Our Trust | issue 14 | Spring 2021

EE FR

OurTrust

Inside this issue: News from around the Trust, spotlight on inclusion, tackling health inequality in Brent Issue 14 | Spring 2021

2

Our Trust

Director’s Cut

Responding to an unprecedented challenge

Contents 6

Chris Bown, Chief Executive

A

t the start of 2021, the pandemic continued to impact on the daily lives of people across the UK. The rise of COVID-19 cases in London meant that unprecedented pressure was placed on NHS services across the capital.

For the wider community, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, an independent expert advisory committee, has identified a priority list for those receiving the vaccine. When it is the right time, you will receive an invitation to come forward for your vaccination. For most people this will be a letter from their GP practice or the national NHS. This letter will include all the information you will need to book an appointment, including your NHS number.

On 18 January, London’s second community vaccination centre opened at Wembley.

We worked together with the local authority, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and volunteers to open the centre. With our staff volunteering to oversee vaccinations, leadership from the senior nursing team and expertise from our transformation team, the Trust’s contribution was key to the success of this project.

The centre is another important milestone in the battle against coronavirus and my thanks to all of those involved.

The contribution made by the NHS in responding to COVID-19 was recognised in The Queen’s Birthday Honours and the New Year’s Honours lists. I am delighted that members of our staff were among those to receive honours and my congratulations go to Dr Ganesh Suntharalingam, Clinical Lead for Critical Care, who was awarded an OBE and to Lisa Knight, Chief Nurse, Dr Nuala Lucas, Consultant Obstetric Anaesthetist, and Dr Gurjinder Singh Sandhu, Infectious Diseases Consultant, who were all awarded MBEs. The impact of COVID-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and people with disabilities, together with the ongoing national dialogue on racial injustice, has seen inclusion become an important topic of conversation.

We have one of the most diverse NHS trusts in the country with a workforce that reflects north west London’s communities and cultures. For our staff, an inclusive workplace is one that makes everyone feel that they belong, regardless of who they are or what they do, and feel equally involved and supported in all areas of the workplace. For our patients, being cared for by staff who feel supported and feel that they belong will mean a better overall experience.

Inside this issue of Our Trust, we shine a spotlight on some of the work that is taking place to create a culture of inclusion across the organisation that will be supported by our HEART values.

Finally, on behalf of all the staff and volunteers working across Central Midddlesex, Ealing, Northwick Park and St. Mark’s hospitals, and those working in our community services, I would like to say a massive thank you for the overwhelming support that we continue to receive. Some examples of the many acts of kindness we have seen are included inside this issue of Our Trust. They reflect the wider generosity of community goodwill that has helped to lift our spirits during these difficult times.

13

12

14

3 COVID response leads to innovative surgical pathway 4 Spotlight on inclusion 8 Community services working to tackle health and social inequality in Brent 9 Celebrating Black History Month 10 Honours and awards recognise the efforts of staff

11 Raising awareness of chronic liver disease 12 News from around the Trust 13 Stroke patient’s recovery aided by “Letters to your Loved One” initiative 14 Rising to the challenge: LNWH Charity’s response to COVID-19 15 Remembering those we have lost 16 Hitting the headlines...

GET IN TOUCH The next issue of Our Trust will be published in the summer.

FR EE

January and much of February proved to be very challenging with our COVID admissions far exceeding those during the first wave. As lockdown restrictions gradually begin to ease, there is now some light at the end of the tunnel. The NHS is delivering the COVID-19 vaccine to staff and priority groups. This is a crucial step in the fight against the pandemic and I am pleased to say that, at the time of writing, over 6,000 of our staff had already received their first jab.

OurTrust

If you have an interesting story to tell or would like to showcase your team’s innovative work in the next edition, please call 020 8869 2235 or email lnwh-tr.communications@nhs.net

Inside this issue: News from around the Trust, spotlight on inclusion, tackling health inequality in Brent Issue 14 | Spring 2021

Our cover photo shows critical care matron, Victoria Marsland, at Ealing Hospital - Image courtesy of Heathcliff O’Malley.

Some of the photographs published in this issue of Our Trust were taken before the requirements to maintain safe distancing and to wear face masks came into force.

3

COVID response leads to innovative surgical pathway

Rebecca’s vaccination journey takes in Oxford and Wembley

C

linicians at the Trust have responded to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by establishing a novel surgical pathway for patients suffering from complicated gallstones in the bile duct.

Stones that slip out of the gall bladder and into the bile duct can cause obstruction leading to serious conditions including pancreatitis, jaundice and abnormal liver function tests and, in some cases, can be fatal.

Streamlined referral To ensure the safe management of patients during the ongoing pandemic, a new streamlined referral pathway has been introduced to easily refer patients with pancreatitis due to gallstones, and patients presenting with possible common bile duct stones causing possible bile duct obstruction.

In most UK hospitals bile duct patients are treated by first having a scan of the pancreas, liver and bile ducts, called a magnetic resonance cholangiogram. If this shows stones within the bile duct the patient then has an endoscopic procedure to remove the stones. The patient will then need to return to hospital to have the gallbladder removed (cholecystectomy) to prevent further recurrence.

Reducing potential exposure to COVID-19 The new pathway means the only imaging required before surgery for most patients will be an ultrasound to confirm the presence of gallstones. This approach reduces the need for the MRI and ERCP (which is an aerosol generating procedure) avoiding extra admissions and a reduction in potential exposure of patients and staff to COVID-19.

Mr Alberto Martinez-Isla, Consultant Laparoscopic Upper GI Surgeon says: “The Trust is a leading centre for laparoscopic bile duct exploration and prior to COVID-19 was performing around 50-70 procedures a year. The impact of the pandemic has required a redesign of our care pathways to enable non-COVID patients to continue to have timely and safe access to surgery.”

Mr Stuart Gould, Clinical Lead for Emergency Surgery and Deputy Divisional Director of Surgery says: “In responding to the pandemic it is crucial that we make our hospital services available and safe for nonCOVID patients and our staff. This novel pathway will help to manage a complex group of patients during the second wave of the pandemic and beyond. It is a very efficient process for treating patients who require urgent surgery to avoid the risk of their condition recurring and possible severe complications.”

T

ransfusion practitioner Rebecca Patel was among the first to volunteer to take part in the Oxford vaccination trials when they were announced in spring 2020.

When the Wembley vaccination centre opened its doors in January 2021, volunteers were requested to help in supporting staff and community vaccinations, with Rebecca once again happy to put herself forward.

Here she tells Our Trust about her reasons for getting involved: “During the first wave of the pandemic, I responded to the call for staff to take part in the Oxford trials. I think I knew, even back then, that our only hope of beating this virus would be a vaccine. ”When the vaccine was approved, it was the best news I’d heard for a long time and am so proud to have been a part of the research into producing it.

“I’m still on the trial, going for regular blood tests and swabbing myself for COVID weekly. I’m not sure how much longer the trial will go on for, but I’m more than happy to continue for as long as they need me.

“When an email went out asking for volunteers to start vaccinating staff at Northwick Park Hospital, I put myself forward immediately. It was fantastic to see so many staff coming forward for their jabs. And I was again delighted to offer to help at the Wembley centre when it opened in mid-January.

Members of the surgical team at Ealing Hospital

“I supervise and train volunteers, including medical students, to give the injection and healthcare professionals who help patients with the consent process, as well as drawing-up the injections.

“When the doors first opened at Wembley it warmed my heart to see how eager our elderly population were to get their vaccine and the pure joy on their faces. Some of them hadn’t been out of their houses for months and made this first special trip to get their jab. They are so brave and should be seen as role models for those who can’t decide whether or not to have the vaccine.”

What’s up doc?

Our children’s ward Jack’s Place has taken on two special team members whose motto is “hop to it”.

Rabbits Flip and Flop are now on hand to provide patients with some light relief. The furry friends were donated by a member of staff, and when not on the ward have the run of the outdoor play area.

Flip and Flop ready for action

4

Our Trust on inclusion Spotlight

Spotlight on inclusion Our Trust is one of the most diverse in England, with a workforce of over 8,500 that reflects north west London’s communities and cultures. We are committed to creating a positive culture of inclusion in everything we do, strengthened by our HEART values: a culture where staff feel included regardless of who they are or what they do; a workplace where

staff are equally involved and supported to be the best that they can be.

By developing a culture that embraces inclusion, we can create an environment where our diverse patient population receive the highest standards of care that – meets their individual needs, and is delivered with dignity, compassion and respect.

Creating a culture of inclusion: everyone counts Obi Maduako-Ezeanyika, Assistant Director of Organisational Development and Learning, who is responsible for equality diversity and inclusion, looks back on the progress made during 2020, and forward to the priorities for the coming year that will work to shape and strengthen our culture of inclusion.

Board priorities The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the lives of our staff and the communities that they serve. The Obi Maduako-Ezeanyika impact has been felt most acutely among those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, people with disabilities and our older colleagues. In response, the Trust Board identified a number of priorities to quickly address those key inclusion issues that affect the working lives of our staff. These priorities include: • Our executive directors being champions for diversity and inclusion.

Leading on issues such as ethnicity and disability to ensure that the Trust is taking action to address inequality and influencing changes to tackle behaviours and structures that are barriers to inclusion. In these roles, executive directors act as visible champions and advocates for diversity and inclusion.

• Board members have also been actively involved in our mentoring and reverse mentoring programmes for BAME staff. This has enabled them to gain insight and better understanding of Trust issues faced by BAME colleagues. This in turn helps to inform the thinking and decision making of the Board about issues that affect our patients.

Strengthening engagement During 2020 we have continued to strengthen our engagement with staff through listening events and working in partnership with our staff networks.

COVID-19 has meant that events have taken place virtually. These meetings have had a positive impact on staff morale and helped to broaden our reach across the organisation in a way we were not previously able to do. Most importantly, we are listening to our staff and acting on their feedback.

We have also been able to involve external expert speakers at these events including Yvonne Coghill, Director of Workforce Race Equality Standard Implementation NHS England, Professor Kevin Fenton, Public Health England National Director for Health and Wellbeing and Dr Habib Naqvi, Director NHS Race and Health Observatory. We will be extending more invitations to guest speakers during 2021.

Disability inclusion We continue to create a positive culture where negative attitudes and behaviours about disability and sexual orientation can be challenged. We believe that our staff networks can be strong partners in realising this goal. During 2020, we achieved Disability Confident Employer (level 2) status demonstrating our commitment to increasing our appeal to disabled people.

We have relaunched our Disability Inclusion Network which will act as a powerful advocate for our disabled staff. Similarly, we are exploring how we can better support staff with caring responsibilities. We also worked closely with the BAME Network to implement COVID risk assessments for staff and the launch of a staff helpline. Our staff networks provide informed feedback that helps ensure that we continue to make improvements that meet the needs of our staff and enhance the care provided to our patients.

Developing leaders and supporting progression One of our key priorities is creating an inclusive leadership at all levels of the organisation. In 2020, we launched several innovative development initiatives and programmes that will help increase the diversity of our leadership. We have already: • Launched the progressive 2-7 development programme: a career development programme for staff at AfC bands 2-7 • Launched cohort two and three of the BAME leadership programme • Appointed three BAME non-executive directors to strengthen diversity of decision making at the board level • Undertaken a full review of our recruitment and selection processes for inclusive practices • Introduced recruitment and selection equality champions to sit on recruitment panels. Champions provide oversight and advice on equality and diversity during recruitment.

5

LOOKING AHEAD Looking towards the future Obi says: “COVID-19 will continue to present challenges for the health and wellbeing of our staff and patients throughout 2021 and beyond. This makes our work on inclusion even more important. In 2020, 53% of our staff completed the NHS annual staff survey, our highest response rate ever. Through the survey they have told us what we are doing well and where we can make positive changes.

“The Trust is listening and in 2021 it has a clear ambition to accelerate the momentum for change on inclusion.

This will be driven by a new equality diversity and inclusion strategy that will be developed in collaboration with staff, shaped by the issues affecting the Trust and help to deliver better care to our patients.

The road to successful inclusion and culture change is long. Our achievements during 2020 have established strong foundations on which we will continue to build and create a diverse and culturally inclusive organisation where everyone counts.”

Focusing on health inequalities Resilience and respect are key watchwords for Dipen Rajyaguru, the Trust’s Equality, Inclusion and Diversity and Organisational Development Lead. Dipen told Our Trust about how his personal experiences have shaped his career path.

head of equalities for NHS London, assistant director for equality & patient experience for NW London Collaboration of CCGs and the lead in London for the census rehearsal for the Office for National Statistics. I’ve been at the Trust since February 2020.

Health inequalities emphasised by the pandemic

“I arrived in England with my family in 1972, when we fled as refugees from Idi Amin’s Uganda.

Having left behind everything we owned, we had to start again in an alien culture and environment.

My memories of growing in the Dipen Rajyaguru 1970s include having to face overt racism where the ‘school run’ often involved being chased by farright skin-heads.

The virus has emphasised the health inequalities that exist in our society and has shown that we can and must do more to address the divides. As Mahatma Gandhi said: “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”

Nevertheless, these early experiences taught me valuable lessons of resilience and giving respect and full consideration to people regardless of how different they are. I know what it is like to have lost privileges and I am determined to use the privileges I have gained to make an equitable, positively impactful and just contribution. This determination has motivated my career and life options.

Since joining the Trust in March 2020, Chris Bown, chief executive, has become the Board champion for race/ethnicity. He holds regular meetings with the BME Staff Network and monthly open listening events with all staff to help understand what the organisation can do to ensure equality and support a more inclusive workforce.

I have over 25 years (including15 years in the NHS) experience in the voluntary, private and public sectors specialising and leading in the field of EDI, stakeholder engagement and human rights. I have been

Board champions Throughout 2020, we have demonstrated our duty of care to patients and staff through the amazing ways we adapted and changed the way we work.

Other Board members are designated champions for protected equality characteristics including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

PLANS FOR 2021 While COVID-19 will continue to present challenges for the NHS during 2021, we will work to ensure that equality, inclusion and diversity remain central to our Trust plans.

We will implement the actions from Workforce Race Equality Standard and Workforce Disability Equality Standard to ensure that careers can be progressed and staff are treated fairly.

Our successful bid to the NHS Charities Together Grants will support a two phased project to find out how to enhance the experience and empower our non-English speaking patients. The first phase will be to help patients understand and make informed decisions about their healthcare and improve their outcomes (during the COVID-19 pandemic). The second phase will focus on

meeting the language needs of patients by using technology such as tablets and apps.

We will also work to further empower our staff networks including the re-launched Disability Inclusion Network, LGBTQI Staff Network and BME Staff Network and look to create additional networks, such as one for those with caring responsibilities.

I actively encourage more staff to join and support the staff networks (remember you can join as an ally) and take advantage of what they offer. For further information on any aspect of equality, diversity and inclusion please do get in touch with me on dipen.rajyaguru@nhs.net “

6

Our Trust on inclusion Spotlight

Pedro Silva

Chair of the LGBTQI Network What is your role at the Trust?

I am Lead Nurse for emergency and ambulatory care.

How did you become involved in the LGBTQI Network?

I read on the intranet that the network was being revamped and that staff could apply to be a member.

Why is the network important?

The network plays a vital role in making sure that staff and patients have a voice and can express their fears and anxieties.

It also provides a safe place where subjects can be discussed.

What do you consider to be the key challenge for the network in 2021?

Planning for how we will move forward once the pandemic is over.

How can staff get involved in the network?

Please email lnwh-tr.lgbtqi@nhs.net and also keep a look out for our news updates on the intranet and in The Pulse.

7

Tehmina Masud

Chair of the BME Network What is your role in the Trust?

As a patient advice and liaison service (PALS) officer I help patients, relatives and visitors with information and advice about the Trust and its services. I also help those who want to provide feedback or raise a complaint about their experience.

In my role as chair of the BME Network, I lead and give direction to the network. I am available to support members and attend Trust meetings on behalf of the network to raise questions and concerns on behalf of our members. I chair executive committee meetings and lead on planning of the network’s AGM and action plans.

How did you become involved in the BME Network?

I applied for the position of chair and was duly elected and subsequently re-elected.

In my role as a PALS officer staff would ask me “what about a PALS for staff”? So, you could say that my involvement with the network was in response to the wishes of colleagues. I also had experience of being a Trustee for the National PALS Network and have always been passionate about helping others and be the voice for the voiceless. When I was 15, I used to speak to focus groups about the difficulties experienced by immigrants when coming to settle in the UK.

What do you consider to be the key challenges of the network?

Currently, COVID-19 is the key priority for the network. We work to raise staff concerns with senior management through meetings and staff engagement.

Why is the network important?

The BME Network plays a vital role in helping the Trust deliver high quality care and equality through their unique ability to: • Improve equality considerations during the recruitment process.

• Share the lived experience of BAME staff.

• Reach seldom heard voices.

• Identify future leaders.

• Advise on differing cultural needs.

• Helping the Trust to work in ways that embrace diversity and inclusion.

• Provide feedback on strategic areas of work.

• The health and wellbeing of staff.

Embedding the BME helpline (020 8453 2150) and, as more staff use the helpline, use the data gathered to learn from themes and trends to support BME staff.

Post COVID-19 our priorities will include: • Developing short-term and long-term action plans to achieve our objectives.

• Grow the network’s membership.

• Secure resources.

• Succession planning, organising AGM and hold elections.

How can staff become involved?

Staff can join the network by emailing lnwh-tr.bmestaffnetwork@nhs.net in response they will be sent an application form.

Working to raise disability awareness Simon Crawford, Director of Strategy and Deputy Chief Executive, is the Board champion for disability. In this role, he chairs meetings of the Disability Inclusion Network. Simon’s NHS career includes 20 years working in mental health services and 7 years in learning disabilities.

Why is your role as the Board disability champion important?

I see raising awareness and recognising disability across the Trust as key priorities.

Currently, we simply do not know enough about the disabilities that our staff have. For example, our records show that just under 2 per cent of staff have a disability but, in the annual staff survey, nearly 11 per cent of respondents declare as having a disability.

How would you define disability?

Across the organisation we have a diverse workforce of more than 8,000 staff so disabilities will not always be obvious. They may be long or short-term disabilities and may also encompass mental health as well as physical disability.

drawing on this work, we can ensure a more consistent, informed and equitable approach to inclusion and diversity. Having a Board champion also provides an additional channel of communication for staff to raise issues and influence the Board prioritisation of issues and decision making.

If we recognise disability what difference will that make?

I believe that it will make a massive difference but first we need to give staff the confidence to say that they have a disability and, if needed, ask for help.

We are committed to ensuring that the workplace is as accessible as it can be for all our staff. There may be adjustments that need to be made in terms of IT, office equipment or the work environment. However, we cannot make these changes unless we are made aware of people’s needs.

Can staff without disabilities also get involved?

Absolutely. Think about what the experience of a colleague with a disability might be in your team. What can be done differently and how can improvements be made?

If you do know colleagues with a disability take time out to speak to them and ask if there are changes that can be made to improve the way in which we work.

Another great way to get involved, whether you have a disability or wish to be an ally, is to join our re-launched Disability Inclusion Network (DIN) for staff. Where we have a safe space for staff to discuss issues, share ideas and suggest improvements.

For more information about the DIN, please contact dipen.rajyaguru@nhs.net

How will this work help with your role on the Trust Board?

While I am a champion for disability, fellow Board members are designated champions for other protected characteristics. Together,

8

Our Trust

Community services - working to tackle health and social inequality in Brent

B

rent is one of London’s most diverse boroughs, but it also has significant health and social inequalities. It has a high number of people who suffer from chronic disease and long-term conditions. Research has shown that 30% of patients in acute hospital settings in north west London would have their needs better met at home or in a community setting.

Andre Nolan, Brent Health Inequalities Team Lead, and Ravi Chandra Polineni, Integrated Care Partnership Team Lead, explain the role that community services are playing in helping to tackle health and social inequality in Brent.

Advanced care practitioners, Veronica Anagbo and Adesola Efunbajo, also highlight the work being done to enhance healthcare for care home residents.

Integrated Care Partnership

Tackling health inequalities

Brent’s Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) was set up to work proactively with those patients who are at high risk of hospital admissions.

The service aims to provide the best possible specialist GP led care, supported by a consultant in the community, for up to 6 weeks to address the needs of patients, enable them to self-manage their condition and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.

The significant health and social inequalities that exist across the local population became more evident when COVID-19 hit Brent in early 2020. There was a clear link between patients dying following a COVID infection and underlying long-term health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, COPD and asthma.

Ravi says: “Our team of specialist clinician’s work alongside other community services including district nurses, mental health, rapid response, and social services to achieve best possible outcomes for patients.

“The ICP’s holistic approach addresses the health and social needs of patients with an emphasis on patient engagement and education to achieve the best possible outcomes.

“The ICP has successfully introduced the community heart failure and respiratory service and runs community heart failure clinics twice a week with plans to add another clinic to meet the increasing demand.

“As a result of the pandemic the service was extended to support the delivery of flu vaccines, COVID testing and supporting GPs to deliver COVID vaccinations in care homes and extra sheltered homes.”

Andre explains that: “In response to the first wave, Brent Council and Brent Clinical Commissioning Group worked with the Trust to develop a service that would help to reduce inequalities, increase quality of life and achieve better health outcomes for residents. As a result, on 30 November 2020, the Brent Health Inequalities team was launched.

“In collaboration with 10 GP practices who were most affected by COVID, the team uses population health data and local feedback to target those “hard to reach patients” in the community.

“We engage with people about their health issues, offer holistic health care assessments, advice and education to help them to selfmanage their conditions.

“We have opened a patient advice line for residents to contact for information, or to be sign posted to relevant community services for any non-clinical queries that they may have. The advice line is open between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Members of the ICP team

“The pandemic has also had a significant impact on the mental health of many local people caused by isolation during lockdown, financial concerns, unemployment and bereavement. Our team is working alongside the Brent community mental health team to offer support to patients who have low level mental health needs. We can then signpost them to services available in the community, “The support of the council has led to the recruitment of community champions, health educators and local volunteers to help engage with residents. This underpins Brent Health Inequalities team philosophy “to take ordinary people, to do extraordinary things for the people of our community!”

Enhancing healthcare for care home residents Care home residents represent some of the frailest, most dependent and vulnerable members of our society. In Brent there are 10 nursing homes and 52 residential care homes providing care for people with a range of physical, mental and emotional needs.

Adesola says: “The NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, includes a commitment to enhanced health in care homes. Brent CCG recognised that care home residents would benefit from an enhanced, proactive primary care service, providing access to multidisciplinary and specialist services that could work together to improve care and outcomes.

“In November 2019, the Brent Enhanced Care Home Support Team (ECHST) was introduced, to offer support to 14 care homes with a total of around 850 residents.”

Veronica outlines how the service works: “The support team has a single point of access number which enables care home staff to easily contact an advanced care practitioner for advice, support or clinical interventions from 8am to 8pm seven days a week.

“With a designated team of GPs working alongside advanced clinical practitioners within the service, any acutely unwell residents referred to the team can receive care assessments and management interventions.

“The ECHST offers education and training to care home staff.

Where appropriate, the team also provides a review of residents following their discharge from hospital and, in discussion with their GP, can make direct referrals to community services and review care plans.

“The team reviewed its service delivery at the start of the pandemic, then extended to all 62 care and nursing homes in Brent to ensure that all care homes were supported and also worked to deliver COVID testing and vaccinations to all residents in care homes.”

9

Celebrating Black History Month

Chaplaincy welcomes Rabbi Alan Garber

The Trust recognised Black History Month throughout October 2020.

Activities included a special virtual event, organised by our BME Network, which featured renowned cultural historian, Patrick Vernon, the man behind the 100 Great Black Britons campaign.

Just like our community, our chaplains come from a wide variety of backgrounds and faiths.

Rabbi Alan Garber joined the chaplaincy at the end of 2020 and spoke to Our Trust about his role.

Staff were also able to take part in an interactive, online workshop with behavioural learning specialists Steps to support conversations about race with colleagues, explore what white privilege and systemic racism are, and help understand what staff can do to be a better ally at work.

To help mark Black History Month, NHS England London chose 36 prominent individuals to be the faces of the NHS in the capital. Samantha Tross, Lead Orthopaedic Surgeon at Ealing Hospital, was featured on a commemorative map that was promoted across social media platforms.

What does your work at the Trust involve?

My role as a chaplain is to offer support and spiritual care for people within our hospital communities. So much of my role is about being present and available for patients, staff and visitors to the hospital.

Why did you choose to work at the Trust?

I have special affection for Northwick Park Hospital as I was born here, 46 years ago.

Staff members Helen Abidoye and Abdi Yussaf pictured at a pre-pandemic Black History Month event

What is the best part about your job?

Meeting patients and helping them to feel connected to the community.

What have you most enjoyed in your career so far?

Giving out chocolate coins to patients and staff on the festival of Chanukah.

If you could have chosen a different career what would it have been?

I would have loved to have been a chef. I enjoy cooking and I get to practice being a chef at home with my wife and five children.

How do you relax?

It might sound strange, but it is going for a run. I find it clears my mind, gives me positive energy, and I love being out in nature in all seasons.

What are you looking forward to most when we come out the other side of COVID? Hugging my mum and dad again.

Marking 50 years of Northwick Park Hospital On 26 October 2020, Northwick Park Hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The Trust took to social media to look back over the past five decades and an exhibition of 50 photographs of members of staff is planned to be displayed within the hospital.

Chief executive, Chris Bown, received the book of thanks from year six teacher Gina Brown

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, sent a personal video message to staff past and present thanking them for their on-going commitment and hard work.

The pupils from St Anselms Catholic Primary School in Harrow showed their appreciation for Northwick Park Hospital by presenting a book of thanks containing more than 400 messages.

YEARS The Queen meets guests at the official opening of Northwick Park Hospital in 1970. The line-up includes the future Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher

10

Our Trust Awards

Honours and awards recognise the efforts of staff Outstanding work during the pandemic recognised in

New Year and Queen’s Birthday honours

Lisa Knight

Dr Ganesh Suntharalingam

Our Chief Nurse, Lisa Knight, was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for her role during the pandemic. Lisa said: “I’m deeply grateful to have been nominated for this honour. It’s a lovely surprise and one that I want to share with my nurses who continue to be so fantastic during the pandemic.

Having trained at Northwick Park Hospital early in my career, it’s meant a lot for me to be working with the Trust during this challenging time.”

Three of our consultants were also recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for their outstanding work during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Ganesh Suntharalingam, Clinical Lead for Critical Care, was awarded an OBE. Dr Nuala Lucas, Consultant Obstetric Anaesthetist, and Dr Gurjinder Singh Sandhu, Infectious Diseases Consultant, were both awarded MBEs. Ganesh, who is also the President of the Intensive Care Society, works in intensive care at Northwick Park Hospital. He is part of a team which looks after the most critically ill patients. Ganesh said: “We all met the challenge together and I’m proud to be part of the team. We pulled out all the stops and the response from everyone in our hospitals was phenomenal.

Dr Nuala Lucas

Training programme wins national workforce award The Trust won the Best Workforce for Learning and Development category at the Nursing Times Workforce Awards 2020.

Dr Gurjinder Singh Sandhu

“I am involved in national work via the Intensive Care Society but within the Trust it’s a privilege to be part of a rota with a lot of great leadership and collaboration coming from many others. This honour is for my colleagues as much as myself.”

Nuala works in the maternity department where she helps look after women in labour with COVID-19 she said: “It’s a fantastic honour not just for me and my profession but the whole maternity team I work with.”

“We worked out a system where partners could be present at the birth and, luckily, the majority of mums-to-be displayed mild symptoms of the virus with minimal risk of onward transmission to their babies.”

Until recently, Gurjinder worked at Ealing Hospital, where he has played a huge role in training staff before the arrival of the virus in March as well as treating patients.

He said: “Hospitals aren’t about one person it was a team effort and I want to thank all my clinical and non-clinical colleagues.”

-Gurj has just taken on a clinical lead role at King’s College Hospital, and we wish him the very best of luck.

Throughout the pandemic, our learning and organisational development team have played a key role in supporting the workforce. This includes the transfer and training of staff from other nursing specialisms into critical care along with the redeployment and training of Allied Health Professionals.

Thousands of staff benefited from Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) sessions, while more than 400 were given additional training to work in the trust’s hard-pressed critical and intensive care units.

Face-to-face training was delivered in PPE and the widespread use of e-learning platforms social media and video conferencing completely modernised how the trust delivered staff training.

Sharin Baldwin, Clinical Academic Lead, said: “People’s willingness to get stuck in was extraordinary but we still had a duty to ensure they

were trained to help out in areas like critical and intensive care.

“It was a learning curve but with the support of the specialist nurses and practice development nurses we adapted, delivered and improved upon a huge educational programme. This ranged from non-invasive ventilation and testing for FFP3 masks to core training for venepuncture and administration of intravenous drugs.

“Our overarching belief was the importance of a small cog in a big wheel and the fact that everyone has a role to play from cleaning staff to consultants. It was a huge team effort and people should feel rightly proud of that.”

Goretti Dowdican-McAndrew, Head of Multi-professional Development, added: “The award demonstrates how each person plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of safe patient care.”

11

Online visit app wins national IT award

FGM – reflecting on the first year of the Hibiscus Clinic

Our NHS book an online visit app won Healthcare Project of the Year at the UK IT Industry Awards 2020. The app was created by Made Tech in collaboration with the Trust, St. Mark’s Foundation, and volunteers.

The Hibiscus Clinic, based in Wembley Centre for Health in Brent, first opened its doors in September 2019. The clinic uses a holistic approach treating both the physical and psychological trauma associated with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

During the first wave of the pandemic, online visiting was used across 66 COVID and non-COVID wards at Ealing, Northwick Park and St. Mark’s hospitals when visiting restrictions were enforced to minimize the potential spread of the virus.

Specialist midwife Gina Acquah says: “The Trust recorded 118 incidents of female genital mutilation during 2019/20, one of the highest reporting in the country, so there is a real need to raise awareness and support these women in Brent.

To date, the service app has facilitated over 10,000 visits at the Trust and has been introduced at other hospitals around the country.

“The service provides a one stop service where woman can seek advice, support and treatment outside a hospital setting and we’ve seen over 30 women since we opened.”

“Women can self-refer into the service, through their GP or another hospital department. We’d like colleagues to spread the word about the service, so women who have suffered FGM can get the help and support they need.”

“We also work with local community groups to change the culture and thinking around FGM. There’s a misconception that FGM predominantly affects the African community, whereas it is practiced in countries as diverse as Iraq, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.”

The clinic runs on alternate Tuesdays between 9am and 5pm. For more information, email the team at LNWH-tr.FGMBrentServices@nhs.net or call Gina Acquah or Ifrah Warsame on 07776673996.

Patient safety award for maternity unit Our maternity unit was part of a joint initiative that won the Best Partnership Solution category at the Patient Safety Awards 2020 for preventing Cerebral Palsy in premature babies.

The PReCePT Programme (preventing cerebral palsy in preterm babies) offered an injection of magnesium sulphate during labour reducing the likelihood of cerebral palsy in one in every 42 mothers who received this treatment when giving birth under 30 weeks of gestation.

The joint initiative was led by Imperial College Health Partners along with maternity units at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital, Hillingdon Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital.

Dr Bonilla Nayar, consultant obstetrician and local clinical lead for Precept Project, said: “Only 60% of eligible mothers were receiving the injection prior to the programme across the sector which subsequently rose to more than 90% through awareness, education and training.

Our mantra was think magnesium sulphate when giving steroids to preterm births.

“The success of this collaborative work is testament to our hardworking midwives, obstetricians and neonatal team. We strive to deliver excellent maternal and neonatal outcomes and the maternity team is proud to be the recipient of this prestigious award.”

Team members at the opening of clinic with Chief Nurse, Lisa Knight (photo taken pre-pandemic)

Raising awareness of chronic liver disease The three risk factors associated with chronic liver disease (CLD) are viral hepatitis, alcohol and obesity. CLD can progress to cirrhosis with an increased risk of developing liver cancer and liver failure.

Recently, data from local health road show aimed at raising awareness of CLD found that Harrow was one of the London boroughs with the highest prevalence of risk factors for CLD in the capital. Data from the road show, which visited Brent, Ealing and Harrow, was fed into a national study involving more than 2,600 participants in collaboration with the British Liver Trust.

Dr Laith Al-Rubaiy, a liver specialist at St. Mark’s Hospital, said: “There has been 400% rise in the liver-related deaths in the past 50 years in the UK and this study highlights the need for greater awareness and education in our communities.”

Dr Al-Rubaiy added: “People can reverse liver damage if it is caught early enough and they adopt healthier lifestyles.

We hope that by raising awareness of the importance of liver health that we can address the risk factors for liver disease, especially excess alcohol and obesity.”

25 years of the Sainsbury Ward The Sainsbury Ward at Northwick Park Hospital marked its 25th anniversary during November.

The ward, a gift from Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury, was officially opened by HRH Princess Alexandra on 14 November 1995.

Since opening, the ward has been maintained as a private facility mainly for colorectal patients.

It is also used by other specialties including urology, cardiology, medicine and endoscopy.

The Trust uses revenue generated from the ward to support its NHS services. Through the profits of Sainsbury Ward, an annual donation is also made to the St. Mark’s Hospital Foundation.

In response to the pandemic, Sainsbury Ward was adapted to care for COVID-19 patients – showing how the private patient unit can respond to support the urgent needs of the NHS.

12

Our Trust News

News from around the Trust Cath lab re-opens after £1m refurbishment

I

n February, Northwick Park Hospital’s cath lab re-opened after a £1m refurbishment. The lab is equipped with the latest diagnostic imaging equipment to treat patients with heart conditions.

Specialist x-ray equipment helps guide minimally invasive procedures by providing the team with detailed images of the arteries and chambers of the heart. The lab also facilitates ultrasound, measuring blood flow and optical coherence tomography, which provides high detailed imaging of cross sections of the heart.

The new lab is fitted with the latest technology

Research focuses on first-time fathers

T

he mental-health and wellbeing of new fathers is the focus of a research paper Working with Fathers: reflections and learning from the New Dad Study.

Sharin Baldwin, Clinical Academic Lead (nursing), who led the research, brought together a group of first-time fathers and was surprised about how willing they were to talk about their experience.

Sharin says: “I assumed we would find it difficult to recruit men to the study and that they would be reluctant to talk about personal issues like mental health. I was wrong on both counts.”

Several key messages emerged from the research for health visitors to consider, including actively encouraging fathers to talk about their experience as first-time fathers, encouraging

Palliative care nurse shares her story Kelly Critcher’s book A Matter of Life and Death: Courage, compassion and the fight against coronavirus, describes her work as a palliative care nurse at Northwick Park Hospital.

fathers to participate and looking at their needs as men as well fathers.

Sharin added:

“If we want fathers to be engaged with health services and professionals we need to listen to their needs and ensure their views are reflected.”

Kelly’s story weaves together her diaries from the COVID frontline with a broader reflection about a life spent caught between battling for her patients’ lives and helping them face down death with courage and compassion.

Describing her work as a palliative care nurse Kelly says: “It is a privilege to be a part of people’s lives at the most challenging of times and helping them understand their diagnosis and what it means for their future. Dying is a part of life and we help people live well until they die, such as supporting them at home if that is where they want to be.”

Kelly’s book is available to pre-order and is out on 29 April.

13

Letter to you - students and teachers help lift the spirits of Ealing Hospital staff

Stroke patient’s recovery aided by “Letters to your Loved One” initiative

M

atthew Stamper was transferred to the Regional Hyperacute Rehabilitation Unit at Northwick Park Hospital after suffering a stroke during an operation to remove a brain tumour.

For his wife Alice, the transfer meant a three-hour round trip from their home in Billericay, Essex.

Special delivery – Staff at Ealing Hospital receive the student letters

A

local student moved by a news report about the pressures facing NHS staff organised more than 800 letters of support to be delivered to her local hospital in Ealing.

Hannah Safi, 17, who is in Year 12 at Notting Hill and Ealing High School, encouraged fellow pupils and teachers to write messages of thanks.

Hannah said: “I was reading an article on BBC news that highlighted the large spike in cases of depression and anxiety among health care workers and read a testimony about how terrified a nurse was to return to the front lines for the second wave.

“It made me want to somehow communicate to every staff member in Ealing Hospital just how grateful we are, and how much we all see them as the heroes this country is so lucky to have.”

The letters were quarantined for 72 hours before being distributed to staff.

The gesture was welcomed by Donna Adcock, Deputy Chief Nurse, who said: ‘It means so much to

feel appreciated in this way and feel valued within our community.”

Cardiologist, Dr Harmandeep Singh, added: “Those on the frontline have gone through tremendous emotional and psychological trauma and see a lot of sickness and illness.

“Gestures such as these mean so much more than any monetary gift could provide. They show that people care and they provide staff with an inner strength to help continue the fight against COVID.” Matthew Shoults, Head Teacher of Notting Hill and Ealing High School said: “Hannah is a star! Not only did she come up with this lovely idea, but she has worked hard to bring it through to fruition. This initiative shows us just how much young people genuinely care for their community. We are extremely proud of her and all our girls who contributed.”

Newsweek survey recognises St. Mark’s as global leader St. Mark’s department of gastroenterology was ranked 14th among the world’s specialised hospitals for 2020 by Newsweek magazine following an international survey of 40,000 clinicians.

Omar Faiz, Clinical Director of St. Mark’s Hospital, said: “To be listed by Newsweek as 14th globally, and second

in the UK, among the world’s leading specialised hospitals is an incredible achievement.

Our international reputation has been built upon providing the best diagnosticians, highest level of care and most effective treatments. Our gastro medical and nursing teams should be rightly proud of the recognition that their work as gained.”

The hospital helped the couple to stay in touch via Letters to your Loved One, an initiative that allows family and friends to send messages, greeting cards and pictures.

Alice says: “It was a life saver for us, the hospital staff were fantastic and read the messages out to Matt as he was suffering from double vision.

Our family could be in contact with him every day. It meant a lot to both of us and he has two folders full of the messages at home.

Letters to your Loved One was the brainchild of Dr Bhavya Tyagi and colleagues, who understood the

healing power of communication, especially with the pandemic restricting visiting hours.

Dr Tyagi said: “We want to help people make a connection. It can be easy to forget that human contact even if it is via an electronic device is part of the healing process. It isn’t just about medicine.”

To find out more about Letters to your Loved One visit www.lnwh.nhs.uk/letters-toyour-loved-one

St. Mark’s services transfer to Central Middlesex Hospital As part of our winter plans and on-going response to COVID-19, St. Mark’s services have transferred from the Northwick Park Hospital (NPH) site to Central Middlesex Hospital (CMH). These are temporary measures that we plan to review in spring 2021.

St. Mark’s has an international reputation for excellence which comes from the team providing a fully integrated service. The transfer, which has been led by clinicians, will ensure the consolidation of St. Mark’s services at CMH, helping us maintain clinical safety and continuity of care.

It will also make greater use of the excellent facilities at CMH, which

has been designated an elective, or ‘green’ site. The separation of planned care from urgent and emergency care will also allow us to reduce the need to postpone planned operations when urgent demand increases.

Our COVID-19 infection control processes have reduced clinic capacity on the NPH site. The space released at NPH by St. Mark’s moving to CMH has been used to support other services.

The moves have needed to happen quickly and safely and would not have been possible without the support of St. Mark’s and CMH staff and also our estates & facilities team who have played a key role in this important project.

14

Our Trust LNWH Charity

Rising to the challenge: LNWH Charity’s response to COVID-19 2020 was an exceptionally challenging year and the most extraordinary time in the history of the NHS. As the Trust’s official charity, LNWH Charity aimed to support staff and patients every step of the way. While NHS staff worked around the clock to provide outstanding care for patients, the charity helped make their time at work as comfortable as possible.

Communities united in one aim The Trust has been at the forefront the pandemic and, in responding to this challenge, the charity acted to re-organise staff and services.

Our communities came together with local businesses, charities, religious groups colleges and schools showing their support by doing their best to help our NHS heroes.

We channeled this outpouring of kindness into wellbeing support for staff and a better hospital experience for patients. We raised £500,000 through our COVID-19 appeal, funded ventilators and other lifesaving equipment, coordinated food deliveries for staff and collaborated with volunteers to facilitate gift-inkind worth over £75,000.

Supporting access to services and staff wellbeing In September, we raised £50,000 from NHS Charities Together to boost our Link Well project, a remote interpretation service, which helps people whose first language is not English.

In December, we secured another £50,000 grant from NHS Charities Together to support us with the second wave of COVID-19. This funding will be used to aid the physical and mental wellbeing of our NHS staff, patients, and volunteers.

Holistic care a priority for 2021 Looking ahead, we plan to fund healthcare check-ups for staff, to help with early detection of issues such as abnormal blood pressure, high body mass index scores, and mental health screenings. We will fund these check-ups across the Trust’s three main hospital sites. We are also in the process of funding wellbeing space to provide a quiet area where staff can relax and unwind.

During 2021, we will work to build the fundraising and grantmaking capacity of the charity.

As part of this work, we will

continue to engage, acquire and retain donors through planned communications campaigns and via our digital platforms. More than anything else, we look forward to continuing our support of the Trust as it works to meet its goals of providing excellent healthcare quality and patient experience to the population of north west London and beyond.

To find out more about the work of the LNWH Charity, learn how you can get involved or to donate visit https://lnwhcharity.org.uk

15

Remembering those we have lost Our thoughts and condolences are with all those who have lost loved ones due to COVID and non-COVID illness during the pandemic. In October, our Chaplaincy held a special online memorial service to help staff reflect on and celebrate the lives of colleagues who have passed away.

Sadly, since the memorial service, there have been further losses which have been felt deeply among our teams.

Mr Rajinder Prasad Bhutiani Raj was a consultant general paediatric surgeon and much-loved member of our surgical team. He will be missed enormously by everyone who has worked with him during his 34 years at the Trust. Raj’s career in medicine began more than 46 years ago and he will be remembered by his colleagues for his unwavering duty and dedication to caring for his patients.

Professor Stephen Chadwick said: “Raj joined Northwick Park Hospital in October 1988, taking over from me as Senior Registrar to John Lewis (JDL) in General and Vascular Surgery. This appointment was the beginning of an enduring friendship between Raj and JDL. In these early days Raj proved himself both in surgery and taking on other roles including Accident and Emergency. Raj may have chosen to go down the A&E route, but his passion and skills lay in clinical surgery and in particular operative surgery.

“Over the years he co-authored papers on emergency surgery and inguinal hernia repair.

He championed Day Care hernia surgery culminating with his Walk-in Walk-out hernia service.

“His legacy lies in his teaching skills. A few months ago, I was talking to an ex-trainee of his who explained with enthusiasm how he had taught her the craft of surgery. She and many others will pass on to future generations of surgeons Raj’s way of doing things.”

Matt Bartlett, Divisional Clinical Director for Surgery said: “I knew Raj through all stages of my professional life and he always impressed me with his dignity, generosity and humour as well his outstanding ability as a surgeon. I am privileged to have known him and to have worked alongside him during my training”.

Nalini Ganesalingam

Louise O’Halloran,

Dhanu Jesani

Nalini, clinical coding team lead, provided more than 30 years of proud service to the NHS. She started work in the maternity department at Central Middlesex Hospital before joining the clinical coding team at Northwick Park Hospital, developing into the role of supervisor. Nalini was a respected and well-regarded member of the team who will be greatly missed by everyone that had the pleasure of working with her.

Lou, a dedicated point of care testing associate and office manager, was a valued and respected team member. She was also kind hearted and helpful to all. Lou was well known and liked throughout the Trust and her passing will leave a hole in our community that cannot be filled.

Dhanu Jesani, senior pharmacy technician, was known to all as DJ. She was respected for her calm, no nonsense approach and dedication to her role. Colleagues remember her as generous and welcoming and someone who made a big impression on people, often in a short period of time. DJ is remembered with much affection and respect by colleagues, past and present, who will all miss her as a teacher, confidant and friend.

16

Our Trust

Hitting the headlines...

The rise in COVID cases during December and January saw our staff once again placed at the forefront of London’s response to the virus. Unsurprisingly, media interest has been high, with our teams featured widely across national news during the second wave.

ITV News

The Sun

Critical care teams appeared in an extended ITV News report which was broadcast on January 5. Trish Mukherjee, critical care lead nurse, told ITV: “I think we’re prepared, for the next two weeks, I don’t feel as if were not in control of things, we are. We’ve got a better way of managing it, and I think the main thing for me is that we’re now communicating with other organisations so we can share the workload, if we do come under pressure, we do have colleagues who can help support us, other hospitals can take patients.”

Colleagues also spoke passionately to The Sun about the reality of working during the second wave. In a report published on 11 January, Dr Ganesh Suntharalingam, intensive care consultant, stressed the importance of Sun readers staying at home and getting vaccinated if they are offered the jab: “ The Sun also published a strongly worded editorial in support of the NHS: “Having seen this carnage first-hand, The Sun has two messages for our readers: First, do not give a moment’s credence to the conspiracy theorists who claim that COVID is a hoax, our hospitals empty and the vaccine part of some plot by a global elite to control mankind. Our second plea is the one we received from Stephen Powis, Medical Director for NHS England. We can help his exhausted but heroic medics by taking it to heart: It is to stay at home, to stick by the rules and to have the jab when called on to do so.

Newsnight On 15 January, BBC2’s flagship Newsnight programme focused on the pressures being felt by the NHS and the work of our staff.

The response to the Newsnight coverage on social media was overwhelming, with patients, doctors and relatives alike praising the hard work, commitment and compassion of staff.

My London We are also working hard to keep our communities informed though local media Dr Padmasayee Papineni, infectious diseases consultant, recently spoke to My London about her experience of getting the COVID vaccine and encouraging BAME communities to get the jab.

She also looked to reassure people about the vaccines saying: “There’s a lot of worry over ‘how did they manage to create a vaccine that works so quickly’?

“If you have a condition that affects the majority of the world with the political, scientific and financial commitment, it shows what you can achieve.”

Acute oncology nurse, Yvonne Tapper, also featured in My London talking about receiving the COVID vaccination, and how she hopes her story will encourage the black community to take it up.

Rachel Clarke Doctor This @BBCNewsnight film from Northwick Park Hospital is extraordinarily powerful journalism. inside a hospital during #CV19. Heroic, brilliant and deeply resilient NHS staff struggling under immense pressure. Very moving

Lewis Goodall We are so grateful to the fantastic team @LNWH_NHS for opening their doors and letting us spend so much time with them. They’re the best of the best. @BBCNewsnight showing life inside a hospital during #CV19. Heroic, brilliant and deeply resilient NHS staff struggling under immense pressure. Very moving

Channel 4 and The Telegraph Towards the end of January, our critical care and ward teams at Ealing Hospital appeared on Channel 4 News, and in The Telegraph, speaking passionately about the reality of working in the NHS during the pandemic and the importance of the public staying home.

Peter Frankopan Amazing report by @lewis_goodall on @BBCNewsnight showing life inside a hospital during #CV19. Heroic, brilliant and deeply resilient NHS staff struggling under immense pressure. Very moving

David Olusoga Absolutely brilliant, if harrowing, reporting by @lewis_goodall Everyone needs to watch this.