IMPERIAL HEALTH CHARITY’S MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021
GRANTS • ARTS • VOLUNTEERING • FUNDRAISING
PAGES 8&9 - Colourful art lights up Charing Cross Hospital as the childhood memories of NHS staff inspire stunning new mural.
HAPPY RETURNS Celebrating the 73rd birthday of our National Health Service
WELCOME BACK Volunteers return to hospital wards to deliver food and drink
BIG IMPACT Community groups benefit from our latest funding initiative
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CHARING CROSS • HAMMERSMITH • QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S & CHELSEA • ST MARY’S • WESTERN EYE
Welcome to Focus
BELOW: Our collection includes over 2,000 artworks, which help to brighten the clinical environment for staff and visitors.
Welcome to the Summer 2021 edition of Focus, the quarterly magazine from Imperial Health Charity. If you picture a hospital, what do you see? Plain white-washed walls? Long empty corridors? Perhaps a quiet waiting room? To a patient, family member, friend or loved one, the vast hospital interiors can feel strange and unfamiliar - especially at times of anxiety and apprehension. Vibrant visual art has the power to soothe and calm, creating a warm and welcoming environment for patients and visitors as they move through the hospital. Bright, uplifting colours change the mood, transforming what can be cold and uncompromising spaces into friendly, inviting areas. We believe creativity is key to our health and wellbeing, which is why alongside our grant-giving and volunteering activities - we manage and maintain a museum-accredited collection of more than 2,000 individual artworks. In a recent survey, over three quarters of NHS staff (76%) agreed the presence of art in hallways, staff rooms and waiting areas made their hospital a better place to work. In this summer edition of Focus, you can read about some of the recent highlights from our fantastic arts programme, including our latest Art in Focus exhibition, Looking Back, Looking Forward (page 10), and a stunning new mural inspired by the personal stories of NHS staff (pages 8 and 9). Thank you, as ever, for your invaluable support.
Ian Lush OBE Chief Executive, Imperial Health Charity
InFocus IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
ABOVE and RIGHT: We've grown the number of volunteers helping our hospitals to over 600 a year.
Volunteering 'transformed' over last four years B ack in 2016 we set ourselves an ambitious goal to transform the volunteering programme in our hospitals. Five years later, we have a recognisable community of fantastic volunteers who make a real difference to patients, visitors and NHS staff every day. We've worked with partners in the local community and NHS staff to grow our number of volunteers to over 600 a year, while providing comprehensive training and ensuring everyone is thanked for their enormous contribution.
“Volunteers can and do make an extraordinary impact in the healthcare environment” You can read more about the way we've developed our volunteering programme over the last four years in a new report, Volunteering at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. 2
The report looks back on the important progress we've made to expand and improve volunteering since 2016. “When we took over responsibility for volunteering on the Trust's behalf, there was little infrastructure in place to support an effective and meaningful programme - five years on and the picture is now very different," explained Sam Morris, Head of Volunteering at Imperial Health Charity. “Over the course of delivering this programme, I've been inspired time and again by the remarkable devotion of our volunteers, many of whom have been arriving for shifts every week for several years. “Working alongside such a passionate and dedicated group of people has only reaffirmed my belief that volunteers can and do make an extraordinary impact in the healthcare environment." You can read the full report on our website. Please visit: www.imperialcharity.org.uk/ volunteering
89%
of NHS staff agreed volunteers help to improve the hospital experience for patients
220k patient interactions tracked by volunteer clickers since 2017/18
96% of NHS staff agreed volunteers help to improve their morale
130,507 hours completed by volunteers at our hospitals since 2016
FOCUS • SUMMER 2021
Intensive care manikins help training staff breathe easy
N Bitesize learning hub helps young patients move into adult care For many young patients with chronic conditions, the move from children’s to adult care can be a challenging experience. But thanks to our £60,000 grant, paediatric consultant Dr Claudia Gore is setting up a new ‘one-for-all’ Adolescent Health Transition e-Hub to help tackle this issue. This web-based resource - the ’11to25Hub’ - includes 10 core modules, covering several key areas of adolescent healthcare transition such as peer support, having better conversations, being independent, mental health and prescriptions. Dr Gore said: “When we think about healthcare transition, it’s not just the young people who have to get to grips with it. It’s also the parents coming to terms with the transfer of responsibility, and teachers who need to understand why, for example, their student going through GCSEs has got these added pressures.” In addition to supporting patients and families, the e-Hub will also help healthcare professionals understand how to better support young patients going through this experience. In the future, Dr Gore hopes to expand the online resource to support other condition-specific teams working across the Trust's hospitals.
HS staff training at Charing Cross Hospital's Intensive Care Unit are now learning vital skills using state-of-the art equipment provided by Imperial Health Charity. Thanks to support from our generous donors, we've funded the purchase of two new training manikins for staff to practice common procedures. The realistic equipment helps junior staff learn about everything to do with a patient's airways, including intubation and nasal cannulas. Rebecca Thornhill, Clinical Practice
Educator at Imperial College Healthcare, said: "They're a very useful teaching resource and we're very lucky to have them on board with us. "It makes situations seem a lot more realistic and the environment more appropriate for training and coaching our junior nurses." We award grants to fund a wide range of projects across the Trust's hospitals. To find out more, you can visit imperialcharity.org.uk/grants
ABOVE and BELOW: Trainee intensive care nurses use the charity-funded manikins to learn about patients' airways.
This project was funded as part of our St Mary's Children's Fund campaign and Innovate at Imperial grants programme, which provides opportunities for NHS staff to explore innovative ways of improving health and social care.
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Happy birthday to the NHS! Celebrating 73 years of care A
fter an incredibly challenging year for everyone working in the health service, we marked the NHS birthday with a series of special celebrations to recognise and thank hospital staff and volunteers for their extraordinary efforts. Monday 5 July marked 73 years since the creation of the NHS in 1948 - a landmark moment which began the transformation of healthcare in Britain. As one of over 200 dedicated NHS charities across the country, we're proud to help our hospitals do more - day in, day out. This year we celebrated this special annual occasion by supporting the
“This programme of support will serve as a lasting legacy to the extraordinary efforts staff have made to provide such outstanding care during the pandemic”
ABOVE, BELOW and RIGHT: A commemorative badge we created to recognise all NHS staff; scenes from our Gratitude Festival event; celebrating the NHS Big Tea; Walk For Wards fundraisers Tracy D'souza and Carole Hembest
Trust's 'Gratitude Festival' - a unique week-long event to acknowledge the enormous contribution made by NHS staff and volunteers during the pandemic. We organised five days of events and activities to celebrate their incredible commitment and hard work, including free food, creative art
workshops and a host of virtual events - from spa evenings and cooking classes to panel debates and exercise sessions. A brand new staff talent show, Imperial’s Got Talent, also showcased the creative flair among our NHS colleagues – including singers, poets and dancers – with a series of special messages from celebrity guests. 4
Alongside all these activities, we also worked with acclaimed artist Julian Opie to create a commemorative pin badge for all NHS staff at Imperial College Healthcare. The badge features an exclusive artwork designed by Opie, similar to the iconic illustrations on display at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington. FOCUS • SUMMER 2021
Fundraisers get walking to help our hospitals throughout July Over 100 fundraisers slipped on their walking shoes during July to raise money for our hospitals and celebrate the NHS birthday. Dozens signed up to take part in our first ever virtual Walk For Wards event, completing their own personal sponsored walking challenge over the course of the month. Collectively, our fantastic fundraisers clocked up more than 2,500km and raised over £7,000 to help our hospitals do more. We challenged participants to walk the distance between our five London hospitals - that's 11.4km. But many of our inspirational walkers completed several laps of the circuit, with some covering more than 250km over the 31 days! Inspired by our amazing Walk For Wards fundraisers? There are so many ways you can help our hospitals by raising money. To find out more, including all our upcoming challenge events, please visit: www.imperialcharity.org.uk/ fundraising-events
Celebrations marking the NHS birthday also took place up and down the country on 5 July as thousands of health service staff and supporters 'raised a cuppa' as part of the NHS Big Tea event. Fundraisers got together with friends and family to host sociallydistanced tea parties, raising money to support NHS charities like us across the UK.
Ian Lush, Chief Executive of Imperial Health Charity, said: “During this incredibly challenging period, the remarkable resolve and commitment to outstanding care shown by hospital staff and volunteers has been an inspiration to us all. On behalf of everyone at Imperial Health Charity, I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to all our hospital heroes.”
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Hospital team taking research on the road ABOVE and BELOW: The new 'i-VAN' will enable specialists at the Western Eye Hospital to treat patients in the community.
Mobile eye care clinic offers a vision of the future L
ockdowns, social distancing and anxieties about Covid-19 have led to a drop in the number of people visiting the Western Eye Hospital for routine appointments over the past 18 months. To address this problem, staff at the specialist eye hospital in Marylebone have hit upon an innovative solution. A new mobile clinic, known as the ‘i-VAN’, can be driven to community hubs like shopping centres and GP surgeries. Backed by funding from Imperial Health Charity, the i-VAN features everything needed for a one-stop eye exam. Patients can also feel more relaxed, with strict PPE use and thorough cleaning between visits.
“The mobile i-VAN clinic offers the possibility of patients being seen locally, eliminating public transport, hospital waiting rooms and queues” 6
Professor Cordeiro believes the i-VAN could be the first in a fleet of mobile units, enabling the Trust to lead the way in post-pandemic healthcare. She said: “In addition to bringing research to the community and facilitating satellite clinics, our ambitions include research projects that would require community diagnostic and screening capacity. "We believe the future of the i-VAN is going to be shaped while trying to meet the needs of the population in a constantly changing and increasingly demanding world."
“Three quarters of patients welcomed the idea of a mobile research unit - it's helped them overcome several barriers”
Professor Francesca Cordeiro, Professor of Ophthalmology, said: “The i-VAN offers the possibility of patients being seen locally, eliminating public transport, hospital waiting rooms and queues. “Staff have welcomed it as an opportunity to provide services to the community, empowering them to catch up with the sizeable backlog created by Covid-19.” It’s not only hospital services that have had to adapt as a result of the pandemic. Researchers have struggled to recruit enough participants for clinical trials, with staff at the Imperial College
Ophthalmology Research Group seeing a 77% drop in participants. Professor Cordeiro added: “While Covid-19 trials recruited very well, elsewhere we have seen a significant loss of patient motivation due to a perception that it’s generally safer to stay away from hospital and busy waiting rooms unless one is obviously in need of care. “We proposed the idea of a mobile research unit to the patients and found that three quarters welcomed the idea, which would overcome several barriers preventing them from participating in trials.” Our grant helped the team get the i-VAN on the road, covering the cost of transforming the vehicle into a fully-equipped clinic ahead of its first trip in June. FOCUS • SUMMER 2021
Mealtime volunteers back on hospital wards to serve up food and drink for patients V
isiting restrictions can be particularly tough for patients receiving care at our hospitals. Some have experienced feelings of loneliness and isolation during the pandemic, with opportunities for friends and family members to visit limited by Covid-19 safety precautions. Over the last few months, however, we've been able to welcome back our regular Mealtime Volunteers who offer a friendly face - as well as a healthy meal - for patients staying in wards. The role has been relaunched with safety in mind, and our volunteers are given thorough training on infection control procedures and the use of protective equipment.
“The connections you make with other volunteers, NHS staff and patients are amazing" “The connections you make with other volunteers, NHS staff and patients are amazing,” said Mealtime Volunteer Sim. “There's no one type of person who volunteers - it's really diverse. I've met students, people who are taking a break from work, people who have been furloughed. The highlight for me has been meeting and spending time with them all.” By building a rapport with patients, Mealtime Volunteers are able to provide important companionship support, as well as collecting patient feedback and meeting an area of need identified by NHS colleagues. “It's a very rewarding experience,” said Mealtime Volunteer Mohammad. “Patients are really happy when they see a volunteer. You can see their mood brightens up.” To find out more about volunteering at our hospitals, visit: imperialcharity.org.uk/volunteer
ABOVE and BELOW: Mealtime Volunteer Michael delivers meals to patients at Charing Cross Hospital.
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ABOVE: Patricio Forrester, Director at Artmongers, worked with NHS staff to create a bright and colourful mural at Charing Cross Hospital.
We all have somewhere we call home. Now, thanks to a special collaboration with creative group Artmongers, A&E staff at Charing Cross Hospital can feel a little closer to it - even while at work.
C
ape Town, Chandor and even our local Hammersmith Bridge all feature in a new mural at Charing Cross Hospital inspired by the childhood memories of NHS workers. The collaborative project, painted onto an interior wall by the creative group Artmongers, is based on one-on-one discussions with staff working in the hospital's Emergency Department, bringing a peaceful, personalised atmosphere to the area. Supported by a grant from Imperial Health Charity, the vibrant,
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topographical mural covers an entire corridor, featuring coastlines, mountains and forests, with scattered bubbles depicting the hometown recollections shared by members of staff. Patricio Forrester, Director at Artmongers, said they intended to transform the area into an emotive and powerful space for staff. “The corridor is a very functional place and with this project we wanted to turn it into an emotional one - a place where people are going
to feel a little bit of longing for where they come from,” he said. “I would sit someone down and explain that this was about finding a precious memory associated with where they grew up. The feeling I wanted to look for was something which was very personal.” Patricio says the reaction from A&E staff has been incredibly positive. As well as adding a splash of colour to the corridor, it's also opened up a unique opportunity for staff to find out more about the people they work with.
“We wanted to turn the corridor into an emotional place - where people will feel a little bit of longing for where they come from” FOCUS • SUMMER 2021
Music therapist Natasha brings chords to wards
“One important element of the project is that it's been an equaliser - cleaners, nurses and doctors are all on the same footing. They're all addressed as humans” “I learned that there were two people who had grown up in villages or countries during a period of war,” he explained. “Initially they didn't want to participate but, after speaking to them, we managed to find a positive image that they could separate from more difficult memories.” “One important element of the project is that it’s been an equaliser - cleaners, domestic staff, nurses and doctors are all on the same footing. They're all addressed as humans.”
We were delighted to work in partnership with Artmongers and the staff at Charing Cross Hospital's Emergency Department for this unique project. Artmongers was formed by Patricio in 2013. The group has previously worked in schools, refugee camps and residential areas, creating artworks that improve public spaces and give local people a sense of pride and ownership. You can read more about the work of Artmongers on their website: www.artmongersaction.org
We believe that art and creativity are key to our health and wellbeing. You can find out more about our hospital art collection and arts engagement programme on our website: www.imperialcharity.org.uk/arts
We've partnered with Chiltern Music Therapy to provide regular music sessions for children at St Mary's Hospital. Music therapist Natasha Larkin is touring the wards twice a week, offering tailored sessions for young patients and their families. Using her guitar and a range of percussion instruments, Natasha offers a calming space for children to explore musical interactions and sounds. "Providing moments and feelings of normality through music can support the patient and family to process and manage their stay in hospital," explained Natasha. "Engaging in music therapy can also help decrease the perception of pain and support psychological changes, such as reducing heart rate and increasing oxygen saturation rates." Since starting with us in May, Natasha has already made a big impression on the children's wards. "The staff team have been so welcoming and supportive of the introduction of music therapy," she said. "It's often a new experience for the children and parents on the wards, so it's great to see an appreciation and understanding of the benefits. "When a session begins with a tearful young child and ends with boundless energy and smiles, you know it's been a good music therapy experience!" You can find out more about our arts engagement programme on our website. Please visit: www.imperialcharity.org.uk/arts
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Photographers sharpen their focus to put societal impact of Covid-19 in the spotlight
ABOVE: Photographs from Alys Tomlinson's series, Lost Summer BELOW: A visitor at Charing Cross observes Bindi Vora's Mountain of Salt series
O
ur latest Art in Focus exhibition, Looking Back, Looking Forward, features the work of two London-based photographic artists - each with their own perspectives on how the last 18 months has affected us all. The collection of powerful images, including work by Bindi Vora and Alys Tomlinson, is now on display at Charing Cross Hospital. The images address some of the many complex repercussions of the pandemic while portraying a sense of resilience and optimism as we look towards the future. Tomlinson’s Lost Summer features a selection of her recent prom portraits from 2020 - photographs that capture the poignancy of a lost summer for teenagers who were unable to sit their exams or mark this significant step in growing up and leaving school. “With school proms cancelled, I photographed local teenagers 10
dressed in outfits they would have worn to prom,” she said. “Instead of being in the usual settings of school halls or hotel function rooms, I captured them in their gardens, backyards and local parks.
“The portraits represent a loss and longing, but also celebrate each teenager as an individual, navigating this challenging time” “They represent a loss and longing, but also celebrate each teenager as an individual, navigating this strange and challenging time.” In Mountain of Salt, Bindi Vora has assembled a collection of found images, appropriated text and digital shape collages as a human response to Covid-19. The series focuses on the language of the pandemic,
developed by collecting words and phrases used by politicians, journalists and other commentators. “As the pandemic gripped the world, I became acutely aware of the landscape in which we were living, where everything felt amplified,” said Vora. “For me, it highlighted the way words and speech have a physical presence, a bearing upon us.” Looking Back, Looking Forward is now on display at Charing Cross Hospital and will move to Hammersmith and St Mary's hospitals later in the year. FOCUS • SUMMER 2021
Dates for your diary Up for a challenge? There are so many exciting ways for you to get involved in fundraising events to support our work. Why not have a go at some of these great fundraising activities?
BM RIDE DATE: 12 SEPTEMBER 2021
ABOVE: Hammersmith Community Gardens Association is among the beneficiaries of our new funding programme
Funding boost for community projects tackling Covid impact Community organisations supporting the health and wellbeing of people most affected by Covid-19 have benefited from a funding boost, thanks to Imperial Health Charity.
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orking in partnership with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, we've awarded grants to support 20 local projects as part of our Compassionate Communities initiative. The funding will help organisations in north west London address some of the main barriers that prevent the most vulnerable members of our community accessing healthcare. Earlier this year we awarded grants of up to £30,000 to 20 community groups. The chosen projects all support people who consistently experience health inequality and have been affected by some of the complex, long-term impacts of Covid-19, such as food poverty, poor
mental health and wellbeing, digital exclusion, language barriers and misinformation. Hammersmith Community Gardens Association is just one of the organisations that has benefited from our support through the Compassionate Communities initiative this year. HCGA aims to support local people who have struggled with their mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic by providing opportunities to take part in therapeutic gardening and cooking activities. The association's 'Grow Well in 2021' project also aims to inform people about the mental and physical benefits of nature, enabling them to try new food and take produce and plants home with them. In total, over £360,000 has been awarded to support similar projects across north west London. You can read more about Compassionate Communities on our website: www.imperialcharity.org.uk/ compassionate-communities
BM Ride is a cycling event taking place on closed roads in the centre of Brighton & Hove. Starting and finishing on Hove Lawns, the BM Ride offers cyclists of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy the streets traffic-free over a 50km distance. Whether you're a keen cyclist or looking for a new challenge, this event has something for everyone. Faster riders can start at the front while others follow on behind - this is not a race!
SWIM SERPENTINE DATE: 18 SEPTEMBER 2021 Sign up today to take part in this iconic fresh-water swimming challenge! Swim Serpentine is fast becoming London’s premier openwater swimming event - there are no currents to worry about as you glide through the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park. Complete either one or two laps of this open-air course to conquer the challenge.
ROYAL PARKS HALF MARATHON DATE: 10 OCTOBER 2021 This stunning central London half marathon takes in some of the capital's world-famous landmarks and four of London's eight Royal Parks - Hyde Park, Green Park, St James's Park and Kensington Gardens. Whether you’re a weekend jogger or a seasoned marathon runner, you’re sure to have a great time while helping our hospitals.
For For more more information information about about all all our fundraising events, our fundraising events, visit visit imperialcharity.org.uk/ imperialcharity.org.uk/ fundraising-events fundraising-events or or email email fundraising@imperialcharity.org.uk fundraising@imperialcharity.org.uk
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Please DONATE TODAY and help us do more to support NHS staff and patients.
Your donation can help us provide extra support for NHS staff and patients at our hospitals - through Covid-19 and beyond. Covid-19 has had a major impact on our hopitals. At the height of the pandemic, Imperial College Healthcare cared for thousands of patients affected by the virus and was among the busiest NHS trusts in England. Throughout this incredibly challenging period, we’ve stood side by side with our remarkable hospital heroes – and we’re committed to supporting NHS staff and patients through Covid-19 and beyond. Our urgent Covid-19 appeal has now come to an end, but our important work goes on. We need your support now more than ever as we continue to help NHS staff and patients after an incredibly difficult year. 12
How can I make a donation? 1. Fill in a donation form Complete the form on page 13, tear it off and post it back to us at: Imperial Health Charity 178-180 Edgware Road London W2 2DS 2. Donate online To make a donation online, visit www.imperialcharity.org.uk/donate 3. Get in touch To discuss your donation in confidence, call our fundraising team on 020 3640 7766 or email fundraising@imperialcharity.org.uk
How will my donation make a difference? As the NHS faces its biggest ever challenge, please consider making a gift to support our vital work. Your donation could help us fund: • major improvements to hospital facilities and buildings • research and innovation that will shape the healthcare of tomorrow • emergency support for patients facing sudden financial difficulty • creative arts activities to support the health and wellbeing of patients and NHS staff. FOCUS • SUMMER 2021
MAKE A DONATION TODAY Thank you for your generous support. To make a donation, please complete the form below, tear off this page and return it with your cheque to: Imperial Health Charity 178-180 Edgware Road London W2 2DS Please make your cheque payable to 'Imperial Health Charity'. Alternatively, you can donate online. Please visit: www.imperialcharity.org.uk/donate Title First name Surname Address
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Working in partnership with
How to give Make a donation We rely on your support to continue our important work. To make a donation, please visit www.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 www.imperialcharity.org.uk/fundraising-events or call 020 3640 7766.
Other ways to get involved Volunteer Volunteers play an important role in supporting our hospitals. To find out more about our latest volunteering opportunities, visit www.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 www.imperialcharity.org.uk/grants or call 020 3006 5328.
About us 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.
We're on social media Find us online to keep up to date with all our latest news across grants, arts, volunteering and fundraising. @ImperialCharity /charityimperial @ImperialCharity All images produced in accordance with national coronavirus guidance at the time that photography took place.
Imperial Health Charity 178–180 Edgware Road London W2 2DS www.imperialcharity.org.uk T: 020 3640 7766 E: info@imperialcharity.org.uk
Imperial Health Charity is a charity registered in England and Wales, no. 1166084