6 minute read
Raising awareness of chronic liver disease
Online visit app wins national IT award
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. 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. To date, the service app has facilitated over 10,000 visits at the Trust and has been introduced at other hospitals around the country.
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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.” 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). 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. “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.” “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.” “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.” 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.
FGM – reflecting on the first year of the Hibiscus Clinic
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.
News from around the Trust
Cath lab re-opens after £1m refurbishment
In 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
The 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 fathers to participate and looking at their needs as men as well fathers.
Sharin added:
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. 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.”
