culture where
Norma Dixon place at St George’s Hospital in
February. It is hoped that through people feel confident speaking openly
Robin Dobinson
better awareness and understanding, about safeguarding issues. I hope the
Christopher Entwistle
more progress can be made to safeguarding event in February will get
Nancy Esterson
Jill Felstead improve care for children across the trust staff and external partners together
Caroline Finlayson borough. and inspire them to talk about issues in
Barbara Fisher “So often we hear about sad and difficult their departments.”
Sandra Gaul stories relating to child safeguarding, such Dr Sarah Thurlbeck, consultant
Brian Hayes as the well publicised Baby P case,” says paediatrician and named doctor for child
Elaine Head Dr Peter Green, designated doctor for safeguarding at St George’s Healthcare,
Icieola Henry safeguarding children. “But there are a lot echoes Dr Green’s views. “One of the
Beryl Howe of staff and people doing good work to most important aspects of safeguarding
Paul Kensit improve the care of children across
Yvonne Lalgie children is effective communication
Wandsworth, and this event will draw between those involved in their care and
Vilma Lewis
those people together to share this does not mean just paediatricians or
Janusz Liban
information, learn and trade ideas.”
Victoria Luck indeed only clinical staff. Others, such as
Stephen Mc-Hale Peter insists that by focusing and receptionists, can play a vital role. This
Annie O’Dell coordinating efforts it really does produce event will be a great opportunity to meet
Hansa Patel results. “St George’s Healthcare is like-minded colleagues and help improve
Mike Remzi important as a centre of excellence in
standards of care for children throughout
Julie Riddle southwest London, however, it’s important
the trust.”
Amanda Silvester that we work closely with local partners,
Jeremy Stratford such as colleagues at St George’s, Children first is taking place in the Philip
Gek Cheng Tey University of London, our GP community, Constable Board room on Thursday 17th
Anne Walton community therapists, the police, social February 2011 and all staff, clinical or non-
services and schools.” clinical, are invited to attend.

the gazette 17
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:43 Page 18
Education visit to renal
centre in Ghana
HELPING HAND: Members of St George’s Healthcare dialysis
unit visited a developing renal centre in Ghana earlier this
year to share their expert knowledge
Staff from the trust’s renal unit have shared their
expert knowledge with staff at a developing
renal centre in Ghana to help them provide a
better service.
Michaela Mayhew, nurse consultant in venous access
services and her colleagues from the trust’s dialysis
unit, Liz Donovan and Dennis Kennedy, visited their
sister dialysis unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
(KATH) in Kumasi in Ghana earlier this year. The visit
was part of the International Society of Nephrology
Global Outreach (ISN GO) sister renal centers (SRC)
program.
The programme, which was launched in 1997, aims to
enhance the practice of nephrology (study of kidney
disease) in the developing world by linking emerging
renal units with established centers of excellence in the
developed world.
Staff from St George’s Healthcare collaborate to
undertake these educational visits where they train
staff in our SRC, KATH dialysis centre, to improve their
skills helping to raise standards of care and treatment
for patients in these regions.
KATH dialysis centre, which opened in 2000, treats five
to six patients per dialysis session and provides
haemodialysis for local residents and patients
holidaying from abroad.
Michaela said: “We all felt extremely privileged to have
visited Ghana and KATH. The renal team is dedicated
to providing the best care possible for their patients
and are amazingly resourceful.
“The KATH centre depends on charitable equipment
that includes no supporting information on history,
decontamination status, age, or even operator and
service manuals. In our opinion, the hospital must
increase resources and improve supporting systems to
ensure that the local population will continue to have
access to a safe and consistent hemodialysis service.”
18 the gazette
=smarter working
Theatres get productive
The productive operating theatre (TPOT) project is giving
theatre staff the tools and support to improve the workplace.
Just like the productive ward project, rolled out throughout St
George’s Healthcare in 2009, TPOT is designed to improve the patient
experience by increasing the reliability of care, improving team
performance and staff wellbeing, adding value and increasing
efficiency. It is based around the idea of ‘lean’ thinking, removing
waste activity and steps that add no value to the patient experience.
“It all began with day surgery unit staff in June this year,” explains
programme lead Jenna Evans. “Staff, including consultant surgeons,
anaesthetists, matrons, nurses, managers and operating department
practitioners, explored barriers in the workplace which prevent them
from working in the most efficient way. They took those ideas away
and have made significant improvements which are beneficial to both
staff and patients.”
A similar visioning session was held for staff working in Paul Calvert
theatres in September, continuing the roll-out of the project across all
trust theatre suites, which will complete over several years.
The 5S method – sort, set, shine, standardise, sustain – which is a tool
used to improve workplace organisation, has been applied in several
areas.
Jenna continued: “The main store room has now been arranged into
surgical specialty and an index has
been created, making it possible to
find any item in the room in a matter
of seconds. This improves the working
day for staff as they no longer waste
valuable time looking for items.”
Other improvements have also
emerged, including new operational
status at a glance boards, based
outside the operating theatres. This
means
BEFORE
that staff can see
the status of the
operating list
without going
into the theatre
and disturbing
staff. “This is
AFTER being trialled in
the day surgery unit theatres
and has enhanced communication and patient safety.”
An important part of the project is measuring the impact of the
changes, which is something the project team are working on, says
Jenna. “It is vital that we develop meaningful measures to prove that
the changes being made through TPOT are improvements and not just
changes.
“Staff are currently collecting baseline data from areas that have
introduced new ways of working so that we can see where the main
benefits are being felt.”
 Jenna Evans, programme lead, on ext 4359.
For more information on the productive operating theatre call
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:43
Opatient safety
Patient safety week
SIMULATION SCENARIO: The simulation team provided demonstrations during patient
safety week
Patient Safety Week took place from
15th-21st November and provided an
excellent opportunity to highlight
issues around patient safety, ensuring
it was everyone’s top priority.
Patient safety themes around simulation,
medication safety, prevention of Venous
thromboembolism (VTE) and safe
Hand towels initiative saves time and money
As part of the wider initiative to
improve supply chain management
throughout St George’s Healthcare,
the estates department, in
collaboration with the procurement
team, nursing, infection control, R&D
and MITIE, have introduced practical
changes which have made a big
difference to wards and departments.
“We recognised an opportunity to find
efficiencies in the supply of domestic
consumables, such as hand towels, hand
soap and alcohol gel,” says general
manager Jenni Doman. “Previously, all the
wards and departments were ordering these
items through the supply chain. Each
department was having their own items
delivered, which had to be ordered in bulk
to achieve the best price. These bulk items
were stored at ward and department level,
taking up valuable space, and had to be
organised and stocked by the department.”
The facilities team felt that the process
could be managed as part of the domestic
Page 19
anticoagulation, getting the right patient
and the global trigger tool, were promoted
throughout the week. Staff were
encouraged to get involved by submitting
their patient safety ideas while the
executive directors visited clinical areas
every day to talk about patient safety
issues. Theatre staff highlighted safer
and cleaning service, and set out to organise
a central store of these items which would
be automatically delivered by MITIE, who
monitor stock levels on a regular basis, and
speak directly with departments if their
levels are low. The store cupboards are
easier to manage and staff spend less time
administrating orders, which supports the
productive ward initiative. Now, staff only
need order these items from the MITIE
helpdesk if they are running low, and they
don’t have to keep large amounts of stock
in the department.
The contribution from MITIE, the trust’s
domestic services provider, has been crucial
in achieving the changes. They installed new
dispensers throughout St George’s Hospital
between September and November. Jenni
says. “They are providing an additional
service to the trust and have turned it all
around in a four-week period installing over
2000 dispensers which is just brilliant.”
The scheme is expected to save the trust in
excess of £125,000 over the next 12
months, which will be generated from
surgery initiatives and pharmacy set up
medication safety mobile units across the
trust.
Yvonne Connolly, head of patient safety,
said, “Patient Safety Week really provided
an opportunity for us to put patient safety
at the top of everyone’s agenda. We hope
to keep the momentum gained from this
week going throughout the year. Thank
you to everyone who made the week
such a success.”
SAFETY FIRST: Charlie Pointing, senior
pharmacist, promotes medication safety as
part of patient safety week
November. “It shows what can be achieved
very quickly with joined-up thinking and
planning,” says Jenni. “Change is never
easy but I think staff across the trust
recognised the benefits of this, so were
keen to work together to make it happen.”
The work has also freed up the supply chain
management team to focus on other areas
of improvement, so the knock-on effect is
being felt across the trust.
“We have just completed phase one of a
three phase programme,” says Jenni. “Hand
towels, soap and alcohol gel is the first
phase. Rubbish disposal sacks will be in the
second phase. We hope to introduce a
standardised cleaning kit for ward night
staff in phase three, which we hope to
complete by December 2011.”
For more information on this initiative
 contact Jenni Doman on ext 0781. For
advice on how to find improve
efficiencies in supply chain management for
your department call the procurement team
on ext 3541.
the gazette 19
St Gazette 20new7:Layout 1 13/12/10 09:44 Page 20

-fundraising

News from St George’s First Touch

Hospital Charity TV presenter Ortis Deley cycles
72 miles to raise money for
First Touch, the neonatal unit at
Pedal power St George’s Hospital.
Stephanie Shea completed the challenge of a
lifetime by cycling 874 miles from Lands End to
John O’Groats in Scotland in just 12 days, in a
bid to raise money for St George’s Hospital
Charity. She was inspired by her work as a
nurse in the general intensive care unit at the
trust, and she intends to raise £1,000 to
support the work of
her team. PEDAL POWER: Stephanie Shea cycled
874 miles to raise money for the charity

Dizzy heights CYCLE CHALLENGE: The Storks raised more

Amy Ridout, midwife, and Palina Marhel, theatres practitioner, scaled the than £3,000 for First Touch
dizzy heights of Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise funds and awareness for
St George’s Hospital Charity. The pair took only ten days to complete the On Saturday 18th September, Otis Delay
challenge which saw them climb 5895 metres and battle the cold and from CBBC, along with a team of rugby
altitude sickness to achieve their goal. players called The Storks, cycled from St
George’s hospital in Tooting to the Queen
Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth, a total of
Cake giveaway 72 miles.
September’s highlight for the fundraising office The ride raised more than £3,000 for First
was the great cake giveaway. One very grateful Touch. The money will be put towards the
and generous dad donated £600 worth of cakes charity’s current campaign to fund a
from M&S to say thank you to all staff at St £36,000 transport incubator. The team had
George’s for the care his baby son received. So for already raised more than £2,000 for First
three days, over lunch time, staff came to the Touch through fund raising at its rugby
fundraising office to collect their free cakes! matches.
CAKE GIVEAWAY: The Pinckney ward staff picked Team captain and organiser, Dylan Wrixon,
up their free cakes in the great cake giveaway said: “These two hospitals have treated the
children of many of our close friends over
the last few years. Eva Tozzi was born at St
Football match has charity as its goal George’s hospital in March 2007. To help
raise money to thank the unit for the care
A charity football match organised by the family of a previous patient raised
she received, her family’s friends created the
a whopping £4,100 for the Wolfson Rehabilitation Centre in Wimbledon.
Storks rugby team and friend Ortis Deley
James Stone, who was a patient at the Wolfson, and his family presented a
became the charity’s patron.”
cheque to sister Mary Holland and the fundraising team of
St George’s Hospital Charity.
Briggs family and friends raise
over £17,000 for First Touch
In October 2010, the family and friends of
Isla Briggs put together a team to run the
Royal Parks Half Marathon and raised more
than £17,000 for First Touch.
Incredible baby Isla was born four months
early, weighing just 470 grams. She has
spent several months on the neonatal unit
and has proven to be an amazing little
fighter.
Sarah Collins, First Touch charity manager,
said, “We are extremely grateful to the
Briggs family and friends for their enduring
support of First Touch and the
neonatal unit.”
20 the gazette