St George's News Feed

St George’s unable to proceed with St Helier merger

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust submitted a bid for a potential merger with St Helier Hospital in November 2011.

The board is clear that a merger between St George’s Healthcare and St Helier would be an excellent strategic opportunity, with the potential to bring significant improvements to the care of patients across southwest London and beyond.

After careful consideration the board has reached the conclusion that the current terms of the merger prevent us from proceeding further at this time.

The level of financial challenge facing hospitals in south west London, combined with the inability to pre-empt the outcome of a public consultation around the Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review, means this is not the right time for us to progress with the transaction.

We want to continue to build on the existing links that are in place for clinical services. We have identified a number of the potential benefits to patients that would occur from an acquisition which could also be delivered if the organisations remained separate legal entities which we shall continue to pursue.

We are particularly keen to develop the clinical and academic networks that span St George’s Healthcare and St Helier, and explore opportunities to establish new networks across services, to the benefit of patients.

A key priority for the trust is to achieve Foundation Trust (FT) status by 2014, and we will focus our efforts on achieving this. The board feels strongly that achieving FT status will strengthen the opportunities for St. George’s Healthcare and St Helier to work together in the future.

Wolfson move to start in March

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:00 GMT

After reviewing the outcomes of the recent Improving neurorehabilitation services in southwest London public consultation, St George’s Healthcare is moving ahead with plans to relocate services based at the Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre.

The trust’s long-term plan is to relocate the majority of the services currently provided at the Wolfson to Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton, with 10 beds provided at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, allowing patients who still have acute needs to begin their rehabilitation earlier.

Starting in March 2012 we will implement our interim plan and move the Wolfson services into temporary homes at Queen Mary’s and St George’s Hospitals. By vacating the Wolfson building we will be able to sell the site and use the proceeds of the sale to pay for the building work that is needed for the long-term plan.

Geoff Cloud, consultant physician and care group lead for neurorehabilitation, said:

“Our proposals to redesign neurorehabilitation services will provide improved facilities for patients and maintain the ethos and strong team approach of the current service which is rightly regarded as being first class.”

To read the independent report on the consultation and recommended next steps visit the consultation pages

Mayor officially opens new breast unit at St George's

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:00:00 GMT

The Rose Centre, a £4m state-of-the-art breast diagnostic unit, was officially opened at St George’s Hospital, London, on Thursday 19^th January by the Mayor of Wandsworth, Councillor Jane Cooper.

St George’s Hospital is a regional cancer centre and its clinical results for breast screening are among the best in London. The Rose Centre provides modern, high-quality services for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and other breast diseases. The unit is also home to South West London Breast Screening Service and St George’s National Breast Screening Training Centre.

Dr Louise Wilkinson, director of screening at St George’s, said: “The new centre opened its doors in October 2011 and we are seeing clear benefits for patients and staff. This sophisticated unit provides women with a modern, high-quality and efficient screening and diagnostic service in a calm and caring environment.

“Early detection of breast cancer is the key to successful treatment and the Rose Centre provides all the tests women need in one place at one time, and give them their results quickly. This helps reduce anxiety for patients and it allows the team to fully investigate any problems more efficiently.”

Our picture shows the Mayor of Wandsworth, Councillor Jane Cooper, with a breast biopsy machine

Visitors and patients can help keep Norovirus out of hospital

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Hospital, Tooting, is asking patients and visitors suffering with symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting (D&V) not to come into hospital and instead contact their GP or pharmacy.

Alison Robertson, director of nursing and infection control at St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, says: “People with symptoms of D&V could be suffering with Norovirus, a bug which is generally unpleasant but rarely serious for otherwise healthy people. It can, however, become a very serious illness for patients in hospital who are already weakened by other conditions.

“Norovirus is exceptionally infectious and passes easily from one person to the next. This is why people suffering with D&V must not come into hospital, including those with outpatient appointments.

"Friends and relatives with symptoms of the virus are asked not visit patients on our wards until they are no longer infectious – at least 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped. Visitors bringing the virus into the hospital will put vulnerable patients at risk.

“With schools and local businesses gearing back up again after the festive break, the community may experience a rise in infection rates. This is the time to be most vigilant and avoid passing the virus to friends and family.

“The advice for healthy adults suffering with the virus is to rest, drink plenty of water and let the illness run its course. People should speak to their GP, pharmacy or NHS Direct over the telephone if they need more guidance.”

More information

People showing the following symptoms should not come into hospital:

Nausea (feeling sick)
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Stomach pains or cramps
Headaches
Fever and tiredness

For further advice, people suffering with these symptoms are urged to call their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk). Symptoms should pass within 60 hours. The advice of doctor's is to rest, drink plenty of fluids and let the illness runs its own course.

Norovirus is the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis in England and Wales. Although relatively mild, Norovirus illness can occur at any age because immunity to it is not long-lasting. The syndrome is commonly referred to as "winter vomiting disease" due to its seasonality and typical symptoms. Outbreaks of Norovirus gastroenteritis are common in semi-closed environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships.

People with diarrhoea and vomiting should seek medical advice if their symptoms last more than 60 hours, or if they have a pre-existing medical condition.

Older people and children under 12 months old may also need to seek medical advice via their GP.

More information about winter vomiting and diarrhoea illnesses can be found on the Health Protection Agency website: www.hpa.org.uk

Daybreak comes to St George’s

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

ITV’s Daybreak breakfast programme featured live broadcasts from St George’s Hospital, London, on Friday 23rd December 2011.

The programme focused on frontline care and what it was like for parents and staff on the hospital’s neonatal unit at Christmas.

Our picture shows Daybreak presenter Dr Hilary Jones with Paul and Michelle Ryder whose son William is being cared for on the neonatal unit at St George’s Hospital

Wake up to St George’s

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

ITV’s Daybreak programme will include live broadcasts from St George’s Neonatal Unit on Friday 23rd December. The national breakfast programme is on air from 06.00 to 08.30hrs and reports from the hospital are expected to include interviews with staff, patients and their families and explore what hospital life is like during the festive period.

State-of-the-art medical training facility opens at St George’s

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

A new £350,000 state-of-the-art training facility was officially opened at the St George’s campus, southwest London, on 15th December by Niall Dickson, chief executive and registrar of the General Medical Council.

The Advanced Patient Simulator Centre, a joint project between St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust and St George’s, University of London, provides specialist training for healthcare professionals and students. It allows them to test their skills in practical scenarios based on real-life situations including surgical and medical emergencies. They work with computer-controlled patient manikins that realistically mimic a wide range of health problems. Trainers can remotely control the manikins, which include both adult and child models, to instantly change the scenarios and introduce new problems for the trainees to tackle.

Opening the centre, Niall Dickson said: "This is a glimpse of the future for medical education, and the fact that the unit attracts doctors from across Europe shows that it is at the cutting edge. We need facilities that enable medical students, doctors and other health professionals to learn clinical skills, to work in teams and to develop their techniques in a safe environment, and that is what the team at St George's is delivering.

“The ability to simulate accurately what really happens in the clinical situation has progressed by leaps and bounds and we need to embrace that technology across the NHS. St George's is leading the way."

The new centre will train around 2,500 people each year, including doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers and students, from St George’s as well as other London hospitals and universities. The project was funded by St George’s Hospital Charity, which also donated £150,000 for a new patient simulation manikin, one of the most advanced types available.

In picture (left to right): Nick Gosling, head of simulation and skills at the St George’s Advanced Patient Simulator Centre; Niall Dickson, chief executive and registrar of the General Medical Council; Diane Mark, chair of St George’s Hospital Charity; Councillor Jane Cooper, mayor of Wandsworth

People with winter bug urged to stay away from hospital

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

People suffering with the winter sickness bug Norovirus are being urged to stay away from hospital and instead contact their GP or pharmacy.

Norovirus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, is generally unpleasant but rarely serious. However, by bringing it into hospital, people could be putting vulnerable patients and healthcare workers at risk.

Symptoms of the virus tend to pass in one to two days but people can remain infectious for a further 48 hours. During this time, the illness can be easily spread from one person to another. Although the symptoms can be alarming, only in exceptional circumstances does the virus require hospital treatment.

Visitors to the hospital are being asked to wash hands with soap and water when entering and leaving wards and clinics to help keep the bug at bay.

Rick Holliman, Infection Control Doctor at St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, said:

"As a general rule, otherwise healthy adults suffering with diarrhoea and vomiting should not need to come to hospital for treatment. Anyone with concerns should seek telephone advice from their GP or NHS Direct.

"We appreciate that friends and relatives want to visit their loved-ones in hospital, but if they are suffering with any symptoms of this virus, they must stay away until they are no longer infectious - at least 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped. People bringing the virus into the hospital are putting vulnerable patients at risk."

-Ends-

For more information, please contact the Communications Unit on 020 8725 5151 or email communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk. Outside working hours, please page us by calling 0844 822 2888, leaving a short message and contact details for pager SG548.

People showing the following symptoms should not come into hospital:

nausea (feeling sick)
vomiting
diarrhoea
stomach pains or cramps
headaches
fever and tiredness

People with diarrhoea and vomiting should seek medical advice if their symptoms last more than 60 hours, or if they have a pre-existing medical condition.

Older people and children under 12 months old may also need to seek medical advice via their GP.

More information about winter vomiting and diarrhoea illnesses can be found on the Health Protection Agency website: www.hpa.org.uk

Panto brings sparkle to hospital children

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Children on St George’s Hospital’s paediatric wards enjoyed an early Christmas treat on 1^st December with a pantomime production of Aladdin by Starlight Children’s Foundation, as part of its Christmas of Happiness campaign.

Rosie Littleboy, lead play specialist at the hospital said: “"Christmas can be a really difficult time for children who are stuck in hospital. The pantomime provided some smiles and laughter for the children and their families and was a great way to start our festive activities.”

Our picture shows patient Tia Grace Ray with the Aladdin cast

BBC newsreader helps celebrate new family centred care role at St George’s Hospital

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Sophie Raworth is pictured with 10-year-old Katie Stevens, a `graduate` of the neonatal unit at St George’s Hospital.

BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth was the special guest at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, on 21st November, helping to celebrate the new family centred care (FCC) coordinator role created to provide support for families of premature and sick babies in southwest London.

(L-R) Lyndsey Hookway, family centred care coordinator, Sophie Raworth and Bobbie Everson, family centred care coordinator.

The full-time post is shared between Bobbie Everson and Lyndsey Hookway who are based on the hospital’s neonatal unit and work with families to provide information and support; ensuring that the very best care is delivered to parents at what is an extremely challenging and difficult time. The innovative role has been created by First Touch, St George’s neonatal unit charity, for whom Sophie Raworth is a patron and Bliss, the national special care baby charity. Both charities are working closely with St George’s Hospital and the South West London Perinatal Network.

St George’s mortality rates among the lowest in England

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust has been named as having one of the lowest mortality (death) rates in the country in an annual study published by Dr Foster, the independent healthcare intelligence group, on Monday 28^th November.

The Dr Foster Hospital Guide 2011 named St George’s Healthcare among trusts with a ‘better than expected’ outcome for Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR). Publication of the new NHS-wide summary hospital-level mortality indicator (SHMI) also shows the trust to have ‘lower than expected’ mortality. The SHMI measures the ratio of observed deaths to expected deaths and the trust is one of 14 identified as having the lowest mortality rates in England.

Miles Scott, trust chief executive, said: “The public can take confidence in the fact that our mortality rate is significantly lower than the national average. We were one of the first healthcare organisations anywhere to monitor mortality to ensure that we could understand the death rate for every individual area of practice. Our rates are published on our website and this approach ensures that we have the clearest possible picture to help us maintain low mortality rates.

“We are also pioneering new care for life-threatening conditions such as stroke. As one of eight hyper-acute stroke units (HASUs) serving London we ensure that patients get rapid access to specialist care. Across the capital the introduction of HASUs has resulted in the numbers of patients dying within seven days of admission to hospital falling by 25 per cent.”

St George’s consults on plans that will improve neurorehabilitation services

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust has today, Monday 28^th November 2011, launched a public consultation on its plans to develop its neurorehabilitation services designed to improve the care offered to patients in southwest London.

The trust is consulting on proposals to relocate the majority those services currently provided at the Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre, Wimbledon, to Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton. Patients who require more complex care provided would be treated in a dedicated neurorehabilitation facility to be based at St George’s Hospital, Tooting.

The trust’s plans have been designed by consultants, nurses and therapists following a detailed clinical review into how the services are currently provided. Clinicians have concluded that that moving the services to Queen Mary’s, a modern hospital designed for rehabilitation services, would provide the best clinical outcomes as well as being the most cost effective option. The Wolfson Centre, although home to an excellent service, dates back to the 1960s and is no longer fit for purpose. Modernisation costs of the centre would to be in the region of £16 million. The cost of the development work required at Queen Mary’s and St George’s Hospitals will be covered by selling the Wolfson site, with any excess funds being reinvested in frontline services.

Geoff Cloud, consultant physician and care group lead for neurorehabilitation at the trust, says:

“We are committed to delivering high quality neurorehabilitation services. We have the opportunity to look carefully at how we provide neurorehabilitation services in southwest London. Our long-term plan is to relocate the majority of the service currently provided at the Wolfson to Queen Mary’s where there is already a purpose built facility for rehabilitation services. This will improve accommodation provided to patients. In addition 10 beds would be provided at St George’s Hospital, allowing patients that still have acute needs to begin their neurorehabilitation earlier.”

It is expected that work at Queen Mary’s will take 18 - 24 months and in the interim period the trust will relocate 26 of the 32 Wolfson beds onto a vacant ward at St George’s Hospital and the remaining six beds to Queen Mary’s.

St George’s Healthcare has worked hard to involve patients, staff, health partners, local councils and local charities in the development of these plans, and over the coming month will be looking to discuss these plans further with local people.

The proposals to merge the services will be discussed at two public meetings during December:

7pm, Tuesday 6^th December 2011 at The Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre, Copse Hill, Wimbledon, London, SW20 0NQ
7pm, Wednesday 14^th December 2011 in the Barnes and Richmond rooms at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton Lane, Roehampton, London, SW15 5PN

The full consultation document and feedback form is available on the St George’s Healthcare website at www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/contactus

You can also let us know what you think about the proposed plans by calling 0800 310 1016, or writing to us at:

FREEPOST RSGZ-UJJH-THEB
Room 40.32 (Neuro)
Knightsbridge Wing
St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
Blackshaw Road
London SW17 0QT

Mum receives daughter’s kidney in St George’s first tissue incompatible kidney transplant

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:00:00 GMT

The transplant team at St George’s Hospital has performed its first tissue incompatible (also known as HLA incompatible) kidney transplant on a patient from London.

Debra Gouldbourne, from Catford, was born with a condition that caused her kidneys to fail and received her first kidney transplant in 1986. In 2010 this kidney also began to fail and Debra’s daughter Jade came forward as a potential donor.

Jade was tested as a match for Debra but, disappointingly, the results showed that her body would attempt to reject the organ. Despite this setback, innovative medicine and the support of a multi-disciplinary healthcare team meant the transplant could still go ahead.

Normally when a donor receives a tissue incompatible organ, the body’s immune system will attack the kidney with antibodies and cause it to fail. In Debra’s case a complex series of treatments successfully bypassed her body’s natural response, allowing her to accept the organ.

A month before her operation Debra was given an infusion which removed some of the white cells – cells responsible for producing antibodies and triggering an immune response – from her blood. She also went through a treatment known as double filtration plasma exchange, which reduced the unwanted antibodies already present in her bloodstream to very low levels.

The very low levels of antibodies in Debra’s bloodstream allowed the kidney to be accepted and, over four months after the transplant, Debra has fully recovered and there has been no sign of rejection. Though Debra will continue taking immunosuppressive medicines for the rest of her life, she is back to everyday life with normal kidney function.

Debra said: “Accepting a kidney from my daughter has been a very emotional experience for both of us. We spoke to each other over a long period of time and built up to the surgery together, so we shared a huge emotional journey as well as the physical recovery.”

Jade said: “I had always known that my mum was sick and may at some point need a transplant, so my brother and I had decided a long time ago that when the time came for another transplant the organ would come from one of us. Despite the disappointment of the compatibility tests I was determined that if there was a way to make it work we would try.

“The idea of donating a kidney was scary but the clinical team at St George’s were really reassuring and gave me great confidence. They really did everything they could to make both of us comfortable and keep us informed so that we understood what was happening. I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done for us.”

Both Debra and Jade are Jehovah’s Witnesses so cannot accept blood transfusions, which made the surgery more complicated, but overall a greater achievement.

Consultant renal transplant surgeon Mohamed Morsy (recipient surgeon) said: ”Debra’s faith dictates that she cannot receive any blood transfusions. Therefore a key challenge to the theatre team was making sure that we absolutely minimised blood loss during the operation. Though we put into place special measures in line with her faith to control blood loss, she bled very little which was the perfect result for us.

“The transplant went well in all aspects: removal of Jade’s kidney was very straightforward and likewise Debra’s operation went ahead successfully without complication.”

Consultant renal transplant surgeon and lead in antibody incompatible transplantation Nicos Kessaris (donor surgeon) said: “The surgery was a big success, but this is not a story about surgery alone. The preparation for surgery is what made this whole procedure possible and that is down to the talented multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, clinical scientists and surgeons we have at St George’s Hospital.

“Debra was perfectly prepared for the procedure when she reached the operating table. Suppressing her immune system so that she could successfully accept Jade’s kidney was very challenging and is a huge achievement for the team. It has led to a very positive outcome for Debra and her family and we are very pleased for them.”

It is believed that this first incompatible kidney transplant at St George’s Hospital is the only time in the world that the procedure has been conducted between two Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Public asked to think before heading to A&E

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Frontline clinicians at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, are urging local people to think carefully about the most appropriate place to go for healthcare this winter rather than heading straight for A&E. Alternative services include GP surgeries, minor injuries units, walk-in centres or community pharmacies where people will be seen quicker.

The hospital is home to one of the busiest A&E departments in the country, providing specialist treatment for life-threatening conditions. The hospital is also one of four major trauma centres in London which means that London Ambulance Service bring people with the most serious injuries straight to St George’s from across southwest London, Surrey and Sussex.

Phil Moss, clinical director for A&E says: "In A&E we are used to treating high numbers of patients all year round. While the majority of patients who come to A&E do require emergency care, there are still a significant number who could have gone elsewhere.

"As the winter sets in it is important that the public choose their health services carefully, to ensure that staff in our A&E department can focus on caring for those patients with serious, often life-threatening injuries."

The NHS choose well campaign helps to direct people to the most appropriate care. Advice is also available by calling NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. People with flu-like symptoms or who are suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting should stay away from hospital contact their GP or call NHS Direct.

For more information about what local health services are available visit www.nhs.uk.

Joint HR director for trust and university

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Wendy Gay has been appointed joint director of human resources at St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust and St George’s, University of London, and is expected to take up her new post in February 2012. The innovative appointment is part of a partnership programme that is focusing on closer working between the two organisations which share a main campus in Tooting, southwest London.

Wendy is currently director of workforce and education at Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust, a position she has held since 2005. Previous posts include director of human resources and organisational development at Bromley PCT (2003-2005), and head of employee relations at King’s College Hospital NHS Trust (1999-2003). Wendy also has a background in human resources within the mental health and charity sectors.

Professor Peter Kopelman, university principal, said: "We welcome Wendy to St George's team. This joint appointment affirms the strategic intention of both St George's Healthcare and St George's, University of London, to work closer together in a shared goal of providing the highest quality education, training, research and clinical care."

Miles Scott, trust chief executive, said: “This is a crucial role that will support the alignment of workforce planning, education and training across both organisations. It demonstrates a joint commitment to attracting, supporting and developing the most talented workforce in an efficient way."

St George's Healthcare to host diabetes chat on Twitter

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:00:00 GMT

On Monday 14th November (World Diabetes Day) St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, will be hosting a chat on Twitter with Dr Roni Sharvanu Saha, consultant in acute medicine, diabetes and endocrinology, to raise awareness of diabetes, a condition which affects more than 2.8 million people in the UK.

The chat will give participants the chance to find out more about the condition and the diabetes services provided by St George's Healthcare. Participants will also hear about the diabetes resources available on the internet and have their questions answered by Dr Saha. Those wishing to participate are asked to send topics in advance to ftassistant@stgeorges.nhs.uk.

The chat will take place from 12:45hrs to 13:45hrs on Twitter via the #sghwdd hashtag. To ensure all participants see your tweets include "#sghwdd" in your messages.

St George’s Healthcare is committed to developing its engagement with trust members, patients and staff and it is hoped that this new initiative using Twitter will broaden our audience reach.

Talking about the upcoming Twitter chat Dr Saha said: "The Twitter chat will give those who may not be able to come to the event on the 16th November a chance to discuss diabetes with myself, other diabetes patients and patient groups. I look forward to the discussion and to finding out how people with diabetes are using Twitter to support each other."

In addition to the Twitter chat Dr Natasha Patel, consultant in acute medicine and diabetes, will present a talk on diabetes on Wednesday 16th November in lecture theatre F, 1st floor Hunter Wing and Hyde Park Room, 1st floor Lanesborough Wing at St George’s Hospital, Tooting. To find out more about this and other events for trust members visit the foundation trust section of the St George's Healthcare website.

New specialist staff will improve care for St George’s sickle cell patients

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Two new specialist appointments made at St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust during September will bring improved care for local sickle cell patients. Dr Elizabeth Rhodes has joined the trust as sickle cell haematology consultant ensuring that patients living with this life-long condition will receive stabilised and consistent care. Dr Penelope Cream has been appointed as clinical health psychologist, a role that is crucial in supporting patients in the management of their condition as well as dealing with the chronic and acute pain.

Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited, life-long disease and is the most common of the hereditary blood disorders. Red blood cells are produced by stem cells within the marrow found inside the bones. Healthy red blood cells are biconcaved discs which can bend and flex easily. In those with sickle cell disease, faulty stem cells produce red blood cells that are crescent shaped. These are rigid, unable to squeeze through smaller blood vessels, and prone to causing blockages that deprive parts of the body of oxygen, leading to periods of intense pain.

Ros Given-Wilson, the trust’s medical director, said: “We are transforming our sickle cell services, working closely with NHS Wandsworth, community nurses and GPs to deliver a multi-disciplinary service with more care delivered closer to patients’ homes. This will mean that only those patients with the most complex healthcare needs will come into hospital.”

St George’s introduces website advertising

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:00:00 GMT

During October St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, will introduce advertising onto its website, www.stgeorges.nhs.uk, helping to support the production of high quality information for patients and visitors.

The adverts will appear in a way that does not impact on the experience of website users and the trust will retain the right to decline any that it considers to be unsuitable. For example, adverts for tobacco products, alcohol, gambling and political parties will not be allowed to feature.

Jean-Pierre Moser, the trust’s director of communications, said: “With around 400,000 visits to our website each year this initiative will provide an opportunity for local businesses to reach a wider audience and at the same time enable the trust to raise additional income.

“St George’s Healthcare is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, providing care across hospital, community and specialist settings. Income raised from this initiative will be used to develop information for patients and visitors about the trust and its services.”

Pioneering stem cell treatment for sickle cell is a UK first

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:00:00 GMT

A pioneering stem cell transplant treatment used for sickle cell patients has been successful in curing 23-year-old Remmy Kamya of this crippling disease. The treatment, which is a UK first, was led by Dr Mickey Koh, director of stem cell transplants and consultant haematologist at St George’s Hospital in London.

Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited, lifelong disease and is the most common of the hereditary blood disorders. Red blood cells are produced by stem cells within the marrow found inside the bones. Healthy red blood cells are biconcaved discs which can bend and flex easily. In those with sickle cell disease, faulty stem cells produce red blood cells that are crescent shaped. These are rigid, unable to squeeze through smaller blood vessels, and prone to causing blockages that deprive parts of the body of oxygen, leading to periods of intense pain.

Management of sickle cell disease has always focused on treating symptoms with the only cure up until now being a stem cell transplant, where the abnormal red blood cells are replaced with new healthy ones from a donor. To do this, high levels of chemotherapy are given to the patient to kill off the unhealthy blood cells and to ensure that the donor’s tissue is not rejected. For this reason these transplants are often restricted to children as the levels of chemotherapy may be too toxic for an adult, especially if their organs are already affected from the disease.

The new procedure is novel because it does not use any chemotherapy in the transplant regimen. Instead, it relies on low dose radiotherapy and antibody which modulates the immune system. This makes the treatment tolerable to the patient while minimising potential serious complications from the transplant. This treatment was initially pioneered in America.

Mickey said: “This is an exciting development as it opens up the possibility for more patients affected by this disease to be potentially cured by a transplant. This novel chemotherapy-free regimen was well tolerated and successful in terms of graft acceptance and the absence of serious post transplant complications.”

After his referral, Remmy’s family was tested for a suitable donor and his brother came up as a match. He spent around a month in hospital for the transplant as his immune system was quite low. Following the transplant, the new stem cells from the brother have grown well and tests have revealed that his red cells are being replaced by his brother’s.

Six months on from his transplant, Remmy feels like he leads a normal life now. He said: “I am less tired and have not suffered a sickle cell crisis since!”

Robert back on his feet thanks to St George’s major trauma services

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Last year single parent Robert Williamson lay in a road with a shattered pelvis, crushed bowel and dislocated hips, wondering if he would ever walk again. Just 12 months later Robert is back on his feet after being taken to St George’s Hospital immediately following his accident.

He had been involved in a serious motorcycle accident in Streatham Hill which saw him collide with a central reservation, propelled more than 10 feet up in the air, and end up under the wheels of a 17 tonne lorry – which ran over him twice.

Robert, from Balham, is one of 58 people whose lives were saved in the last year thanks to the capital’s four major trauma centres. St George’s Hospital is the major trauma centre for the South West London and Surrey Trauma Network and has all the specialist staff and state-of-the-art facilities to care for patients suffering life-threatening injuries, such as stabbings, gunshot wounds and serious road traffic accidents.

The trauma system was launched a year ago in London to improve care for the most urgent life threatening cases by providing immediate access to diagnostic scans and technology, as well as consultants who are available 24/7 to treat critically ill patients, to save lives and reduce the risk of permanent disability.

X-rays of Robert’s pelvis immediately after the accident showed it was completely shattered and he has had around 20 operations since. He still has two screws in his legs and is having regular physiotherapy to further improve his movement in advance of another operation at the end of this year.

Robert said: “Initially the doctors told me that if I was able to walk again I would definitely have a severe limp.

“Fortunately that isn’t the case now, but it was very bleak at the time – I had a lot of extreme pain. If I didn’t have access to the major trauma centre I might not be walking at this point. It’s incredibly important to me. I’m sure most people want to be like me and on the way back to their full health and ability after something like this, and I put this down to the trauma team.”

“My aim now is to get back my health then hopefully get back to work and try and return to a normal life again. I think being sent to a major trauma centre made a difference. If I hadn’t had access to the specialist consultant and the team around me, including the nurses, I don’t think I would be where I am now.”

Martin Bircher, consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon at St George’s, who operated on Robert, said the type of open pelvic fracture Robert suffered, where there may be contact with the skin or internal organs, is one of the most dangerous. He said: “When I started treating these sorts of injuries in the late 1980s, the mortality was approaching 50 per cent.

“The concept of getting the right patient to the right hospital as quickly as possible has now become a reality for trauma patients across London. Through the tremendous team work of everybody from roadside to major trauma unit and beyond, Robert’s life was saved and his long term disability reduced. He has also to be congratulated on his amazing bravery and fortitude that not only has inspired us at St George’s but also helped other patients on the trauma unit while he was in.”

St George’s celebrates 40 years of CT scanning

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:00:00 GMT

It was hailed as the biggest medical breakthrough since the stethoscope and the discovery of x-rays. This month, October 2011, St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust celebrates 40 years since the very first clinical use of computed tomography (CT).

CT scanning is a non-invasive medical imaging method, used to create 3D images of human organs. A CT scanner sends x-rays from one side of an object to the other, allowing it to calculate the density of the object it scans. The technology creates an image ‘slice’ by measuring an object’s ability to block the x-ray beam. These slices are assembled together and the 3D image produced allows clinicians to identify different tissues in the body, such as bone, muscle and tumours.

The world’s first CT scan on a patient was carried out at Atkinson Morley Hospital, in Wimbledon, now part of St George’s Hospital, on 1st October 1971. It was a brain scan performed by Sir Godfrey Hounsfield and Dr Jamie Ambrose, consultant radiologist. Sir Godfrey was subsequently awarded the 1979 Nobel Prize in Medicine. CT scanning was a revolutionary technology that dramatically improved patient safety by providing a non-invasive method to diagnose illness.

CT scanning remains a core service in the NHS today and St George’s Hospital’s Atkinson Morley Wing, named after the hospital which closed in 2003, is still home to some of the most advanced scanning equipment in the country. The hospital has three further scanners, including the newest in the Accident and Emergency Department which provides ultra fast scanning for patients that need immediate treatment following a major injury or stroke.

The earliest CT scanners took several minutes to create a still image slice of the body in the 1970s. The most modern machines take just seconds to scan the whole body today. The technology can now provide 3D images, and is so fast that in many instances it can replace more invasive tests, such as angiography.

Jane Adam, consultant radiologist at St George’s Hospital, said: “It is hard to overestimate what an absolute revolution CT was for medicine. Before CT, only really x-ray imaging was available, which could show the bones and lungs, but little else in detail. When the first CT scan was used, the brain tissue inside the skull could be visualised for the first time, and it was soon realised that CT could be used to see the rest of the organs of the body as well.

“Sir Godfrey Hounsfield was an interesting man and an amazing scientist, although personally unassuming and modest. Whenever he travelled, however, he insisted on sticking with the UK clock, so even in America he would hold meetings at UK times. He understood how important it would be to visualise the internal organs to understand disease. He lived to see his invention revolutionise medicine and contribute immensely to patient care. We have much to thank him for.’’

Soaring temperature leads to record attendance at St George’s A&E

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:00:00 GMT

The accident and emergency (A&E) department at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, experienced record attendances during the early October heat wave treating nearly 1200 patients between Saturday 1st October and Monday 3rd October – a record for the time of year.

Phil Moss, clinical director for A&E and major trauma, said: “The A&E department at St George’s is the busiest in London, so we are used to treating high numbers of patients all year round and our average is normally around 330 a day. However, the numbers we saw as a result of the hot October weather were well beyond the levels we would expect, with 424 patients attending on Monday 3rd October alone.

“Our A&E department saw an increase in alcohol related injuries and such patients often take longer to treat because communication can be difficult. We also saw an increase in minor and serious injuries to both children and adults caused by increased out-door sporting activities, road traffic accidents and falls from height. We also saw more elderly patients who were affected by the sudden high temperatures, leading to problems such as dehydration.

“Though many people needed emergency care, there was a large number who could have gone to a minor injuries unit, walk-in-centre, GP or community pharmacy for treatment. As the winter approaches it becomes increasingly important that the public to choose their health services carefully, to ensure that staff at A&E departments can focus on caring for patients with serious, often life-threatening injuries.”

For more information about what local health services are available visit www.nhs.uk.

Macmillan information and support centre officially opened at St George’s Hospital

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

On 21^st September, the new Macmillan information and support centre for patients, carers and families affected by cancer at St George’s Hospital was officially opened by Cllr Mrs Jane Cooper, Mayor of Wandsworth and Chris Cotton, chief executive, Royal Albert Hall and former patient of the hospital.

The centre provides essential free information and support for anyone affected by cancer and is staffed by two specialist nurses; a Macmillan cancer information manager and a Macmillan cancer information officer, who are available to answer any questions. Patients or carers can drop in, without the need to make an appointment.

Chris Cotton said: “as a former patient of St George’s, I know this is a fantastic service that will make a difference to cancer patients and their loved ones through the vital information that is provided at this centre.”

Beverley van der Molen, Macmillan information and support manager for the centre, said: “Since opening our doors in July we have already supported more than 200 people affected by cancer find the information and support they needed. Many people appreciate being able to talk about their emotional, physical, practical or financial concerns in a welcoming environment.”

The centre is open from Monday to Friday, and the hours vary to complement the clinic times.

Left to right: Chris Lewis, member of Improving the Cancer Experience (ICE) group; Chris cotton, chief executive, Royal Albert Hall and former patient; Beverley van der Molen, information and support manager for the centre; Cllr Mrs Jane Cooper, Mayor of Wandsworth and Carol Fenton, Macmillan general manager for London, Anglia and the South East.

Public meeting to discuss potential integration with St Helier Hospital – Thursday 6th October

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

The next public meeting to discuss the potential integration of St George’s Healthcare with St Helier Hospital, including Sutton Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children, will take place on Thursday 6^th October 2011.

The meeting will take place in the Whitehall Lecture Theatre at St Helier Hospital from 18:15 to 20:00hrs.

The meeting will be hosted by a panel including Peter Coles, interim chief executive, Dr Mike Bailey, clinical lead for St Helier integration, Dr Andy Kent, dean of education at St George’s, University of London, and Sarah Wilton, non-executive director.

The panel will give the audience an insight into St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, why we are bidding for integration, where we are with our bid and the existing clinical and academic links between the two organisations, before taking questions from the floor.

Local people can help us develop our bid by sharing their views on the potential integration and letting us know what concerns they may have.

Anybody who would like to attend the meeting should complete the registration form at www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/aboutsthelier.asp

Take part online

Anybody unable to make it to the meeting can still follow and participate in the event online on our website and Twitter.

A live text version of the event will be available on our website from 18:15hrs on Thursday 6^th October at www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/aboutsthelier.asp You can sign up for a reminder that the event is going to start on the same page.

To take part on Twitter use the #sghbid hashtag.

You can also let us know what you think of the potential integration of St George’s Healthcare with St Helier Hospital by completing the feedback form on our website.

St George’s Healthcare appoints new chief executive

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

The board of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, London, has appointed Miles Scott as its new chief executive. Miles, who has been chief executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since August 2005, is expected to take up his new post by January 2012.

Before joining Bradford Teaching Hospitals Miles was chief executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust for four years. He started his NHS career on the General Management Training Scheme in 1988 after graduating from Cambridge University with a degree in History. His career in the NHS has encompassed acute, community and mental health services, the King’s Fund and Trent Regional Office. Miles is currently vice chairman of the Foundation Trust Network Board, chair of the West Yorkshire Comprehensive Local Research Network and a member of the GMC Undergraduate Board.

Speaking about his appointment Miles said: “I am delighted to be joining St George’s Healthcare at what is an exciting and challenging time for the trust. This is an organisation with a proud history and a strong track record of leading-edge healthcare delivery and development.

“In my new role I am determined to maintain and enhance the trust’s commitment to providing quality care to its patients. As a major trauma centre, hyper-acute stroke unit and centre of excellence for cancer, cardiac and women’s and children’s services the trust has a key role to play in the development of NHS services in southwest London. The recent integration with community services Wandsworth presents some real opportunities for developing new services for patients that can be delivered away from hospital and closer to home.

“The long-term future of St George’s Healthcare is dependent on it becoming a foundation trust and I look forward to working with the board and staff to achieve this. It is also important for the trust to build strong alliances with local NHS organisations and to develop its partnership with St George’s, University of London.”

Welcoming the appointment on behalf of the trust board Naaz Coker, chair, said: “Miles has a wealth of NHS experience and his knowledge and understanding of what it takes to operate a successful foundation trust will be crucial in helping us to achieve our long-term vision and goals. We warmly welcome him to the St George’s Healthcare team.”

Autumn issue Membership Matters out now

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

The autumn issue of Membership Matters, the publication for St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust’s members, is out now.

This latest issue contains information about the trust’s potential integration with St Helier Hospital and a reflection from Naaz Coker, trust chair, as she comes to the end of her term in office. Membership Matters also includes information about future member events which are free to attend and cover a range of subjects including infection control (superbugs) and diabetes.

To find out more about becoming a member of St George’s Healthcare visit our foundation trust pages.

Mayor officially opens St George’s £1.4m resuscitation unit

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Mayor of Wandsworth, Cllr Mrs Jane Cooper, officially opened the new £1.4m resuscitation unit at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, on 16th September.

The unit, the most modern in London, has been expanded and refurbished as part of the hospital’s development as a major trauma centre. The new facility provides eight resuscitation bays each with a large bed space to allow emergency care staff to manage the most complex of cases. The unit also houses a dedicated overhead x-ray system built into the ceiling of the department.

The Mayor of Wandsworth toured the whole of the accident and emergency department at St George’s before officially opening the new unit. She said, “The people of Wandsworth should be proud that this state-of-the-art facility is based at St George’s Hospital. As a major trauma unit the hospital cares for patients who are in need of urgent and specialist care. In visiting the A&E department, I was struck by the professionalism and dedication of all the staff that I met.”

Photo: Phil Moss, clinical director for A&E, and Heather Jarman, consultant nurse in emergency care, demonstrate to the Mayor of Wandsworth how the new overhead x-ray system works.

New chair for St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

The Appointments Commission has announced the appointment of Christopher Smallwood as the new chair of St George's Healthcare NHS Trust. He will take up his position from 1st November 2011 and succeeds Naaz Coker who has come to the end of her eight year term of office.

Christopher has extensive NHS experience having previously been chair of Kingston Hospital NHS Trust and prior to that, chair of NHS Hounslow. He is a policy adviser to The Prince’s Charities and until 2005, was economic adviser to Barclays plc, following several years as a partner at the City consultancy Makinson Cowell. Christopher has also worked at TSB Group as strategic development director and chief economist. He was economics editor of The Sunday Times and chief economist and head of financial strategy and planning for BP. He has been an economic adviser to HM Treasury and a special adviser at the Cabinet Office. He was also, until recently, a member of the Competition Commission.

Speaking about his appointment, Christopher said: “I am delighted to be joining St George's Healthcare at this crucial and exciting time and I look forward to working with the board and staff as the trust continues to develop its services to meet the needs of the modern NHS. The trust has a significant role to play in ensuring that the public in southwest London continue to have access to first class healthcare services in hospital and community settings. I would like to pay tribute to Naaz Coker for her leadership over the last eight years during which time the trust has become established as a major trauma centre and hyper-acute stroke unit, significantly improved its quality and safety of care, successfully integrated with community services Wandsworth and worked to improve its financial position.”

Naaz Coker said: “I would like to congratulate Christopher on his appointment as Chairman of St George’s Healthcare. I have been proud to serve St George’s over the past eight years and wish him every success for the future as he steers the trust towards Foundation Trust status and in enhancing its position as a key player in the southwest London healthcare economy.”

St George’s showcases its main entrance during Open House London Weekend

Fri, 9 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George's Hospital, Tooting, is participating in the Open House London Weekend on 17th and 18th September by showcasing the Grosvenor Wing main entrance.

St George’s Open House day will run from 10:00hrs -16:00hrs and architect Sylwia Nyga from Gibberd Architects, artist Rebecca Salter and landscape designers Charles Funke will be present to talk about their work. Visitors can enjoy a 30 minute guided tour at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30 and 15:30.

Sharon Welby, assistant director capital projects, said: “We are delighted with the invitation to showcase our main entrance; a project we are extremely proud of. The redesign of the main entrance interior and gardens creates a surprising and highly visible new approach to the hospital. It is a light, welcoming space that retains the reassurance of arriving at one of the country’s principal teaching hospitals and we look forward to explaining the design process to visitors.”

Grosvenor Wing main entrance

Living our values - St George's Healthcare Annual Report 2010/11

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust has published its 2010/11 annual report and accounts.

The report highlights how the trust is living its values, launched in April 2010 – excellent, kind, responsible, respectful - which set out the standards of behaviour expected throughout the organisation.

The report also looks at some of the key achievements of the past year, including the establishment of St George’s Hospital as a major-trauma-centre and hyper-acute-stroke-unit, and integration with Community Services Wandsworth.

Interim chief executive Peter Coles said:

“I hope people will enjoy reading about how our staff are living our values and our achievements during 2010/11. The past year has given us much to be proud of many exciting developments that have helped to strengthen the trust’s reputation as a leading provider of world class care, whilst the trust has recorded a financial surplus for the fourth year in a row.

“St George’s Hospital was rated the best in the country for stroke services and the opening of the hyper-acute-stroke-unit which provides round the clock access to emergency stroke care for patients from across southwest London and Surrey. The last 12 months have also seen St George’s Hospital established as the major trauma centre for southwest London, dealing with around 85 of the most serious and complex injuries each month.

“In October 2010 the trust also become responsible for delivering a range of specialist community services provided across the borough and in people’s homes following our integration with Community Services Wandsworth. This merger is giving us the opportunity to deliver redesign services and 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.”

The annual report is available on the St George’s Healthcare website at www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/annual/ Summary copies can be requested by emailing communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk or calling 020 8725 5151.

St George’s cardiac arrest survival rate among best in London

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:00:00 GMT

The survival rate of patients brought to St George’s Hospital having suffered a cardiac arrest is in the top two in London, according to statistics published by London Ambulance Service in August.

The annual study examines survival rates across the capital and found that between August 2010 and July 2011 the survival rate of patients brought to St George’s Hospital was 15.4 per cent (16/104). This is the second year running that the hospital has been in the top two out of more than 30 hospitals included in the report.

Paula McLean, resuscitation service manager, said: “These statistics are encouraging and demonstrate that the service provided at St George’s is among the best anywhere. The figures represent patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest outside of hospital – at home or at work, for instance – so their hearts stopped beating prior to getting into hospital, which is very serious.

“The survival rate at St George’s is the result of complex teamwork between several departments, including A&E, cardiology, resuscitation services and intensive care, combined with the latest technologies. This ensures that patients receive specialist attention as quickly as possible, which ultimately saves lives.

“A specialist heart attack team was set up at the hospital in July, which will help to coordinate the care of patients suffering heart related illnesses even more efficiently. We are expecting this to have a positive impact on patient survival rates for heart attacks and cardiac arrest in future.”

St George's Hospital has one of the biggest cardiology units in the country. It provides emergency care, diagnosis, medical treatment and outpatient services for all heart disorders. This includes heart attacks, heart failure, heart valve disease, heart muscle disease, congenital heart defects, high blood pressure and arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). The hospital is the heart attack centre for southwest London, providing a 24-hour emergency angioplasty service, enabling life-saving treatment to be given to heart attack patients.

St George’s Healthcare’s Annual General Meeting 2011

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare’s 2011 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Thursday 29th September starting at 18.00hrs.

The evening will include presentations looking back at 2010/11 and forward to the year ahead. Staff will then make short presentations about key areas of work and patients will be invited to share their experiences. After questions and comments to the trust chair, the meeting will end with the presentation of our annual Special Achievement Awards for staff who have made an outstanding contribution in the past year. Light refreshments will be served at the end of the AGM.

Naaz Coker, St George’s Healthcare chair, said: “2010/11 was a year of significant developments for the trust including becoming operational as a major trauma centre and hyper-acute stroke unit and integrating with community services Wandsworth. Our consultation to become a Foundation Trust (FT) was also launched and to date we have over 11,000 members. Our financial position remained challenging and going forward we must address this if we are to achieve FT status by 2013.”

The meeting will take place in the Monckton Theatre, ground floor, Grosvenor Wing, St George’s Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, SW17 OQT.

Share your thoughts on our potential integration with St Helier Hospital

Fri, 5 Aug 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust has been invited to formally bid to integrate with St Helier Hospital, including Sutton Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children.

To help us develop our bid we would like to invite local stakeholders to share their views with us at a special meeting to be on Thursday 18th August 2011 from 18.00hrs to 20.00hrs.

The event will take place in the Hyde Park Room on the 1st floor of the Lanesborough Wing at St George’s Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting SW17 OQT. It will be hosted by Naaz Coker, trust chair; Peter Coles, interim chief executive; Mike Bailey, consultant urologist; and Alison Robertson, director of nursing and patient safety.

This event will be a great opportunity to find out more about St George’s Healthcare and to put your views about the potential integration with St Helier Hospital.

Please fill out our online form to register your interest in attending this event

Pioneering healthcare project tailors care around young people in Wandsworth

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Helpful team: (l-r) Julia Charsley, Macmillan cancer information officer, Beverley van der Molen, Macmillan Information manager and June Allen, Macmillan lead cancer nurse

A new Macmillan information and support centre for patients, carers and families affected by cancer open its doors at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, yesterday.

The centre, located on the ground floor of Grosvenor Wing, will provide vital free information and support for anyone affected by cancer, whether they are worried they may have the disease, during treatment or whilst adjusting to life afterwards. The relaxed and informal space will include a main area offering information booklets and leaflets and a quiet room.

There will be a large screen with a keyboard so patients will be able to access helpful websites, as well two specialist staff, a Macmillan cancer information manager and a Macmillan cancer information officer, on hand to answer any questions. Patients or carers can drop in, without the need to make an appointment.

The centre is being funded with money awarded from Macmillan, after St George’s Macmillan lead cancer nurse, June Allen, and Beverley van der Molen, Macmillan Information manager made a ‘case of need’ bid to the charity.

June said: “I’m thrilled that Macmillan has supported the development of this new centre. We know from feedback that our cancer patients have been asking for a dedicated cancer information centre at St George’s hospital.

“When you’re living with cancer, having the right kind of information and someone to talk to when you need it is essential, as it helps you make informed choices about your treatment and care and takes away some of the uncertainty and fear. By having the Macmillan cancer information centre it offers greater flexibility to our patients and their family at a time when they are feeling most anxious.”

The centre will be open Monday to Friday, and the hours will vary to complement the clinic times.

Questions answered: The Macmillan information and support centre holds information booklets and leaflets and a quiet space to read them

St George’s Hospital leads the way in shortening patient stays

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 09:00:00 GMT

An innovative change in the way cancer services are provided at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, means patients can go home sooner after surgery.

The trust is one of only 13 pilot sites in England working in collaboration with NHS Improvement to take forward the day case or overnight stay discharge model for women receiving breast surgery.

This innovative approach means that many patients are able to have surgery and return home on the same or next day. This is suitable for the two out of three breast cancer patients who do not need complex reconstructive surgery.

Dibyesh Banerjee, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon, said: “Patients who come for breast surgery tend to be aged between 50 and 60 and are usually fit and well, so there is no medical reason why they should not go home on the same day.

“Discharging patients earlier reduces inpatient stays and improves patient recovery. It also helps patients avoid deep vein thrombosis and hospital acquired infections, such as MRSA, which are often associated with increased length of stay.”

In the past patients might have been in hospital for up to six days, receiving pre- and post-operative assessments and aftercare, before they were allowed to return home. Under the new model, patients are communicated with well in advance of their operation in an extended pre-operative assessment and their aftercare is provided by community nurses in their own home.

The latest data shows that St George’s Hospital is leading the way for southwest London, treating 83 per cent of eligible patients under this model. None of the patients discharged within 23 hours were readmitted within 30 days Mr Banerjee stresses that patient safety is always paramount: “Patients are only discharged if it is safe for them to go home. Once they get home they are not left to their own devices – they are supported by a named Macmillan breast care nurse or district nurses in their own homes.”

Felicity Surridge, service improvement project manager for the South West London Cancer Network, said: “This is an excellent achievement by St George’s breast unit. They have managed to reduce average length of stay for all breast patients from more than five days, prior to implementation of the model, to two days. Overall, it is a fantastic achievement by the team.”

Celia Ingham Clark, clinical lead at NHS Improvement, said: “St George’s has shown what can be achieved and their work has contributed to building the evidence base that the day case or overnight model of care does not compromise quality, is safe and patients like it. NHS Improvement is keen to show the excellent work witnessed at St George’s and throughout the rest of the sites in relation to sharing of best practice to all hospitals.”

Better Services Better Value events

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 09:00:00 GMT

NHS South West London are organising two events to discuss the Better Services Better Value review of health services in South West London. These events are aimed at individuals and groups who have a particular interest in health, like Local Involvement Networks (LINks), local councillors and patient groups. The details of the events are as follows:

1.15 – 5pm, Tuesday 12 July 2011
Sutton Salvation Army
45 Benhill Avenue
Sutton SM1 4DD

5.15 – 9pm, Thursday 14 July 2011
Antoinette Hotel
Beaufort Road
Kingston-upon-Thames KT1 2TQ

At these events you will have the opportunity to hear from clinicians who are leading the review about their findings to date, and to feed back your views on health services in south west London.

If you would like to attend, you will need to complete a booking form. For more information please contact Holly Wild on 020 8251 0512 or email holly.wild@nhs.net

This is the very beginning of the Better Services Better Value review and there will be more events in the coming months.

For more information go to www.southwestlondon.nhs.uk or follow the review on twitter: @NHSSWLondon or facebook: www.facebook.com/BetterServicesBetterValue

Public pick rose for new breast unit

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:00:00 GMT

A public campaign to name a new breast diagnostic unit at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, attracted nearly 400 votes, of which more that 50 per cent were for the “Rose Centre.”

The Rose Centre, due to open in October 2011, will be named after breast cancer research pioneer Rose Kushner. As a stand-alone facility, the centre will provide patients with a modern, high-quality and efficient screening and diagnostic service, in a calm and caring environment.

St George's Hospital is a regional cancer centre and its clinical results for breast screening are among the best in London. The hospital is also host to the South West London Breast Screening Service and St George's National Breast Screening Training Centre.

Ros Given-Wilson, medical director at St George's, said: "Early detection of breast cancer is the key to successful treatment and the Rose Centre will provide all the tests patients need in one place at one time, and give them their results quickly."

St George's Healthcare quality account 2010/11 now online

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare has published it's quality account for 2010/11. The quality account examines all information relating to quality at St George’s Healthcare, allowing the trust Board, and the public, to identify where the trust performs well in relation to quality and where improvement is needed.

The quality account also helps make St George's Healthcare more transparent as an organisation and allows our patients, staff, local commissioners, other NHS bodies and our local community understand how we perform and where we are learning from the continual review of our services to deliver better, safer healthcare.

The quality account is available to read online as an interactive microsite, or you can download a PDF version of the quality account.

We'd like to hear your views on the quality account. We've set up a short survey that allows you to feedback on your thoughts of the quality account.

First St George’s community open day celebrates a Tooting success story

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:00:00 GMT

A visitor trying her hand at bandaging an arm

Around 2000 people enjoyed St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust and St George’s, University of London’s first community open day, which took place on Saturday 18th June.

The day was officially opened by the Mayor of Wandsworth Cllr Jane Cooper, while the Rt Hon Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting, was also on hand to lend his support.

Visitors were able to go on tours of the hospital to get the inside view of CT body scanning and state-of-the-art robotic surgery. Staff from across the hospital and university were also available on over 50 stands to showcase key services, provide advice on healthy living, and offer information about healthcare career opportunities.

Dr Matthew Szarko, lecturer in medical education, anatomical sciences, explaining the anatomy of the eyes to a young visitor

University students provided demonstrations of healthcare skills, while researchers provided an insight into the working science of the human body and demonstrated aspects of their cutting-edge medical and health sciences work.

As well as all the science and healthcare activities, family entertainment included juggling lessons, face painting, and street theatre performances.

Professor Peter Kopelman, principal of St George’s, University of London, said: “It was a memorable occasion that showcased the past achievements of the hospital and university, the current close partnership and future ambitions.

“There was great interest from visitors in the stands and exhibitions on show. It was a privilege to be able to show people what we do here, as well as give them the chance to experience practical aspects of medicine and healthcare themselves.”

Naaz Coker, chair of St George’s Healthcare, added: “I thank everyone who came along, and look forward to welcoming back the community to future events to celebrate the ‘greater St George’s’.”

One of the stand holders

Breastfeeding Awareness Week 2011

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare staff will be out in force at Southside Shopping Centre between 10.30 and 15.00hrs on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th June 2011 to help Wandsworth’s shoppers with all their breastfeeding queries as part of Breastfeeding Awareness Week 2011 and hand out breastfeeding information and freebies.

A team of health visitors, nursery and community nurses and dieticians will be running an information stand signposting all the breastfeeding support available for people in Wandsworth and answering any questions Wandsworth’s shoppers have about breastfeeding.

Helen Simpson, breastfeeding specialist health visitor, said: “Many mothers and babies breastfeed well from the beginning but for others it can take a little longer to learn. Midwives, health visitors and nursery and community nurses can provide mums with information, support and encouragement.”

The St George’s Healthcare health visiting teams have established a series of breastfeeding groups across the borough to support new mums. These groups are for socialising and meeting other mums, no matter what age or stage of breastfeeding. A health professional or peer supporter is on hand at each group to answer questions on breastfeeding. The groups give mums a chance to get out the house and meet other mums in a friendly and informal environment, are free, and you do not have to book, just drop-in during the open hours.

In addition to the breastfeeding groups a growing number of breastfeeding welcome cafés and restaurants in Wandsworth have been established over the last 18 months to make new mums feel more at ease when breastfeeding whilst out and about. These establishments have been approved by the local NHS as breastfeeding friendly and should provide a comfortable environment in which young mums can breastfeed. Look out for the Breastfeeding Welcome badge in the window of your local eatery.

Visit the Wandsworth Little Feet website, the one-stop-shop for mums and dads full of information on pregnancy, breastfeeding and weaning, at www.wandsworthlittlefeet.nhs.uk

Review to look at Better Services, Better Value in southwest London

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George's Hospital is a regional cancer centre and its clinical results for breast screening are among the best in London. To modernise the service a stand-alone facility providing state-of-the-art technology for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and other breast diseases is under development and we’re inviting our patients and the public to vote on its name.

Opening later this year, it will be a sophisticated unit, providing patients with a modern, high-quality and efficient screening and diagnostic service, in a calm and caring environment. The new unit's fully integrated digital equipment will improve the efficiency of the screening process, allowing more patients to be screened and making rapid access to further diagnostic tests available.

Our staff have come up with some names for the new unit and we’re inviting you to vote on the one you like the most. The name with the largest number of votes on Monday 20th June will be the winner.

The choices are as follows:

Wandle Valley Unit

Local residents will be familiar with the green spaces, river and wildlife associated with Wandle Valley. Wandle Valley encompasses a large area in southwest London, including Battersea, Putney, Colliers Wood, Morden, Carshalton and Purley.

This is the main patient catchment area for the new breast screening and diagnostic services.

Acorn Centre

Patients will be seen in a brand new, leading edge facility, where they can receive one stop diagnostic clinics where all tests can be done in one place at one time. A new building with leading edge breast diagnostic technology, an acorn represents a new start for the service.

Lee Centre

A cancer genetics researcher, Eva Lee's breast cancer research has led to significant discoveries of breast cancer's molecular basis. She is internationally acclaimed for her research of cancer's cell biology as well as genetics. Her research has been vital to the development of new methods to suppress cancer in cells with genetic damage.

Rose Centre

Rose Kushner was a breast cancer research pioneer who lived from 1929 until 1990. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1974 but later recovered and became a leading breast cancer educator, publishing the book Breast cancer: A personal history and investigative report.

St George’s Healthcare stroke services among the best in the UK

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust’s stroke services were rated in the top 25 per cent in the UK, according to the National Sentinel Audit for Stroke, organised by the Royal College of Physicians.

The audit assessed the care of patients who had a stroke between 1st April and 30th June 2010 in more than 200 trusts across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

St George’s rated higher than the national average for all measures, including access to specialist stroke unit, communication with patients about their diagnosis and swallow assessment within 72 hours. In addition, 85 per cent of the trust’s patients received all 12 key indicators measured by the audit, which was the highest score in London.

In July 2010 St George’s Healthcare began operating one of eight specialist hyper-acute stroke units (HASU) in London, providing expert emergency care to stroke patients, including access to CT scans and clot-busting drugs which save lives and reduce long-term disability.

Hugh Markus, professor of neurology and one of five consultants in the trust’s stroke team, said: “Over the last year there has been a dramatic expansion in stroke services as part of the London stroke strategy and the trust now sees approximately 2,000 stroke patients a year.

“Despite this great increase in throughput, St George’s still manages to maintain the very highest quality standard of care, as the results of this audit show.

“We have established daily TIA (minor stroke) clinics as well as 24/7 care of stroke patients, with daily consultant ward rounds and brain imaging (MRI) lists. The changes mean that many more patients in south west London are now receiving thrombolysis (clot busting) treatment.”

In August 2010, the trust’s stroke service achieved top marks in the audit for organisation of care for patients. Successes included the coordination of team meetings and the breadth of specialist staff working on the unit, as well as scoring highly for its communications with patients and carers and the multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

Review to look at Better Services, Better Value in southwest London

Fri, 27 May 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Doctors, nurses and therapists are coming together with patients and their representatives to review health services in southwest London. They are calling the review: Better Services Better Value.

Dr Howard Freeman, local GP in Merton, and Medical Director for NHS South West London said:

“We spend £2.2 billion on health services in southwest London. In this Better Services Better Value review hospital doctors and GPs will ask the question – are we spending it in a way that benefits patients the most?

“Doctors from hospitals and local general practices, will lead six clinical working groups* to look at how local patients can receive the best possible care across health services in southwest London. They will ask: if GPs and hospital doctors, nurses and therapists work more closely together across southwest London how could we:

improve services for patients?
get better value for money for local people?

“The challenge for the NHS is great over the coming years – we need to become more efficient whilst improving the care we provide. Our ageing population means increased pressure on the NHS. As people live longer they are also more likely to live with at least one long-term condition like diabetes, asthma, or Alzheimer’s. We need to look at how the NHS keeps up with these changes to our population, and also keeps up with a growing preference for patients to be cared for in GP practices and in the community. It is far better to treat people early in the community, to stop them becoming seriously ill and then being admitted to hospital. It is also a better way to spend the resources we have and allows hospitals to focus on those patients who need the most specialist and urgent care.”

“GPs in Merton have developed a new service for patients who may need hip or knee replacement surgery. Instead of having to attend several hospital appointments, patients can now attend a “one-stop-shop” in the community where they meet their consultant, have a pre-operative assessment and are then referred for an operation if necessary. Not only is this more convenient for patients, but it reduces waiting times, makes better use of the consultant’s time and could save up to £200,000 per year.”

Gavin Marsh, Medical Director for Croydon Health Services, said:

“Working together, we will be discussing the problems and not proposing solutions at this stage. I would like to stress that as clinicians we have decided we need to begin this review to make sure we develop, enhance and protect services in southwest London for patients in the long term. Clinicians want to start asking patients and their representatives about improving services and getting better value across southwest London.”

Ros Given-Wilson, Medical Director of St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, said:

“It’s vital that clinicians from across health organisations work together on this review, involving our patients and partners from the very beginning. All our hospitals have areas of excellence in the services they provide; we know we can share these areas of excellence. We want to improve quality across the board and protect services for all of our patients. ”

Dr Jane Wilson, Kingston Hospital Medical Director said:

“The challenge currently facing the local NHS is that we need to provide higher quality services in an environment with less money. As clinicians, we want to provide the best quality services we possibly can and improve health outcomes for patients wherever they come from. By working collaboratively on this review, we know we can improve the quality of care for all of our patients.”

Dr James Clarke, Medical Director of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust said:

"We recognise how important it will be to involve our local partners, especially patients and the public, from the beginning. Our Patient and Public Advisory Group have been working with us and have nominated patient representatives to join the clinical working groups, which include hospital doctors and local GPs. This means patients will be able to give real input on the clinical areas we are reviewing."

If you or a group you work with would like to get involved in this review please email betterservices@swlondon.nhs.uk or follow us on Facebook and twitter and at www.swlondon.nhs.uk

Naaz Coker to step down as chair in October

Fri, 13 May 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare chair, Naaz Coker, has announced that she will be stepping down when her second four-year term comes to an end in October of this year.

Speaking about her decision Naaz said: “Chairs and non-executive directors can be appointed for two four-year terms and under special circumstances, for example mid-way through a Foundation Trust (FT) application, one can seek an extension to complete the process. Even under these rules, the maximum time a non-executive director can serve is ten years, unless one is a Foundation Trust in which case the members decide the length of service. As we are now more than two years away from FT authorisation, it makes sense that a new chair with a new chief executive undertake that journey together.

“This decision will not affect my commitment to St George's Healthcare and I will continue to use my energies to steer and fight for the achievement of a successful and consistent clinical and financial performance over the next few months and remain focused on striving to achieve our vision.”

Community services information and advice day announced

Thu, 12 May 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust has joined with Tooting Safer Neighbourhood team (Metropolitan Police), Wandsworth Adult Social Services, Wandsworth Carers Centre and South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust and other voluntary sector agencies to pilot a community services advice day in Tooting.

This free drop in event will be held on Thursday 26th May 2011 and will run from 14:00 to 20:00hrs in the Board Rooms, on the 2nd floor of Hunter Wing at St George’s University of London.

Visitors to the day will find a host of information on a range of local health, social care and community safety issues under one roof, from leading a healthy lifestyle to neighbourhood safety. Representatives will also be present from a variety of voluntary groups to offer guidance on disability matters and support for carers. Rooms will also be available for confidential discussions relating to topics such as benefits advice as well as health matters.

Wilfred Carneiro, foundation trust membership manager at St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “This day has been designed with the local community in mind. All of us involved in this advice day welcome the opportunity to inform our community about the services we provide and make it easier for them to know what support is available locally. Through working in partnership, we will offer advice and signposting to those attending the event day in a single setting.”

St George's chief executive announces decision to step down

Fri, 6 May 2011 09:00:00 GMT

David Astley has announced his decision to step down as chief executive of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust in south west London.

Since he joined St George’s Healthcare in December 2006 the trust has become a major trauma centre, a hyper-acute stroke unit and, in October 2010, successfully integrated with community services Wandsworth. In addition, St George’s Healthcare was named `Large trust of the year` by Dr Foster Intelligence for 2009.

Speaking about his decision David said: “I had always planned to retire from the NHS when I reached the age of sixty which is now just two years away. The board’s recent decision to delay our Foundation Trust (FT) application to April 2013 has led me to consider my position. It is important that the trust has a chief executive who can drive the organisation forward to achieving its goals for 2013 and beyond. Therefore I have taken the difficult decision, in the long-term interests of the trust, to step down. I am immensely proud of what has been achieved during my time at St George’s Healthcare although none of this would have been possible without the support, hard work and dedication of colleagues from across the organisation.”

Naaz Coker, chair of St George’s Healthcare said: “On behalf of the trust board I would like to thank David for the valuable work he has done over the past four years. David has decided to step down now to allow a new leader to take St George’s forward as a foundation trust. David is very well respected by his colleagues and will be missed at the trust and we all wish him well for the future.”

Ruth Carnall, chief executive of NHS London, said: “David’s leadership over the past four years has been instrumental in the transformation of many of St George’s services. The trust is now amongst the best in the country for its care of stroke patients, heart disease and major trauma. With his support, a number of the trust’s leading doctors have also been involved in clinically-led reforms to improve health services across the capital. “

The trust has started the process of appointing a new chief executive and, in the meantime, Patrick Mitchell, chief operating officer, will act up in an interim capacity.

Record low infection rates at St George’s Hospital

Thu, 5 May 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust has achieved the lowest infection rates it has ever recorded for MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C.diff) at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, and the Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre, Wimbledon.

Acquiring only nine MRSA infections and 83 C.diff infections during 2010/11, the trust remained within its mandatory performance limits for both MRSA and C.diff, of nine and 168 respectively. This achievement included a period of over 200 days where none of the hospital’s patients acquired MRSA blood stream infection.

The trust’s management of infection has been developing over recent years and infection rates have improved consistently since 2006. Among teaching hospitals in London, the trust recorded the lowest C.diff rate1 and the second lowest MRSA rate2 for 2010/11.

The trust’s Infection control doctor Rick Holliman said: “Through hard work, vigilance and meticulous attention to detail, staff at the trust have successfully driven down infections and recorded the trust’s lowest rates for both MRSA and C.diff since records began. It’s a great achievement which has increased safety for all our patients and will boost confidence in the care we provide.”

“Our methods for managing these infections have proved effective but we cannot afford to drop our guard. We will continue to implement strict hand hygiene practices, careful control of antibiotics and around the clock cleaning programmes to further reduce infection rates and keep patients at St George’s Healthcare safe.”

St George’s Healthcare publishes its infection rates quarterly online at www.stgeorges.nhs.uk.

Spring issue Membership Matters out now

Wed, 4 May 2011 09:00:00 GMT

The spring issue of Membership Matters, the quarterly publication for St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust’s members, is out now.

The latest issue contains information about the trust’s foundation trust plans, its corporate social responsibility framework, a report on the benefits to patients of hourly ward rounding and a feature about how organ donation saves lives. Membership Matters also includes information about future member events which are free to attend and cover a range of subjects including keeping your brain healthy and vaccines – facts and myths.

Wilfred Carneiro, foundation trust membership manager said: “Membership Matters is just one example of how we are engaging with our members. Membership numbers are very encouraging with over 4,300 public and patient members now signed up. Added to this are the 7,000 members of staff who automatically joined in February 2011.”

To find out more about becoming a member of St George’s Healthcare visit To find out more about becoming a member of St George’s Healthcare visit www.stgeorges.nhs.uk..

St George’s invests in new trauma facilities

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust’s commitment to provide new and improved facilities for patients is continuing with work to expand the A&E resuscitation department on the main hospital site in Tooting.

The works will provide eight new resuscitation beds. Each bed space will be larger than at present, allowing staff to manage complex cases more easily. The new design will also provide a dedicated overhead x-ray system, built into the ceiling of the department, improved infection control measures and relatives’ waiting rooms.

Neal Deans, director of estates and facilities, said: “St George’s Hospital has one of the busiest A&E departments in the country, seeing over 300 patients every day. As a major trauma centre, the trust takes patients from southwest London and Surrey with serious injuries for immediate access to specialist care including severe head injuries, penetrating injuries to neck and chest such as stab wounds; limb amputations and paralysis after an accident.

“This exciting project will help improve our trauma facilities by providing a modernised, top-class environment for patients to be treated in.”

During the works a full clinical service will be maintained at all times. People suffering from minor injuries or general illness are asked not to not attend A&E but instead to go to a more appropriate healthcare provider. For information about the most appropriate healthcare facility for your illness, visit the trust’s ‘choose well’ page.

Non-executive director reappointed

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Chair of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, Naaz Coker, has announced the reappointment of non-executive director, Graham Hibbert.

Graham will serve in this post from 1st December 2011 until 30th November 2015.

Graham brings with him a wealth of experience which he gained during his 30-year career at Unilever, where he worked in general management, logistics, IT, finance and audit in South Africa and across Europe. In addition to being a qualified accountant, he holds a PhD in physics and has publications to his name in physics and management.

Since retiring from Unilever, Graham consults and lectures on project management, as well as chairing an umbrella organisation representing eleven residents' associations and campaigning on planning and environmental matters in Guildford, where he lives.

He is married with three adult children and a grandchild. His interests include walking, tennis, theatre, and travel.

In addition to serving as a member of the board at St George’s Healthcare, Graham will continue to chair the finance committee, which advises the board on the trust’s financial performance. He will also continue to be a member of the audit committee and the nomination and remuneration committee.

Graham, who has served on the board since December 2007, said: “My international experience has reinforced my view that the NHS is extremely important to the quality of life of everyone in the UK. I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue to serve St George’s Healthcare for the next four years to help improve the service we deliver to patients and the efficiency of what we do.”

Chair Naaz Coker said: “I am delighted at Graham’s reappointment. He is a very supportive and responsible non-executive director and his financial skills have been, and will continue to be, a great asset to the board.”

Graham’s appointment has been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. All non-executive appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Graham has declared no political activity over the last five years and holds no ministerial appointments.

Graham has been appointed to the St George’s Healthcare finance and investment committee as well as the audit committee and the nomination and remuneration committee. He will receive remuneration of £6,096 per annum.

First community open day for St George’s

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust and St George’s, University of London will co-host a community open day at their shared main site in Tooting on Saturday 18th June.

The day, which will run from 10:00 to 15:00hrs, is free to attend and will offer visitors the chance to gain an insight into the work of a busy NHS teaching hospital and university, the science of the human body and learn more about some of the cutting-edge research conducted at St George’s. There will also be information about healthcare and medical education and career opportunities, as well as a variety of family fun activities.

Visitors will be able to explore the work of a number of hospital specialist departments including CT-scanning and robotic surgery while guided tours will trace the history of St George’s and its famous pioneers of medicine, such as Edward Jenner.

David Astley, chief executive of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “The trust and university have an association dating back almost 300 years and I am excited at the prospect of our opening the doors to our local community in this way.”

Professor Peter Kopelman, principal of St George’s, University of London said: “The day will offer something for everyone and provide an excellent opportunity for our local community to better understand the science, healthcare and the leading research that is taking place in Tooting.”

A full programme for the day, which is kindly supported by Mitie, will be published shortly on the trust and university websites.

About St George’s, University of London:
St George’s, University of London (SGUL), established in 1733, is distinctive as the UK’s only independent medical and healthcare higher education institution. It benefits from strong links with the healthcare profession, including a shared site with St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust in Tooting, south west London.

SGUL is dedicated to the education and training of doctors, nurses, midwives, physician’s assistants, paramedics, physiotherapists, radiographers, social workers, healthcare and biomedical scientists. It attracts around 6,000 students, some of whom are taught in conjunction with Kingston University.

Research at SGUL has a UK and international focus and aims to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease in areas including infection and immunity, heart disease and stroke, and cell signalling. It also aims to enhance understanding of public health and epidemiology, clinical genetics, and social care sciences. www.sgul.ac.uk

C. difficile increases risk of death six-fold in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Patients admitted to hospital with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face a sixfold greater risk of death if they become infected with Clostridium difficile, a new study has found. The researchers say IBD patients should be screened on admission to protect them from serious illness.

IBD, consisting of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects around 240,000 people in the UK and its symptoms include abdominal pain and diarrhoea. When sufferers experience a bout of severe symptoms, they often need to be admitted to hospital.

C. difficile bacteria are present naturally in the gut in around two thirds of children and 3 per cent of adults, but they do not cause problems in healthy people. Broad spectrum antibiotics can cause problems by killing harmless bacteria that usually reside in the gut, allowing C. difficile to flourish and produce toxins that cause diarrhoea and fever. The infection is rarely fatal in people who are not already severely ill or elderly; a review published in 2010 estimated the overall mortality rate for patients with C. difficile to be 6 per cent.

There have been drives to reduce the spread of infection by improving hospital hygiene and changing antibiotic policies, which have had some success, but there are concerns that high-risk patients are still not adequately protected. Since IBD patients already have inflammation in the gut, they are thought to be especially vulnerable to C. difficile infection, but until now the incidence of infection in these patients in the UK was not known.

In today’s study, published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, researchers from Imperial College London and St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust examined NHS statistics on patient admissions between 2002 and 2008. After adjusting for differences between the groups, they found that IBD patients who contract C. difficile in hospital are six times more likely to die in hospital than patients who are admitted for IBD alone. In the patients followed in the study, the mortality rate for IBD patients with C. difficile at 30 days was 25 per cent, compared with 3 per cent for patients with IBD alone.

The results also showed that IBD patients with C. difficile also stay in hospital for longer, with a median length of stay of 26 days compared with five days, and are almost twice as likely to need gastrointestinal surgery.

Dr Sonia Saxena, from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, said: “Hospitals must do everything they can to control infections such as C. difficile. We are asking for these high-risk patients to be screened for C. difficile proactively on admission to hospital so that if they are exposed, they can be diagnosed and treated more quickly.”

Dr Richard Pollok, from St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, who was the senior author of the study, said: “At St. George’s Hospital, we have seen a 70 per cent reduction in hospital-acquired infections after implementing a range of control measures, such as careful handwashing and reduced use of broad spectrum antibiotics. But we need to do more to protect vulnerable patients such as those with IBD.”

The research was supported by the National Institute for Health Research, through the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) funding schemes, and the Centre for Infection Prevention and Management funded by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration. Dr Min-Hua Jen, the first author of the study, is supported by HERON Evidence Development Limited.

Partnership working combats crime

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust is helping local police ‘fill in the blanks’ of assault crimes in a bid to reduce violent offences in Wandsworth. The initiative, part of a Home Office and Department of Health joint project for safer communities, has been rolled out nationally over the past five years. It requires the trust to share anonymous data about the precise location of violence, weapon use, assailants and day/time of violence with The Wandsworth Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). This information is vital in helping the CDRP build a better picture of violent crimes committed in Wandsworth as a large number of cases treated in A&E are not reported to, or recorded by the police. They will then target areas where crime is more prevalent, or where there is an emerging trend in certain types of crimes or weapons used.

The scheme, which the trust joined almost a month ago, is the first of its kind in Wandsworth and aims to improve the safety of local residents and reduce the burden on the trust’s emergency department. Partnerships have been found to reduce A&E violent assault attendances by 25-33 per cent and in the first month the trust has already shared more than 100 incidents. Heather Jarman, consultant nurse in emergency care and assistant clinical director for major trauma, said: “This work with our community and police colleagues will enable the trust to support the crime prevention and public health agenda within our local community. The shared information is completely anonymous so ensures those who do not want to report their assault cannot be traced but it will build a picture of the prevelance, types and locations of violence in the area. This enables resources to be targeted appropriately. ” Superintendent David Chinchen, Partnership and Safer Neighbourhoods, said: "We are very pleased to be working in partnership with the trust and the Wandsworth local authority on this project, as the information will help us address violence hotspots across the borough so we can reduce incidents of violent crime. “In the long term, this will mean that there is less drain on trust and the police service as we work together proactively to prevent these incidents from occurring. “This type of information sharing has been very successful in reducing violent crime in other places where it has been introduced and we are confident it can have the same impact on Wandsworth borough.”

A touch of magic comes to St George's Hospital

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Kasey Abraham hugs Minnie Mouse

Mickey and Minnie Mouse brought smiles to the children on the paediatric wards at St George’s Hospital on Wednesday, 6th April.

Rosie Littleboy, lead play specialist, said: “the visit was kept a big surprise from the wards until the day and the children absolutely loved it. It was great to see the Disney magic work and put smiles on so many faces – both children and adults!”

Baby Thanisha and the Mohamed-Nizam family

Foundation Trust delay will ensure quality and safety

Fri, 8 Apr 2011 09:00:00 GMT

The board of St George's Healthcare NHS Trust agreed at its meeting held on March 31st to delay the timeline for its Foundation Trust (FT) application to April 2013.

In taking this decision the board acknowledged that, while the trust had successfully met the clinical and governance standards required to become a FT, there is still work required to improve the financial performance of the trust. For the financial year 2011/12 St George's Healthcare faces a £55m efficiency challenge. Moving the FT application back to April 2013 will allow the trust to focus on meeting its financial targets while continuing to provide excellent care to patients.

Naaz Coker, chair of St George's Healthcare said: "We are fully committed to providing the highest standards of care to all the communities we serve. The trust is a major trauma centre, hyper-acute stroke unit and centre of excellence for cancer, cardiac and women’s and children’s services. In addition, since October 2010, we have been responsible for providing community services in Wandsworth.

"In the last five years we have worked successfully to improve the trust’s finances while continuing to develop leading-edge services. However, while we have met the clinical standards to become a FT there is still work needed to ensure that St George’s Healthcare secures its long-term financial future.

"The board recognises that if we put the organisation under pressure to become an FT during 2011/12 then this is could impact on the quality and safety of the patient care that we provide. That is a risk that the board is not prepared to take.

"Since formally launching our FT plans in May 2010 we have received an enthusiastic response from our public, patients and staff and the trust's membership numbers currently stand at over 4,000. While our timeline for becoming an FT may have changed our commitment to engage with existing members and recruit new ones continues."

Mixed sex accommodation declaration of compliance online

Tue, 5 Apr 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust has published its mixed sex accommodation of compliance online. The declaration includes details about the work St George's undertakes to deliver mixed sex accommodation as well as the escalation procedure and action plan.

New issue of GP News is available

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:00:00 GMT

A new issue of GP News, St George's Healthcare's quarterly newsletter for GPs is now available to read. You can read the latest issue on the GP News microsite.

St George’s members keen to be governors

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:00:00 GMT

More than 100 members attended St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust’s first governor information session on Tuesday 8th February, chaired by non-executive director Moira Nangle. This was the first in a series of sessions aimed at explaining the role of a foundation trust governor those members who have expressed an interest in standing for election.

Moira Nangle, said: “The council of governors will play a crucial role, representing the membership and acting as a critical friend to the board of directors. The enthusiasm we have had so far from over 500 members who have expressed an interest in standing for election to the council of governors is truly heartening and is testament to the work of St George’s”.

Member Shereen Sadiq from Catford who attended the event said: “As a patient I have appreciated the care and support from staff at St George’s Hospital and the Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre. I am keen to be in a position to be able to give something back to St George’s Healthcare. It was interesting to hear about the role that a foundation trust governor can play and to learn how the council of governors can help St George’s to better understand the needs of their patients and their local community.”

More governor information sessions are planned in the coming months. Visit the foundation trust section of the trust’s website www.stgeorges.nhs.uk for details and to download the governor information pack.

St George's Healthcare announces £55m savings target

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare has today announced to staff that it is planning to save £55 million during 2011/12. The figure made up of a £40 million cost reduction programme (CRP) and £15 million related to quality, innovation, productivity, prevention (QIPP) targets.

The £40m cost reduction target is linked to NHS efficiency savings, tariff reductions and cost pressures. QIPP is a new NHS programme designed to provide care to patients closer to home, particularly those with long-term conditions. The NHS is changing the way it spends money and is moving towards a focus on prevention rather than cure. This means that there will be a need to adjust hospital services to reflect the fact that more care will be provided in general practice and in the community.

David Astley, St George’s Healthcare chief executive said: “St George’s Healthcare is not immune to the financial challenges currently facing the wider NHS and we have been open with staff and unions about the need to achieve £55m savings during 2011/12. The whole public sector is having to make difficult and painful choices to help reduce the deficit. All hospitals are being asked to contribute to the 20% productivity improvement needed by the NHS and we are no exception.

“Our savings plans are being finalised and we are aiming to protect frontline services but we will need to take out posts in order to achieve our target. Reducing our costs is the only way to improve the quality of patient care. A key focus is to reduce our temporary staffing bill, which is currently £30 million per year and we are also reviewing non-clinical services.

“The trust is a major trauma centre, hyper-acute stroke unit and centre of excellence for cancer, cardiac and women’s and children’s services and we are committed to providing quality care to our patients.

“So far we have identified 200 posts that will go but are planning to avoid compulsory redundancies with those staff affected being redeployed into existing vacancies. We have rigorous quality control at a ward and clinic level to ensure that changes are made safely.

“I have personally briefed clinical leaders, union representatives and staff across the trust to set out the scale of the challenges that we face. These meetings have proved constructive and by working together I am confident that we can achieve our savings while continuing to provide high standards of care.”

Enhancing the healing environment at HMP Wandsworth

Tue, 1 Feb 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Thursday 27th January 2011 saw the unveiling of the newly refurbished central health unit at Wandsworth Prison. The unit has been completely overhauled, with what was formerly considered a grey, soulless, drab and depressing environment replaced by a vibrant and comfortable setting which has helped to encourage inmates to access health education, support and treatment. Services at the prison are provided by a a St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust multi-disciplinary nurse-led team that also includes GPs, dentists, sexual health specialists and pharmacists.

The overhaul of the health unit is part of the King’s Fund Enhancing the Healing Environment project, a grants and development programme run by the King’s Fund in partnership with Her Majesty’s Prison Service and Offender Health (a partnership between the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health).

Revamped reception at Wandsworth Prison health unit

A team of healthcare staff at Wandsworth Prison successfully won a £30,000 grant from the project, with NHS Wandsworth and the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) contributing a further £10,000 each. The nurse-led team behind the overhaul included service users, estates staff, arts co-ordinators and Julie Thompson, HMP Wandsworth Residential Governor.

The money has been spent on improving the reception area and treatment rooms, converting the healthcare areas of the prison so that they are welcoming and relaxing.

Bernadette McGreevy, Sister at Wandsworth Prison, said:

“There is a wealth of research evidence to show the positive impact that the environment can have on health so we were really keen to take advantage of the King’s Fund expertise in this area, and we are already seeing the benefits of this programme. There has been a really noticeable effect on patients’ self esteem as they feel like they are being treated in an environment that they would be happy to be treated in if they were in the community. We are also starting to see improved health outcomes and more inmates willing to access health education and support as well as treatment”

Left to right: Sarah Waller, Jim O'Gorman and Bernadette McGreevey

Jim O’Gorman, Head of Healthcare at Wandsworth Prison, said:

“It is important to recognise that prisoners are normal people like you and I. Their needs are the same and they want to be treated with dignity and respect, the basic things that we would demand, and being treated in areas like, that are comparable to facilities in the community, can be a catalyst for change. It was important that staff worked with the inmates in every aspect of designing the new environment, increasing engagement with our service users and helping but it has helped us to establish new ways of consulting them.”

Emma Leegood, Lead Nurse at Wandsworth Prison, said:

“Prisoners access health services 77 more times a year than an average person in the community, and we have a responsibility to make sure that those services are provided in the best possible environment with the best possible facilities.”

Sarah Waller, King’s Fund programme director for the Enhancing the Healing Environment, said:

“For many prisoners real opportunities exist to access healthcare services, sometimes for the first time in many years, whilst they are in prison. It is therefore very important that healthcare and health promotion activities are delivered in an environment that encourages people to attend clinics and supports therapeutic interventions. The project at Wandsworth has been planned in consultation with prisoners and staff and has greatly improved facilities for the delivery of healthcare in the prison. We hope it will encourage more prisoners to access and benefit from the range of healthcare services available.”

Local children say hello to the national year of communication with balloon launch at Wandsworth Museum

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:00:00 GMT

The St George’s Healthcare community speech and language promotion and prevention team launched Hello, the 2011 national year of communication campaign, with a star studded ‘words will take you far’ balloon launch at Wandsworth Museum on 28th January 2011.

The balloons were released by children from local day and community centres, West Hill Primary, Garret Park and St Cecelia’s schools. Also releasing balloons into the sky were actress Elizabeth McGovern, star of Downton Abbey and Once Upon a Time in America, Jean Gross, the government’s communication champion, David Astley, St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust chief executive, and Mayor of Wandsworth Cllr Piers Conolly McAusland.

In the lead up to the event staff, patients and their families were asked to choose their favourite words, with the most popular being used on the campaign throughout the year with cuddles and hullabaloo being the most popular words so far. Each balloon had a postcard attached to it with a one of the borough’s favourite words printed on it, some information about the campaign and a return address so the children can see which word travelled furthest.

Hello is a campaign run by the Communications Trust that aims to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills.

In Wandsworth, multi disciplinary children’s therapies teams provide support to children and families in hospitals, health centres and schools across the borough and in people’s homes.

Joanna Hardman, Co-ordinator of the Promotion and Prevention Team, said:

“More than 1 million children and young people have some form of speech, language and communication need in the UK, and in deprived areas more than 50% of children start school with delayed language skills. Events like this are a great way to raise awareness of this important issue.”

Actress Elizabeth McGovern, star of Downton Abbey and Once Upon a Time in America, said:

“I am very pleased to be here supporting this cause. It is a real joy for an actor when you feel that even just one person has understood the message you are trying to put across and what you are trying to tell them, and living without that joy that many of us take for granted must be like living in a very lonely prison. This campaign is helping to lead kids who struggle to be understood out of that prison.”

Jean Gross, England’s Communication Champion for children, said;

“I’m delighted to be attending Wandsworth’s launch on Hello – the national year of communication. Wandsworth has already done so much to make sure every child gets the support they need as they learn to communicate. I constantly quote their work as an example of outstanding practice that I hope others across the country will follow. And now Wandsworth is leading the way again in its creative launch of the Hello campaign.”

David Astley, St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust chief executive said:

“It is really heart warming to see how enthusiastically this important campaign to increase the understanding of how important it is for children to develop their communication skills has been received in Wandsworth. Our community children’s therapy team do so much to make sure every child gets the support they need as they learn to communicate, and today is a testimony to all of their tremendous work and dedication.”

Children from local day and community centres and schools released hundreds of balloons into the skies at the launch of the Hello campaign in Wandsworth – further pictures available on request

Healthy eating event feeds public interest

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:00:00 GMT

More than 200 local people attended St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust’s first member event on Wednesday 19th January entitled Nutrition in a nutshell – how to eat healthy and live longer by Catherine Collins, principal dietitian.

Our picture shows principal dietitian Catherine Collins at the Nutrition in a nutshell talk.

This was the first in a series of special member events aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles.

Catherine Collins, said: “Being able to offer advice to the public about how to eat healthily and prevent food-related problems is extremely rewarding. The audience raised some interesting questions and it was very encouraging to learn how important nutrition is to them. Most people can make simple changes to their daily diet to help ensure that they eat enough fruit and vegetables and reduce the amount of saturated fats that they consume.”

Member Giovanna Ilukkumbure from Wandsworth who attended the event said: “Healthy eating really doesn’t need to be as difficult as some people make out. Catherine’s expert tips were very helpful and to hear her reveal the truth behind some of the so-called superfoods was fascinating.”

The Nutrition in a nutshell – how to eat healthy and live longer presentation is now available on the foundation trust section of the trust’s website.

St George's Hospital combat winter flu pandemic with new one hour test

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust has been commended by the London Deanery for a pioneering initiative that has seen a major trauma manikin introduced in an emergency environment.

A new simulation room has been located in the accident and emergency department at St George’s Hospital, Tooting. The new facility, the first of its kind in London, allows staff to respond to a ‘mock’ trauma call as though it were a real-life situation.

As well as testing the whole trauma system from start to finish, the simulation room will help staff to develop key skills for treating with patients with multiple injuries. Staff are assessed on their performance through one-way glass and debriefed at the end of each training session.

The London Deanery’s Simulation and Technology-enhanced Learning Initiative (STeLI), is designed to promote excellence in education and innovation in educational methods. Natalie Holbery, lecturer/practitioner in major trauma care at St George’s, said: “Following a successful STeLI bid and access to an education grant we have been able to build a shop-floor high-fidelity simulation suite to enhance trauma education and improve patient safety.

“This provides a fantastic opportunity to host a range of impromptu and planned simulation events using the multi-skilled trauma team.”

St George’s Healthcare is the first trust in London to have located a simulation suite within the emergency department rather than relying solely on a training and development centre.

The trust’s advanced simulation centre was also recognised for its work in patient safety focused education.

St George's commended for emergency training innovation

Fri, 7 Jan 2011 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust has been commended by the London Deanery for a pioneering initiative that has seen a major trauma manikin introduced in an emergency environment.

“This provides a fantastic opportunity to host a range of impromptu and planned simulation events using the multi-skilled trauma team.”

St George’s Healthcare is the first trust in London to have located a simulation suite within the emergency department rather than relying solely on a training and development centre.

The trust’s advanced simulation centre was also recognised for its work in patient safety focused education.

New Associate Non-Executive Director appointed

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust Chair, Naaz Coker, has announced Sarah Wilton will be joining the trust as Associate Non Executive Director on 1 January 2011.

Sarah is joining St George’s Healthcare from NHS Wandsworth, where she had been non executive director since April 2007. At NHS Wandsworth, Sarah was chair of the Resources Committee and a member of the Audit Committee and Children’s Trust and oversaw the recent integration of Community Services Wandsworth with St George’s Healthcare as co-chair of the joint NHS Wandsworth and St George’s Healthcare integration programme board.

Sarah lives in Putney and qualified as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. She has held several senior executive positions at Lloyd’s of London, delivering major change programmes including restructuring, outsourcing, efficiency and effectiveness reviews.

Sarah has held non executive director appointments at two Lloyd’s agencies, Capita Managing Agency since 2004 and Hampden Agencies Limited since 2008, chairing the audit and risk committees. She is a Magistrate at Wimbledon Magistrates Court and a Trustee of the Paul D’Auria Cancer Support Centre and South Thames Crossroads – Caring for Carers.

Sarah said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining St George’s Healthcare at such an exciting time in the organisation’s history. I got to know the organisation whilst working at NHS Wandsworth, particularly on the integration of community services. I am particularly looking forward to learning all about the vast array of services provided by St George’s Healthcare and getting more involved in the foundation trust bid.”

Naaz Coker said: “I’m thrilled to have been able to appoint somebody with Sarah’s expertise, experience and enthusiasm for healthcare. Sarah’s skill set will further strengthen the Board and I know we are all looking forward to the challenging work that lies ahead.”

Ian Reynolds, NHS Wandsworth Chair, said: “On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Sarah both for the enormous contribution she has made to the PCT and for the support she has given me and the rest of the Board members since joining NHS Wandsworth almost four years ago. She has been a tower of strength through her constructive challenge and generous support. I am delighted that the local NHS will continue to benefit from Sarah’s expertise and experience and am confident that she will be a real asset to St George’s Healthcare. We will miss her greatly.”

Sarah’s appointment has been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. All non-executive appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Sarah has declared no political activity over the last five years and holds no ministerial appointments.

Sarah has been appointed to the St George’s Healthcare nominations & remunerations and finance committees and to the foundation trust and information management & technology steering groups. She will receive remuneration of £6,096 per annum.

Warm reunion as ‘home away from home’ celebrates fifth year in Tooting

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:00:00 GMT

It was a warm reunion as staff and guests celebrated the five-year anniversary of Ronald McDonald House in Tooting this week.

Elizabeth and baby Sarah join the Ronald McDonald House in Tooting in it's fifth anniversary celebrations.

Ronald McDonald House staff were pleased to welcome back the Stone family, who stayed at the house in February 2010 when their nine-day-old baby, Sarah, was admitted to St George’s PICU with septicemia.

Elizabeth Stone, Sarah’s mother, said: “Sarah was born healthy but she suddenly became ill. She was taken to St George’s and was put on maximum support – we were told to prepare for the worst.

“Being able to stay at the house was great as the family got to stay together – I have an older child, Hannah, so by staying here my husband and I did not have to take it in turns to look after Hannah, which reduced the stress in a terrible situation. I didn’t miss my house – my home is my family.

“The house is a lovely place to be and we were able to maintain some normality by using the kitchen to cook for ourselves and clean our clothes in the laundry room. The staff are so friendly too.”

Now ten months old, baby Sarah will be able to enjoy her first Christmas with her family.

The occasion was marked with a buffet and celebratory raffle, with winners drawn by Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting.

Sadiq Khan officially opened Ronald McDonald House in Tooting in 2005. He said: “It is brilliant to see the house going from strength to strength. Literally hundreds of families have had their lives improved by this home away from home during the most stressful times of their lives.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) aims to provide free ‘home away from home’ accommodation at hospitals across the UK, allowing families to stay close to their children, maintaining a degree of normal family life.

Families can stay at the Ronald McDonald House whilst their child is receiving care as an in-patient at St George's Hospital – the length of stay can vary from a few days to a few months. Families are not charged for the use of the facilities, or for the support services provided. Instead the charity relies on sponsorship and donations from individuals and companies to help maintain its running costs.

For more information about RMHC visit www.rmhc.org.uk

Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting, chooses a raffle winner, with the help of Matthew Martin.

Queen Mary’s Hospital archivist receives Civic Award in recognition of saving local history

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:00:00 GMT

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 glitzy town hall ceremony in November in recognition of the significant contribution he has made to life of the borough.

10 years ago 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, establishing a constitution, charity status for the group and relationships with a number of archive organisations across the country. 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 10 years as chairman of the archive and museum committee, Gordon has overseen the opening of 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 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.

Gordon Jones, Queen Mary's archivist

On receiving his award, 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.”

Di Caulfeild-Stoker, divisional chair of the community services Wandsworth division, 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 history of Queen Mary’s Hospital to life. Without his leadership and dedication, an important part of local history could have been lost forever.”

Jane Attrill, Head of rehabilitation services, said:

“This is a fantastic reward for Gordon, he has put so much of his own personal time into preserving the history of Queen Mary’s. Patients and visitors are always telling us how much they enjoy the new museum on the ground floor and the history displays around the hospital.”

To find out more about Gordon and the archive and museum committee’s work check out the Queen Mary’s website www.queenmarysroehampton.nhs.uk

Bionic ear inventor meets young cochlear patients at St George’s Hospital

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday morning children from across South West London and Surrey who have had their lives transformed by a cochlear implant, or bionic ear, got the chance to meet the device’s inventor Professor Graeme Clark at St George’s Hospital.

Professor Clark met several children and their families, including seven year old Amie Lundberg, the first patient to have the implant at St George’s, and her brother Jack, who had his second cochlear implant earlier this year, to find out how their lives have been changed since their operations.

A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds louder, cochlear implants do the work of damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) to send sound signals to the brain.

Professor Graeme Clark with (clockwise from bottom left) Alice Campbell, Natalie Timms, Mya Goodall, Sa’ad Chaudhry, Dominic Augood, Jack Lundberg, Aimee Lundberg and Heidi Augood.

Professor Clark was at St George’s Hospital to open a two day cochlear implant course for surgeons from across the UK and Europe. St George’s Hospital was chosen to host the course by Cochlear Europe as recognition for the great strides made by the St George’s Healthcare Cochlear Implant Programme, which has been running for four years and is the youngest in the country. Since the programme was established more than 60 procedures on children from south west London and Surrey have been performed at St George’s Hospital.

David Selvadurai, Consultant ENT Surgeon and Director of the Cochlear Implant Programme, said: “I am so thrilled Professor Clark is here at St George’s and that the children have had the opportunity to meet the man who's life long work and brilliance has changed their lives. He is a truly inspirational man and both the children and staff will never forget today.”

Professor Clark said: “When I started as an ear doctor in the 1960s there was very little we could do for our patients. It has been a long journey to get to where we are today, but this is a wonderful. I always believed the implant would work, but I didn’t realise how well it would work; it’s has been the most wonderful surprise really. I still get tears in my eyes when I see what a difference a cochlear implant can make to someone.”

The children were all excited to meet Professor Clark.

Dominic Augood, aged 11, said: “It was great meeting the Professor, he is a nice man. I wanted to say thank you to him because without him my hearing would not have improved. I got my cochlear implant in 2007 and it has made a massive difference to me.

Amie Lundberg, the first child to have the cochlear implant at St George’ Hospital three years ago, is now seven years old. She said: “I am a special girl here because I was the first person to have the cochlear at the hospital when I was only 3 years old and I had a second side implant last year, I come to see Mr Selvadurai every year.

“I have really been looking forward to meeting the professor and it was nice telling him that I am getting on well. I like my peach cochlear implant and I put stickers on it, and it helps me to watch my favourite films like Cinderella.”

Professor Clark left St Georges to deliver the Lister Oration at the Royal College of Surgeons on Thursday night, which is one of the most prestigious awards available in surgery.

Local MP becomes St George’s 1000th Foundation Trust member

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:00:00 GMT

Tooting MP Sadiq Khan has become the 1000th member of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust and is supporting its plans to become a Foundation Trust (FT) in 2011.

As a FT St George’s will remain fully within the NHS but will have greater financial freedom to develop facilities and services that are best suited to the needs of its patients.

Speaking about becoming a member Sadiq Khan said: "St George’s provides expert and specialist healthcare to patients in Tooting and beyond and I am pleased to support its plans to become a FT.”

“As a local resident and someone who was born at St George’s, becoming a member is a great way for me to be involved in shaping the future of healthcare services that will best serve the needs of the local community.”

FT membership is free and open to anyone aged 16 years and over. To find out more about becoming a member visit www.stgeorges.nhs.uk, email members@stgeorges.nhs.uk or call 020 8266 6132.

Our picture shows from left to right: Sadiq Khan MP with St George’s nurses Kate Fincham, Vennessa Sookhoo and Kimberley O’Hara.

St George’s Healthcare gets energised about energy

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare staff, patients and visitors renewed their commitment to cutting carbon at a special one-day event, Get Energised About Energy, held on Friday 8^th 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 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.

Community Services Wandsworth to merge with St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:00:00 GMT

The boards of NHS Wandsworth and St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust have given their approval for Community Services Wandsworth (CSW) to merge with St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust from 1st October 2010. The merger will offer local residents high quality, seamless healthcare from hospital to home.

St George’s Healthcare, named large hospital trust of the year in 2009 by Dr Foster, currently provides accident and emergency care, women’s and children’s services and care for older people to the local community in Wandsworth. The trust also provides specialist care for the most complex of injuries and illnesses, including trauma, neurology, cardiac care, renal transplantation, cancer care and stroke.

From October 2010, St George’s Healthcare will also provide a wide range of community services to children, adults and older people when CSW integrates with them. These services will be provided at Queen Mary’s Hospital (Roehampton), HMP Wandsworth, health centres and clinics, GP surgeries, schools and in people’s homes throughout Wandsworth.

These changes will not affect local GPs or healthcare providers. If outpatient care is needed, GPs will still refer patients to the hospital or healthcare centre of their choice.

David Astley, chief executive of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, 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.”

Di Caulfeild-Stoker, Community Services Wandsworth’s chief operating officer, added: “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 and all clinical staff to provide the continuity of care we want for our patients. We look forward to working with our new colleagues to provide the highest quality of care to our community.”

Amanda Philpott, acting chief executive of NHS Wandsworth, said: “We are delighted to have got to the point of CSW becoming part of the St George’s Healthcare family. This will mean primary, community and hospital services working more closely together for people in Wandsworth, and it will be exciting to see the benefits for patients over the coming months and years.”

Integration will mean that CSW’s 1,200 workforce will transfer over to become employees of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust. Key stakeholders, including GPs, clinicians, healthcare partners, patients, public and staff from both organisations have been actively engaged throughout the integration planning process.

South London’s first patient panel for inflammatory bowel disease sufferers to be launched at St George’s Hospital

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:00:00 GMT

A group of health professionals and patients from South London aims to establish the area’s first independent patient panel for people suffering from debilitating bowel conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The new panel at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, will be launched at a public event on 16th October, where it is hoped volunteers will come forward to take part in the group.

Patient panels, or their equivalent, exist for a number of conditions in the UK and there are currently around twenty in Britain specifically for sufferers of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dr Andy Poullis, Consultant Gastroenterologist at St George’s, was instrumental in laying the foundations for the group, with support from other IBD specialists and members of Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

Dr Poullis said: “We hope that a number of patients will come together to share their views to identify how local services could be strengthened. Often patients are reluctant to express opinions to their doctor about the service provided so it is important that they have a forum where they can have their say. The input from these patients will have the potential to drive change at the trust and garner support for new developments and services.”

Ruth Findlay, an outpatient at St George's from Tooting Bec, said: “Patients here are being given a great opportunity to have their views heard. It means we can help to provide the St George's team with a picture of how it is to be on the receiving end of things and help strengthen their hand when they want to make change. Small observations may have the potential to make considerable impact.”

The inaugural event is open to IBD patients at St George’s Hospital, their friends and families, and other interested healthcare professionals who work in the South London area. The launch is being held in the John Parker lecture theatre in the Atkinson Morley wing on Saturday 16th October from 2pm - 4.30pm. Arthur Smith, the writer and comedian, is also lending his support to the group and will be present at the event.

St George’s report celebrates success of 2009/10

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust has published its 2009/10 report and accounts, summarising key activity and achievements during the last financial year. The report examines the leading-edge care the trust provides to the local community and highlights how patients from across the country also benefit from its specialist services.

The report also takes the opportunity to celebrate the success of some of St George’s staff and clinical teams. A special section looks at some of the year’s key achievements, such as the trust’s ‘Large trust of the year’ award from Dr Foster Intelligence and the penile cancer team’s ‘Oncology team of the year’ award.

Chief executive David Astley said: "The last financial year saw St George’s reach important milestones, building on its financial stability and growing reputation for clinical excellence. For the third year in a row the trust recorded a financial surplus, making St George’s well placed to consolidate its position at the forefront of local and specialist healthcare in southwest London.

"2009 ended on a high note with the trust named ‘Large Trust of the Year’ by Dr Foster Intelligence, publisher of the Hospital Guide. I hope people will enjoy reading about this, and other areas where our staff and services have been recognised, in the awards section of this year’s report.”

The annual report is available to download via the trust’s website, www.stgeorges.nhs.uk. Hard copies are also available and can be requested by emailing communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk or calling 020 8725 5151.

Simulation brings trauma training to life

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:00:00 GMT

Trauma staff at St George’s Hospital, London, 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 is 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 coming to St George’s allowing staff to practice a trauma call from start to finish.

Consultant nurse in emergency care, 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. We are very excited by this new equipment as it presents a great opportunity for us to develop and test our trauma service.”

St George's to build state-of-the-art breast unit

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 09:00:00 GMT

A new Breast Diagnostic Unit, is to be opened at St George's Hospital, Tooting, it was announced today (7th September 2010). St George's is a regional cancer centre and its clinical results for breast screening are among the best in London. The trust has identified a site for a modern stand-alone facility, which will open in 2011, providing state-of-the-art services for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and other breast diseases.

The trust is host to the South West London Breast Screening Service and St George's National Breast Screening Training Centre, and provides breast services for symptomatic local women. The new unit's fully integrated digital equipment will improve the efficiency of the screening process, allowing more women to be screened and making rapid access to further diagnostic tests available. Clinics for women with breast symptoms will be provided and the unit will also offer one-stop diagnostic clinics where all diagnostic tests can be performed at the first appointment.

Dr Louise Wilkinson, director of screening at St George's, said:

"This announcement is really positive for women in South West London. This will be a sophisticated unit, providing women with a modern, high-quality and efficient screening and diagnostic service, in a calm and caring environment. The quality of care at St George's has always been of the highest standard and the new environment will ensure that women benefit from the best possible services in a building designed for the purpose.

"Early detection of breast cancer is the key to successful treatment and this unit will provide all the tests women need in one place at one time, and give them their results quickly. This will help reduce anxiety for women and allow the team to fully investigate any problems more efficiently."

St George’s Annual General Meeting 2010

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:00:00 GMT

2009/10 saw St George’s recognised for its high standards of patient safety with the trust named by Dr Foster Intelligence as its `Large Trust of the Year 2009.`

Our plans to become a Foundation Trust by 2011 continued to take shape and we were chosen as the preferred provider to integrate with Community Services Wandsworth.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is your chance to hear about our achievements and plans for the future. The AGM is also your chance to put questions direct to the trust chair and chief executive.

Tuesday 28th September
6pm – 8pm
Hyde Park Room, first floor, Lanesborough Wing, St George’s Hospital.

As well as formal presentations of our report and accounts for 2009/10, patients and staff will share the benefit of their experiences of the trust. After questions and comments, the meeting will end with the presentation of our annual Special Achievement Awards for staff who have made an outstanding contribution in the past year.

Light refreshments will be served at the end of the AGM.

For further information, please contact the communications unit on 020 8266 6127.

Sale of Bolingbroke will improve care for Wandsworth residents

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust is moving ahead with plans to sell the site of the former Bolingbroke Hospital within the current 2010/11 financial year. The sale is expected to raise millions of pounds which will be invested in improving healthcare for the 1.3 million people that St George’s serves across Wandsworth and southwest London.

The trust has identified key priorities for future investment following the Bolingbroke sale. These include developing a new urgent care centre on the main St George’s Hospital site in Tooting in partnership with NHS Wandsworth, the local primary care trust, and GPs and also expanding the resuscitation department where major trauma patients are admitted.

The trust has a responsibility to raise as much money as possible from the sale of the site and has been encouraged by the interest already shown by a range of organisations and developers. This includes Wandsworth Borough Council who are in discussions with the trust about acquiring the site for a new school development.

David Astley, St George’s chief executive said: “St George’s is committed to providing excellent healthcare services for its patients in modern surroundings. It is therefore important that the Bolingbroke site is sold quickly and for the best price possible so that we can invest the money raised in improving our services.”

Both St George’s and NHS Wandsworth are keen to fulfil the commitment made to local residents that space will be available in any new Bolingbroke development for future healthcare services. NHS Wandsworth and local GPs are already working together on plans to include GP and community services on the Bolingbroke site once it has been sold.

Dr David Finch, Battersea GP and Medical Director of NHS Wandsworth said: “We are working closely with St George’s to make sure that any planning application for the Bolingbroke includes space for NHS services. In the future we would like to see a facility that provides GP and community services which fits in with the needs of local people in this area.”

Stroke services rated country’s best in national audit

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:00:00 GMT

Stroke services at St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust in Tooting, southwest London, have been rated the best in the country in results from a national audit released today. The National Sentinel Audit for Stroke, organised by the Royal College of Physicians, assesses quality of care by looking at the process of care in place for patients and how the service is organised. Over 200 trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were assessed across eight categories and the stroke service at St George’s achieved the highest overall score.

Around 11,000 Londoners suffer a stroke each year, making it the second biggest killer in the capital and the most common cause of disability. In July St George’s began operating one of eight specialist hyper-acute stroke units (HASU) in London, providing expert emergency care to stroke patients, including access to CT scans and clot-busting drugs which save lives and reduce long-term disability.

The stroke service achieved top marks in the audit for organisation of care for patients, the coordination of team meetings, and the breadth of specialist staff working on the unit. The service also scored very highly for its communications with patients and carers and the multidisciplinary approach to patient care – which sees multiple clinical staff from different disciplines discussing and contributing towards the patient recovery.

The audit also recognised the service for coordinating closely with a specialist community rehabilitation team for longer-term care of both stroke and general neurology patients – a care package which is not provided by over half of stroke services across the country.

Hugh Markus, Professor of Neurology and one of five consultants in the stroke team, said: “These results are a marvellous achievement for the team here at St George’s. The service has been ranked amongst the top ten in the country in the last few audits, so quality has been consistently high for some time now. The fact that we are now placed top is a tribute to a huge amount of effort and enthusiasm from a large and diverse multidisciplinary team.”

“We now provide all three tiers of stroke services at St George’s – a HASU, a stroke unit and a TIA (mini-stroke) service. In the next twelve months we are expecting to increase our bed capacity and the number of TIA clinics so that we can continue to provide the very highest quality care for increasing numbers of patients.”

The unique service at St George’s also provides comprehensive rehabilitation at the Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre in Wimbledon for patients with stroke and other neurological conditions. The service has been selected as one of only eight hyper acute stroke research units in the country, securing funding for advanced research into stroke care, which aims to help increase understanding of stroke and develop innovative treatments for the condition.

Hospital benefits from local firm's birthday philanthropy

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

FLORAL AFFAIR: (l-r) Martyn Willis, chief executive of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, Marilyn Palmer-Williams, Kally Umanee, Fiona Chisholm, Araxi Kaskanian and Amy Lyddall-Fell

St George's Hospital received a visit from local family run firm, Nelsons, last week, when it donated vases of arranged flowers.

By way of marking its 150th anniversary, Nelsons – based in Wimbledon – donated eight vases of flowers, arranged by members of its staff team. The flowers were presented to Martyn Willis, Chief Executive of St George’s Hospital Charity and Andrea Wright, General Manager at St George’s on Thursday afternoon last week and will be displayed at various reception areas and clinics around the Hospital.

Bridget Streatfeild-James of Nelsons said: “We’re delighted to be able to make this donation to St George’s during our 150th anniversary year. We have many talented flower arrangers on our staff and they felt strongly about wanting to support their local hospital and its charity. This is a wonderful example of Nelsons in the local community.”

St George’s rare cancer care wins national award

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Top award: Mr Nick Watkin from St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust won the prestigious Karl-Storz-Harold Hopkins Golden Telescope in June. L-R Mr Derek Fawcett, president of BAUS; Mr Nick Watkin, consultant urological surgeon at St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, and Mr Richard Greenhalgh, Urology Business Manager of Karl Storz

The prestigious Karl-Storz-Harold Hopkins Golden Telescope has been awarded to consultant urological surgeon Mr Nick Watkin from St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, London, in recognition of his work in male genital reconstruction and penile cancer.

St George’s is a specialist centre for penile cancer, a rare condition affecting around 400 men in Britain every year. The trust takes referrals from across the south of England, and is working to improve the treatments available for this distressing condition. In the majority of cases, surgery can be offered which preserves the penis. This obviously has a huge impact on the quality of life for patients.

Anne Bishop, chief executive of the British Association of Urological Surgeons, which awarded the Golden Telescope at its annual conference in June said: “This award is given to urologists who have made a significant and lasting contribution to urology.”

Rebecca Porta, chief executive of the male cancer charity Orchid, said: “It is encouraging to see the important work at St George’s being recognised and we congratulate the team on their success. Penile cancer is a rare illness, and one of the most emotionally difficult for men to deal with.

“The research carried out by Mr Watkin and his team will undoubtedly help the overall wellbeing of patients who are diagnosed with this disease and give them the encouragement and support they need during their treatment.”

Tooting to the trot

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

The St George’s healthcare community hosted the Tooting Trot and Family Running Festival last weekend.Set in the leafy and spacious grounds of Springfield Hospital, the festival comprised a 5k for adults, a 1k for children and a range of family entertainment.

The event was attended by over 100 runners, with many families taking part as well. Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting, started the races and said: “It was an honour to open and run an extremely hot 'Tooting Trot' - a 5km charity 'fun run' at Springfield Hospital. I just missed my target time of 25 minutes, but I'm choosing to blame the weather!”

The event was hosted by St George’s Hospital Charity and South West London and St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, a collaboration that they hope will be repeated.

Emergency services pull together for St George’s

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Tooting’s emergency services chose St George’s as the beneficiary of their combined effort to pull a 4000 kg ambulance through the streets of Tooting.

As part of the Balham and Tooting Community Association (BATCA) Summer Fun Day on Saturday 21June, Tooting Fire Station, Tooting Safer Neighbourhood Team and the London Ambulance Service joined forces to raise money for St George’s Hospital Charity.

The pull started at the hospital’s Atkinson Morley Wing, taking in Blackshaw Road, M&S Colliers Wood, Tooting High Street, Mitcham Road, the Broadway, Tooting Bec and the Fire Station on Trinity Road.

The pull raised a staggering £1632.35, all of which will go towards improving the quality of the environment at St George’s, whilst the funds raised by the Fun Day will go to support equipment for the A & E department at St George’s.

The Fun Day is the third summer event for Tooting, staged by BATCA in co-operation with the Gatton Muslim primary school and St Augustine’s Church, both in Broadwater Road. And the ambulance pull is the third time that our local heroes from the emergency services have pulled together to raise awareness and money for St George’s Hospital Charity.

New directory identifies specialist services for patients

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:00:00 GMT

SPECIALIST ADVICE: (l-r) David Astley, chief executive of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust; Dr Sheila Fitzgerald, GP, Bridge Lane Group Practice; Dr Johannes Coetzee, GP, Bridge Lane Group Practice; Dr Patrick Kiely, consultant rheumatologist, St George’s; Dr Rupal Shah, GP, Bridge Lane Group Practice; Dominic Dickinson, primary care liaison manager, St George’s and Dr Helen Morgan, GP, Bridge Lane Group Practice.

A new directory was launched last week to help local GPs identify general and speciality outpatient services at one of the country’s largest teaching hospitals.

The Outpatient Services Directory and Referral Guide, created by St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, provides details of the trust’s departments, specialist nurse-led clinics and a list of trust consultants, including their special interests and contact details.

On Friday 11 June, trust chief executive, David Astley, visited Bridge Lane Health Centre in Battersea to launch the directory.

He said: “As a large acute trust we provide a huge portfolio of services – last year alone we provided advice and treatment to more than 550,000 patients through our outpatient facilities. It is a huge benefit to both patients and commissioners that these services are now comprehensively listed in this new guide.”

The directory supports the National Choose and Book programme in searching for clinical services.

For more details about the directory visit http://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/gpcontacts.asp

St George’s launches Foundation Trust consultation

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:00:00 GMT

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust officially launched its Foundation Trust consultation on Wednesday 25th May. Over 120 people attended the evening event including representatives from local patient, community and charity groups.

The plans received the support from Tooting MP, Sadiq Khan, who hoped that St George’s relationship with its local community would be strengthened by becoming a Foundation Trust.

Trust chair, Naaz Coker, said, “As Chair of St George’s I am committed to ensuring that the voices of our patients, public and staff are clearly heard as we work together to develop healthcare services at St George’s.”

To find out more about St George’s Foundation Trust plans visit www.stgeorges.nhs.uk.

Arthur Smith's patient experiences raise Nursing Day smiles

Fri, 14 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Comedian Arthur Smith brought smiles to the faces of nurses at St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, Tooting, as part of International Nurses' Day on 12 May 2010.

Balham resident Arthur Smith gave an entertaining account of his experiences as a patient at St George's during an afternoon event which also saw the presentation of the trust's nurse of the year awards. Over 200 nurses attended the event and also heard from Sian Page an A&E nurse from Barts and The London NHS Trust who talked about her experiences of working at Camp Bastion military hospital in Afghanistan.

Director of Nursing, Alison Robertson, said, "International nurses day provides a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements and successes of our nursing colleagues across the organisation."

Our photo shows from left to right: Cathy Barratt, Nurse of the Year 2010; Samantha Brown, Healthcare Assistant of the Year 2010; Arthur Smith and Tina Woodford, Midwife of Year 2010.

Trust declares its commitment to carbon reduction with 10:10 launch

Thu, 13 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust has pledged to cut ten per cent of its carbon emissions by the end of the financial year.

As part of this on-going commitment to operate in a sustainable way, the trust has signed up to 10:10 - a national campaign to cut carbon emissions by ten per cent by the end of 2010.

The official launch, on Friday 7 May, was aimed at staff and members of the public. It offered information about the 10:10 campaign, the trust's pledge and tips to help individuals cut their carbon emissions, while encouraging people to sign up to free awareness sessions.

CEO David Astley said: "This campaign represents a very important part of the trust's dedication to achieving sustainability. The trust has already made great strides in reducing carbon emissions - we have achieved around a 20 per cent reduction in the last five years. To meet our 10:10 target, we will need to cut our carbon emissions by a further 5,000 tonnes this year."

Same sex accommodation declaration of compliance online

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust published its same sex accommodation declaration of compliance online. The declaration includes details about the work St George's undertakes to deliver same sex accommodation as well as the escalation procedure and action plan.

St George's recognises No Smoking Day and World Kidney Day

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust put its weight behind two important public health campaigns this week. No Smoking Day took place on Wednesday 10th March and staff, patients and the public who are interested in quitting were encouraged to visit a drop-in stand in the hospital's main entrance for advice and support.

The Trust celebrated World Kidney Day on Thursday 11th March by holding an event to acknowledge the kidney donors who made donations over the past five years and to raise the profile of kidney donations. Blood pressure checks and advice on diabetes and blood pressure management were also available throughout the day.

Our picture shows: Ziggy the Ciggie, Dorota Karas, NHS Wandsworth Stop Smoking Team, Professor Peter Kopelman, Principal, St George's, University of London, Angela Macfarlane, NHS Wandsworth Stop Smoking Team, David Astley, Chief Executive, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, Tim Read, NHS Wandsworth Stop Smoking Team and Nikki Davies, NHS Wandsworth Stop Smoking Team.

Our picture shows: Colette Guest, a renal Ward Clerk and Healthcare Assistant, provides a staff nurse with information.

St George's demonstrates cutting-edge technology to Sir David Nicholson

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

NHS Chief Executive Sir David Nicholson visited St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London on Tuesday 2nd March. During his visit Sir David met with clinical staff from St George’s stroke unit and trauma centre teams.

Our picture shows Kate Baskerville, A&E Superintendent Radiographer, demonstrating CT technology to Sir David Nicholson

Dialysis treatment is moved closer to home for St George's renal patients

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

A new satellite dialysis unit was officially opened for St George's Healthcare NHS Trust renal (kidney) patients by Naaz Coker, St George's Chair, on Tuesday 16th February.

The centre, which is located in Battersea, operates in addition to the renal department at St George's and serves patients from north Wandsworth and surrounding areas. St George's renal consultants, specialist nurses and dieticians visit their patients at the unit on a regular basis.

The unit is run by Fresenius Medical Care Renal Services and has 18 individual dialysis stations which come with adjustable electronic chairs and their own flat screen TV. A wireless network is also available which patients can access for their own computers. Consulting rooms are available for outpatients and other individual patient consultations.

Naaz said, "This state-of-the art facility is a shining example of how we can make healthcare services more accessible to our patients by bringing care into the community and closer to peoples' homes.

"The haemodialysis service provided by St George's is vital for local patients with end stage kidney failure, many of whom will spend up to 12 hours here every week. For those patients, both quality of care and the environment in which it is provided is of prime importance."

Dialysis patient, Alphonso Brown, said "I have moved to an area that I am familiar with and enjoy it here; it is local and very friendly. It is an improved facility and the dialysis itself is excellent."

Left to right: Naaz Coker, Chairman, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, Amor Marasigan, Clinical Manager for the North Wandsworth unit, Daniel Jones, St George's Consultant Nephrologist and dialysis patient Alphonso Brown.

Rokeby School gives a helping hand to St George's Hospital

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Rokeby School Parents' Circle raised a staggering £1,000 for Ocean Children's Ward at St George's Hospital in Tooting. Rokeby Parents' Circle organised a cake sale during break times to raise the money. Rokeby School will also fund an additional £250 to buy portable DVD players and a library of DVDs for children to use during their stay in hospital.

Mary Parr , Chairman of the Rokeby Parents' Circle said "After two of Rokeby boys spent some time in Ocean Ward at St. George's Hospital, we were delighted to choose Ocean Ward at St George's Hospital as our nominated charity for the next two years. We would like to thank the parents and Rokeby boys for all their hard work in raising such a fantastic amount".

St George's provides a full range of General Paediatric Medicine inpatient and outpatient services. They have 5 children's wards one of which is Ocean Ward. Ocean Ward has 8 beds and treats children with neurological conditions, including strokes - a number of current pupils have been looked after on this Ward.

Sarah Papageorgiou, Senior Staff Nurse, Ocean Ward and Lisa Lewington, Play Specialist at St George's Hospital said "We are thrilled the Rokeby Parent's Circle has picked Ocean Ward as their nominated charity. The money raised will buy a new wheelchair to help bed-bound children get out in our garden for some fresh-air whilst on the road to recovery, the money will also provide additional equipment, toys and items for Ocean Ward". We thank Rokeby for their fantastic contribution".

Rokeby School is an Independent Preparatory Boys School located on the Coombe Road Estate, George Road in Kingston. Educating boys from 4 to 13, Rokeby's impressive facilities deliver first class opportunities in the academic arena, sports and the arts. Rokeby has an outstanding record of success in Common Entrance and Scholarships to leading Independent Schools.

New website improves online access to St George's

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust has today (25th January) launched its new website www.stgeorges.nhs.uk. The new site enables easier access to information about the work of the Trust to the public, patients and GPs.

The website has been rebuilt and designed by the Trust's own in-house team. It benefits from new navigation, up-to-date photography and a page structure that allows more detailed information about St George's services to be provided.

Chief Executive David Astley said: "St George's website is our window to the world and helps us to connect with our local community, patients and healthcare professionals. The new site has been designed to be more user-friendly and I hope that people will welcome the changes that have been made."

South London successful in national bid for innovation in health and education

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

NHS, education and social care organisations in south London have become one of only 17 networks across England to receive government funding to improve healthcare delivery and education in the region.

The collaboration, made up of around 30 organisations, forms the South London Health Innovation Education Cluster (HIEC) - one of the new government funded networks aimed at delivering high quality patient care through better trained clinicians and faster translation and adoption of research and innovation.

South London HIEC brings together members of south London's two major healthcare networks - the South West London Academic Health and Social Care Network and King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. This includes all south London's primary care and mental health trusts, 17 NHS hospitals, the London Ambulance Service and the local Health Protection Unit, as well as six universities, further education providers and social care teams.

Members of the HIEC will work together to improve patient care and local health services by more rapidly delivering the benefits of research and innovation directly to patients, for example through the early adoption of new technologies and introduction of improved processes. Early work will include a review of current education and training aimed at health professionals across south London and is expected to lead to the introduction of new programmes, as well as enhancements to existing training courses.

The South London HIEC has identified four areas to focus on initially: mental health; infection prevention and control; diabetes, and stroke.

The new HIEC will be jointly led by the South West London Academic Health and Social Care Network and King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.

Commenting on the successful bid, St George's Chief Executive David Astley said: "This is an exciting development for South London, as the diversity of this region brings unique challenges to local services. The collaborative solutions of researchers, doctors and nurses will be put into practice by the HIEC to deliver real benefits to local people."

The Department of Health announced successful HIEC applications following a rigorous selection process, including a formal interview by the National Award Panel chaired by St Alan Langlands.

Spot check shows St George's is protecting patients from infections

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT

An unannounced inspection of St George's Healthcare NHS Trust by the Quality Care Commission (CQC) on 25th November has confirmed the hospital is meeting its duty to protect patients and staff from infections.

The CQC spot check focused on four areas of the hospital, two wards and two units where patients are treated. The CQC examined against 16 hygiene measures including ward cleanliness, hand-washing facilities and availability of antibacterial hand gel. Inspectors questioned staff across the Trust including doctors, nurses, cleaners, and management, in order to test their knowledge of hygiene standards. The watchdog also reviewed the Trust's processes for staff infection control training and providing information for the public and the Board.

The CQC reported no concerns on 15 of its 16 measures. On one measure concerned with maintaining healthcare environments, it made a recommendation to improve cleaning as it found dust in extraction vents. This was a problem that Trust staff had already identified and were seeking to rectify. The recommendation did not mean the standard was breached².

The inspection report also noted that the Trust's rates of Clostridium difficile were lower than the rates for the majority of similar trusts between July 2008 and June 2009. In the same period, the Trust's rates for MRSA were between average for similar trusts and well below this range³.

Zoe Packman, Interim Director of Nursing, said: "We are pleased with the CQC's report as it confirms our ongoing work to improve standards of hygiene within the Trust is protecting our patients, visitors and staff."

St George's appoints Clinical Director for Emergency Department

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, has appointed Phil Moss as its Clinical Director for the Emergency Department.

Phil has extensive experience in emergency medicine having previously worked for Newham University Hospital and the Royal London Hospital as a consultant in emergency medicine before joining St George's in November. Phil has also worked for the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) as a flight registrar.

Speaking about his appointment Phil said: "This is an exciting time to be joining St George's with the development of the major trauma centre as well as the hyper-acute stroke unit at the hospital's main site in Tooting. I look forward to working with colleagues to develop these services in order to ensure the best possible care for patients. I will also be working to strengthen St George's role as a major player in the emergency and urgent care landscape of southwest London"

Deputy Chief Executive and Medical Director at St George's, Mike Bailey, said: "As Clinical Director for the Emergency Department, Phil is involved in the clinical, operational and strategic decisions that take place around A&E. He is an accomplished professional who brings a wealth of emergency medicine knowledge and experience to this role."

People with winter bug urged to stay away from hospital

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT

People suffering with the winter sickness bug Norovirus are being urged to stay away from hospital and instead contact their GP or pharmacy.

Visitors to the hospital are being asked to wash hands with soap and water when entering and leaving wards and clinics to help keep the bug at bay.

Michael Bailey, the Trust's Medical Director, said:

"As a general rule, normally healthy adults suffering with diarrhoea and vomiting should not need to come to hospital for treatment. Anybody with concerns should seek telephone advice from their GP or NHS Direct.

New transplant technique will benefit local kidney patients

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Local kidney patients are being given new hope from a pioneering transplant technique, which allows surgeons to transplant a kidney from donor to recipient even if their blood types do not match.

This new technique, which was performed by the transplant team at St George's Healthcare NHS Trust for the first time in September, is only available at a handful of trusts across the country and in Europe .

The first person to undergo the new surgery at St George's was Steve Purcell, a renal patient at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton. Steve, from West End in Surrey, said: "The transplant has gone amazingly smoothly and I'm eternally grateful to my kidney donor and to the transplant team at St George's.

"Being able to operate even though there is a blood group difference is a major step forward and opens the door for many more people to access this life-changing operation. Thanks to the transplant I am looking forward to living a normal, active life and hopefully I am the first of many to have a transplant at St George's using this pioneering technique."

Consultant transplant surgeon for St George's, who led the first operation, Nicos Kessaris said: "This is a significant milestone for St George's and the result of a team effort across the South West Thames Renal Transplant Network. Through using this technique we will be able to improve patient care by performing more transplants in the future."

Renal consultant and medical director for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Dr Jonathan Kwan said: "This is fantastic news for renal patients in the area. Finding out that you need a kidney transplant is an incredibly daunting thing to face for anyone, so anything that can increase or speed up the number of transplants is a huge benefit to patients."

Sticky solution to deadly lung problem

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

A revolutionary procedure that uses surgical BioGlue to prevent potentially life-threatening infection in lung surgery patients has been successfully carried out by a cardiothoracic team at St George's Hospital, London. [1]

Patients who undergo surgery on a lung can be susceptible to infection via a bronchopleural fistula, a hole that can occur between the bronchial pathways. These holes leak air leading to infection forming in the space where the lung was removed. This infection can then travel backwards through the bronchopleural fistula and cause infection in the remaining healthy lung. [2]. In most cases bronchopleural fistulas are sealed surgically, however, for patients who have medical complications which can include infection, surgery can be a risk.

The St George's team used BioGlue to seal bronchopleural fistulas in three post-surgery patients. One patient had been treated for lung cancer, and had also developed an infection. Two patients had bronchiectasis, a serious lung disease that causes irreversible dilation of part of the bronchial tree. One of these patients also had an infection.

In all three patients the BioGlue was applied directly onto the bronchial stump endoscopically, using a pre-filled syringe. In each case, the stumps were successfully sealed and the patients recovered fully.

Brendan Madden, Professor of Cardiothoracic Medicine, who led the St George's team says: “BioGlue seals bronchial fistulas quickly and firmly without any known local reaction [3,4] and, when applied in overlapping layers, it doesn't clot or move.”

Previous endoscopic use of BioGlue in sealing bronchial fistulas has been limited. However, following the St George's Hospital research, Professor Madden suggests that closing bronchopleural fistulas with BioGlue should be considered as an early treatment option. “This endoscopic procedure should be considered for patients who have other medical complications, such as infection, which can significantly increase the risks of further surgery.” He says.

Professor Madden points out that more research is still needed to determine how widely this treatment can be applied. He says, “Each patient in our research had bronchopleural fistulas less than 8mm. However, we appreciate that fistulas over 8mm may not be suitable for endoscopic closure.”

St George's Chair wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Naaz Coker, the Chair of St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, has won a Lifetime Achievement Award from an awards scheme recognising the contribution of Asian people to UK society and business.

Lloyds TSB Jewel Awards, now in their seventh year, celebrate achievement and success of Asian people in professional services, public service, food retail, business and commerce, healthcare and education, and as entrepreneurs.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is for outstanding individuals who have made a sustained contribution to success in their region. Ms Coker was singled out for her 38-year career in the public and voluntary sector alongside running a management consultancy. She has been Chair of St George’s since 2003 and is also a Non-Executive Director of the Ethical Property Company, trustee of the RSA and Council member of St George's University of London. Until November 2008, Ms Coker was Chair of Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity and from 1998-2006, she was Chair of British Refugee Council.

The awards ceremony on 7^th November focused on people in the south of the UK and follows similar ceremonies in the Midlands and Manchester.

Congratulating Ms Coker on her award, David Astley, St George's Chief Executive, said: "This award recognises a lifetime of commitment to improving healthcare in the UK. During her time as Chair of St George's the Trust has made great strides and has seen major improvements in its services that are delivering the highest standards of care to patients."

Men in Wandsworth failing to attend life-saving screening appointments

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Wandsworth men may be putting their lives at risk by failing to attend life-saving screening clinics at St George’s Hospital. As part of a national programme to cut deaths from abdominal aortic aneurisms (AAAs), men aged over 65 in Wandsworth were among the first in the country invited for free screening which began at the Trust in June this year. During August and September over 50 percent of those invited failed to attend the clinic.

An estimated 80,000 men in the UK aged between 65 and 74 are affected by the condition, which is caused when the main blood vessel in the abdomen the aorta weakens and starts to expand. If undetected, the condition can be fatal and kills around 6,000 men every year.

Mr Ian Loftus, Lead for the NHS AAA Screening Programme for St George's and southwest London, said: “The screening programme aims to reduce deaths from the condition by up to 50 percent by detecting AAAs early and enabling monitoring or treatment to be offered. We’ve been inviting all men in the borough who turn 65 this year to a free appointment but have seen low attendance levels in September 60 percent of those invited failed to attend.

“Men who are suffering from this condition will not generally notice any symptoms, which is why screening is so important. AAA is a killer but awareness is low and the message just isn’t getting out there. The test at St George’s is simple, pain-free and usually takes less than ten minutes. Catching the condition early really improves a patient’s prospects for a good recovery.”

Men aged 65 and over are most at risk from the condition and invitations for screening are therefore being sent out to men in Wandsworth who turn 65 during 2009. Men not automatically invited for screening can arrange an appointment by calling the unit on 020 8266 6261. For more information on AAA visit the National AAA Screening Programme website, http://aaa.screening.nhs.uk

St George's appoints Interim Director of Human Resources

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, has appointed Sally Storey as its interim Director of Human Resources (HR) and Organisational Development, to cover in the absence of Helen Gordon who recently took adoption leave.

Sally Storey
Interim Director of Human Resources

Sally has held Board level HR posts for over 12 years, managing large scale complex change and turnaround programmes, and has won national awards for innovation, modernisation and HR excellence for her work in leadership development. She has experience of working at several large NHS trusts including Bournewood Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust, Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust and East Surrey Hospitals NHS Trust. Sally has also worked in the private sector with an independent HR and organisational development consultancy.

Chief Executive David Astley said: “Sally has demonstrated a wide range of skills, gained from a variety of roles and organisations both inside and outside the NHS. She brings a wealth of experience in leadership and organisational development and strategic HR management to St George's.”

Sally said: “It’s a great pleasure to have joined St George's at such an exciting time. I am passionate about the quality of clinical services, and believe that a high performing HR team directly contributes to improved patient care. My work in other Trusts on improving the patient experience has given me insight into the complex inter-relationship between staff and patient satisfaction.”

-Ends-

St George's appoints new Director of Nursing and Patient Safety

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, has appointed Alison Robertson as its new Director of Nursing and Patient Safety.

Alison Robertson

Currently Chief Nurse at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, she will join St George's in the New Year. Alison has worked in the NHS for over 25 years and has provided strategic leadership to the nursing and midwifery profession in several NHS Trusts, including Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Chief Executive David Astley said: "We are delighted to have appointed someone of Alison's calibre to this important post at St George's. The Trust is gearing up for an exciting future and has some major challenges ahead as it works towards achieving Foundation Trust status. Alison is an accomplished professional with comprehensive experience gained at clinical, operational and strategic levels. We look forward to welcoming her to the Trust in January."

Alison said: "It is a privilege to be joining the executive team at St George's. I am absolutely committed to placing patients and their needs at the centre of the Trust's activity and care passionately that my leadership translates into better and safer care for patients."

New Cord Blood Unit opens at St George's

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

A new centre for the collection of vital cord blood donations was opened at St George's Hospital, London, on Monday (19th October) by Public Health Minister Gillian Merron.

Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after a baby is born. It is rich in stem cells and can be provided to help patients whose bone marrow is not working properly due to disease or medical treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Public Health Minister Gillian Merron with baby Leah Khan and mum Rebecca, a cord blood donor, on the maternity unit at St George's

Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said: "Cord blood offers enormous potential to treat and cure. The NHS bank offers cancer patients greater access to potential life-saving stem cell matches. Opening this new centre in an ethnically diverse area will help ensure we have enough cells of the right matches."

"Harnessing scientific advances offered by stem cells through this new NHS centre means that mums can save lives as they bring one into the world."

During her visit the Minister met trained cord blood collection staff, clinicians and donors in the maternity unit at St George's.

New NHS Cord Blood Collection Centre opens at St George's Hospital

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

A new centre for the collection of vital cord blood donations will be opened on Monday by Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron.

NHS Blood and Transplant and St George's Healthcare NHS Trust have established the fifth site at which mothers can donate cord blood. Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after a baby is born. It is rich in stem cells and can be provided to help patients whose bone marrow is not working properly due to disease or medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Donations to the NHS Cord Blood Bank are given on a voluntary basis and can potentially help any patient in need of a cord blood transplant.

The NHS Cord Blood Bank, which is part of NHS Blood and Transplant, (NHSBT) has four other sites across London and the south-east, chosen for the broad ethnic mix of the community they serve. This increases the chances of finding a suitable tissue type match for those seriously ill patients requiring a cord blood transplant.

The Minister will open the new facility and meet trained NHSBT cord blood collection staff, clinicians, mothers-to-be and donors in the maternity unit. Rebecca Khan, is a cord blood donor and mother of two from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. Donor ethnicity is an important consideration, when matching cord blood donations to a potential recipient, as it increases the chance of a possible match. Rebecca and husband Kyle's diverse ethnic heritage of Greek and English; and Trinidadian and Scottish parents means her cord blood donation is unique.

Lynda Hamlyn, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "The opening of this fifth cord blood collection site will give more mothers the opportunity to donate and provide hope for those patients where no bone marrow match can be found."

"The location of St George's allows collection from a large multi-ethnic community which is of great benefit as patients have a much better chance of finding a good match from donors of the same ethnic background."

"The stem cells that come from cord blood are similar to those found in bone marrow and are used in many different ways including treatment for illnesses such as leukaemia but are also used in research to help develop new treatments."

David Astley, Chief Executive of St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "The donations made here really will save lives and St George's is very proud to be working in partnership with NHSBT to provide this hugely important facility. Based in the heart of Tooting, St George's serves a very diverse population and is well placed to host the new unit."

There are currently more than 13,973 units of cord blood stored in the NHS Cord Blood Bank, making it the fourth largest single blood bank in the world. At present 40% of the cord blood units stored are from ethnic minority donors, which makes it the second highest percentage worldwide of rare tissue types in a cord blood bank and increasing the chances of people from a BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) background finding a match.

Since its creation in 1996, the NHS Cord Blood Bank has issued 276 units to treat patients in 22 countries and so far 53 units have been issued this year alone.

Gracious Golden Wedding

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Marking their Golden Wedding Anniversary in style, Alan and Kay Pfeiffer had more than their 50 years of marriage to celebrate this summer. In recent years both Alan and Kay have battled the fight against cancer, but together have made full recoveries thanks to the care and support of each other and the treatment received at St George's Hospital, Tooting.

Wed on 15^th August 1959 at St Faiths Church in Wandsworth, the happy couple have had their fair share of ups and downs over the years, however they have commendably made it through together. In 2005 Kay was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, which sadly resulted in her having to undergo a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiology at St George's. Alan supported her through the traumatic illness being Kay's pillar of strength. However, during her treatment in 2007 Alan was also diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer. As Kay was thankfully on the road to recovery the tables turned, and she became Alan's rock to get through.

Together, and thanks to St George's both husband and wife have made a full recovery in time to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary this year. The jubilant couple decided to ask their family and friends to donate to St George's Hospital Charity, for the benefit of the Oncology Department rather than giving gifts.

"We've got the best present ever." Says Kay "We're both back to our health and couldn't ask for anything more".

A fantastic £870 was raised for the benefit of patients and staff at St George's, and has been used to purchase a special pump to help deliver a specific chemotherapy drug.

Annual Healthcheck measures Trust performance

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Annual Health Check results published today, Thursday 16th October, by the Care Quality Commission today show that St George's has rated 'fair' for both its quality of services and financial performance.

The survey shows that St George's met its 18-week referral-to-treatment target, achieved standards for MRSA and Clostridium difficile infections, met all the cancer waiting times targets and met standards for patient and staff satisfaction. However the Trust narrowly missed out on maintaining its 2007/08 rating of 'good' for quality of services, failing to meet one target for waiting times and one for cancelled operations. The Trust also underachieved when it came to admitting in-patients within a 26-week deadline.

Chief Executive, David Astley, said: "Keeping waiting times to a minimum is an important part of what makes for good standards of patient care. While only a small number of our patients were affected by delays we must work to ensure that in future we meet the waiting time targets for all our patients."

"The 'fair' rating for services is disappointing when compared to last year's score. We know that St George's has to be consistent if we are to perform well in these assessments in order to maintain the trust of our patients."

The failed waiting time target was for not admitting patients for revascularisation (a procedure to improve blood flow in blocked arteries) within 13 weeks. A series of problems with one patient journey, out of more than 2,100 patients who received their treatment on time, resulted in the Trust failing to meet the target. St George's underachieved on the 26-week inpatient target by the smallest of margins, with repeated lapses on three patient journeys out of 26,696 letting the Trust down.

However, the Trust did meet seven other targets, including three waiting time targets for cancer patients and the 13-week referral-to-treatment target. The Trust also met the four-hour A&E wait target one which it had missed in 2007/08. St George's achieved the highest rating for patient and staff experience and also met standards for control of infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

In a summary report for patients, the Trust was given full scores for safety and cleanliness, dignity and respect, and keeping the public healthy.

The report from the Care Quality Commission rated that the Trust had underachieved in the area of care of stroke patients as 52.5 per cent of patients spent their whole stay on a dedicated stroke ward, rather than the 60 per cent target.

Mike Bailey, Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive explained:

"This score comes from an audit carried out a year ago. I am pleased to say that our most recent results show that more than 80 per cent of patients are now being cared for on our stroke unit."

"Providing care on a dedicated stroke ward is one indicator of good quality but there are others. For example, a stroke patient getting a brain scan quickly, or being assessed by physiotherapist and occupational therapists early on so that the patient's rehabilitation can be planned by a team of health professionals bringing different skills together. Earlier this year, St George's was identified by the Stroke Association as being a beacon of good care and I'd like to reassure people that our standards of care remain extremely high."

The rating of 'fair' for its Quality of Management was based on St George's meeting its financial targets for 2008/2009. The Trust's financial reporting, internal control and financial management were all assessed as good.

Celebration of Maternity Services

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, consultant and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St George's, University of London, officially re-opened the delivery suite on 29 September following a major refurbishment.

The event celebrated both the changes that Maternity Service has undergone in the last year and Prof Arul's knighthood which he was awarded in the Queen's Birthday Honours earlier this year.

In the past 12 months, the Maternity Service has undergone a wide-ranging re-design and renewal to provide better facilities for mothers giving birth and for staff, and to improve the way the service operates.

St George's Annual Report shows the hospital at work 24/7

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust has published its 2008/09 annual report and accounts, summarising key activity and achievements during the last financial year. The report takes on the theme of 24/7 healthcare, and features key areas of the Trust's work, such as its cutting edge robotic surgery and developments in its bids to become a major trauma centre and hyper acute stroke unit.

The report also examines how staff training is being revolutionised by the Trust's advanced patient simulator centre, and reviews the Hospital's activity as a leading centre for cancer care. Key performance indicators such as the Annual Health Check, which saw St George's rating rise from Fair to Good, are also featured, as well as the Trust's summary financial accounts.

Chief Executive David Astley said: "The last financial year was an important one for St George's and there were some major achievements for the Trust. The opening of our new Grosvenor Wing main entrance is a clear signal that we are investing firmly in our future, and our reduction in infection rates once again places us as one of the best performing London Teaching Hospitals.

"Steady financial progress has manoeuvred us into a firm position to press ahead with work to become a Foundation Trust and secure the future of one of London's most important hospitals."

The annual report is available to download via the website www.stgeorges.nhs.uk. Hard copies are also available and can be requested by emailing communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk or calling 020 8725 5151.

St George's appoints new Head of IT

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, has appointed John-Jo Campbell as its new Head of IT.

Mr Campbell was previously on secondment at the Department of Health where his responsibilities included developing a major IT procurement project and leading the transition of live services in the south of England. He has also held the post of Interim Chief Information Officer for NHS South Central where, among other responsibilities, he led the National Programme for IT.

Patrick Mitchell, St George's Chief Operating Officer, said, "John-Jo joins the Trust at a very crucial time, as we move forward with our implementation of the national programme for IT in December, and a major transformation of clinical services using IT as a driving force for change."

NHS Medical Director inspires St George's clinical leaders

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT

NHS Medical Director and prominent heart surgeon, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, addressed an audience of senior clinicians and directors from St George's Healthcare NHS Trust at the launch of the trust's new leadership training programme on Monday 21st September.

Engaging Leadership will see 21 clinicians who hold senior management positions at St George?s participate in a 16-month programme of inspirational talks and practical workshops. The aim is to develop leaders working within a culture of transformation and bring real benefits to patients.

Professor Sir Keogh told those attending the programme's launch: "Leadership is about aligning people to a common set of goals. The NHS is a set a complex organisations and the leadership approach for each needs to be different. However, the evidence is clear that those organisations which have strong clinical leadership perform better than those that don't."
The following day, a workshop was held in which participants identified service improvements projects which they will work through and implement during the course of the programme.

St George's Chief Executive, David Astley, said: "This new programme aims to complement our existing schemes for developing leaders and managers at St George's. The service improvement projects they undertake will make a very real difference to patients? experiences; this is a very practical programme about being an effective leader of positive change."

Our image shows Professor Sir Bruce Keogh.

St George's pledges to cut carbon emissions

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George?s Healthcare NHS Trust has signed up to 10:10, an ambitious and radical national programme which aims to cut carbon emissions to help tackle climate change.

Organisations across the country are taking part in the project, launched in September, and together aim to cut 10 per cent of carbon emissions during 2010. St George?s was one of the first NHS organizations to commit to the programme. Signing up for the 10:10 campaign means reviewing consumption of electricity and fossil fuels. St George?s involvement in 10:10 builds on a long-term commitment the Trust has to tackling environmental issues.

Naaz Coker, Chair of the Trust, said: "By signing up to 10:10 St George?s is making clear its drive to reduce its carbon footprint. Our efforts over the last five years have already led to a reduction in the Trust?s carbon emissions by around 20 per cent. Reducing our use of energy not only makes sense in terms of protecting our environment but also reduces our energy bills."

St George's ladies run for mums!

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT

A team of St George's Hospital staff took part in the Women's 5k Challenge in Hyde Park on Sunday to raise funds for St George's.

Nine ladies formed the St George's team, having trained together over the past few weeks. Weather conditions were good, with overcast skies and a cool breeze as the Run started. And as the last runners completed the course, the clouds passed and the sun shone!

Funds raised by six of the runners will go towards the refurbishment of the breastfeeding room on Gwillim Ward. Breastfeeding in the first few days of their baby's life is an important and often anxious time for mothers. Privacy and a relaxed, comfortable environment are a top priority in learning how to do this. Gwillim Ward provides a separate breastfeeding room away from the ward, in which new mothers can learn to feed their babies away from disturbance (particularly at night), in a more private relaxed area. The refurbishment will provide additional sofas, a water dispenser, TV/DVD players to demonstrate feeding techniques and the whole area will be given a new coat of paint!

The ladies running team has raised in excess of 1000 pounds. Together with proceeds from the Crazeefass Gig that took place in Colliers Wood on Friday night, the refurbishment is all set to go ahead.

Our image shows the team of St George's Hospital staff running in the Women's 5k Challenge.

Charity gig sell out!

Mon, 7 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT

A group of St George's Hospital staff returned to GJ's in Colliers Wood last week for a sell-out gig in aid of St George's Hospital Charity.

The Crazeefass duo - Shola Adegoroye, a general manager and Alan Thorne, a director - first took to the stage at GJs in January 2008, along with Kirk Jones, a finance officer, and his Jukebox. Their return last Friday night saw them with special guests Ian Frost an IT manager, Osian Powell, a general manager and Richard Billington, a project manager for an evening of live music and vinyl rocksteady beats.

Funds raised from the Gig will go towards the refurbishment of the breastfeeding room on Gwillim Ward. Breastfeeding in the first few days of their baby's life is an important and often anxious time for mothers. Privacy and a relaxed, comfortable environment are a top priority in learning how to do this. Gwillim Ward provides a separate breastfeeding room away from the ward, in which new mothers can learn to feed their babies away from disturbance (particularly at night), in a more private relaxed area. The refurbishment will provide additional sofas, a water dispenser, TV/DVD players to demonstrate feeding techniques and the whole area will be given a new coat of paint!

The Gig raised over 1000 pounds in ticket sales and 145.50 pounds from a raffle on the night. Together with proceeds from the Women's 5k Challenge in Hyde Park on Sunday, the refurbishment is all set to go ahead!

Our image shows the Crazeefass duo - Shola Adegoroye and Alan Thorne

St George's Hospital Charity Appoints New Chairman

Mon, 7 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Hospital Charity has appointed a new Chairman to take up office from 1 October 2009.

Diane Mark has been elected to serve as Chairman of St George's Hospital Charity when Gill Noble steps down at the end of the month after eight years' service. Gill Noble, who was Director of Public Services at HM Treasury when she retired in June 2001, has been Chairman of the Hospital Charity since February 2002 and a Trustee since September 2001.

At the end of her term as Chairman and Trustee, Gill Noble says "It has been a privilege and a genuine pleasure to be involved with the Hospital Charity over the past eight years and I am very proud of the difference we have been able to make to the hospital environment for the benefit of patients, visitors and staff at St George's. We have made a number of substantial grants in recent years, for example for the Dragon Centre, the new garden, and the improvements to the scanning department. But I am especially proud of the refurbished main entrance to the Hospital, which the Charity made possible with a grant of £2.5 million, the largest single grant that we have ever made. It looks stunning and I know it is appreciated by the thousands of people who pass through it each day. I hope it encourages many more people to think of donating to the charity, helping us to help St George's"

Diane Mark was appointed as a Trustee of St George's Hospital Charity in July 2004, and until 31 October 2007 was a non-executive director of St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust. Her professional background is in banking. Diane holds a variety of public and voluntary appointments, including Justice of the Peace on the Wimbledon Bench and Treasurer of a local residents' association. Diane's appointment runs until 31 May 2012.

Of her appointment Diane says "I look forward to continuing the good work that Gill Noble as Chairman and my fellow Trustees have undertaken over the past few years. We will continue to raise the profile of the Charity, increase our fundraising activity and work with St George's Healthcare NHS Trust to further improve and enhance the hospital environment, its facilities and services."

Gill is replaced as Trustee by Dr Carol Varlaam. Carol was Chairman of Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority for two years and Deputy Chairman of Southwest London Strategic Health Authority for four years. Before that she had ten years' experience as Head of Corporate Human Resource Planning at the BBC. She is a lay member of the General Dental Council. She lives in Wandsworth with her husband, and she and her family have been regular users of St George's services for many years.

Become a fan of St George's

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust is looking to reach out to patients and the public via the social networking sites Twitter and Facebook. Followers can receive daily updates about the work of the hospital through Twitter and even become a fan of St George's on Facebook. Information provided on these sites includes the latest St George's news and details of career opportunities.

David Astley, Chief Executive at St George's said, "With so much happening across the Trust we are keen to explore new ways to reach a wider audience. Engaging with social media is one way in which we can do this and builds on the work we have done to develop our website www.stgeorges.nhs.uk. By joining social networking sites we are able to help the public gain a better understanding about the work we do and the range of expert healthcare services we provide."

St George's becomes major trauma centre

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George's will become one of only 4 major trauma centres in London following an announcement by Healthcare for London today, 20 July 2009.

As a major trauma centre, St George's will take patients in from south west London and Surrey with serious injuries for immediate access to specialist care and the most appropriate treatment. These include severe head injuries, penetrating injuries to neck and chest such as stab wounds; limb amputations and paralysis after an accident. With around 1,600 major trauma incidents in London a year, fast access to a major trauma centre means that more people who survive serious injury would be able to resume their normal lives.

St George's will work as part of the South West London and Surrey Trauma Network (SWLSTN). All A&E departments within the network will continue to provide trauma services with St George's designated as the major trauma centre. The network also encompasses Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT), six south London PCTs, as well as GPs, ambulance services, local authorities and voluntary organisations.

David Astley, St George's Chief Executive, said, "By becoming a major trauma centre St George's we be at the heart of a clinical network that stretches into the Home Counties serving over two million people. The changes mean that the most serious trauma cases will have rapid access to specialist services helping to improve patient care and save lives."

Go ahead for specialist stroke unit at St George's

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Healthcare for London today, 20 July 2009, announced that St George's Hospital, Tooting, would be designated a hyper-acute stroke unit following a public consultation carried out earlier this year.

As a hyper-acute stroke unit, St George's will provide expert emergency care to stroke patients, which will include access to a CT scan and thrombolysis (clot-busting drugs), if appropriate, within 30 minutes. Once stabilised, patients will be moved to the stroke unit or to a local hospital closer to home.

Around 11,500 Londoners suffer a stroke each year and it is the second biggest killer in London and the most common cause of disability. Healthcare for London's plans will see changes to the way stroke services are provided across the capital to reduce deaths and disability caused by stroke. The strategy also aims to prevent strokes by introducing 24-hour assessment services for patients suspected of having a TIA (transient ischaemic attack, or 'mini stroke') so they can get faster diagnosis and treatment.

St George's already houses a specialist stroke unit which was praised by the Stroke Association in February 2009 as being a 'beacon of good practice'.

David Astley, St George's Chief Executive, said: "We are delighted at the announcement which will enable St George's to enhance its already leading edge stroke services. We are committed to developing services that, by the end of 2009, will deliver the quality and level of stroke care which the Healthcare for London stroke strategy envisages."

Hospitals answer Mayday call

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:00:00 GMT

A fire at Mayday Hospital in Croydon saw two neighbouring hospitals come to the rescue to offer treatment and support to their patients on Wednesday, 8 July.

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, treated patients who were diverted from the Mayday after the fire broke out.

David Astley, Chief Executive at St George's said, "This incident is a great example of how the NHS pulls together in times of crisis. It has been an exceptionally busy summer already for St George's with our A&E receiving record numbers of patients. Working with colleagues from both Mayday and St Helier we were able to ensure that patients continued to have access to hospital services in south west London."

Peter Coles, Interim Chief Executive from Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust said, "Whilst events like this are unfortunate, they do prove that local hospitals communicate effectively and, moreover, have robust plans in place to deal with any eventuality. I would like to thank all the staff in our A&E department who worked, as ever, in a calm, professional and efficient way as the situation unfolded."

St George's to create 'World Class Service Culture'

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust been awarded £100,000 by the NHS London Partnership for a project, to improve its service to patients.

The project, Building a World-class Service Culture, has been jointly devised by the Trust and trades union representatives and will engage staff working in areas like administration and support services in activities to build self-esteem and improve their service to patients and other staff.

The project will see staff in bands 1-4 involved in training, workshops and visits outside the Trust to experience customer service in the commercial sector. It will also address issues such as bullying and disrespect by staff on staff, identifying those who already excel at providing good service, and encouraging participants to be involved in service development.

Alan Thorne, Director of Transformation, said: "The Trust is committed to working with its staff, and their union representatives, to create a culture of improvement in which staff feel respected and valued, supported in doing a good job and invited to contribute ideas for improving services to patients. "

Jane Pilgrim, Staffside Secretary, said: "This project will help to motivate, empower and inspire our staff at grass roots. I see this as the beginning of a new positive culture for St George's. There will be a day, not too far away, when all staff feel that they are valued and appreciated and treated as partners rather than employees."

Men in south west London to benefit from new screening programme

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT

65 year old men in Wandsworth are among the first in the country to benefit from screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (also known as AAAs) as part of a new national screening programme. St George's Hospital has introduced the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme and invited men are now being screened.

An estimated 80,000 men aged between 65 and 74 are affected by the condition, which is caused when the main blood vessel in the abdomen - the aorta - weakens and starts to expand. If undetected, the condition can be fatal and around 6,000 men die every year from a burst AAA.

The new NHS AAA Screening Programme will reduce deaths from the condition by up to 50 percent by detecting AAAs early and enabling monitoring or treatment to be offered. Men aged 65 and over are most at risk from the condition and invitations for screening are therefore being sent out to men in the area in the year they turn 65.

Mr Jonothan Earnshaw, Programme Director for the NHS AAA Screening Programme said: "Men who have an abdominal aortic aneurysm will not generally notice any symptoms, which is why screening is so important. The test is simple, pain-free and usually takes less than 10 minutes. Early detection of AAAs through screening enables us to offer monitoring or treatment, reducing the number of deaths caused by the condition."

Mr Ian Loftus, Lead for the NHS AAA Screening Programme for St George's and south west London, said: "I am delighted that men aged 65 in Wandsworth are the first to have the opportunity to take part in this screening programme. The screening test is highly effective and men will receive their results immediately."

More information can be found by visiting the national programme website at: http://aaa.screening.nhs.uk.

St George's Professor knighted in Queen's Birthday Honours List

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT

St George's Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, renowned for his work advancing women's health and maternity care, was honoured in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List announced on Saturday (12 June 2009).

Professor Arulkumaran, Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St George's, University of London and clinician at St George's Hospital has been appointed a Knights Bachelor for services to medicine.

Professor Arulkumaran was "delighted" at the knighthood, which recognises his work in maternity care. He says: "I was completely overwhelmed when I received the letter informing me that I would be receiving such an honour.

"The area of medicine I work in brings huge rewards of its own. I began working in obstetrics and gynaecology (which comprises the care of the pregnant woman, her unborn child and the management of diseases specific to women) because I was fascinated by the 'magic of birth' and the happy ending in the vast majority of cases for the couple, their family and the staff. After so many years in the same field, I continue to be passionate about this great service and making a difference to patient care and women's health.

"I am lucky enough to come across inspiring obstetricians and gynaecologists from all around the world and every one of them enjoy what they do and are also the champions of sexual and reproductive health and rights of women."

Professor Arulkumaran's career in obstetrics and gynaecology clinical practice stretches almost four decades - over 25 years of which have included academic research and teaching.

His key achievements include the development of a "clinical dashboard" to provide clinicians with the relevant and timely information they need to inform decisions that improve the quality of patient care.

He has been Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St George's, University of London and a clinician at St George's NHS Healthcare Trust since 2001. Previous to this he held posts at a number of high profile institutions including the National University of Singapore, the University of Nottingham, the Asia & Oceanic Federation, and the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Principal of St George's, University of London, Peter Kopelman, congratulated Professor Arulkumaran on his award: "I am immensely proud of the work Sabaratnam does at St George's and within his other professional roles. He is a truly inspirational clinician and a true professor to the students at this University."

Professor Arulkumaran's research interests are fetal monitoring, intrapartum care, high risk pregnancy, obstetric litigation and safety in maternity care. Throughout his career he has published 24 books as author or editor and 240 indexed articles and over 150 book chapters. He has also been Editor in Chief of Best Practice & Research in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology since 1998.

David Astley, Chief Executive of St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "This award is deserved recognition of the immense contribution that Professor Arulkumaran has made to maternity care both in his clinical work and through research"

Professor Arulkumaran has been President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) since 2007. The RCOG aims to improve women's health by encouraging the study and advancement of the science and practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. The RCOG International Office works with other international organisations to help lower maternal morbidity and mortality in under-resourced countries.

Damon Hill opens Child Development Centre at St George's

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT

The newly refurbished Child Development Centre (CDC) at St George's Hospital in Tooting was officially opened by Damon Hill OBE, former Formula One World Champion, on Tuesday 2 June.

The refurbishment was funded out of a £550,000 fundraising campaign in 2007, supported by a handful of very generous donors. The modern design provides a welcoming and stimulating environment for the children and their families visiting the CDC. Facilities inside the CDC include five safe and modern therapy rooms, a new gym facility, a dedicated 'quiet room' for parents to speak confidentially with doctors and therapists and a new multi-sensory room with specialist equipment to enhance sensory development.

Our photo shows Damon Hill with staff from the Child Development Centre

Award for St George's receptionist

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Adeola Talabi with her London Health and Social Care Awards 2009 Unsung Hero award certificate

Adeola with Portering Manager Tony Shiel who nominated her.

A receptionist at St George's Hospital has been named as an `Unsung Hero` for her rapport with patients and dedication to her job in the 2009 London Health and Social Care Awards.

Adeola Talabi, who joined St George's as a general porter and who is currently part of the reception team, received her award at an evening dinner held at BAFTA on Wednesday 27 May, after being nominated by the hospital's Portering Manager, Tony Shiel.

The Unsung Hero award recognises the contribution made by volunteers and non-clinical staff in London's NHS and social care organisations. Awards in 13 other categories, highlighting different aspects of excellence in care, were made on the night.

Adeola's award

Adeola was praised by Tony for her relationship with visitors and patients, particularly those who come frequently to the hospital, as well as her flexibility, hard work and her convictions about the standard of care patients should receive. She was one of the first St George's staff members to take the NVQ Qualification in Support Services.

Tony said: "What Adeola has done in her own quiet and unassuming way has been nothing short of special. I can praise her to the roof, but what really counts is what patients think, and as they tell me again and again how her care and rapport make such a difference to the hospital, I can think of no better recommendation for this award. Adeola really is the 'smiling face of St George's.'"

Adeola said: "I am very happy to have received this award. It was a very proud moment for me and my family."

St George's reports financial surplus for the second year running

Thu, 28 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT

For the second year in succession St George's Healthcare NHS Trust has achieved a modest operating surplus. The Trust achieved a surplus of £1.7m for the 2008/09 financial year, 0.3% of the hospital's annual turnover.

The financial stability of the Trust is crucial in maintaining St George's dual position as a local healthcare provider and also that of a leading teaching hospital providing education to healthcare professionals of the future.

St George's Director of Finance Richard Eley said:

"This achievement is the result of hard work by all the staff at the Trust, ensuring value in everything they do and identifying cost savings while at the same time maintaining the highest standards of patient care.

"Tough financial challenges still lie ahead in the next financial year when we must prove we can maintain financial stability, to support our application for Foundation Trust status in 2010.

"With a committed team and a very robust financial framework the future looks good for St George's."

Thank you to St George's nurses

Tue, 26 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Nurse of the Year, Jee Ho, with Midwife of the Year Rixa von dem Bussche

St George's Healthcare NHS Trust said a big thank you to its entire nursing staff on Tuesday 12 May during events and activities to mark International Nurses' Day.

The Trust named its Nurse of the Year 2009 as Jee Ho, Colorectal Nurse Specialist in General Surgery, for her work in running a rapid access clinic for patients with suspected cancers, while Mark Soomaroo, Charge Nurse on Allingham Ward, was named runner up for his leadership in encouraging learning and professional development within his team.

Rixa von dem Bussche, lead midwife of the Carmen Suite, was presented with Midwife of Year 2009 for her "invaluable efforts" in spearheading the Trust's midwifery-led birth unit through its conception, implementation and first year of operation. Marion Louki, a midwife on Carmen Suite, was selected as runner- up for her for being an excellent role model for junior midwives.

Healthcare Assistant of the Year 2009 was Iwona Klinek who works on St George's Neuro Intensive Care Unit. She was nominated for coping effectively under pressure and for developing guidelines on aspects of the healthcare assistant (HCA) role to help new staff. Ethel Gordon, HCA on the Delivery Suite and runner up in this category, was described as "a delight to work with" by one of her nominees for her conscientious attitude and friendliness.

Winners of the awards were given £100 in M&S gift cards and a commemorative badge, while runners up received £50 in M&S gift cards.

Director of Nursing Geraldine Walters said: "It is fantastic to be able to reward nurses for the hard work they do and to celebrate the achievements and successes of nursing colleagues. It was a great day so thank you to the sponsors and the planning team who made it all possible."

St George's wins international award for infection control

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT

The Infection Control Team at St George's Hospital has won second prize in the international Oxoid Infection Control Team of the Year Awards, designed to recognise and reward those who are making a real difference to improve standards of infection control within hospitals worldwide.

The team at St George's has effectively reduced hospital infections through changes of working practices, broader team work with colleagues from other departments, and scrupulous attention to detail. The sustained effort of the St George's team over a number of years, combined with new initiatives, was cited by the judges as worthy of recognition.

Dr Geraldine Walters, Director of Nursing and Infection Control at St George's, said:

"This award is fantastic recognition for the team here at St George's. Thanks to the dedication of staff across the Trust, our MRSA rate is now the third lowest of any teaching hospital in England and we reduced our Clostridium difficile rate by over 77% this year, which ranks the Trust in the top six acute hospital's in London."

"Our patients can be confident that we do everything we can to protect them from infection, and will continue to devise and introduce new activities and initiatives to further improve infection control measures at St George's."

The team will receive the award and a cheque for £1000 at an awards presentation and celebration dinner on June 2.

Local MP opens St George's Main Entrance

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT

From left to right: Naaz Coker, Chair, St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust; David Astley, Chief Executive St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, Councillor John Farebrother, Mayor of Wandsworth; Gill Noble, Chairman, St George’s Hospital Charity and Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting.

The newly refurbished main entrance of St George's Hospital, London was officially opened by Tooting MP Sadiq Khan on Friday 24 April.

The new design provides a designated Patient Transport Lounge and a bigger and more comfortable seating area for visitors. The central location of the reception desk is designed to help patients and visitors to more easily find their way around St George's which covers one of the largest sites in London. The main entrance is also the site of an M&S Simply Food store and café, the first of its kind in a UK hospital.

The £2m project was funded by St George's Hospital Charity and is the first refurbishment of the entrance since it opened in 1973.

St George's Chair, Naaz Coker, said: "The new main entrance is a clear sign that St George's means business and reflects our commitment to improving the experience for all our users including patients, visitors and staff. Research carried out in 2006 showed that patients and staff wanted improved access to the hospital and better retail facilities in the main entrance. The new entrance delivers on both areas."

Sadiq Khan MP, said: ""I was born in St George's, as were my daughters. When the main entrance was last refurbished I was three years old! It is an excellent hospital but the main entrance needed an overhaul. The investment from St George's Hospital Charity means we have a main entrance fit for the patients, visitors and staff of our hospital.

"I have in the past received a number of complaints from patients about the hospital waiting areas so I am particularly pleased with the new waiting lounge - which will be for those who use hospital transport. I am also impressed by the new general seating area, which is excellent.

"It was a real pleasure to be asked to open the main entrance at our hospital."

Associate non-executive director appointed to St George's Trust Board

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT

A new associate non-executive director has been appointed to the Board of St George's Healthcare NHS Trust.

Moira Nangle is an Organisation Development consultant who has qualifications in teaching, training, coaching, counselling, person-centred psychotherapy and an MSc in Organisation Development. She has held senior Organisation Development roles in both the private and not-for-profit sectors, and was most recently Director of Organisation Development at Virgin Atlantic Airways. In this role she led HR, Resourcing and Learning & Development, and facilitated strategic planning sessions for the airline, as well as designing a number of customer service interventions. She now has her own Organistaion Development Consultancy, and still works within the Virgin Group.

Moira said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with St George's at such an exciting time. The concept of patient-centred care is dear to my heart and I look forward to putting my experience and knowledge to use for an organization that I admire."

Trust Chairman, Naaz Coker, said: "We are delighted to welcome Moira on to the Trust Board. Her experience in organisational development and understanding of safety initiatives in the airline industry will add enormously to our focus and our work on patient safety initiatives and will prove an asset as we move towards Foundation Trust status."

Moira has been appointed for a four-year term from 15 April 2009 and will receive remuneration of £6,005 a year.

The appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice. As will full non-executive appointments, Moira's appointment has been made on merit and political activity played no part in the selection process. Moira has declared she is not politically active and does not currently hold any Ministerial appointments.

St George's is a large teaching hospital based in Tooting, South West London. The Trust is one of only a few in the country to provide major trauma services in cardiac, neuro and orthopaedic surgery on the one site. The Trust also provides a wide range of acute services to the residents of the London Borough of Wandsworth and surrounding areas.

500,000th Pacemaker operation at St George's

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT

The 500,000th person in the UK to receive a life-saving heart pacemaker has had the procedure in the same London hospital that undertook the first implant more than 50 years ago.

Karl Sidhu, 52, from Camberley in Surrey has had a biventricular ICD fitted, one of the latest generation of pacemakers, to help prevent a life-threatening abnormality in the electrical activity of his heart and to resynchronise his heart muscle function which is not working as well as it should be after a series of heart attacks. The procedure took place in the state-of-the-art catheter laboratories at St George's Hospital, south west London; the same hospital which first undertook the surgery to implant a pacemaker in the UK in 1958.

During the surgical procedure, which was done under a local anaesthetic, Consultant Cardiologist and Electro-physiologist, Dr Mark Gallagher, implanted the pacemaker and the three wires involved. The device weighs 68 grams. By contrast the first pacemaker patient implanted in 1958 was a device the size of a pram wheel. As well as being much smaller, today's pacemakers last seven years or more without a battery change, are software controlled to allow the devices to be programmed from a small external computer, and can even allow doctors to monitor the device remotely via the internet, reducing the number of follow-up hospital visits needed by a patient.

Dr David Ward, the Senior Consultant Cardiologist and Electro-physiologist at St George's hospital said: "Implanting pacemakers has become almost routine in UK, but there is nothing routine about it for the patients. Mr Sidhu represents one of the tens of thousands of people in Britain who have had their lives improved thanks to a pacemaker and this milestone should be celebrated."

It is possible to be exact about the total number of procedures performed in the UK thanks to the Central Cardiac Audit Database, which was instigated in 1977 as the National Pacing Database. Launched by the Department of Health and Heart Rhythm UK (formerly British Pacing Group) - a group dedicated to professional and scientific support for everyone involved in implantation and follow-up of cardiac pacemakers - the database collates data on cardiac surgery and outcomes.

Sue Jones, Pacing and ICD Service Manager at St George's and spokesperson for Heart Rhythm UK said; "The 500,000th pacemaker implant demonstrates an enormous advance in implantable device technology compared to what was available 51 years ago. Advances in communication with the implanted devices now allow us to monitor the patient via a telephone link, improving patient convenience and safety by offering the possibility of fewer hospital visits but with greater surveillance of device performance."

Despite 500,000 people now having received pacemakers, cardiac arrhythmias are estimated to affect more than one million people in the UK, and are consistently in the top ten reasons for hospital admission.

Trudie Lobban, Founder and Trustee of the Arrhythmia Alliance, the coalition body dedicated to raising public and professional awareness of cardiac arrhythmias, said: "The UK was one of the first countries in the world to start implanting devices to treat heart rhythm disorders. Despite this head-start, and the huge number we celebrate today, we have fallen behind other European countries in the use of pacemakers.

"The work of the Arrhythmia Alliance is dedicated to ensuring many more patients can have their lives transformed by quick diagnosis and treatment, just like Mr Sidhu."

St George's Hospital has one of the largest cardiology departments in the UK, and the department has been at the forefront of pacemaker developments for 50 years. Professor John Camm, Professor of the Division of Cardiac and Vascular Sciences at St George's University of London, which shares its site with St George's Hospital, and President of the Arrhythmia Alliance has overseen many of these advances. He said: "This is a landmark for the way we care for people with heart rhythm irregularities. We need to get better at diagnosing and treating patients earlier but I strongly believe we'll get to one million implants in less than half the time it took to get to 500,000."

St George's infection rate figures go online

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Patients and the public can now check St George's Hospital's MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C.diff) figures via the website www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/aboutMRSACdiff.asp, and learn more about how staff are successfully fighting infection.

Infection control is a top priority for St George's and staff are working hard to monitor and prevent infections. The rates on the website date from April 2008 and are updated on a regular basis. They show that St George's is performing well within the national targets set for both MRSA and C.diff, with the number of C.diff cases having fallen by 74% compared to last year. The rates also show that St George's currently has the lowest MRSA rates for any London Teaching Hospital.

Dr Geraldine Walters, Director of Nursing, Patient Involvement and Infection Control, said:

"Understandably hospital-acquired infection is a major concern for patients. Here at St George's we are working hard to control the levels of infection and we want the public to be able to see for themselves the positive impact that our efforts are having.

"Our aim is to maintain and build confidence in St George's services and, by publishing our infection rate figures, we will help people to understand more about how we are working to improve care".

For more information on St George's and infection control please visit: www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/aboutMRSACdiff.asp

The Stroke Association highlights St George's as a beacon of good practice

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT

As the Department of Health prepares to launch a major stroke awareness campaign, a new report by The Stroke Association highlights St George's Hospital as a beacon of good practice.

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive for The Stroke Association explains: 'Just over a year ago the Government issued the National Stroke Strategy which set out the blue print for good stroke care. St George's is a brilliant example that we hope will be copied everywhere as it highlights a well organised and efficient hospital that saves many lives'.

St George's has significantly reduced its in-hospital mortality rate as well as the average number of days that a patient stays. This is largely down to the introduction of a specialist stroke unit - the brainchild of Professor Hugh Markus, consultant neurologist at St. George's who says 'Neurologists have not been particularly interested in stroke in the past, but that is beginning to change...These changes benefit all patients'.

The Stroke Association's Getting Better report outlines examples in providing the level of stroke care that ensures everyone who has a stroke, their carers and loved ones get the service they deserve, wherever they live.

It shows how lives can be saved when stroke patients are transferred directly by ambulance to a hospital providing acute stroke services avoiding life threatening delays in A&E.

For more information visit www.stroke.org.uk

People with Winter Bug urged to stay away from hospital

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 12:00:00 GMT

People suffering with the winter sickness bug Norovirus are being urged to stay away from hospital and instead contact their GP or pharmacy.

Norovirus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, is generally unpleasant but rarely serious, but by bringing it into hospital people could be putting vulnerable patients and healthcare workers at risk.

Symptoms of the virus tend to pass in one to two days; however, people can remain infectious for a further 48 hours during which the illness can be easily spread from one person to another. Although the symptoms can be alarming, only in exceptional circumstances does the virus require hospital treatment. Visitors to St George’s can contribute to the spread of the virus – which can result in serious consequences for patients and staff.

Michael Bailey, the Trust’s Medical Director, said:

“The Trust is experiencing a high level of demand for beds due to a combination of several viruses, including Norovirus, in addition to flu and general winter illnesses. Trust staff are working very hard to prevent this illness from spreading more widely around the hospital.

We appreciate that friends and relatives want to visit their loved-ones in hospital, but if they are suffering with any symptoms of this virus, they must stay away until they are no longer infectious – at least 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped. People bringing the virus into the hospital are putting vulnerable patients at risk.”

Health Minister and local MP get the inside track of patient experience at St George's

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw and MP for Tooting Sadiq Khan visited St George's Hospital yesterday (7 January) where they discovered how innovative ways of working are helping to improve patient care.

Mr Bradshaw and Mr Khan were shown how the electronic Patient Experience Tracker (PET) helps patients to give immediate feedback on the care they receive. They also learnt about the Trust's Productive Ward scheme which is freeing up staff time by improving ward processes and organisation.

Sadiq Khan MP said: "I would like to congratulate St George's on pioneering new technology in patient care. The Patient Experience Tracker (PET) will enable the hospital to meet the needs and wishes of all patients who visit A&E. I am confident that as the pool of survey responses grows, and clear trends are established, the PET will be a vital tool to hospital staff."

Left to right: Matron Nicola Shopland demonstrates the PET to Ben Bradshaw, Sadiq Khan and Dr Geraldine Walters, Director of Nursing and Patient Involvement.