INSIDE - Research Fellow, Dr Laura Ellis speaks about her study into cervical cancer (page 7).
THE YOUNG ONES Meet the next generation helping out at our hospitals
PAGE 6
TAKE IT OUTSIDE Our community based arts programme goes live
PAGES 8-9
IT'S PLAYTIME! Explore our new children's play space at St Mary's Hospital
PAGE 11
Welcome to Focus, your quarterly magazine from Imperial
Health Charity.
AtImperial Health Charity we believe that creativity is an essential part of good health and mental wellbeing, which is why we’re so proud of our arts engagement programme and museumaccredited collection of more than 2,500 pieces of art, much of which you will see around you in the hospital today.
Over the last year we’ve expanded our arts programme to deliver more work in the communities around our hospitals, and in this issue you can read more about the wide-ranging work we’re doing to support people from all walks of life to improve their health through art. This work includes our course supporting people with chronic pain to explore their condition through photography, and a puppet-making workshop for children from families seeking asylum to help them engage with healthcare.
None of our work would be possible without our team of incredible volunteers, so I hope you’ll also enjoy reading about our brilliant youth volunteers and the work they’ve done over the summer (p6), as well as a brand new role supporting people undergoing eye surgery at the Western Eye Hospital (p11).
Lastly, we are proud that – thanks to your support – we’re able to fund improvements to patient care within our hospitals. In this issue you can read the latest from our ECMO appeal (p4), which directly funded new and potentially life-saving equipment for the Intensive Care Unit at Hammersmith Hospital. A huge thank you to all of you who supported our ECMO appeal, and made providing this equipment possible.
Ian Lush OBE Imperial Health Charity Chief Executive
BELOW: Youth Volunteer at St Mary's Hospital.
InFocus IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
ECMO making a difference
Critically ill patients at Hammersmith Hospital are set to benefit from three new stateof-the-art devices, helping staff in the Intensive Care Unit save even more lives.
Thanks to the generosity of our incredible supporters, we were able to reach the £300,000 goal needed to purchase the equipment, providing one of the most advanced forms of life support for those that need it the most.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), takes over the job of the heart and lungs, giving the patient's organs time to rest and recover.
Dr Louit Thakuria, Critical Care Consultant at the Trust, said: “On behalf of the entire ICU team I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has made this possible.
“Having three ECMO devices at Hammersmith Hospital will enable us to provide even better intensive care for our patients.
“Where the heart has failed or even completely stopped, we can use ECMO to restore lifesustaining circulation to buy that patient time to receive further treatment and to give them a chance of recovery that otherwise wouldn’t be there for them.”
Earlier this year we launched a public appeal to help raise the money needed to purchase all three devices and fund the specialist training needed for NHS staff.
We’re incredibly grateful to our supporters for helping us bring ECMO to Hammersmith Hospital, ensuring that even more patients will get to go home to their loved ones.
Our new art book
We’re delighted to launch our brand-new book showing how our arts team supports patients, staff, and visitors across our hospitals and local communities.
Creative Care features highlights from our exhibitions, artists in residence and arts engagement projects, woven together with beautiful images of artworks from our collection.
You can view a digital version of the book on our website.
ABOVE: Louit (second from right), with colleagues from Hammersmith ICU team
Dream team nominated for health award
I
A groundbreaking approach enabling people with serious breathing conditions to be monitored at home has been shortlisted for a leading health award.
Thanks to our funding, a team of specialists at Charing Cross Hospital have introduced AcuPebble, a wearable device that allows patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea to be monitored from home –reducing the need for hospital visits.
The intervention, which is already reducing waiting times and improving outcomes, has been shortlisted for the Modernising Diagnostics Award at the prestigious 2024 HSJ Awards. The Awards recognise the very best of the NHS.
Team lead, Dr Patrik Bachtiger (pictured), said: “Support from Imperial Health Charity has helped us completely transform how patients are diagnosed.
“We’re now using a technology-powered pathway that delivers faster diagnosis, saves the NHS money, improves health equity, liberates staff time, and drives sustainability through a reduced CO2 footprint. And we’ve achieved all of this in under 12 months!”
Donors visit ovarian lab they help fund
Since it was set up in 2017, our Ovarian Care Fund has raised over half a million pounds.
To thank those involved in raising this amazing sum, in September, we invited some of our fund supporters to Hammersmith Hospital to see what their donations have achieved so far.
Our supporters heard from Gynaecology Oncology Consultant, Professor Christina Fotopoulou (pictured), who is world-renowned and a leader in her field.
Visitors also had the opportunity to look around the Imperial College lab where pioneering research into ovarian cancer takes place with Professor Fotopoulou and her team.
You can support this vital work by making a donation to the Ovarian Care Fund via our website.
In September we were delighted to once again join with our friends in the Trust to take part in Gratitude Week, an annual celebration of the work everyone at the Trust does to support patients across our hospitals.
As well as hosting stands at three marketplace events across Hammersmith, Charing Cross and St Mary’s Hospitals, we were also delighted to host a number of arts engagement events for our hard-working NHS teams.
Not only did we have the chance to thank the colleagues who make such a difference every day, it was also great to
remind everyone working at the Trust of the benefits Imperial Health Charity works to deliver for staff and patients alike.
To find out more about how we can help, please visit our website at www.imperialcharity.org.uk.
ABOVE: Ovarian Care Fund Supporters visit research lab at thank you event
Youth volunteer takeover
More than 135 young people aged between 16 and 21 from the local community volunteered across our hospitals as part of our Summer Youth Volunteering Programme.
The programme saw volunteers in a range of patient-facing roles across our hospitals, accumulating over 3,700 hours of support given to more than 6,500 patients.
We spoke to some of our volunteers to find out more about their reasons for taking part.
School-leaver Isabelle said: "I want to go into medicine but I rarely ever go to hospital.
"It's allowed me to understand what it's like inside a hospital."
Perase, who volunteered at St Mary's Hospital, said: "During volunteering, some of my favourite moments were when I had great and long conversations with patients and staff on a variety of different topics such as
sports, travel and food.
"It also felt incredible to make the patients smile and laugh when we were engaged in these conversations and be able to lift their spirits."
To find out more about our volunteering programme, or to find information about how you can take part, visit our website at: www.imperialcharity.org.uk/ volunteer
Recliners for labour rooms
Through Poppy's Fund, our dedicated maternity fund, we want to make sure that every expectant family's time in hospital is as comfortable as possible.
To help with this, the fund has purchased recliner chairs for the labour rooms at St Mary's Hospital.
Matron Mahmoud Dabo said: "The chairs will enhance patient's comfort and support during the labour process, providing relaxing seats for mothers and their loved ones."
St Mary's Hospital is once again star of Channel 4 show
‘Emergency’ landed on our screens for its third season in August. We saw how St Mary’s Hospital is a vital part of London’s major trauma system, combining four hospitals and reaching 12,000 people in critical condition each year.
The series spotlights doctors and nurses working to save patients’ lives that are delivered to St Mary’s Hospital’s Major Trauma Centre, including Plastics Consultant Georgina Williams (pictured) who we see operate on patient Heidi, who was attacked by multiple dogs.
We also met St Mary's Hospital's
Dr Nick Ward, a Paediatric Emergency Medicine Registrar.
Dr Ward is leading the team when 15-year-old Louis arrives with a potential arterial injury, resulting in a life-threatening amount of blood loss.
Head over to Channel4.com to watch all four episodes.
ABOVE: Youth volunteers at Charing Cross Hospital
Research Fellow Laura's focused on cancer risk
Dr Laura Ellis, recipient of a Clinical Research Fellowship
Thanks to our funding, Dr Laura Ellis is aiming to improve our ability to predict the risk of cervical cancer.
Her Research Fellowship has been looking at how chemical changes that occur in women who’ve been infected with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) may help predict those at risk of developing cervical precancer and cancer.
HPV infects 70% of women in their lifetimes. Scientists have noticed that during cancer development, chemical changes occur which change how genes express themselves, a processed called methylation.
Dr Ellis discovered that the level of methylation in genes can be used to test for cervical pre-cancer and predict which of these precancers might develop into cancer. She hopes her research will be used to develop a test for patients at risk of developing cervical cancer.
She said: “The hope is that we can continue to make early
diagnostics more accurate, meaning less women are worried by a positive test unnecessarily.”
The fellowship, funded jointly with the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, has been a springboard for further study, with Dr Ellis receiving funding from Cancer Research UK to complete a PhD looking at a number of cancers.
Laura said: “The research fellowship provided a stepping stone from working as a clinical doctor to enable the pursuit of full-time research, where I developed both a deeper understanding and a passion for academia.”
Arts funding for patients at St Mary's Hospital
Westminster City Council’s Culture and Community Grants programme has awarded a grant of over £8,000 to support arts activities in Children’s Services and Elderly Medicine.
The grant has allowed us to tailor activities to the needs of these groups, and will include clay work, print making and collage.
Every year, St Mary’s Hospital treats thousands of children. This grant will allow families to take part in activities with their children at their bedside, with the support of a specialist arts facilitator.
Often patients of Elderly Medicine are receiving specialist care, and frequently these patients live with multiple conditions, and have life-limiting restrictions that require careful management. Weekly live music sessions and time with our arts facilitator offer an uplifting, much-needed distraction to these patients, who often spend long stints in hospital.
The grant will also enable patients at St Mary’s Hospital to learn creative skills during their treatment and recovery process.
Beyond our walls: How our Arts Engagement Programme is supporting people from all walks of life
Beyond Our Walls is an arts programme designed to support long term outpatients and communities around our hospitals through a variety of art and wellbeing activities. These include Gallery Club, which organises gallery visits for those involved with neuro-rehabilitation, and the Community Group in Residence programme, which uses creativity to strengthen connections between our hospitals and the communities they serve.
Eve is our Community Arts Engagement Manager, and is overseeing the expansion of our
arts programme to better reach the communities around our hospitals. Over the past year, Eve has focused on several projects delivering arts-based activities to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust patients and the local community.
Eve said: “Going forward, we have plenty of new and exciting projects planned, including collaborations with young people with chronic conditions, intergenerational work with the Dementia team, and further opportunities for arts engagement in the wider community of north west London.”
Changing Perspectives photography course
This seven-week course, run by artist Jon Rees, supported patients with chronic pain to explore their experiences through photography.
The project helped participants improve their confidence by supporting them to engage with the wider community, and meet people with similar experiences. The project focused on issues including difficulty getting out of the house, and the feelings of social isolation participants experienced as a result of their chronic pain.
One Changing Perspectives participant shared: “It has reignited my passion for photography, and helped me start to believe that I can live the life I want despite chronic pain, so I feel more optimistic about the future.”
BELOW: Gallery curator showing Imperial Health Charity Gallery Club around the Tate Modern
ABOVE: Eve, Imperial Heath Charity's Community Arts Engagement Manager
Creative Walking Group
The Creative Walking group is a project for people attending cardiac rehabilitation clinics at our hospitals.
Each month, Eve hosts an accessible walk around one of our hospital sites with creative activities along the way inspired by the green spaces, canals and architecture of the local area.
Each project is co-designed with the groups they are intended for. Eve’s engaged with those living in the
community, spoken with people in waiting rooms and visited clinical settings to ensure we remain impactful.
NHS staff teams and artists have gone above and beyond to help us reach patients. Partnerships with community centres, social prescribers, and arts organisations have also had a valuable impact in reaching communities and ensuring patient groups have ongoing support.
Supporting families seeking asylum
In collaboration with Connecting Care for Children and Grand Union Health Centre, delivered a project to support families living in temporary accommodation near St Mary’s Hospital who might face barriers to accessing healthcare.
Together we ran creative sessions for children and adults focused on different health themes and provided health advice and hot food.
We also organised a workshop led by PuppetSoup for families to make bird puppets and complete a treasure hunt which invited them to interact with dentists, GPs, pharmacists and colleagues from St Mary’s Hospital A&E, building relationships between local families and healthcare providers.
Mosaic Community Trust
Mosaic Community Trust supports minority ethnic communities in the Church Street area.
Working with artist Nisha Duggal, the group is developing a piece of artwork that will be displayed at St Mary’s Hospital. We hope creating this artwork will help the group foster a feeling of connection to their local hospital.
Flagship staff lounge and cafe opens at St Mary's
We're delighted to have opened our third flagship staff lounge and visitor café at St Mary’s Hospital this year.
It joins the new lounges already open at Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals, and marks the conclusion of the £2.5 million staff spaces improvement programme. We were able to provide more than half of this funding through our Covid relief fund, using money raised during the pandemic.
The lounge offers a fresh and relaxing space for staff to unwind and recharge on breaks, and before and after their shifts. Staff have already told us how happy they are to have a refreshed space, with one Consultant Anaesthetist saying: “This is a wonderful space. Thank you for listening to the feedback and implementing this lovely staff area.”
Alongside the new staff lounge at St Mary's, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has refurbished the public cafe and made improvements to the kitchen to facilitate a wider range of food options for staff, patients and visitors, open 7:00-7:30pm week days and 8:00-8:00pm weekends.
We're especially grateful to property developer, Brockton Everlast and other contributors to The 1928 Project which was established specifically to support St Mary’s Hospital during the pandemic, The Trust was also supported by designers Taylor Howes and the KLC School of Design.
ABOVE and BELOW: New staff lounge at St Mary's Hospital. Finished with comfortable seating, private booths and a refreshed feel.
New play and therapy space for children
Back in May we officially opened a new Play and Therapy Space on one of the children’s wards at St Mary’s Hospital.
In 2021, we embarked on a mission with Children’s Services team to give the playroom on one of St Mary’s Hospital’s busiest children’s wards, Great Western Ward, a much-needed makeover.
The old space was outdated and no longer suitable for the growing number of patients.
The multi-purpose room is now not only a welcoming and fun space for play, but also provides a peaceful retreat where our dedicated therapy team can privately support a young patient on their road to recovery.
We held an official opening of the space, with a ribbon cutting from comedian and TV Presenter, Mo Gilligan and an introduction from Professor Tim Orchard, Chief Executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
Mo said: “It’s a massive honour to open the playroom, after walking around the wards I understand
how big this room is compared to the spaces where children are having treatment.
“Most importantly thank you to the people who put this together… We might forget that kids still want a safe space, and a fun space in a hospital.”
At the event we were also joined by NHS staff, and over 30 supporters who made the space possible with the help of their
Volunteers lend a hand at Western Eye
We know that undergoing eye surgery can be an unnerving and unsettling experience for some patients. That’s why we’ve recently introduced our new hand holding Volunteers at the Western Eye Hospital.
Our five new volunteers are on hand to support patients at Western Eye who may feeling nervous or anxious about their surgery. Our volunteers will meet with patients before their surgery to introduce themselves and get to know each other, and then sit with patients following their surgery to provide companionship and comfort.
Interested in volunteering at one of our hospitals? Find out more about our current opportunities at: www.imperialcharity.org.uk /volunteering
generous donations.
We would like to say a huge thank you to our donors, supporters, and the NHS staff who have worked so hard to get this hugely ambitious project completed.
To find out more about supporting children at St Mary's, please get in touch with our team by emailing fundraising@ imperialcharity.org.uk
Above Professor Tim Orchard (left) with Comedian Mo Gilligan cutting the ribbon
What does homeland mean to you?
For some, the word ‘homeland’ conjures an image of where they grew up. For others, it evokes the country their parents came from, a family recipe, or childhood nostalgia.
For our latest exhibition, This Homeland, we partnered with the Responsa Foundation to ask artists what the word means to them.
The resulting display, now at Charing Cross Hospital, features more than 30 submissions including ceramics, photography, and poetry. Alongside their work, each artist has contributed a text or poem reflecting on their unique perspective.
For Puthimart Naothaworn, ‘homeland’ is the memory of her grandpa, a drawing of whom is now part of the exhibition. She said: “I try my best to remember the photos I have seen of him and his family. I see the fridge
door open, stocked to the brim with every condiment I can possibly imagine. A slap of a thousand aromas in my face.
“I think of the countless succulent Poysian plants he’d kept, many still here, flowering and multiplying despite his long absence. A reminder that he was, and is still, here with us.”
Among the pieces featured are Laura Grainger’s ceramics, inspired by her work for the NHS.
“Going to work feels comforting, like you’re home,” she said. “I can’t ever imagine leaving. I was born in an NHS hospital, and I may depart from one. We are all part of the NHS whether we’re
Free will writing service
Did you know that Imperial Health Charity offers a free will writing service for people over the age of 55?
As the dedicated charity for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, we fund major redevelopments, research and equipment, and help patients at times of difficulty.
You don’t have to leave a gift to the charity to take up the offer of a free will, but it could make a huge difference, and is a wonderful way to help our hospitals for generations to come.
Find out more by emailing legacy@imperialcharity.org. uk or calling 0203 857 9854.
a patient or a caregiver, so we must all protect it, engage with it, and cherish it like it’s family, so that patient care, experience and health outcomes for all can long continue.”
The Responsa Foundation champions projects with a positive social impact. They are dedicated to supporting artists who create work promoting tolerance and acceptance.
You can view This Homeland inside the main entrance at Charing Cross Hospital before it moves to St Mary’s Hospital in December.
ABOVE & BELOW: Artworks displayed in Charing Cross Hospital from the Responsa Foundation
Susie reaches the peak for research
Last September, Susie King was diagnosed with a rare, inoperable brain tumour. In time, Susie will need treatment to keep the tumour from growing for as long as possible.
Yet even in the face of her own diagnosis, Susie was determined to help others, and this year she took on the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for brain tumour research at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
Along with friends and family, Susie undertook the gruelling challenge, scaling Snowdon in Wales in April, Ben Nevis in Scotland in May, and Scafell Pike in England in July.
In doing so, she has raised the enormous sum of £10,700, smashing her original target of £7,500.
Susie said: “I have had such great support over this challenge and it hasn’t been easy. I have had to dig deep on each walk and keep going.
“I don’t know how long I will be able to continue walking, so I’m going to just carry on for as long as I can. It’s such a great way to forget about troubles and be at peace with nature.”
Dates for your diary
SANTA IN THE CITY
DATE: 4 or 5 DECEMBER 2024
Ready to get into the Christmas spirit? Then why not take on the festive 4k Santa run and do your bit to help our hospitals this Christmas.
Every runner is provided with a five-piece Santa suit before they take on the unique run past some of London’s most memorable landmarks.
LONDON WINTER WALK
DATE: 25 JANUARY 2025
Kick off the New Year with a scenic walk past the Thames, its historic bridges, and many of the Capital’s key landmarks. With a range of distances on offer, it’s a fun day out with friends or family – complete with a medal and hot food at the finish line
LONDON LANDMARKS HALF MARATHON
DATE: 6 APRIL 2025
Join us for this iconic closed roads central London run - the capital's only half marathon that goes through both the City of London and the City of Westminster. Lace up your running shoes and raise vital funds to support the hospital, ward or department that means the most to you.
Looking to make a regular gift? A fantastic way to help our hospitals is to make a regular gift. You can set up a monthly donation via direct debit. Head to imperialcharity.org.uk/donate to find out more.
For more information about all our fundraising events, visit imperialcharity.org.uk/ fundraising-events or email info@imperialcharity.org.uk
For more information about all our fundraising events, visit imperialcharity.org.uk/ fundraising-events or email fundraising@imperialcharity.org.uk
ABOVE and BELOW: Susie and her friends taking on the Three Peaks Challenge
Support our work today and help children have better stays in hospital
Support St Mary's Children's Fund
• How can I make a donation?
This winter we are encouraging our supporters to donate to St Mary's Children's Fund.
Each year thousands of children are cared for at St Mary's Hospital. At Imperial Health Charity, we want to make sure their stays are as comfortable and engaging as possible.
Your support could ensure children in hospital receive bedside art activities as well music therapy and enhanced playtime.
Thank you.
1. Fill in a donation form
Complete the form on page 15 of this magazine, tear it off and post it back to us at the following address:
Imperial Health Charity 11th Floor
5 Merchant Square London, W2 1AY
2. Donate online
To make a donation online, visit imperialcharity.org.uk/donate
3. Give us a call
To discuss your donation in confidence, call our fundraising team on 020 3640 7766
Can I support you by taking part in a fundraising event?
Yes, absolutely! You can take part in one of our fundraising events or organise one of your own.
1. Take part in one of our fundraising events
We organise lots of fundraising events throughout the year. You can take a look at our latest events at imperialcharity.org.uk/ fundraising-events
2. Organise your own event
Got an idea in mind already? We can help ensure your event is successful with support, promotional materials and tips to help you on your way.
Make a donation today and help our hospitals do more.
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How to support our work
Make a donation
We rely on your support to continue our important work. To make a donation, please visit imperialcharity.org.uk/donate or call 020 3640 7766.
Fundraise
Do you have an idea for a sporting challenge or a sponsored event? Fundraise for Imperial Health Charity and we’ll support you every step of the way. For upcoming events and fundraising ideas, visit imperialcharity.org.uk/fundraising-events or call 020 3640 7766.
Other ways to get involved
Volunteer
Volunteers play an important role in helping our hospitals. To find out more about our latest volunteering opportunities, visit imperialcharity.org.uk/volunteer or call 020 3005 6391
Apply for funding
Are you a member of staff at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust? You may be eligible to apply for funding. To find out more, visit imperialcharity.org.uk/grants or call 020 3006 5328
Imperial Health Charity helps our hospitals do more through grants, arts, volunteering and fundraising.
We fund major redevelopments, research and medical equipment as well as helping patients and their families at times of extreme financial difficulty.
Supporting the arts in healthcare, we manage an Arts Council accredited hospital art collection and run an arts engagement programme for patients and NHS staff. We also manage volunteering across all five hospitals, adding value to the work of staff and helping to improve the hospital experience for patients. Fundraising through major appeals and community events enables us to continue our important work.
Find us online to keep up to date with all our latest news across grants, arts, volunteering and fundraising.
