the

May 2010
issue 17

World first for St George’s

as keyhole op saves baby







Econtents
2 Staff pull out the stops for iCLIP
3 A word from David
4 No smoking day
4 Transforming patient care
5 Keyhole op saves baby
6 All the ingredients for a great
restaurant
6 Patient takes gold at Winter
Games
7 New leaflet launches
8 Spotlight on Mickey Koh
9 View from the top
10 Focusing on patient safety
11 New Macmillan service
12 Hi-tech scanner trialled at
St George’s
12 Robot cuts waiting times
13 New approach to procurement
14 Nurses rise to the challenge
15 St George’s demonstrates cutting
edge technology
16 Fundraising news
H
new
newIngredients
opens
opensin
restaurant
Ingredients restaurant
inLanesborough
Lanesborough WingWing
6
Front page picture shows Isabel Dolby, the
world’s youngest patient to have keyhole
surgery for acute appendicitis, with her
mother Candice and paediatric consultant
Mr Zahid Mukhtar.
With thanks to Mark Evenden, Media
Services, St George’s University of London,
for photographic services.
the gazette is written and published
by the Communications Unit. The
opinions expressed do not necessarily
represent those of St George’s
Healthcare NHS Trust. The next edition
will be published during July 2010. If
you are a staff member with a story for
the gazette, please email:
communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk
2 the gazette
Dedicated staff ensured iCLIP launch was a success
Staff pull out the stops
for iCLIP launch
The iCLIP launch went ahead as management and outpatient system to
planned on Monday 29th March. the trust. Subsequent phases will include
full theatre scheduling, diagnostic
Chief operating officer Patrick Mitchell
said: “Staff worked closely with ordering and resulting and a specialist
colleagues from BT and the London critical care module.”
Programme for IT to ensure a smooth Trust chief executive David Astley was
transition onto the new system. We are onsite on the weekend of the launch. He
pleased with how things have gone so said: “This is a huge project that has
far. However, work is ongoing to required a great deal of commitment and
ensure the project remains on course hard work from people across the trust.”
and is a success. The ‘go live’ follows years of strategic
“This initial phase has replaced the planning, and months of training to
patient administration system and help people get used to working with
provides an integrated A&E, bed the system.
State of the art theatre opens
A new operating theatre has opened in the Atkinson Morley Wing as
St George’s takes its place at the heart of the trauma network covering
southwest London and Surrey.
The theatre has been built to cater for surgical specialties such
as bariatric, robotic surgery and renal transplantation
procedures.
Because trauma now has a dedicated theatre there is less risk
of elective operations being rescheduled to make way for
emergency cases.
The new facility will increase the trust’s overall capacity for
surgery by around 15 to 20 per cent.
Clinical theatre manager, Alberto Castrillon, said: “The theatre
has been built to the highest standard so that whatever sort of
work needs to be done, it can be done there. There is an air
Clinical theatre manager purifying system which means that a greater range of
Alberto Castrillon
procedures can be carried out.
“We are also working to increase the number of staff working in theatres and are
advertising in most of the main journals.”
The South West London and Surrey Trauma Network covers an area with a population
of 2.6million people.
Under the network, instead of being sent to local district general hospitals, patients
with very severe or multiple injures are being sent to St George’s, which has the
capacity and expertise to provide the best possible care.
A word from David
As the gazette goes to print we
are at a pivotal time in the year –
we have just entered into a new
financial year and the general election
date has been announced, the outcome
of which will see challenging times ahead
for the whole NHS.
But no matter what happens one thing
remains the same – our dedication to
moving the Trust forward through
cutting-edge developments in equipment,
techniques and training.
This commitment to drive change resulted
in St George’s becoming a major trauma
centre earlier this month, putting the trust
at the heart of a major clinical network
which will radically improve access to
specialist care for the most seriously
injured patients across the capital.
This is just one of the many success stories
giving us cause for celebration. Other
highlights include the opening of a state-
of-the-art theatre in the Atkinson Morley
Wing; and one of many firsts, St George’s
performing keyhole surgery for acute
appendicitis on the world’s youngest
patient.
Following
the theme of
continuing
success, we
have now
marked an
important
milestone
in the
transformation of St George’s – the
successful deployment of the trust’s new
clinical information systems.
This launch followed years of strategic
planning by the trust and months of staff
training to ensure everyone was fully
prepared.
So far the deployment has gone
according to plan and I’d like to thank
staff for their hard work and
commitment. A special thank you must
go to the iCLIP project team and our
colleagues from BT and Cerner.
The iCLIP project demonstrates the value
of collaborative working and I was deeply
impressed by their professionalism during
my time in the project command centre at
the beginning of the month.
St George’s is also making positive
changes to the hospital environment,
such as the opening of the new
Ingredients restaurant in
Lanesborough Wing.
This now offers staff, patients and
visitors an impressive range of freshly
prepared, high-quality food, bright,
modern décor and top-of-the-range
facilities. The restaurant has proved
extremely popular so far, and I would
encourage you to visit if you have not
already done so.
Once again, thanks to staff members
for their dedication, patience and team
work, which will keep the trust on
course to achieve its goals.
Continuing in this spirit will be essential
as we push on towards achieving
Foundation Trust status, continuing the
improvement of services and building
projects and ensuring the iCLIP
programme remains a success for the
trust. I am looking forward to another
successful and
progressive year.

Sweet gesture from restaurateur

Staff on Benjamin Weir ward were surprises ever received from a patient to on the ward after being given a full graft
surprised and delighted when a the staff on Ben Weir. It was nice that we bypass, and everyone was telling me how
grateful former patient sent them a were able to share it with other staff in serious the procedure is. I was really
huge summer fruit cake. the cardiac unit.” grateful to everyone at St George’s; it
Elle Pitar, owner of the Moulin Rouge in Recovering at home, Mr Pitar said: “I was means a lot to me.”
Kingston-upon-Thames, was given an
emergency bypass and admitted onto the
ward earlier this year.
He is now recovering and asked his chefs
to create a giant cake that could be
shared amongst all the staff on the ward.
Senior staff nurse, Sophie Proctor, said:
“We heard that a big cake was being
delivered to our ward as a thank you, but
when four men entered the ward carrying
a cake nearly as wide as the corridor we
could not believe it.
“It was the talk of the whole unit, and
the cake was shared between every ward
from CTICU to Caroline, secretaries,
doctors, domestics and nursing staff. It
fed literally hundreds of people.”
Ward receptionist, Pearl Livingston said:
“It was one of the tastiest and biggest

Left to right: Kimberley O’Hara, Kate

Fincham, Josette Pitar, Hoda Pitar, Elle Pitar,
Sophie Proctor, Venessa Sookhoo

the gazette 3
kpatient care

Ziggy the ciggie fumes

Better technology over No Smoking Day
to track blood Efforts to stub out smoking were stepped up as St
George’s marked No Smoking Day in March.
A high-tech barcode system is being
Staff, patients and visitors interested in quitting were
introduced to keep track of the hundreds
encouraged to visit a drop-in stand in the hospital’s main
of litres of blood used every month at
entrance for advice and support.
St George’s.
Security staff stepped up efforts to stop people smoking on the
hen the Blood Track system goes live in

W
hospital grounds, and posters were displayed across the site
May, the Haematology department will reminding patients and staff not to light up.
be able to see where every unit of blood
NHS Wandsworth’s smelly mascot, Ziggy the ciggie, was fuming
is in the hospital and manage the supply of stocks
as he was shunned by hundreds of people passing through the
accordingly. main entrance.
Every month St George’s uses between 2,200 and Mohamed Bhatti, NHS Wandsworth’s stop smoking service
2,500 blood components, each containing between manager, said: “Last year we helped more than 1,200 people to
240ml and 280ml and costing £139. stop smoking. We understand that stopping is not easy, so our
advisors are trained to assess which is the best way for you.”
Under the existing system staff members write in a
register when blood is removed from the main
blood fridge. Under Blood Track, each blood
component will have a barcode, which can be
scanned when it is removed. Six satellite blood
fridges have been placed around the hospital,
which staff can access using their ID cards.
The system will ensure blood is not left out of the
fridges for prolonged periods. It will also be
possible to monitor how much is in stock and when
demand for blood is heavy, which will be more
important than ever with the trust becoming a
Major Trauma Centre.
Training will be rolled out across the trust prior to
the go live date with key staff being shown how to
use the system first, then cascading the knowledge
through their wards and departments.
Ziggy the ciggie seeks advice about quitting

Transforming patient care

Changes to managing patient
discharge are freeing up space on
wards and helping people go home
as soon as they are clinically ready.
A transformation project has been
looking at the way patients are
discharged, to identify where delays are
taking place and find solutions to them.
Pilot schemes are being run on some
medical and surgical wards to find ways
of discharging patients before 11am in
order to make beds available for
patients admitted that day.
Transformation Director, Alan Thorne,
said: “We are looking at ways to ensure
that, when a patient is medically fit and
ready to go home, they can go.
Consideration of how and when a
patient is to be discharged from
hospital should begin as soon as they
are admitted.”
St George’s is also looking to reduce
the number of long-term patients who
are kept in hospital because of poor
health, but may be better off in a care
home, rehabilitation facility or at home.
GPs and community matrons were
invited to a ward round recently, to
discuss how care in the community
could be provided for such patients in
the future.
Alan added: “This work is not just
about discharge, but about avoiding
admissions in the first place by reducing
the episodes and emergencies which
lead to hospital care being necessary.”

4 the gazette
First for St George’s as baby has
keyhole op for acute appendicitis
It was every parent’s worst
nightmare – four-week-old
Isabel Dolby was seriously ill
and in agonising pain, but
nobody knew why.
sabel became the youngest child in the
I world to have keyhole surgery for
acute appendicitis when paediatric
consultant Zahid Mukhtar used the latest
miniaturised technology, including a tiny
endoscopic camera, to operate on her.
Worldwide there have been just 100
recorded cases of appendicitis in babies
during the last 100 years. All were
treated using open
surgery, and sadly, a
third of these children
did not survive.
Isabel’s mother,
Candice, of Raynes
Park, said: “I noticed
what looked like a
milk rash and wasn’t
too concerned, at
first. However, a few
days later, I noticed
the rash had become
red and inflamed and
it had spread from her
face and neck all the
way down her torso.
The rash progressively
got worse as each day passed.”
She took Isabel to the paediatric accident
and emergency department at St
George’s, but doctors were unable to
diagnose what was wrong with her.
Because Isabel was eating normally and
had no temperature they sent her home
again and told Mrs Dolby not to be too
concerned, as babies do sometimes get
rashes and it would probably disappear
on its own.
But over the next few days the rash kept
getting worse and Isabel was unable to
settle. Mrs Dolby said: “One night, at
about 8.30pm, she started crying and
wouldn’t stop. I picked her up and she
had a projectile vomit and let out an ear
piercing scream.”
“Her stomach was so swollen and hard.
She was screaming, her body rigid in pain
for hours, and nothing would settle her.
We took her to our nearest A&E.”
Staff at Kingston Hospital’s accident and
emergency department carried out blood
tests, a lumbar puncture and an x-ray of
her swollen stomach, but there was no
clear sign of what was wrong with her
apart from an indication that she had an
infection. Isabel was transferred to the
paediatric unit at St George’s where more
tests were carried out.
Mrs Dolby said: “After five or six days Mr
Mukhtar scheduled Isabel for surgery. The
consent form was signed and we sat and
waited. We had no idea on how long the
surgery would last for as we still did not
know what was wrong with her.
“Three hours later we were told that she
had acute appendicitis. I honestly think
her rash in the beginning was a sign of
infection from the appendicitis.”
Mr Mukhtar said that keyhole surgery
had only recently become possible for
babies, as the surgical equipment is
The paediatric surgery team made
history with an innovative keyhole
operation
Isabel Dolby, the world’s youngest
endoscope patient with her mother
Candice and paediatric consultant
Mr Zahid Mukhtar
getting smaller and better.
He said: “The Paediatric Surgery
department at St George’s is fast
becoming a leading centre in the
safe development of minimally invasive
surgery for young babies. Only last year we
reported a new laparoscopic assisted
technique to treat intestinal artesias in
newborns.”
“Minimally invasive techniques such as
keyhole surgery are far better for babies,
because they recover more quickly. Isabel
made a remarkable recovery and the only
remaining signs that she had surgery are
two small marks on her stomach, a few
millimetres across.
He added: “This was the first time this
operation had been performed on a baby.
It was only possible because of our unit’s
experience in dealing with babies with
other surgical conditions through this
minimally invasive approach, including
hernias, intestinal atresias, Meckel’s
diverticulum, which is a swelling in the
small intestine, diaphragmatic hernia and
bladder and kidney pathologies.”
the gazette 5
Restaurant is the toast of T
“To be one of the best restaurants in Tooting.”
That’s the aim as the new Ingredients restaurant
opens in Lanesborough Wing.
Judging by the reaction of staff, patients and
visitors it is destined to be a great success.

With a menu featuring an

impressive range of freshly
prepared, high quality food, and a
bright, modern décor that would
not look out of place in Canary
Wharf, this is a restaurant
everybody at St George’s can be
proud of.
On the first day of business,
Wednesday 31st March, staff
members clamoured to see the new
facility and were impressed with the
amount of effort that has gone into
making the restaurant a success.
Staff and student discounts are still
in place and the art gallery and

Patient takes gold

at Winter World Transplant Games
St George’s patient Carl Downing won two medals in the Winter
World Transplant Games held in the French ski resort of Sainte Foy
in January.
Mr Downing, 36, of Southfields, has been a regular patient since a
kidney transplant in December 2004, to treat IgA nephropathy, also
known as Berger’s disease, a condition that can lead to chronic renal
failure.
The games are open to transplant patients from around the world and
competition is fierce. Carl took the gold medal in the parallel slalom, and
bronze in the giant slalom.
He said: “I’ve always been a very active person and having a transplant
has not changed that. I feel stronger than ever and was very keen to get
out on the slopes and give it my best shot.
“I’m planning to go back and compete again next year.”
Mr Downing still visits St George’s regularly but has been healthy since
his father donated a spare kidney in 2004.
He said: “It was amazing. It took a few weeks to recover but now
I just have to come in for check ups. I’m very grateful to the staff at
St George’s for everything they’ve done.”

6 the gazette
Tooting Healthcare Assistant, Fatmata Sesay, said:
“The play area is a brilliant idea
internet access points are still and I like the food.”
available.
There is a dedicated children’s play
area, a branch of Costa Coffee and
a huge plasma screen television.
Special events and surprises are
being lined up for the months
ahead; keep checking the intranet
and the gazette for details.
Trust chair Naaz Coker said:
“The new restaurant is a
vast improvement on what
we had before, and reflects
wider improvements being
made across St George’s.”

Staff help trust chief executive David Astley and chief executive of MITIE Group Ruby McGregor-
Smith, officially open the new ingredients restaurant

Engineer, Trevor Reynolds, said:

“It’s really nice, the décor’s great and
it’s a hundred per cent better than
the old restaurant.”

New patient leaflet Gene

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parking, catering facilities and what to expect as
an inpatient on the wards. The booklet also gives ors
and visit
information about what to bring to hospital, patients
for
A guide
questions that patients could ask clinicians and
how to raise concerns about the care provided.
Abi Changer, patient information manager, said:
5
“Coming to hospital can be extremely stressful, so
the more information we can provide before people
arrive, the better.”
The booklet is kindly supported by Marks and Spencer
and Whistlestop. 
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the gazette 7
kspotlight

Meet
Mickey
Koh,
Consultant haematologist
and the clinical lead for
bone marrow transplant
Patients needing a bone
marrow transplant are
among the most
vulnerable at St George's.
Consultant haematologist
Mickey Koh, who joined the Trust
in September, is quick to praise
staff members in the many wards
and departments who help them
to recover.
Mickey trained as a haematologist at
the Royal Free before working at Guys
and St Thomas and Colchester
hospitals. He then spent five years at a
hospital in his native Singapore.
There, he led a research project looking
at stem cell therapy, which involves He explained: “In the past we could transplant. Many of the patients are
growing immune cells in the laboratory, only treat patients aged up to 35 years suffering from haematological
which can be put into patients receiving due to the toxicity of the procedure, malignancies, such as leukaemia and
a bone marrow transplant, boosting but over the last ten years the age limit lymphomas, or from aplastic anaemia, a
recovery and reducing the risk of has been raised to 70 years for healthy type of bone marrow failure.
infection. He is carrying on with this patients, and new drugs mean the “Patients who have undergone a stem
work at St George’s and the Singapore procedures are not as toxic as they used cell transplant are immunosuppressed
Health Sciences Authority’s Blood to be. and at high risk of infection, so for a
Service Group. “I think the scope of transplant will transplant to work you need support
The work, which he still oversees, continue to broaden, and the success from ancillary departments across the
involves growing immune cells in the rate of transplants continues to rise, hospital. All patients are nursed in
laboratory, which can be put into due to improvements in supportive care special rooms which have unidirectional
patients receiving a bone marrow and novel ways of reducing the toxicity air filtered through to prevent
transplant, boosting immune recovery, of the procedure. infections. We are careful about the
fighting cancer cells and reducing the “Every patient admitted goes through a food they eat and have in place extra
risk of infection. rigorous process. We have a dedicated precautions for visitors, like meticulous
team of consultants, transplant hand cleaning and gowning up.
Mickey said: “I was keen to come to
coordinators and nurses trained in “I feel lucky that we have such fantastic
St George’s because it is renowned as a
support at St George’s, including the
centre for treating bone marrow “I think the scope of transplant gastroenterologists, respiratory team,
failures. One of the main treatment
will continue to broaden, and pharmacists, apheresis staff,
options for this is a bone marrow
transplant, or what is now more
the success rate of transplants nutritionists, ITU, and staff at the
continues to rise, due to McEntee clinical infection ward. We
commonly termed a stem cell
also have evolved a close link with the
transplant. improvements in supportive
Full Circle Foundation, which runs a
“Over the years, the type of patient care and novel ways of complementary therapy programme for
receiving a stem cell transplant has reducing the toxicity of the our transplant patients, including
changed significantly. procedure.” aromatherapy and reflexology.”

8 the gazette
‘view from the top
Professor Sean Hilton,
is deputy principal of
St George’s university and
non-executive director on
the board. Sean talks to the
gazette about his role at
both organisations and
how the trust can meet the
challenges facing the NHS.
Can you explain your role as deputy
principal at St George’s University
of London (SGUL)?
Deputy principal is the senior academic
role in the principal’s management and
advisory team. Generally, I lead on
education, but there is a range of other
activities including NHS liaison, research,
enterprise, collaborations with other
universities in research and education,
and international links.
For example, I chair the board of
management at the South West
London Academic Network, which is a
collaboration between Kingston
University, Royal Holloway and St
George’s. I am also head of an
academic division. SGUL recently
restructured into three divisions – not
unlike the trust – and I am head of
population health sciences and
education.
How does this fit with your non-
executive role on the trust board?
It fits very well. The hospital and
university medical school have lived
alongside each other for 250 years and
there are large areas of common
interest in education, research and
service development. Indeed it is
essential that we work closely together
in these.
We are separately governed; SGUL is
accountable through the higher
education system and the trust is
accountable via the NHS. This can cause
complications and sometimes tensions,
but we have a number of joint
committees working on strategy and
operations, and I am involved with
many of these.
What do you see as the major
challenge for both SGUL and the
Trust in 2010?
In common with all other universities
and hospitals we face the challenge to
improve what we do in the face of
reduction of resources in real terms,
and a rapidly changing external
environment.
The good news is that we both face
the same challenges, and that together
‘
we have the opportunity to work with
the whole South West London sector
to address these. Clearly, for the trust
achieving foundation status as soon as
possible is the priority, alongside the
major work to merge with Community
Services Wandsworth and deliver the
stroke and trauma centre unit
requirements.
How is education and development
changing for clinicians?
Change is a continuous process, it is
happening across undergraduate,
postgraduate and continuing education
for all health professionals. Integration
of traditional subjects into case based
and problem based learning has been a
major shift in the last ten years, and
increased interprofessional education
and team based (and work based)
learning have become more prominent.
Structural changes to the ways in which
we work, such as the European
working time directive and the
modernising careers initiatives, have
encouraged the rapid development of
simulated learning and e-learning.
Technological advances mean that
many of these are highly sophisticated
and cutting edge, and we have a lot to
learn about how to employ them most
effectively.
You graduated from St George’s in
1974 and came back as a senior
lecturer in 1987. How has it
changed over the years?
I did my first house job at St George’s
Hyde Park corner, so there has been
some change! We spent around half
our time as students in the developing
St George’s Tooting, but it was still all
laid out as the Knightsbridge Wing
remains today.
Ingleby House and the student centre
(now the Robert Lowe sports centre)
were the first new buildings. Atkinson
Morley Wing is the most obvious
estates development in the last ten
years, followed by the new foyer, but
the major change has been in the
volume, complexity and technology of
patient care.
Mostly there are huge improvements,
but I hope we will always remain as
caring and compassionate a hospital as
we have been historically.
What advice would you give to
students thinking about coming to
SGUL?
Do come. You will gain a special
experience of integrated healthcare, on
an amazing campus, with a university,
hospital and community services co-
located in a vibrant and diverse sector
of a great city.
What do you do to relax?
My indulgences are frequent concerts
(Wigmore Hall and South Bank Centre
are my favourite venues); football
(Arsenal supporter since 1968, though
not always relaxing), cricket, and most
of all for relaxation, gardening.
the gazette 9
vpatient safety
Improving
patient safety
Patient safety is at the heart of
everything we do at St George’s,
and the trust is continuously looking
at ways of improving the care we
provide, based on audits and
implementing the latest research.
n 2002 the trust invested in a
I mortality monitoring system, one of
the first in the UK, which compares
death rates with the expected average
at St George’s.
A mortality monitoring group, made up
of senior clinicians and members of the
clinical effectiveness team, meets
regularly to examine the data and look
for worrying patterns or trends.
The system now operates in 30 areas,
providing a comprehensive and almost
instant snapshot of clinical outcomes
across the trust.
Steve Milan, head of the clinical
effectiveness team, said the system
usually highlights two or three
unexpected rises in mortality data every
year. Once an increase is spotted, the
group launches an investigation looking
at why death rates have recently
changed, and whether this indicates a
problem with care provided at the trust.
Patient notes are examined to see if
anything could have been done
differently, and clinicians from the
relevant department are asked for their
views.
In an exciting new development for St
George’s, the same systems are now
being developed to create an early
warning system that will show when
patients are staying in hospital for longer
than necessary.
As with mortality monitoring, a group
will meet regularly to discuss length of
stay in wards across the trust, and where
patients are staying longer than
necessary, the reasons behind the trend
will be scrutinised and solutions sought.
Eventually the system may help free up
space on the wards, leading to shorter
waiting times for patients and a more
efficient hospital.
Steve said: “St George’s is leading the
way in implementing this system, and
10 the gazette
we expect it to deliver
real benefits for patients,
allowing them to access
services more quickly
and to recover in the
comfort of their own
homes as soon as they are
clinically able to do so.”
Clinical auditors play an
important role in patient
safety working with
clinical staff to assess
whether care is
consistent with
recommendations from
high quality research.
In one such case, a new
protocol was introduced
for patients coming to St
George’s for an
angiography, a type of
Steve Milan, head of the clinical effectiveness team, talks to
X-ray that examines the junior sister Vennessa Sookhoo about the scheme in place to
inside of blood vessels, improve patient safety issues
arteries, veins and
chambers of the heart. background, assessment,
The test is carried out as a day case and recommendation (SBAR) tool that was
involves a contrast agent, or dye, being brought in, to look at how well that is
injected into the jugular or femoral vein. being used.”
Patients need to rest after the test, but Kate said the way audits are carried out
following research carried out at St had changed for the better in recent
George’s the amount of time they years. She said: “Until 2003 there was
spend resting has been reduced. no central audit team and so there was
Clinical auditor, Mike Pollard, said: wide variation in activity across the trust.
“Under the old guidelines patients Now there is an audit team covering
would rest for four hours. We carried each speciality or care group. Year-on-
year there have been more audits
out a study in cardiology involving 499
registered on the trust clinical audit
patients, where we got them up and
database, and I am confident the quality
about two hours after the test. Research
of audits being carried out has improved.”
has shown that this is better for patient
comfort and helps to reduce any pain. The clinical effectiveness team also
provides training to staff across
“There were no safety issues and
St George’s, and the number of people
complications rates were low, so the
taking part is increasing.
two-hour guideline is now in force for
all angiography patients. That’s a good During 2008/09 clinical effectiveness
example of where audit has changed and audit training was attended by 332
participants, which is an increase of 27
practice, and patients are benefiting as
per cent over the previous year. A total
a result. We wrote up the study and it
of 473 projects were registered on the
was published in the British Journal of
trust clinical audit database during the
Cardiology.”
year, 161 of them carried out with
Clinical audit manager, Kate Hutt, said: support of the clinical audit team, an
“We are about to carry out another increase in activity by the team of over
audit looking at the situation, 14 per cent.

The picture shows left to right, Martina McGill of Macmillan Cancer Research and Beverley
van der Molen, St George's cancer information officer
New Macmillan service launched
Macmillan Cancer Support launched
an innovative new service at St
George’s during February.
Patients and visitors visited the
Infozone, a booth offering information
on all issues relating to cancer. The
booth was located in Grosvenor Wing
for a week and then at the Atkinson
Morley Wing for a second week.
Around 15 people visited the service
every day, seeking advice on topics
ranging from treatment options to their
rights at work and which benefits they
may be entitled to.
Beverley van der Molen, Macmillan
information and education officer at St
George’s, said: “St George’s was the
first hospital to be visited by the
Honours and a scholarship for
St George’s cardiothoracic team
Doctors and clinicians of cardiac
surgery from St George’s took top
honours at the Society for
Cardiothoracic Surgery of Great
Britain and Ireland’s annual meeting.
The unit presented eight abstracts, the
highest number in UK.
Specialist registrar, Antonios Kourliros
was awarded the Best Presented Paper,
and Kalypso Karestergiou the Heart
Research UK award.
Specialist Registrar Justin Nowell was
awarded the £10,000 Travelling
Scholarship, which he plans to use
financing a stay at the Cleveland Clinic in
Ohio, USA, a well-known centre of
Infozone, and it proved to be very
useful for patients and their carers. It
included a screened-off seating area
with an information advisor, internet
access and specialist booklets about
cancer which people could take away.
“The hospital is very large and a lot of
departments deal with cancer in one
way or another, so it was great benefit
to have one point where people could
go to ask for help and advice.”
The Infozone is just one part of
Macmillan’s mobile information service,
which also includes a travelling
exhibition which visits events across the
South East, and a team of three
specialists who provide talks for groups
and at community events.
excellence for cardiac surgery in North
America. He said: “I hope the experience
gained will be something that benefits
not only me but also our patients back at
St George’s.“
Consultant John Smith was appointed
chairman of the intercollegiate board.
Professor of cardiac surgery, Marjan
Jahangiri, said: “There were four awards
made nationally and three were awarded
to members of the team at St George’s.
We’re all very proud of the result.”
This reflects the high quality of work both
in clinical and academic cardiac surgery
and success of new and novel
developments in the unit.
St George’s
born and bred
Nurses raised a toast to Sue Cooper as
she retired from her long and
successful career at St George’s on
Wednesday, 31st March.
Sue, deputy director of nursing, was born
on the top floor of St George’s Hospital
at its old Hyde Park Corner site, but only
came to work for the trust by accident.
She trained at the Royal Free hospital in
Hampstead and Angus College of Nursing
in Scotland, between 1968 and 1974,
and then came back to London as an
agency nurse.
She said: “I started at Atkinson Morley by
accident. I didn’t want to work there but
agreed to do it temporarily as a favour,
and I was placed in the intensive
treatment unit.”
In 1992 she joined St George’s at the
Tooting site, where she carried on building
her career and improving standards and
procedures for nurses. She said: “I have
always absolutely loved working at
St George’s, and I’m really proud to have
been part of the team. I’ve had my ups
and downs, but I’ve loved it and I’ve been
offered so many opportunities.”
Sue Cooper is going to relax after a long and
successful career
Sue said she is thinking about moving to
Scotland for her retirement, where she
will pursue her hobbies - walking and
making quilts. “Mostly I’m just looking
forward to having a rest,” she said.
Zoe Packman, who worked alongside
Sue as a deputy director of nursing, said:
“She always has the patient at the heart
of everything she does. Sue has done
excellent work on patient pathways,
reducing the length of stay for patients
with a fractured neck or femur, and she
has made a valuable contribution in
supporting and developing nursing
practice.”
Alison Roberton, director of nursing and
patient safety, said: “Sue has also led on
the safeguarding adult agenda and her
knowledge and expertise will be missed.
Her focus on what matters to patients
really shines through.”
the gazette 11
btechnology
Laboratory robot cuts
waiting times
The latest technology is helping a St George’s
laboratory to carry out faster and more
accurate tests across a range of specialities.
he cytogenetics laboratory, part of the South
T West Thames Regional Genetics Service, has
installed a £250,000 automated microscope
that has dramatically decreased the time it takes staff
to analyse and report cases for a raft of specialities.
Instead of taking months, results are now returned
within around three weeks, leading to an increase in
the number of consultants using the service. The lab
processes around 4,000 samples every year and
provides vital screening for specialities including fetal
medicine, paediatrics, obs and gynae and infertility
clinics both here at St George’s and other hospitals in
the region.
The laboratory’s quality manager, Will King, said:
“There are other laboratories across the UK that have
the same equipment, but we are the first to have
fully integrated it into our clinical and laboratory
management software using barcoding for patient
sample tracking.
“Departments we serve have responded very
favourably and it has been a massive morale boost to
staff.
“The equipment reduces the risk of errors occurring
during processing and has also freed up some time
for staff to investigate developing other new
technologies to further improve our services for
patients.
“This work is also being presented at local training
sessions and national and international conferences
as an example of service improvement.”
The £250,000 investment came from a variety of
sources, including the Department of Health, medical
equipment funds, charitable funds and a business
plan approved by the trust.
12 the gazette
Hi-tech scanner trialled
at St George’s
A hand-held ultrasound scanner that is only slightly
bigger than a mobile phone is being trialled at St George’s.
George Sutherland, Professor of cardiac imaging, has been
working with the Vscan device and says that when it is rolled
out across the NHS it will lead to significant improvements in the
triage and diagnosis’ of patients.
Traditional full-size ultrasound scanners would still be
performed when more a comprehensive diagnosis was
required.
Prof Sutherland said: “In terms of clinical practice it’s a huge
step forward. “Here we are giving people essentially an
electronic stethoscope in their pocket that images and looks at
all parts of the body.
“With adequate training this should mean we can diagnose
rapidly and treat accordingly. It should be an amazing
development.”
BBC News visited St George’s recently to film Prof Sutherland
using the machine, the story featured on BBC One and Radio 4.
The Vscan, developed by GE Healthcare, has been approved for
use in Europe and North America and is expected to cost
around £5,000 per unit. It could eventually be used by GPs,
accident and emergency clinicians and paramedics.
Doctor at sea
Clinical Fellow Dr Solène Aoutin has returned to St George’s
after an inspirational year aboard the Africa Mercy, a former
cargo ship converted into a floating hospital.
Solène volunteered for Mercy Ships, which sails the African Mercy
along the west coast of Africa, helping adults and children who
require surgical interventions.
The ship has a crew of more than 400 people, and boasts four
wards, an ICU, a recovery room and several operating rooms.
She said: “I had heard of this organisation at medical school through
an ex-anatomy tutor of mine, retired general surgeon Lord Ian
McColl, and had always wanted to go to help out.”
In May, 2009, Lord McColl invited Solène to be his assistant for his
time on the ship. She said: “Before I knew it I was on the medical
rota looking after ward patients post-operatively and assisting with
the on-call rota for the 400 crew.
“I also got involved in land projects where in the space of one week
our team saw more than 700 patients.”
“I love Africa because it has a magic about it that I have never found
anywhere else.
“When you see patients trying to lead a ‘normal’ life with their
incredibly disabling and often disfiguring medical conditions, which
maybe have remained untreated for 20 or 40 years, it reminds me
how lucky we are here and that I must never take anything for
granted.”
kstaff news

New approach to procurement

David Astley, chief executive, talks to the team about the Transforming Procurement programme

Staff should always have the right

equipment at the right time and in
George’s and supports the productive
theatre and product ward goals.”
World kidney day
the right quantity – that’s the aim of Kidney donors attended an event
Moira Crabtree, programme manager,
improvements being introduced to held to recognise the generosity of
said: “This is a long-term programme
the trust’s approach to procurement. their actions.
which will be hardwired into the
t George’s has launched a More than a dozen donors were at

S
programme, Transforming
Procurement, to look at the
methods the trust uses to acquire
supplies. This includes sourcing,
contracting and how we distribute and
manage supplies.
The programme focuses on freeing
up time for matrons, sisters, consultants
and clinicians, so that they are able
to focus on providing excellent
patient care.
This will be achieved by increasing the
responsibilities, capacity and capability
of the procurement team.
Chief executive, David Astley, said: “The
Transforming Procurement programme
forms a central part of reaching the
goal of transformation within St
St George’s culture to ensure success
the event on World Kidney Day,
and increase efficiency within the
Thursday, March 11, where they heard
organisation. An additional benefit of from clinicians how important their
the programme is that it will deliver donations had been, and of the need
substantial savings. for more organ donors.
“For example, we are launching a There was also a stand at the main
scheme, the Theatre Case Cart System, entrance where staff carried out blood
which will assist Theatre and medical pressure checks and gave advice on
staff by providing the equipment they diabetes.
need for surgery, allowing more cases
to start on time by addressing needs
prior to going into theatre.
“We’re aiming for a process where the
right supplies and quantities are
delivered at the right time.” A further
trust-wide briefing will be circulated
soon, covering the objectives, approach
and anticipated benefits of the
programme in more detail.

Staff Survey shows progress

Thousands of you took part in the
2009 Staff Survey, providing the
most accurate picture to date of
what it is like to work at St George’s.
The results show the trust making good
progress across the board, and that
improvement projects introduced as a
result of feedback provided during the
2008 Staff Survey are having a positive
effect.
Questionnaires were sent to 5,903
members of staff, and 2,730 (50 per
cent) responded by the deadline in
December.
Sally Storey, interim director of human
resources, said: “I would like to thank
everybody who took the time to respond
to the survey.
“It is encouraging to see that working
conditions are improving. We listened to
the opinions, experiences and concerns
that were raised in the 2008 Staff Survey
and have worked hard to address those
concerns.”

the gazette 13
Nurses rise to the challenge Volunteers
sought for anti-
bullying hotline
A hotline is being launched for
staff members who are concerned
about bullying. The new initiative
is part of a joint project between
the trust and Staff Side.
olunteers are being sought to run

V the confidential service, which

will be operated on Mondays and
Wednesdays from 4pm to 9pm.
The hotline is being provided as part of
the One Team initiative, in response to
concerns raised in last year’s staff
survey about harassment and bullying.
Callers will be able to discuss the most
appropriate ways of dealing with their
situation by themselves, how to seek
other sources of support and what
A team of nurses from St George’s Winning team: (L-R) Abbe Robertson, Jolita formal processes exist if appropriate.
took first place at the 2010 Zarnani, Helen HcHugh, Dana Scott, Laura Volunteers operating the line will be
Nursing Times Challenge. Dowd and Dee Kapfunde given comprehensive training in how to
The event, staged in Coventry, listen to callers and provide the best
involved teams from trusts across the included having microphones and support, information and advice for
country competing against each other cameras shoved at us, and we had to their situation.
in a role playing event. collaborate with some of the teams Sally Storey, interim director of human
we were competing against. resources, said: “We are seeking
St George’s interim head of nursing volunteers and plan to launch within
for patient experience and quality, “It was a really useful exercise and
the next two months.
Laura Dowd, was one of those who gave us a good appreciation of the
issues facing the wider NHS, and the “Staff members are still experiencing
took part.
problems with bullying, so we’re
Laura said: “We played the role of a challenges that St George’s is likely to
hoping to find volunteers with good
strategic health authority and were be facing in the next few years.” listening skills who understand the
put into a number of situations The team took first place and was complex issues surrounding bullying
including a major incident. We had to short listed in all but one of the other and harassment, and are keen to learn
attend a fake press conference, which categories. new skills.”
Staff Side secretary, Jane Pilgrim, said:
“Many months of work and
negotiation have gone in to planning
New team of nurses will ensure this partnership project, which has
been carefully thought out for the
continuity of care benefit of both the callers and the
volunteers, in order for it to have the
A new team of nurses who will provide cover across the trust whenever best chance of success."
and wherever it is required will soon be launched. Once they complete their training the
The nursing response team will be made up of 12 nurses, working day and advisors will carry a mobile phone for
night shifts, who will be trained to provide care in a number of areas, and to two five-hour shifts every other month
provide escalation beds during busy times, without causing a knock-on effect in their own time.
in other wards. Would you like to be part of a team
Jenny Muir, head of nursing projects, said: “Very often when there is a shortage, which believes in offering confidential
nurses are asked to move to a different ward or department to provide cover. support, information and advice to
people who feel that they are being
“This can be disruptive for patients, who do not receive the same continuity of harassed or bullied in the work place?
care, and can be annoying for staff who would prefer to stay on their own ward.
“We hope this will lead to a reduction in the trust’s reliance on agency and If you are interested in
bank staff. ( joining the team as an
advisor and would like
“Because members of the nursing response team will be employed directly by
St George’s, they will understand the hospital better than an agency nurse further information, please
contact Di Emmerson,
would, and cost less to employ.
executive assistant to the
“We are still recruiting at the moment but there are seven staff members already HR director, via email or
in post, and we expect to be fully staffed by May.” telephone extension 2204.

14 the gazette
Cancer information St George’s demonstrates
evening showcases cutting-edge technology
St George’s care to VIP visitors
A cancer information evening
held to highlight the cancer
services available at St George’s
was hailed a success by its
organisers.
The evening, entitled Evolving Cancer
Care: Working Together Beyond Care
Boundaries, was held in the Hunter
Wing in March, and was opened by
chief executive David Astley.
It covered three main areas of cancer
care at St George’s, including
diagnosing cancer, delivering high-quality cancer services
and supporting patients through their cancer pathway.
The aim was to highlight how St George’s works well with
other organisations, such as the PCTs, local hospices and
cancer support groups, to offer patients a seamless care
experience.
June Allen, lead cancer nurse at St George’s said: “We had
a fantastic response of about 80 people and it was a very
good mix of professionals and patients. It is important to
highlight how well St George’s works with other Kate Baskerville, A&E superintendent radiographer, demonstrates
organisations.” CT technology to Sir David Nicholson

Patient user Valerie Emmons said: “The event brought
together an interesting mix of people concerned with
current and future cancer care at St George's, including staff
doctors, nurses and managers, plus GPs, students, PCT
representatives and local user and support groups.
“It was good to have the opportunity to meet new people
and talk over ideas. I think everyone took away with them
some new knowledge and a very positive feeling that St
George's is working hard to develop its already excellent
cancer care both in the hospital and the community.”
Veronique Furse, patient user, said: “It was re-assuring and
exciting to hear about the extent and variety of cancer
services at St George’s as well as the plans for the future.”
Based on the success of this event, the organisers are now
planning another event for spring next year.
NHS Chief Executive Sir David Nicholson visited
St George’s on Tuesday 2nd March. During his visit
Sir David met with clinical staff from St George’s stroke
unit and trauma centre teams and received a tour of
the Trust’s new advanced CT scanner.
Three of NHS London’s non-executive directors visited the Trust
on the same day to learn more about, stroke, trauma and
maternity care. The group also visited St George’s University
where they learnt more about the work that has been done to
widen student access to higher education.
New deputy chair
Congratulations to Emma
Gilthorpe, who has been board
appointed deputy chair after
first joining the trust as a non-
executive director in August, 2008.
Trust chair Naaz Coker said: “I’d like to
thank Paul Murphy for his outstanding
contribution to St George’s over the
two years he was deputy chair, and
wish Emma all the best as she takes on
the extra responsibility of this
demanding role.”
Emma, who will retain her current portfolio of interests, also
sits on the audit committee, finance committee and the
nominations and remuneration committee. Emma also chairs
the risk assurance and compliance committee and the equality
and human rights committee, and is a maternity champion.

the gazette 15
Rfundraising

R
News from St George’s
Hospital Charity
Schools engagement
Our schools engagement
programme is taking shape, with
Rokeby School in Kingston naming
us as one of its chosen charities for
two years after a couple of its pupils
were treated on Ocean ward. The
Parents’ Circle raised a staggering
£1,000 from a cake sale, with great
plans for further fundraising
activities over the next 18 months.
Walking the Wandle
Sarah Papageorgiou, senior staff
nurse, Ocean ward and Lisa
Lewington, play specialist, attended
a school assembly: “We are thrilled
the Rokeby Parents’ Circle has
picked us. The money will buy a
new wheelchair to help bed-bound
children get out in our garden for
some fresh air, and provide
additional equipment, toys and
items.”
Festival, we’re supporting the event
Nurses’ Voices
St George’s Day, Friday 23rd April,
was marked by the launch of a
very special book: Nurses’ Voices -
Celebrating 60 Years Of Nursing
At St George’s Hospital London
1930-1990.
urses’ Voices captures the oral
N history of St George’s from the

R
Following the success last year of
our sponsored walk along the River
Wandle, part of the Wandle Valley
Third year running…
again this year. For more
information call Sheila in the
fundraising office on ext 4917.
perspective of its nurses. More
than 150 interviews and 1,000 hours of
recordings have been generated,
featuring nurses and midwives who
trained or worked at the trust from

R
We’re delighted that the Balham and Tooting Community Association is around 1930 to the present day.
supporting St George’s for the third year running. The community fun day Memories of historical events are
on Saturday 12th June is hosted by the different for each person and by
St Augustine Church and Gatton School, recording personal experiences the
both on Broadwater Road, Tooting. project boasts a richness that cannot be
gained from static records. How did it
The now notorious and traditional Great
feel to work in healthcare at the
Tooting Ambulance Pull will also take
introduction of the National Health
place that day, finishing the punishing
Service? Which clinical practices were
route through the streets of Tooting at
undertaken that would cause uproar
the fun day itself.
today? What were the personalities
involved like to work with?
Nurses’ Voices has its origins in a
Balham gig sells out! research project lead by Kath Start and
managed by Carol McCubbin from the
Even before the gig took place on Friday 12th March, rumours were rife the Faculty of Health and Social Care
Crazeefass gig at The Bedford in Balham could be their last. A source close Sciences at Kingston University and
to the band revealed this month Shola Adegoroye was moving to the NHS St George’s University of London. The
Intensive Support Team and key fundraiser Sarah Hart to Canada. publication of the book has been
To give Shola and Sarah a great send off Jonesy’s Jukebox collated some funded by St George’s Hospital Charity.
particularly excellent tunes and the band practised hard, as anyone passing
Bence Jones offices in the evenings prior to the gig would have heard. Alan
Thorne learnt a fourth
R Priced at just £25, or £20 for all
those who contributed to the oral
chord, Osian Powell history project, with all proceeds
discovered his voice, going to St George’s Hospital
Richard Billington found Charity, the book is available to
faith and the band was buy in the main entrance,
powered by a mystery Grosvenor Wing on Friday 23rd
drummer. April, St George’s Day, and
All proceeds are going to Wednesday 12th May, Florence
the St George’s Hospital Nightingale’s birthday and
Charity, specified for the International Nurses’ Day.
refurbishment of the family Copies are also available from the
waiting area in the fetal fundraising office, main entrance,
medicine unit. Grosvenor Wing.

16 the gazette