August/September 2008 – No.164

Trust NEWSl Top marks for

cleanliness– page 6

l Children’sservices – safein our hands

– page 10

In thisissue...

l Cancer teampraised

– page 15

35173-001

SPECIAL EDITION FOR FOUNDATION TRUST MEMBERS

Your Annual Members’ Meeting

– come and join usChelsea and Westminster Hospital NHSFoundation Trust holds its Annual Members’Meeting at 5.30pm on Thursday September 18in the hospital Restaurant - all FoundationTrust members and hospital staff arewelcome.

Speakers including a Members’ Councilrepresentative will look back at the keyachievements of 2007/08 and look forward to whatthe future holds for Chelsea and Westminster.

Please note that there is limited seating in theRestaurant which will be available on a first come,first served basis.

The hospital’s annual report 2007/8 will belaunched at the Annual Members’ Meeting – ithighlights five areas that we believe make Chelseaand Westminster a hospital of choice for patients:• Quality• Excellence• Performance• Success• Cleanliness

The report focuses on care for which Chelsea andWestminster has a reputation for excellence.

See page 10 to find out more about our children’sservices and see page 5 to read about the latestdevelopments in our HIV and sexual healthservices.

Copies of the annual report will be available atthe Annual Members’ Meeting on September 18and it can also be read online or downloaded fromour website at www.chelwest.nhs.uk.

n Staff Nurse Karla Hickson with Ameen Mohammed (8 months)on Neptune Ward – the cover stars of this year’s Chelsea andWestminster annual report which will be launched at our AnnualMembers’ Meeting on September 18

by the Chief Executive, Heather LawrenceHeather’s view

2

Your guide tothis month’sTrust News

Focus on... NHS 60th anniversary ...page 3

Chelsea and WestminsterHealth Charity ................4

Focus on... HIV & sexual health services ...5

Focus on...infection control..............6

Research andDevelopment Open Day..8

Open Day 2008 .............9

Focus on...children's services .......10

Focus on...cancer services............15

Focus on...staff awards.................16

Staff News...................19

Foundation Trust notice of election....................20

This year's Chelsea and Westminsterannual report focuses on our achievementsto make this a hospital of choice forpatients by delivering quality, excellence,performance, success and cleanliness.

During 2007/08 we achieved a double'Excellent' rating in the HealthcareCommission's annual performance ratings,reduced rates of healthcare associatedinfections and were rated 'Excellent' forcleanliness.

Patients can expect shorter waiting times because weare on course to meet, and indeed exceed, a nationaltarget to treat 90% of inpatients and 95% of outpatientswithin 18 weeks of GP referral by December.

HHHThe annual report will be launched at our AnnualMembers' Meeting at 5.30pm on Thursday September 18in the Restaurant on the lower ground floor of thehospital. All Foundation Trust members and hospitalstaff are welcome to attend and I hope that you will ableto join us.

HHHWe now face new challenges. For example, as Trust Newswent to press, we were expecting Primary Care Trusts inNorth West London to formally invite NHS trusts totender to be the lead centre for specialist children'sservices in our area of London.

We aim to become the lead centre because we have a

reputation for excellence in children'sservices generally and in a number of life-saving specialties including surgery, neonatalintensive care and burns specifically.

See pages 10 and 11 to find out whatparents think of our services and to getinvolved in our new children's hospitalfundraising campaign.

HHHThis has been a year of change at Chelsea

and Westminster, not least on our Trust Board as JuggyPandit stepped down as Chairman and Professor SirChristopher Edwards succeeded him in November 2007.

Juggy made an enormous contribution as TrustChairman and he played a key role in our successfulapplication for Foundation Trust status.

Professor Edwards has brought a wealth ofknowledge and experience to the Trust and hisprevious role as Principal of Imperial College School ofMedicine is particularly valuable as we reinforce ourreputation as a centre of excellence in teaching andresearch.

I would like to congratulate Professor Edwards whowas awarded a knighthood in the Queen's BirthdayHonours list in recognition of his services to highereducation, medical science and regeneration in theNorth East of England.

I look forward to working with the Chairman and allstaff at Chelsea and Westminster to continue to improvethe care that we provide for our patients.

The NHS Champions awards are being run by the King’s Fund inassociation with the Evening Standard to recognise and celebrate thecontribution of healthcare staff in London – as part of the NHS 60thanniversary celebrations.

Patients, relatives, carers, members of the public and NHS staff are invited tonominate staff who have provided ‘exceptional care’ in six professional categories:• Doctors and dentists• Nurses, midwives and health visitors• Allied health professionals (including therapists, pharmacists etc)• Ambulance staff (including paramedics)• Clinical support staff (including healthcare assistants, porters, housekeepers etc)• Managers and administrative staff

Shortlisted staff will be invited to an awards ceremony in December at which sixwinners, one in each category, will be announced.

NHS Champions judges will include Niall Dickson, Chief Executive of the King’sFund, and Veronica Wadley, Editor of the Evening Standard.

Nominations are due to open in the first week of September and close in mid-October – nominations can be made online by logging on atwww.nhschampions.org.uk or by printing off the form from the website and sendingit by Freepost.

NHS Champions – nominateyour healthcare hero

Focus on... NHS 60th anniversary

To celebrate the NHS 60th anniversary, NHSEmployers is helping NHS trusts to celebrate NHSstaff and the difference they make to patients.

Their ‘extraordinary’campaign is enabling staff inall trusts to create an artinstallation from a series ofpostcards which arecompleted by staff andpatients saying what makesthem proud of the NHS –more than 200 NHS trustsare taking part.

The national launch of the NHS Employers campaigntook part at the Chelsea andWestminster Hospital OpenDay on Saturday May 10.

Open Day visitors wereinvited to write down theirown personal reasons forbeing proud of the NHS onspecial anniversary postcardswhich were then attached toa giant ‘60’ art installation -here are just a few of thepostcard messages:

National campaign launched at Open Day

n Heather Lawrence, Chief Executive of Chelsea andWestminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, TV presenterGaby Roslin and Sian Thomas, Director of NHS Employers,launch NHS Employers’ 60th anniversary campaign

I am extremelyproud to be a nursein the NHS. I feel Imake a difference.“ The passion

and dedication ofstaff at Chelsea andWestminster isinspiring.

“

Without theNHS I probablywouldn’t be here.The staff at Chelseaand Westminsterhave looked after meso well.

“

Appendicitis,broken limbs, givingbirth, allergies, lungproblems, asthma –Chelsea andWestminster hasalways been there toput things right.Thank you!

“

”Picturing the NHS at 60

Patients and staff at Chelsea and Westminster are partof a unique photographic project to capture theessence of the NHS in its 60th year - in 60 images.

Photographers from NHS Choices, a national website with awide range of health information, had access to clinical areasincluding the Maternity Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,Pharmacy, Treatment Centre and Burns Unit.

A total of 15 images from Chelsea and Westminster,including the two photos on this page, were chosen for the60th anniversary photo essay.

NHS Choices gave Chelseaand Westminster permission touse some of the best images inour hospital annual reportwhich will be published at theAnnual Members’ Meeting onSeptember 18.

Patients and staff at Chelseaand Westminster also tookpart in an NHS Choices videoproject to capture ‘60 reasonsto celebrate the NHS at 60’ onfilm.

See www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/NHS60Photo.aspx toview the photo essay andwww.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/NHS60VideoWall.aspx towatch the video.

n Surgeon MichaelDinneen at work in theTreatment Centren Tears of joy on the Maternity Unit

”

”

3

”

Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity

HRH Princess Alexandra has graciously agreed to bethe Patron of the Chelsea and Westminster HealthCharity London Duathlon.

opportunity for people of allages and abilities to participateand support a worthy cause.

“I wish all the competitorswho are supporting theCharity, as well as theirfamilies and friends, asuccessful and enjoyable day. Ivery much hope that the eventwill be a great success for

Chelsea and WestminsterHealth Charity.”

Lady Rhys Williams,Chairman of the Trustees ofChelsea and WestminsterHealth Charity, says: “Wehave great pleasure inannouncing that HRHPrincess Alexandra hasbecome Patron of theCharity’s involvement in theLondon Duathlon. We arevery grateful for her support.”

Charity announces Royal Patron for Duathlon

n HRH Princess Alexandra

This is the first year that theCharity has been the officialcharity for the LondonDuathlon.

HRH Princess Alexandrasays: “I am delighted to bePatron of the Chelsea andWestminster Health CharityLondon Duathlon. This eventprovides an outstanding

Fun for allthe family –come and join us!

More than 1,000 hospital staff, members of the public and people with reasons to be grateful to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital are takingpart in the Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity London Duathlon to raisemoney for their hospital.

Chelsea and WestminsterHealth Charity is the officialcharity of the Duathlon – arun followed by a bike ridefollowed by another run -which takes place on SundaySeptember 14 in RichmondPark.

An estimated 3-4,000people are expected to takepart either as individuals or inteams, tackling either a ‘Fun’or ‘Challenge’ distance – it ishoped that approximately25% of participants will beraising money for the Charity.

They include DavidThompson (pictured right)who signed up to take part inthe Duathlon at the Chelseaand Westminster HospitalOpen Day in May on thesame day that his wife Kirstengave birth to their third childin the hospital.

Chelsea and WestminsterHealth Charity awards grantsand raises funds for theimprovement of healthcareand the benefit of patientsand staff at Chelsea andWestminster Hospital and thecommunity it serves. It aimsto provide added value ratherthan replacing NHSprovision.

Funds raised by theCharity’s Duathlon

participants will go towardsdeserving projects such as theCharity’s £900,000 CTScanner Appeal to furtherspeed up diagnosis andtreatment for patients.

Projects funded by theCharity include a Pharmacyrobot to reduce the length oftime that patients wait formedicines, incubators for

babies in the NeonatalIntensive Care Unit and theHospital Arts programme atChelsea and WestminsterHospital.

See the official websitewww.chelwestcharity.org.ukfor further information aboutChelsea and WestminsterHealth Charity includingHospital Arts.

London Duathlon – Sunday September 14

4

n David Thompson with his son at the Chelsea andWestminster Hospital Open Day in May

The Chelsea andWestminster HealthCharity LondonDuathlon will beheld in the beautifulsurroundings ofRichmond Park onSunday September 14– the only day of theyear when the park isclosed to cars.

It promises to be agreat day out for all thefamily so why not comedown to the park andsupport participants.

Richmond Park is thelargest open space inLondon covering almost2,500 acres which arehome to a huge array ofwildlife including thefamous deer.

Event organisers arecreating a focal point forspectators nearRoehampton Gate wherethe Charity will have aMarquee.

Seewww.chelwestcharity.org.uk for furtherinformation about theDuathlon.

Focus on... HIV & sexual health services

Wednesday August 6 sawthe launch of WestLondon Centre forSexual Health’s newweekly outreach servicein Hammersmith andFulham.

Cont@ct2, a confidentialwalk-in service for youngpeople aged 19 and under,now operates from theConnexions One Stop Shopin Hammersmith.

This novel initiative aimsto target young people whodo not access sexual healthservices in more traditionalhealthcare settings and, inparticular, those who are notin education, employment ortraining.

Sexual health screening,pregnancy testing, emergencycontraception and ongoingcontraception are all offered.

A Connexions Personal

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS FoundationTrust has been granted planning permission for abrand new sexual health centre in the heart of Sohowhich should open to patients in early 2009.

A specialist clinic whichprovides sexual healthadvice and screening byappointment for lesbianwomen has been singledout for praise byStonewall, the pressuregroup that lobbies andcampaigns for gay rights.

Stonewall’s recentlypublished report ‘Prescriptionfor Change: lesbian andbisexual women’s healthcheck 2008’ criticised healthservices for failing to meetlesbians’ specific health needsbut highlighted the Orange

Clinic as an example ofexcellence.

Their report quoted awoman who used the clinicwhich is based at the WestLondon Centre for SexualHealth, Charing CrossHospital and run by NursePractitioner Cindy Gilmour.

Jenny, 24, said: “TheOrange Clinic is totally brilliant.Every assumption wasexplicitly checked out with meand the questions and servicewere totally tailored to mysituation.

“It was amazing to have

something designed for me,rather than have to fit in asbest I could with somethingdesigned for straight people.Every city should have aservice like this.”

Cindy Gilmour, the drivingforce behind the OrangeClinic, was also named as“one of the unsung heroeswho have made a lastingdifference to the community”in the Independent on Sunday‘Pink List 2008’ whichidentifies the most influentialgay and lesbian people in theUK.

The Independent onSunday described the OrangeClinic as a ‘pioneering’ servicefor London’s lesbiancommunity.

Stonewall’s report‘Prescription for Change:lesbian and bisexual women’shealth check 2008’ is availableat www.stonewall.org.uk/lesbianhealth.

Further information aboutthe Trust’s commitment toequality and diversity isavailable atwww.chelwest.nhs.uk/equality-diversity/index.html.

New sexual health outreach service launched

New sexual health centre given the go-ahead

Our HIV and sexual healthservices already have anexcellent reputation - morethan 66,000 patients used theTrust’s sexual health servicesin 2007/08 and our staffprovide treatment for almost

5,500 people living withHIV.

Services are based at threemain centres – the JohnHunter Clinic at Chelsea andWestminster Hospital, theWest London Centre for

Sexual Health at CharingCross Hospital, and theVictoria Clinic at the SouthWestminster Centre, SW1.

However, there is a lack ofspace at the Victoria Clinicand services will move to thenew Soho centre in DeanStreet to provide sufficientcapacity so that the Trustdelivers a full range of servicesand meets national targets to

give all patients a sexualhealth clinic appointmentwithin 48 hours.

Dr Alan McOwan, ServiceDirector for sexual health andLead Clinician at the VictoriaClinic, says: “We aredelighted that localcouncillors in Westminsterhave given us planningpermission to move aheadwith the development of ournew centre in Soho.

“Rapidly increasing rates ofsexually transmittedinfections mean that it isimportant for sexual healthservices to be as accessible aspossible. I am glad that thedays of sexual health clinics asthe ‘Cinderella’ services of theNHS hidden away at theback of hospitals – out ofsight and out of mind – arewell and truly over.”

Debbie Richards, GeneralManager for HIV and SexualHealth Services at Chelseaand Westminster, says: “Nowthat we have been grantedplanning permission, weintend to work closely withservice users and the localcommunity in Soho to shapethe services in our newcentre.”

See our websitewww.chelwest.nhs.uk/hiv-sexual-health for more detailsof our HIV and sexual healthservices.

n Staff from Cont@ct 2 and Connexions at the launchof their new sexual health outreach service

Adviser is also now workingfrom the main hospitalservice at Cont@ct2 offeringinformation, advice andsupport to young peoplearound issues with theircareers, relationships, drugsand alcohol, education,housing, money and freetime.

It is hoped that this servicewill be a success in

Hammersmith and a modelfor similar initiatives in otherboroughs.• Cont@ct detailsCont@ct2 at Connexions181 King Street,HammersmithEvery Wednesday 2.30-4.30pmBooked and walk-inappointments availableTel: 020 8741 2441

Praise for specialist clinic

5

Focus on... infection control

Our standards of cleanliness areofficially ‘Excellent’ accordingto the annual PatientEnvironment Action Team(PEAT) ratings published forall NHS hospitals in Englandby the National Patient SafetyAgency in July.

Every hospital in England wasinspected by a team of not only NHSstaff but also patient representatives andrated from ‘Excellent’ to ‘Unacceptable’based on criteria including cleaning,infection control and the generalpatient environment.

Only 19% of NHS hospitalsachieved the maximum rating of‘Excellent’ which means that Chelseaand Westminster is one of the cleanesthospitals in the country.

Other local hospitals includingCharing Cross, Hammersmith, St

Mary’s and the Royal Brompton wererated ‘Good’ but not ‘Excellent’ forcleanliness while the Royal Marsden,like Chelsea and Westminster, was rated‘Excellent’. Chelsea and Westminsterwas also rated ‘Excellent’ for the qualityof hospital food offered to patients.

Liz Thomas, a patient representativewho took part in the PEAT inspectionat Chelsea and Westminster, said: “I

was asked to get involved because Iwrote to the Chief Executive about twoyears ago about the standards ofcleaning in the hospital.

“Things have got a lot better sincethen and I have definitely noticed thatthe standards of cleaning in the hospitalare generally higher, although there isstill room for improvement. Theseregular audits help to keep people ontheir toes and the role of the patientrepresentatives is important.”

Andrew MacCallum, Director ofNursing added: “Our ‘Excellent’ ratingis a tribute to the hard work of all staffinvolved. We are committed tominimising the risk of infection andmaintaining a clean hospital inpartnership with our cleaningcontractor ISS Mediclean.”• See www.chelwest.nhs.uk/

infectionpreventioncontrol/howcleanfor more information about how wekeep the hospital clean

Standards of hand hygiene atChelsea and Westminster Hospitalare audited on a monthly basis byour infection control linkprofessionals – nurses, therapistsand other staff who areresponsible for infection controlin their ward or department.

We include an update on compliancewith hand hygiene standards in everyedition of Trust News to ensure theissue remains high profile.

There has been a big improvementin standards – the compliance rate inJuly 2008 was 70% in comparisonwith 40% in July 2005. Compliancerates over the past three months havebeen consistently high – 70% in bothJune and July following a 74%compliance rate in May.

Some clinical areas have scoredparticularly well – congratulations tostaff from David Evans and RainsfordMowlem wards, Fracture Clinic,Medical Day Unit, Neonatal IntensiveCare Unit and the Treatment Centre

whoallachieved

100%compliance in

July. There is always room for

improvement and so staff and visitorsare reminded to use the alcohol handgel that is available at the entrance toall clinical areas in the hospital.• See www.chelwest.nhs.uk/

infectionpreventioncontrol/handhygiene.html for details of allmonthly hand hygiene audit resultsover the past 12 months

‘Excellent’ rating for cleanliness

n Housekeeper Jemima Owusu hardat work on Edgar Horne Ward

Hand hygiene watch

n Sister Sue Smith helps a youngvisitor clean his hands6

Key facts90% of patients said their room or ward was clean (HealthcareCommission patient survey 2007)

Our hygiene standards are officially 'Excellent' (Patient EnvironmentAction Team data - National Patient Safety Agency 2008)

Our overall infection rate is almost 50% less than the national average(Hospital Infection Society)

We have reduced our MRSA rate by 66% in the last three years

7

Focus on... infection control

Contracting an infection is probably one ofpatients’ greatest fears when they come intohospital – fortunately the risk of this happeningat Chelsea and Westminster is already extremelylow and we are working hard to reduce ourinfection rates still further.

Our overall infection rateis almost 50% less than thenational average, accordingto the last comprehensivenational survey carried outby the Hospital InfectionSociety. They found that4.4% of patients at Chelseaand Westminster had aninfection at a single point intime, in comparison with anational average of 8.2%.

A tiny proportion ofpatients treated at Chelseaand Westminster arediagnosed with MRSA. Inthe 12 months from April 12007 to March 31 2008,only 16 patients werediagnosed with an MRSAbloodstream infection and toput this figure in perspective

57,360 inpatients and daycase patients were treatedduring this period.

We have reduced ourMRSA rate by 66% in thelast 3 years – from 47 casesin 2004/05 to 16 cases in2007/08 – and thisimprovement is beingmaintained.

In the first three monthsof 2008/09 – from April 1to June 30 – only twopatients were diagnosed withan MRSA bloodstreaminfection and neither patientcontracted the infection atChelsea and Westminster.• See www.chelwest.nhs.uk/

infectionpreventioncontrol/infectionrates for ourlatest infection rates

Reducing the risk of infection

n Dr Berge Azadian, Director of Infection Prevention &Control, at work in the pathology laboratories at Chelseaand Westminster Hospital

New website launchedA brand new infection prevention andcontrol section of the Chelsea andWestminster website has been launchedin response to feedback from electedrepresentatives of patients, the publicand staff on the Members’ Council.

Members’ Council representatives said thatwe needed high quality information online inresponse to the concerns that many peoplehave about cleaning in hospital, the risk ofcontracting an infection and other issues.

Our new website, which went live at thestart of August, includes a wide range ofresources including factual information aboutour infection rates and cleaning standards,patient information leaflets and links to otheruseful websites.• See www.chelwest.nhs.uk/

infectionpreventioncontrol for furtherinformation

n Nurse Kausar Hassan demonstrates howto clean your hands with alcohol gel when

entering and leaving all wards anddepartments in the hospital

Do you have a story for

Trust News ?It might besomething

interesting, excitingor remarkable that acolleague is doing.

Perhaps you areparticularly proud ofan achievement that

your team hasworked hard for. It

might be a change inyour services or

facilities or amessage that you

need tocommunicate to

colleagues.

Whatever your news,we want to hear fromyou – call Matt Akid

on ext 6828.

The event, which wasdesigned to have a strongpatient focus, includedposters from four differentresearch themes providinga lay person's guide toinnovations anddevelopments arising fromresearch at the hospital.

Displays and activitiesassociated with the posters- for example, anultrasound scan of thehand - brought research tolife.

Researchers who hadcontributed to thematerial for the posterswere on hand to answerquestions and to guidepatients, staff and visitorsaround the displays.

As Trust Newshighlighted in ourJune/July edition, Chelseaand Westminster led asuccessful bid for fundingworth £20 million over

the next five years toestablish the North WestLondon Collaboration forLeadership in AppliedHealth Research and Care(CLAHRC).

This multi-millionpound research projectwill lead to the rapidintroduction of new,effective treatments for awide range of medicalconditions.

Following the Researchand Development OpenDay, a celebration eventwas held so thatrepresentatives ofCLAHRC partnerorganisations could learnmore about theprogramme and how,through training staff andevaluation of researchprojects, it will accelerateresearch into better patientcare.

Professor Sir ChristopherEdwards, the Trust

Chairman, used his speechat the celebration event tostress the enormouspotential this research hasto improve the quality ofhealthcare for patients innorth west London.

The Research andDevelopment Open Dayand the CLAHRC eventemphasised theimportance of involvingpatients and the public inresearch - the main themeof the North WestLondon CLAHRC.programme.

250 patients, membersof the public and staffattended the Trust’sfirst Research andDevelopment OpenDay in July.

n Visitors at the Research and Development Open Day

Research and Development Open Day

8

n Professor Derek Bell, who led the successful North WestLondon CLAHRC bid for £20 million funding, with GaryLawson, Chief Executive of Chelsea and WestminsterHealth Charity which is making a substantial grant to theCLAHRC

n Walter Balmford (Members' Council patientrepresentative), Professor Sir Christopher Edwards(Chairman, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHSFoundation Trust) and Heather Lawrence (ChiefExecutive, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHSFoundation Trust)

9

Open Day 2008... Open Day 2008... A record 1,693 people attended this year’s hospitalOpen Day on Saturday May 10.

Foundation Trust members and local residents flocked tothe hospital to enjoy attractions including behind-the-scenestours, health advice and information, free fruit, exerciseclasses, live music and much much more.

The event was held in partnership with Kensington andChelsea PCT and sponsored by Chelsea and WestminsterHealth Charity.• See www.chelwest.nhs.uk/aboutus/openDay.html for more

photos

n Medical students from Imperial College London in theTeddy Bear Hospital which proved a big hit with youngervisitors to the Open Day

n Three heads are better than one – radiographer KatieDavison at the Imaging Department stand

n Kensington and Chelsea PCT’s osteopathy and podiatryteams

The annual ‘A Time toRemember’ service forparents whose babies havesadly died recently tookplace this summer.

Parents who spent time inMaternity, the NeonatalIntensive Care Unit, the EarlyPregnancy Assessment Unit, orPrivate Maternity attended theservice.

This year’s theme was thechanging seasons with musicand poems chosen to reflectthis. Parents were invited towrite their baby’s name on aseason-related symbol of theirchoice which was then placedonto a piece of artwork createdby children in the HospitalSchool.

Loraine Pearce, BereavementFacilitator said: “It is nice togive parents the space andopportunity to honour theirbaby in a caring environment.”

n ‘A Time to Remember’ organisers Tina Hutchings (Sister, Early PregnancyAssessment Unit), Rev Dr Christina Beardsley (Head of Multi-Faith Chaplaincy),Lyn Dineen (Maternity Administrator Manager) and Loraine Pearce (MaternityBereavement Facilitator) - organisers not pictured are Doris Daby (Maternity UnitSecretary), Gail Frampton (Social Worker), Bryony Martin (Sister, Neonatal Unit),Colette Murphy (West London SANDS), Kevin Pearce (Musical Arrangement) andAndrea Philip (Labour Ward Manager)

A Time to RememberA Time to Remember

n A premature baby on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

n Dr Ed Abrahamson examines Amelia Sutton (12 months)in Children’s A&E

Focus on... children’s services – safe in our hands

When Jessica Osborne fell ill at Christmas 2007 sheand her family were thousands of miles from theirhome in Canada.

Fortunately, staff in our Children’s A&E department – which isopen 24 hours a day and treats 30,000 children a year - came tothe rescue. Jessica’s family sent a heartfelt thank you email to thehospital when they were safely back home.

Erika Davis said: “We were visiting London when myhusband’s daughter fell ill and so we took her to Chelsea andWestminster to be assessed and treated.

“We were thoroughly impressed by the professionalism andfriendly nature of your staff. We really appreciated their help – itwas wonderful to encounter such a welcoming hospital whilevisiting a foreign country!”

n Heather Lawrence (Chief Executive), Simon Eccles(Consultant Craniofacial Surgeon), patient George Laffordwith mum Denise, Kayli Newsom (Craniofacial ClinicalNurse Specialist) and Peter Clarke (Consultant ENT/Headand Neck Surgeon)

Our children's servicesare among the best inthe country - a nationalreview by theHealthcareCommission placed usin the top 25% of NHStrusts.

In 2007/08 we treated8,164 children asinpatients, 31,678outpatients and 30,911

children in our A&Edepartment.

Our specialistservices includeneonatal andpaediatric surgery,neonatal intensivecare, 24-hourChildren's A&E,dedicated children'soperating theatres andchildren's

anaesthetists.This year we intend

to become the leadcentre for specialistchildren's services inNorth West London - inthis month's TrustNews we profile just afew of the specialistservices that make usa hospital of choice forparents.

When her twins were born two months prematurely,Hilary McElwaine swapped a high-flying career in theCity for a new existence watching over her critically illbabies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) atChelsea and Westminster.

Thanks to the expertise of staff on NICU, who provide thehighest level of specialist care for more than 500 sick and verypremature babies every year, Oliver and Clarissa pulled throughafter spending almost two months on the Unit.

Now Hilary has written a book about her experiences to raisemoney for NICU.

She says: “The staff on NICU were just fantastic. I wrote mybook ‘Little Miracles’ to say thank you and to raise money forNICU because of all the good work that the staff on the Unit do.”

Children’s A&E

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Specialist surgeryRugby-mad teenager George Lafford is back playingthe game he loves – thanks to the expertise of surgeonsat Chelsea and Westminster.

He travelled from Cornwallto be operated on for amalignant tumour byConsultant CraniofacialSurgeon Simon Eccles and hiscolleague from Charing CrossHospital, ConsultantENT/Head and NeckSurgeon Peter Clarke.

George says: “My localhospital referred me toChelsea and Westminsterbecause they specialise in thissurgery.”

Peter Clarke explains: “Wecarried out a seven-houroperation to remove not onlyGeorge’s tumour but also anextensive area around the earincluding lymph nodes toensure that no trace of the

cancer was left.”Simon Eccles adds: “While

Peter was removing thetumour, I was grafting skinand tissue from George’s legto help reconstruct the areaaround the ear.”

The operation was acomplete success and Georgewas able to return home toCornwall a week later to thedelight of his mum, Denisewho says: “I am in awe of thecraniofacial surgery team andthe wonderful adolescent unitat Chelsea and Westminster.

“We travelled for George’streatment from Cornwallbecause of the expertise ofstaff at Chelsea andWestminster.”

10

ervices – safe in our hands

A spectacular gala ball at the Grosvenor House hotelon Park Lane raised more than £40,000 in aid of afundraising appeal to buy a robot for a new children’soperating theatre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

anaesthetists.This year we intend

to become the leadcentre for specialistchildren's services inNorth West London - inthis month's TrustNews we profile just afew of the specialistservices that make usa hospital of choice forparents.

Gala ball raises thousands for children’s fundraising appeal

n Making sweet music for guests at the gala ball

n Fundraising appealpatron John Hannah

Chelsea and Westminster isone of the only specialistcentres for children’s surgeryin London and we provide avital service for young patientsfrom throughout London andthe south east.

We also have a largeNeonatal Intensive Care Unitfor sick and very prematurebabies in London and ourstaff specialise in life-savingsurgery for premature babies.

The new operating theatreand hi-tech robot will allow usto perform more operationsand continue to provide aninnovative and leading edgeservice for some of ouryoungest and sickest patients.

Our fundraising appealalready has high profilepatrons including actors HughGrant and John Hannah,fashion designer Luella Bartleyand news broadcaster EmilyMaitlis.

More than 270 peopleattended the gala ball in Julywhich kickstarted the appealin earnest – famous facesincluding not only JohnHannah but also fellow actorsPhilip Glenister, known tomillions as DCI Gene Huntin the hit BBC TV series ‘Lifeon Mars’, and Toby Stephenswere present to lend theirsupport.

Entertainment was provided

by Glyndebourne Opera,West End musical ‘Me andMy Girl’ and a British fashionauction including pieces fromtop designers AlexanderMcQueen, MatthewWilliamson and VivienneWestwood.

The gala ball was organisedby Children’s Services staff atChelsea and Westminster, ledby surgical registrar Dr JuliaFishman.

• Seewww.surgery4children.co.ukfor further informationabout our children’shospital fundraising appeal

n Chelsea and Westminster staff including paediatricsurgeons Mr Nicholas Madden (3rd left, front row) and MrMunther Haddad (2nd right, front row)

Charity donation boosts treatment of newborn babiesThe Neonatal IntensiveCare Unit (NICU) andMaternity have two newBilirubinometers and anew centrifuge thanks togenerous donations by theSt Nicholas Fund.

A Bilirubinometer is usedto measure the level ofBilirubin in a blood sampletaken from a newborn babywhile a centrifuge is used toseparate red blood cells fromserum in a sample by spinningit rapidly, which is required inthe process of testing a baby’sblood sample for jaundice.

Previously NICU andMaternity had only oneBilirubinometer machinebetween them and so thischaritable donation will helpto provide a better and fasterservice at the Trust.

n Dr Gary Hartnoll(Consultant Neonatologist),Princess Marina Lobanov-Rostovsky (Chairman, StNicholas Fund), RichardAldridge (Team Leader,Clinical Engineering),(Fiona Walkinshaw(Midwifery Manager) andDr Shu-Ling Chuang(Consultant Neonatologist)are pictured with the newequipment donated by theSt Nicholas Fund

11

Counter-fraudupdate

The goal ofinvestigating any fraudin the NHS is to recovermoney defrauded fromthe NHS by imposingsanctions and seekingredress.

A ‘Triple Tracking’ systemis used so that cases arepursued through thecriminal or civil courts, orthrough internal disciplinarymeasures (which may run inparallel with prosecutioncases).

The weight of the caseevidence will determine howa case is pursued, but thisdoes not deter the Trustfrom taking positive actionagainst individuals who arealleged to have committedfraud.

So does it work? A doctorwas found to be working atanother NHS trust while onsick leave from Chelsea andWestminster, which resultedin internal disciplinaryaction being taken againstthe individual who wasconsequently dismissed,having falsely representedtheir sickness.

As the individual hadbeen paid by the Trustduring the periods ofsickness, the individual waspursued for reimbursementand £1,000 wassubsequently recovered. Asthe doctor’s probity andtrustworthiness were broughtinto question, a referral wasmade to their regulatorybody in relation to theirfitness to practice.

This is just one exampleof action taken to recoverNHS funds and to raiseawareness among staff thatfraud does not pay!

If you are a member ofstaff with a concern aboutpossible fraud, contact IainHewitt, the Trust’s LocalCounter Fraud Specialist, on020 7953 7889 or emailiain.hewitt@chelwest.nhs.uk- all information will betreated in strictest confidence.

Chelsea andWestminster is hittingthe target already –93.5% of inpatients and99.3% of outpatients andday case patients weretreated within 18 weeksin June.

Since April 1, patientscan choose to be treatedat any NHS hospital inEngland and clearly howlong you wait fortreatment is a key factorthat influences thatchoice.

A HealthcareCommission survey of

69,000 NHS patients,published in July, showedthat patients living inKensington and Chelseaare more likely to beoffered a choice ofhospital for their firstappointment than almostanywhere else in thecountry.

According to thesurvey, 60% of patientsin the borough wereoffered a choice for theirfirst appointment –compared with just 22%on the Isle of Wight and25% in Newcastle.

All NHS hospitals in England must meet anational target to treat 90% of inpatients and95% of outpatients and day case patients within18 weeks of GP referral by December 2008.

Joint ResearchCommittee Travel

Award ScholarshipsOctober 1 is the deadlinefor the current round oftravel scholarships tosupport the costs ofattending high profileresearch-related eventssuch as national andinternational meetings.

Applications that will beviewed favourably should be forevents benefiting individualsconducting research at Chelseaand Westminster Hospital, andthey should increase the Trust’sprofile nationally andinternationally.

The maximum scholarshipaward is £1,000 and only oneapplication will be accepted perresearcher. Applications areparticularly encouraged from staffof a more junior grade who canuse a scholarship to present workdone at the Trust.

Application forms are availableby contacting Maria Batson viaTrust email or on ext 6825.

Applicants are asked toprovide an electronic copy ofthe appropriate abstract –completed applications andabstracts should be emailed toMaria by October 1.

Full details of expenses mustbe provided in the applicationform and successful applicantswill be asked to provide allappropriate invoices or receipts,once those expenses areincurred.

n Professor Henry Binder (centre, front row) pictured with present and former members of the GastroenterologyDepartment at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Professor Henry Binder from Yale University visitedthe Gastroenterology Department at Chelsea andWestminster Hospital to deliver a lecture on thediagnosis and management of chronic diarrhoea.

Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Bobby Prasad, whoorganised the lecture, described Professor Binder as one ofthe world’s leading authorities on bowel disorders.

He was recently awarded the AmericanGastroenterological Association’s DistinguishedAchievement Award. This recognises individuals who havemade specific contributions in gastroenterology researchthat have an exceptional impact.

Top doc visits Trust

Waiting times continue to fall

12

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Q What is it?A Releasing Time to Care -The Productive Ward is

a national initiative from the NHS Institute whichfocuses on improving ward processes andenvironments to help nurses and therapists spendmore time on patient care. It offers a systematicway of delivering safe, high quality care to patients.

Q What is our vision?A That all staff can deliver safe and effective care to

patients and, in doing this, patients feel the carethey receive is personal and kind.

Q What are the main aims?A There are four key objectives:

• Improve patient safety and reliability of care• Improve patient experience• Improve staff wellbeing• Improve efficiency of care

Q How is this achieved?A Releasing Time to Care - The Productive Ward

helps staff develop standards for workplaceorganisation, key ward processes and themanagement of information.

Q: How will success be measured?A: Key results areas for the four objectives include:

• Improve patient safety by ensuring patients getthe right observations at the right time

• Increase the time nurses spend in direct contactwith patients

• Achieve infection control targets• Reduce patients’ average length of stay in hospital• Increase patient satisfaction

Q How do wards get involved?A Jane Tippett (Assistant Director of Nursing and

Project Lead) is meeting ward sisters, chargenurses, matrons and clinical nurse leads to discussthe programme and explain how staff can apply tobecome a showcase ward. The emphasis is on staff‘raring to go’ and understanding the potentialbenefits for their ward.

Releasing Time to Care – The Productive Ward

Your questions answered...Providing the best possible care for patients is our top priority and our senior nurses,ward sisters and charge nurse are always looking for ways to improve patient care.

Releasing Time to Care is a new approach to help them do that.

Following the Shipman Inquiry’s Fourth Report,there have been a number of changes in the lawrelating to controlled drugs and subsequent changesat Chelsea and Westminster:

Prescribing controlleddrugs

Only electronicallygenerated discharge andoutpatient prescriptions forcontrolled drugs will beaccepted by Pharmacy.

The maximum validity ofa discharge or outpatientcontrolled drug prescriptionis now 28 days from the dateof prescribing.

The maximum supply fora discharge or outpatientprescription is now 30 daysat a time unless inexceptional circumstances(eg palliative care).

Ordering controlleddrugs from Pharmacy

Each ward/department nowhas an agreed stock list ofcontrolled drugs. For somewards/departments this is aninclusion list (all items listedare held as stock items)while others have anexclusion list (all exceptthose listed are held as stockitems). Where the controlled

drug is not held as a stockitem, the relevant patient’smedication chart whereappropriate must accompanythe CD order book.

Collecting controlleddrugs from Pharmacy

Staff collecting controlleddrugs from Pharmacy mustprovide ID (eg Trust photoidentification badge) andsign on collection.

Monitoring controlleddrugs

Extra monitoring has beenimplemented to identifysuspicious or inappropriatehandling of controlled drugsincluding monitoring ofward/department usage,incident reports, Pharmacycontrolled drug stock checksof wards/departments everythree months, and regularaudits.

Pharmacy compiles aquarterly report for Dr MikeAnderson, the TrustAccountable Officer for

Controlled Drugs, about theongoing surveillance ofcontrolled drugs. This report

is also sent to the TrustMedicines Committee andExecutive ClinicalGovernance meetings.

Inappropriate or unlawfulstaff activity relating tocontrolled drugs will beidentified. Dr Anderson alsocontributes to a combinedLocal Intelligence Network(LIN) for Kensington &Chelsea and WestminsterPCTs and the North WestLondon Controlled DrugNetwork to monitor andidentify inappropriate orunlawful activity of staffmoving between NHStrusts.

Changes to the management of controlled drugs

What should you do if you suspectinappropriate or unlawful activity?

Stock discrepancies or concerns relating tocontrolled drugs should be reported tomike.anderson@chelwest.nhs.uk or on ext 6599

Further information

Changes relating to controlled drugs areincorporated into the Trust Medicines Policy and theControlled Drug Governance Arrangementsdocument which are on the Trust intranet in the‘Medicines Use (incl. Medicines Policy)’ folder.

For further information please contact PharmacyMedicines Information on ext 8390/8.

n Dr Mike Anderson,Medical Director and theTrust Accountable Officerfor Controlled Drugs

National Falls Awareness DayNational Falls Awareness Day waspromoted at Chelsea and WestminsterHospital with a collaborative informationstand run by the Trust, Kensington andChelsea Rehabilitation Service, SocialServices and the Kensington and ChelseaTenant Management Organisation.

This was an opportunity to raise awareness ofstate-of-the-art technology that is available topeople in their own homes if they are at risk ofhaving a fall, including sensor gadgets tomonitor people’s wellbeing and the CommunityAlarm System (CAS) which provides help at thetouch of a button through Telecare.

Telecare services can be accessed via the Trustand can be subsidised by Kensington andChelsea Social Services depending on individualcircumstances.

More information about falls prevention isavailable from the Community RehabilitationTeam Falls Service at Kensington and ChelseaPCT on 020 7349 3239.

n Pictured on National Falls Awareness Day are Anne Padayachee(Kensington and Chelsea Rehabilitation Service), Jayne Gunthorpe(Kensington and Chelsea Rehabilitation Service), Hannah Wood(Trust Rehabilitation Physiotherapist), Nick Hale (Trust NurseConsultant for Older People), Leigh Whitworth (Social ServicesTelecare Assessment and Development Worker) and Kevin Langan(Community Alarm Service Senior Officer)

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Focus on... cancer services

The brother of a patient who died at Chelseaand Westminster Hospital has enabled the Trustto buy a brand new piece of equipment to treatstomach cancer after raising £6,000 by runningthe London Marathon.

Stephen Canning’smarathon effort was his wayof saying thank you tohospital staff who cared forhis sister Caroline.

He said: “I decided to run

the marathon to raise fundsfor the hospital because allCaroline’s family and friendswanted to express ourgratitude to all the wonderfulstaff at Chelsea and

Westminster in recognitionof their warmth, compassion,dedication and devotion.

“They made Caroline’sfinal few weeks morebearable and we are eternallygrateful for that. We cannotthank them enough.”

Dr Matthew Banks,ConsultantGastroenterologist said: “Iwould like to thank Stephenso much for all his help.

“With the money that heraised we have been able tobuy a special gastroscopewhich is used to removepolyps and cancers from thestomach as well as to treatinternal bleeding.”

Chelsea and Westminster’sapplication to become aEuropean Society for MedicalOncology (ESMO)-designatedcentre of integrated oncologyand palliative care has beensuccessful.

The official announcement andcertification will take place at theESMO annual congress inSeptember.

Catherine Gillespie, MacmillanLead Nurse for Cancer andPalliative Care, says: “This is agreat endorsement of our services.Only a couple of other cancerunits or centres in the UK haveachieved this status.”

Marathon effort benefits cancer care

n Pictured with the new gastroscope which will be used totreat cancer patients at Chelsea and Westminster are (frontrow) Caroline Canning’s sister Catherine, brother Stephenand partner Rick and (back row) Natasha Ryan(Macmillan Palliative Care Nurse), Dr Sarah Cox(Palliative Care Consultant) and Dr Matthew Banks(Consultant Gastroenterologist)

n Caroline Canning

International recognition for cancer services

n The cancer and palliative care team

Macmillan coffee morningThe Trust’s cancer and palliative care team willbe holding their annual Macmillan World’sBiggest Coffee Morning on the ground floor ofthe hospital opposite the PALS office on FridaySeptember 26.

Last year this event raised more than £7 millionnationally to support people living with cancer and hereat Chelsea and Westminster alone we raised £600thanks to the generosity of patients, carers and staff.

Anyone wishing to support the event by donatingcakes or biscuits should contact the Macmillan Centre –the team hope to see as many people as possible onthe day.

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Focus on... staff awards

Congratulations to the winners of ourEmployee/Team of the Month awards for May,June and July.

Congratulations to Natalie McFarlane, OperationalLead Therapist, and Sarah White, SeniorOccupational Therapist, who won the best posteraward at this summer’s national conference of theBritish Association of Occupational Therapists.

The poster detailed asuccessful trainingprogramme that has beendeveloped to ensure that allstaff in the medicalrehabilitation therapy teamuphold the team philosophyand are able to provideproactive therapy services.

The best poster award wasvoted for by delegates whoattended the conference atwhich Natalie also presenteda paper titled ‘CanRehabilitation occur on anAcute Medical Ward?’.

Her presentation outlinedthe proactive approach totherapy service provisionthat the medicalrehabilitation therapy teamprovide to patients in themedical directorate.

The team have changedthe way they work so thatwritten referrals are no

longer required and eachward-based therapist activelyscreens newly admittedpatients each morning toidentify their therapy needsand start therapy as soon aspossible.

Natalie’s paper and thestatistical evidence providedhas sparked a significantamount of interest fromother hospitals and haschallenged the traditionalrole of therapists as beingonly discharge planners inan acute setting.

The medical rehabilitationteam at Chelsea andWestminster strive to ensurethat rehabilitation takesplace on the acute medicalwards by ensuring thatpatients are seen early onadmission and are given thetherapy they require whileon the ward.

How to nominate anindividual or a team• Staff – nomination forms

are available in the HRsection of the intranetsend forms by internal mailto Alison Heeralall (DeputyDirector of HR)

• Patients, relatives andcarers - nominationforms are available on theTrust websitesend forms by post to AlisonHeeralall (Deputy Directorof HR), Chelsea andWestminster Hospital NHSFoundation Trust, 369Fulham Road, London,SW10 9NH

Employee of the Month

n Mark Fielding – May’sEmployee of the Monthaward winner

Hospital staff, patients,relatives and carers areencouraged to nominatestaff for the monthlyEmployee/Team of theMonth awards which aim torecognise the excellence ofour staff.

Mark Fielding, whoworks in the Patient Adviceand Liaison Service (PALS)office on the ground floor ofthe hospital, won May’sEmployee of the Monthaward.

Jane Collier, Equality andDiversity Manager whonominated Mark, said: “Hehas made a huge voluntarycontribution to staff throughhis ongoing hard work anddedication to the harassmentadvisory service. He is also avery nice bloke!”

June’s winners were LizBarnshaw (Senior Sister and

Service Lead forOutpatients, MedicineDirectorate) as Employee ofthe Month and Annie ZunzWard as Team of the Month.

Dr Marcus Harbord,ConsultantGastroenterologist whonominated Liz, said: “WhenI have been on-call atweekends, Liz has often beenin the office working tofacilitate the maximum 18-week pathway for patients.She is approachable, helpfuland always has a smile onher face.

July’s winners wereJosephine Abonales-Estilo(Staff Nurse, PaediatricTheatres) as Employee of theMonth and the ISSMediclean Porters as Teamof the Month.

Lyn Brocklebank, whonominated Josephine, said:

“Jo never complains if shehas to stay late and finishtheatre lists. She is veryhelpful and professional atall times.”

Alison Heeralall, DeputyDirector of HumanResources says: “We want tosay thank you to staff whowork hard, with enthusiasm,sometimes quietly deliveringresults behind the scenes,and going that extra mile.

“Our monthly awards are

presented in recognition ofan individual’s or team’scontribution to ensuringthat Chelsea andWestminster continues to bean excellent place to workand to be looked after bycaring staff.”

Award winners areselected by HumanResources and Staffsiderepresentatives.

n Pictured with their winning poster are Sarah White(Senior Occupational Therapist) and NatalieMcFarlane (Operational Lead Therapist)

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Occupational therapists win award at national conference

17

Focus on... staff awards

Chelsea and Westminster became the first NHS hospital inLondon to use full electronic prescribing of medicationacross both outpatient and adult inpatient services wheninpatient prescribing started in Autumn 2007.

Doctors can now prescribedrugs and nurses can recordadministration of medicines at apatient’s bedside using a wirelesshandheld tablet PC, as shown inthe photo.

Electronic prescribing reduceserrors, improves consistency andspeeds up the dispensing of

medication.The electronic prescribing

project at Chelsea andWestminster was ‘highlycommended’ in the Guild ofHealthcare Pharmacists and UnitedKingdom Clinical PharmacyAssociation’s InformationTechnology Award 2008.

n Dr Rhys Evans and India Hardy (LeadPharmacist – EPR Prescribing Project)demonstrate the electronic prescribing system

Electronic prescribing ‘highly commended’

n Professor Sir ChristopherEdwards

Chairman knightedProfessor Sir ChristopherEdwards, Chairman ofChelsea and WestminsterHospital NHSFoundation Trust, wasawarded a knighthoodin the Queen’s BirthdayHonours list which waspublished in June.

He was knighted inrecognition of his services tohigher education, medicalscience, and regeneration inthe North East of England.Professor Edwards wasappointed Chairman ofChelsea and WestminsterHospital from November 12007.

Sir Christopher said: “Iwas obviously thrilled anddelighted by this award.However, if I have achievedanything it has been for two

reasons. First, I have beenfortunate to work with somewonderfully talented andcommitted people. Second, Ihave had the unfailingsupport of my wife Sally.”

Peter Sharott, RegionalPharmacist based at Chelseaand Westminster Hospital,was awarded the MBE in theQueen’s Birthday Honours.

n Rheumatology Specialist Nurses Bridget Ryan (2ndleft), Antonia Greeves (3rd left) and Sarah Collis (4thleft) receive their award from Theresa May MP (farleft) and Ailsa Bosworth, Chief Executive of theNational Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (far right)

Congratulations to a team of nurses atChelsea and Westminster Hospital who won atop national award and attended a specialHouse of Commons reception to celebratetheir success.

Rheumatology Specialist Nurses Bridget Ryan, SarahCollis and Antonia Greeves, as well asOsteoporosis/Rheumatology Specialist Nurse AshlynneVan Vuuren, were nominated by patient Sheila Smith forthe National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS)‘Healthcare Champions in Inflammatory Arthritis’award.

The NRAS chose our team as one of the top 20healthcare champions for patients with rheumatoidarthritis in the UK and invited them to join members ofthe All Party Inflammatory Arthritis Group at the Houseof Commons in June.

Lynn Love of the NRAS said: “I would like to give ourheartfelt thanks to the team at Chelsea and Westminsterfor all their efforts on behalf of their patients.”

Nurses collect national award

18

Staff news... Staff news... Staff news...

Camille Hair Design2nd Floor, Lift Bank D

Opening hours:Tue-Fri 10am - 5.30pmSaturday 10am - 4pm

Evening appointments by prior arrangement

10% discount to staff uponproduction of valid ID badge

Call ext 8681 or 020 8746 8681 if calling

from outside the hospital

Welcome to KatherineMellor who is theChelsea andWestminster HealthCharity’s new ArtsManager, responsible forco-ordinating the visualand performingHospital Artsprogrammes.

Katherine has joined theCharity from Unileverwhere she was responsiblefor curating their collectionof contemporary British art,managed an in-house performing arts programme andloaned art works to London hospitals.

Katherine previously worked for the Government ArtCollection commissioning, installing and managing publicart in UK government offices, embassies and consulatesoverseas.

Hospital Arts is one of the core activities of Chelsea andWestminster Health Charity which supports the work ofthe hospital and contributes to improving healthcarefacilities that directly benefit patients, their families andlocal communities.

For more information see www.chelwestcharity.org.ukand www.hospitalarts.org.uk.

n Congratulations to GeorginaSimonelli, a nurse on ThomasMacaulay Ward, who waspresented with a coveted prizeat the annual Royal MarsdenSchool of Cancer Nursing andRehabilitation AwardCeremony.

Georgina was awarded aJoan Frances Stowe Prize for2008 and received a chequefor £250 and a book token tothe value of £50 – she wasnominated by CatherineGillespie, Macmillan LeadNurse for Cancer andPalliative Care.

The Joan Frances StowePrize is given to a student whohas studied at the School andhas made a significantcontribution to clinicalpractice.

Joan Frances Stowe was apatient at the Royal MarsdenHospital for many years.Before her death in 1995, shetold her friends and familythat she wanted an annualprize in her memory topromote the care which sheherself experienced.

n Veronica Weir andMargaret Ffolkes withfriends and colleagues attheir retirement party

Staff Nurses VeronicaWeir and MargaretFfolkes retired in Julyhaving worked in themedical outpatientsdepartment (Outpatients3) for many years.

They were joined bymany friends and colleagueswho wished them well at aretirement party in the BetaCell Seminar Room in July.

Reverend Sharon Connell has been licensed as amember of the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Team by theArchdeacon of Middlesex, the Venerable StephanWelch.

Sharon was based in parishes in East London for 11 years,working first at St Joseph’s Hospice and latterly at Barts andThe London NHS Trust.

n Venerable Stephan Welch (Archdeacon of Middlesex),Rev Sharon Connell (Chaplain), Father Gabriel Bannon(Chaplain), Rev Dr Christina Beardsley (Head of Multi-Faith Chaplaincy) and Rev Rob Gillion (Area Dean ofChelsea)

New Arts Manager

n Katherine Mellor

Farewell to Veronica and Margaret Sharon joins Chaplaincy team

19

Staff News– in brief

Mark Gammage joined the Trustthis month as Interim Director ofHuman Resources – he isChairman of Dearden Consultingwhich is a leading organisationaldevelopment consultancy.

Sherryn Elsworth, GeneralManager for the Women &Children’s directorate, is now onmaternity leave – DebbieRichards, General Manager forthe HIV & Sexual Healthdirectorate, is covering her post.

Suzanne Hampson is the Trust’snew Clinical Nurse Specialist forMultiple Sclerosis, a post partfunded by the Multiple Sclerosis(MS) Society – she can becontacted on ext 5903 or Bleep1919.

Kate Hopwood has joined theTrust as Macmillan NurseSpecialist for Paediatric Oncology– she can be contacted on ext2815 or Bleep 5855.

Emma Mathurine is the Trust’snew Macmillan Clinical NurseSpecialist for GynaelogicalOncology – she can be contactedon ext 2086 or Bleep 0446.

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Trust News is written and produced by the Communications Department of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10. Tel 020 8846 6828

Members' Council

Notification of Election

Two vacancies have arisen on the Members' Council in the following

constituencies

• Kensington and Chelsea Area 1

• Kensington and Chelsea Area 2

The breakdown for Areas 1 and 2 is as follows:

(1) Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (Area 1) - the electoral areas of

Saint Charles, Golborne, Notting Barns, Colville, Norland, Pembridge,

Holland and Campden.

(2) Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (Area 2) - the electoral areas of

Abingdon, Queen's Gate, Earl's Court, Courtfield, Redcliffe, Brompton,

Stanley, Hans Town, Cremorne and Royal Hospital.

All Foundation Trust members in these constituencies are invited to nominate

themselves as candidates in the forthcoming election.

Nomination packs with information about how to stand for election can be

obtained from the Returning Officer from Monday September 1 2008 at the

following address: OPT2VOTE LTD, 25D Bishop Street, Derry, Northern Ireland,

BT48 6PR. If you are uncertain as to your eligibility to nominate yourself as a

candidate or have any queries, please contact the Returning Officer at

OPT2VOTE on 02871 371111 (9am to 5pm).

All nominations must be received by the Returning Officer at the address

above by 12 noon on Wednesday September 17 2008. Please note that faxed

or e-mailed nominations will not be accepted.

If candidates do submit their nomination but decide to withdraw, this must be

done in writing, witnessed and sent to the Returning Officer no later than

12 noon on Monday September 22 2008.

Ballot papers will be distributed to all qualifying Foundation Trust members in

the constituencies on or before Monday October 6 2008. Completed ballot

papers must be received by the Independent Scrutineer (OPT2VOTE LTD) by

the close of poll, 12 noon on Friday October 24 2008.

For further information, please contact Julie Cooper (Foundation Trust

Secretary) on 020 8846 6716 or see www.chelwest.nhs.uk/foundationtrust