Imperial College Healthcare Nhs Trust

On Tuesday 9 October, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust held its first allied health professionals conference at the W12 conference centre, Hammersmith Hospital.
The conference was open to professionals working at the Trust and was organised to celebrate the work of AHPs, to inspire attendees to continue to deliver and make improvements to patient care, and to highlight the different ways that AHPs can build their careers, both at our Trust and nationally.
Attendees had... chance to hear from a number of speakers including Suzanne Rastrick, chief allied health professions officer at NHS England and Dr Caroline Alexander, lead clinical academic for the Trust.
Read more here: https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/…/imperial- college-healthcare-n…
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To mark Black History Month, Michelle Openibo, associate director of finance: business partnering, shares her experience of progressing her career in the NHS:
“I joined the NHS as a finance trainee. One of my first jobs was a placement at Hammersmith Hospital in internal audit, and 13 years later I joined Imperial working as a finance business partner. One of the best things about working in the business partnering team is getting to be out in the organisation supporting the... amazing clinical services that are provided in the hospital. The drive in the Trust is to improve and innovate and getting to be a part of those conversations is an incredible experience. I’ve also worked with fantastic people in my department and other corporate departments who are committed to providing the best service that they can to support the delivery of care. We have a challenging financial position in the Trust, which can make the job more difficult, but I am really motivated by the people that I know across the organisation who feel a personal responsibility to try and make our information, systems and processes clear and easy to understand. The enthusiasm of the people who I come into contact with every day makes this a great environment to work in.”
Michelle Openibo, associate director of finance for business partnering at the Trust
#ImperialPeople #BlackHistoryMonth
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A new group that aims to increase the number of clinical academics from a range of healthcare professions outside medicine has launched at Imperial.
The Healthcare Professional Academic Group (HPAG) is a hub for clinical academics in the healthcare professions working in nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, healthcare science and the allied health professions. Its mission is to increase the number of healthcare professionals on a clinical academic training pathway. The group works closely with the Clinical Academic Training Office (CATO) in providing guidance and careers advice.
Read the full story here: https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/…/new-imper ial-group-aims-to-gr…

Today is World Menopause Day.
In 2016, researchers from Imperial College London trialled an experimental new drug that could help menopausal women with frequent hot flushes.
Watch this video to hear from one woman who participated in the trial as well as from researchers Professor Waljit Dhillo, NIHR Professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism at Imperial College London, and Dr Julia Prague, ‎Academic Clinical Fellow in Diabetes and Endocrinology at ‎Imperial College London.
... https://vimeo.com/242031387
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To celebrate 200 years of Charing Cross Hospital, we’re opening our doors for a special public open day to mark the occasion.
Staff will be showcasing their services to the public and there will be fun activities for the family to get involved in. There will also be a recruitment zone where there will be on the day interviews for some of our vacancies.
... Find out more here: https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/…/charing-c ross-open-day-30-oct…
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As part of our Black History month celebrations this October, Kevin Croft, director of people and organisational development will be hosting open meetings for staff from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. The aim of these events is to share your views and ideas with Kevin directly. The meetings will be held at sites across the Trust so come along to one near you:
Wednesday 24 October, Western Eye boardroom, first floor, Western Eye Hospital, 14.00 – 15.00
Tuesday 3...0 October, new boardroom, ground floor (between Riverside wing and the main hospital) Charing Cross Hospital, 14.30 – 15.30
Wednesday 12 November, Duke of Sussex boardroom, second floor, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, 10.00 – 11.00
If you have any questions about these meetings please contact Deyae Sefri: Deyae.sefri@nhs.net
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Imperial Health Charity has invested in our services at Charing Cross Hospital to improve the care we provide to patients. This includes the multi-million-pound refurbishment of the outpatients department; the £1m redevelopment of the Riverside operating theatres; and improvements to Clinic 8, which provides services for cancer patients.
Find out more about the Charity on their website: https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/

To mark Black History Month, Michelle Shepherd, care network and contracts programme manager at Charing Cross Hospital shares her experience of progressing her career in the NHS:
“I have worked in the NHS for the last 15 years, starting as a student midwife post completion of college.
Having decided to not continue on to a midwifery career on graduating, I quickly found myself working administratively within the NHS. I have consequently endeavoured on an NHS career path, prog...ressing from a clinic clerk to my current role. There are so many opportunities for career progression and every trust I have worked in has enabled me to realise and achieve my career goals.
My first manager in the NHS really took the time to help me in developing, and nurtured what she saw as a natural talent. This grounding has never left me and has always reminded me of the kind of manager I want to be. One who inspires staff to want to achieve more.”
Michelle Shepherd, care network and contracts programme manager, Charing Cross Hospital
#ImperialPeople #BlackHistoryMonth
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This month we’re celebrating Charing Cross Hospital’s 200th birthday.
Charing Cross was founded in 1818 by Dr Benjamin Golding, as a voluntary hospital called West London Infirmary in the Strand, Charing Cross.
In 1827 it was renamed Charing Cross Hospital and in 1973 it moved to its current location in Fulham Palace Road, when this video was made!... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hufO1H4x4 _o
#CharingCross200
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“There are certainly times in your job when you feel quite privileged. One of my patients, a young woman who was dying from lymphoma, had a very young son and one of the things when she was aware she was dying was that she wanted to leave some mementos for her son, and some of those mementos included letters. It felt for me a privilege to be sitting by what was her deathbed, days ahead of her dying, writing this letter that she wanted to give to her son. That was quite a spec...ial moment. Her mother was also there. I think to know– because he’s quite young now –that when he’s 16 he will be reading this letter that you have contributed to, but is probably never going to have a very full memory of his mother, I think when you’re doing things like that you think, this job is meaningful not only in the present moment but this is going to be reaping rewards in decades to come.”
Troy Chase, Macmillan clinical psychologist, psycho-oncology team, Hammersmith Hospital
#ImperialPeople #WorldMentalHealthDay
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A wide range of healthcare professionals showcased their projects to encourage others to do research at the recent North West London Research Symposium, which took place at Imperial’s South Kensington Campus.
More than 100 delegates attended the symposium to present their research, learn more about how to pursue a research career, get advice on funding and see examples of successful research projects carried out by peers in their area.
Read the full story on our website: https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/…/inspiring -healthcare-research…

Are you an exceptional nurse with a passion for research in mild cognitive impairment, patients at risk of developing disease and those with a diagnosis of dementia?
We are seeking an enthusiastic, experienced and skilled dementia research nurse to join the Imperial Memory Unit team based at Charing Cross Hospital, Hammersmith.
This is an excellent opportunity for a dynamic registered nurse with a background in dementia care or research to begin or develop their research care...er. Working as a research nurse combines traditional patient care and nursing duties with the world of research protocols and cutting edge studies and findings.
Apply now: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/…/747ff33e581bd a004769911b45c57e84/…
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To mark Black History Month, Doyin Ogunbiyi, associate director of finance, financial services at our Trust shares his experience of progressing his career in the NHS:
“During my time at the Trust I’ve worked with many amazing people and together we’ve achieved some incredible things. Securing the business case for the expansion of the paediatric intensive care unit ranks top of the list (but is very closely followed by many others) due to the fact that it required an absolu...te commitment from a genuinely multidisciplinary team of clinicians, operational managers, finance, estates, HR, Imperial Health Charity and many others besides from board to ward. It serves as a daily reminder of what we can achieve when we truly embrace the concept of a team in its broadest possible sense. As an organisation we have some big challenges and I look forward to recreating this approach as we set on the road towards our aspirational aims ahead.”
#BlackHistoryMonth #ImperialPeople
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6 in 10 smokers want to quit and Stoptober is the perfect time for them to give up smoking. Join them this Stoptober and make the best choice for your health and your wallet: https://www.nhs.uk/one…/be-healthier/qu it-smoking/stoptober/

“I’m responsible for leading on the psychological care for people with cancer at the Trust. That doesn’t just involve the psychologists, counsellors etc – we work with the oncologists, surgeons, specialist nurses, AHPs, macmillan navigators, research trials teams, everyone who works in cancer and related specialties, to help them offer good psychological care to everyone, in every interaction.
Sometimes our colleagues assume that good psychological care always involves referr...ing a patient to a specialist. They may tell us ‘I don’t really know what to say, or how to sort out this problem’. The issues may indeed be complex and need specialist input, but in that moment, the best thing to do for the person is stay with it, listen and respond with warmth and empathy. If they’re willing to talk a little bit more, asking open questions is a really good intervention. So when we are training other healthcare professionals to provide good psychological care, we try to get them to ask questions like, ‘Can you tell me a bit more about that? What else is going on for you? What is most important for you now?’ Patients tell us it’s important to feel listened to and get a human response, even if there’s no immediate solution.
It can be difficult for psychologists in a medical setting if you’re not really connected to the run of things medically, if psychological care is treated separately to the rest of a patient’s care. What’s been most rewarding at Imperial is that we’ve had really good, proactive involvement in lots of different aspects of how cancer services operate. We’re based in the same clinics, we’re having joint discussions. Not just clinically, we’re also getting involved in many projects from the outset, where the teams want to improve their quality of care and involve us to bring in psychological insights and evidence. I believe our colleagues have been able to trust that we’re supportive and responsive, and it feels good to be accepted as part of the team.”
Dr Alex King, consultant clinical psychologist, lead for the psycho-oncology service at the Trust
Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay and Alex is curating our Twitter channel @ImperialPeople. If you use Twitter, be sure to follow him!
#ImperialPeople
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An Imperial researcher has been awarded funding to develop a multiplayer video game to improve rehabilitation outcomes of physically impaired patients.
Dr Paul Bentley, consultant neurologist at the Trust and clinical senior lecturer at Imperial College London, and his team have been awarded £1.1 million from the National Institute of Health Research’s (NIHR) translational funding scheme to build a web-based version of a social video game, called Balloon Buddies, that could h...elp patients with physical impairments improve their rehabilitation.
Read the full story here: https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/…/funding-b oost-to-develop-the-…
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Staff at Charing Cross Hospital will be showcasing their services to members of the public at a special open day to celebrate its 200th birthday this month, having been founded in October 1818 by Dr Benjamin Golding.
The open day, taking place in the hospital on Tuesday 30 October from 15.30-18.00, will feature:
- service stands on the ground floor to showcase the great work that comes out of Charing Cross... - health MOTs - fun activities for children - a recruitment zone with on the day interviews should you be happy to be interviewed - education talks to showcase what it’s like to work or volunteer for the Trust and opportunities currently available - history and clinical tours giving a behind-the-scenes look at some of our key services - the Hospitals that make history exhibition which we designed to celebrate NHS70 - entertainment and music - Imperial Health Charity activities, including showcasing the new anniversary garden. - This event is open to all and all activities are free. Come along and help celebrate this landmark anniversary!
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Congratulations to our consultant neurosurgeon Mark Wilson, who along with Ali Ghorbangholi won the Groundbreaking Pioneer or Discovery award in The Sun's Who Cares Wins health awards last night!
Mark developed the lifesaving GoodSAM App, dubbed the Uber of CPR. Sam stands for 'smartphone activated medics'. People with CPR training are alerted of an emergency nearby.

To mark Black History Month, Karen Joash, consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology, head of quality and safety for maternity, divisional director of medical education at our Trust shares her experience of progressing her career in the NHS:
“I have always been passionate about improving the training and support for doctors in training and I was appointed as divisional director for medical education in my directorate in September 2015.
It has been a great experience to be instr...umental in improving medical education, with a significant turnaround in the trainees’ experience which led to our department receiving a national commendation from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
I always seek to be innovative and strive for continuous improvement and have recently been appointed as head of quality and safety for maternity. My motto is always to be passionate about what you do, which will help you to overcome barriers, by putting the people who you serve first.”
#ImperialPeople #BlackHistoryMonth
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Professor Vale and his team are world � class. A quiet and unassuming giant in his field.

Incredible dedication.

I think this trust is amazing but the government must pump in more money to the Trauma Trusts so that they have adequate beds available and adequate theatre time for the patients.This is crucial.

I had my surgery done here, they went above and beyond the surgeon and her team.

I cannot thank the gynaecology team enough.

I have never received such care before.

I am very impressed with the service provided by the Endoscopy Unit at St Mary's Hospital. I got my appointment sorted out fairly quickly with minimum fuss! On the day of the procedure I was seen on time as scheduled. The staff on the unit are very polite, respectful and professional. Dr Natalie Direkze was very approachable and extremely helpful!! Overall I had an extremely good patient experience

Absolutely amazing service from all. We are all so lucky to be able to have Nhs services and such a wonderful people delivering it. I am thankful.

As a parents I am eventually happy with all members of staff and provided amenities. In a past had a still born baby boy apart from that they have made immense contribution for the another birth of baby boy. We parents are feeling so blessed with all mid wives best wishes and God Grace. Many thanks to Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital. Unforgettable moments they have given to us.

Waited for more than 2 hour's to see a doctor. Even though we had an appointment. 2nd visit to the gynaecology depth in the Winston churchill building and again had to wait more than 2 hours.what's the point of this. Common sense states that maybe clinic ends of be run more ften or don't over book patients. This is unfair to patients who are unwell and take unpaid leave etc for these visits, not to mention the travel costs. VERY DISAPPOINTED. �

To Whom It May Concern:

My mother who is visiting from Jamaica but is a British citizen had to be admitted to St. Mary's hospital on Friday, October 9 to the 14th for a kidney infection & it was all downhill from there.

Firstly, the so called care & treatment that she was supposed to receive was pathetically lacking especially for a first world country.

When we returned on October 12 at around 5pm from the memorial service for our aunt, her sister, which she had to miss due to her infection, my sister & i came back to see her lying in her own feces & urine & that she hadn't been changed since lunchtime that day.

We were not amused & the sister on the Joseph Toynbee Ward didn't even show the slightest bit of empathy for the situation. Also, I had to wipe & clean her as nobody looked like they were going to do it even though that is part of their job. It wasn't until the night head nurse

came on duty did we see a more active & caring demeanor from that Ward.

Subsequently, we were informed the next day by a patient, not the hospital, that my mother is being moved to Thistlethwaite Ward. Is it the normal procedure not to inform the family when their relative is being moved? It doesn't look right at all.

Her treatment on Thistlethwaite Ward was a bit better however she had no diaper on nor did the doctors or nurses seem to be updating each other after each shift regarding her treatment.

All this is very unimpressive & frustrating as an overseas patient & the children of a specialist doctor who practiced in the U.K. whi in addition is a senior citizen. I won't even mention some other events that took place on the ward that leave a lot to be desired.

As of today, December 26, we have yet to hear the outcome of the investigation despite your complaints procedure page stating we should receive a response within 25 days and no timescale having been offered apart from a written warning that we will not be allowed back in the country unless we settle our bill within 3 months of the receipt of the bill.

We await a response nonetheless.

The latest CQC rating shows they have Inadequate Leadership. However, I believe that to be generous. They are one of the largest Trusts and by far the worst. It's time there were legal penalties for avoidable suffering, disability and deaths due to lack of care and accountability.

No star!!! the system of your hospital is just shit considering your the biggest hospital in UK!!!! Get it sorted

If there was a Zero star available this hospital would get that.

Shocking service firstly with appointments, waited over 2 and half hours to see Professor Hanna and he wasnt even going to see me even when I did it lasted all of 2 minutes.

Formal Complaint has been lodged.

Worst Hosital I have ever been too.

Great Western Eye...ADMIN. The administration/computer system still clearly remains in need of review. Following a considerable delay over appointments a few years ago (appointments supposedly sent in the post) resulting in significant deterioration in my mothers eye sight - causing her real issues now- I have just been notified that my mother has a "re-booked appointment following her non attendance" of an appointment in August. My mother has been very dilligent in attending all her appointments since her heart operation earlier this year. She hasnt missed any and so this cant be a re-booked appointment! The eye consultant /Dr we saw in the eye clinic , about 2 years ago for Cataract and diabetic issues was visibly agitated at what was (& still is, it seems!) a failure with the appointment/ administration department of the hospital. The staff at the hospital, however, have been most respectful and caring towards my mother and cant be faulted, through her diabetic and various eye clinic consultations and follow ups, since that time. I dont think I wrote at the time but I write now because it seems there is still a problem- despite this being highlighted at the time, with the staff. The extra resources required when preventative action is not taken is a drain on the NHS that really could be prevented- not to mention the distress to patients and their families with having to cope with the consequent deterioration in health.

Professor Vale and his team are world � class. A quiet and unassuming giant in his field.

Incredible dedication.

I think this trust is amazing but the government must pump in more money to the Trauma Trusts so that they have adequate beds available and adequate theatre time for the patients.This is crucial.

I had my surgery done here, they went above and beyond the surgeon and her team.

I cannot thank the gynaecology team enough.

I have never received such care before.

I am very impressed with the service provided by the Endoscopy Unit at St Mary's Hospital. I got my appointment sorted out fairly quickly with minimum fuss! On the day of the procedure I was seen on time as scheduled. The staff on the unit are very polite, respectful and professional. Dr Natalie Direkze was very approachable and extremely helpful!! Overall I had an extremely good patient experience

Absolutely amazing service from all. We are all so lucky to be able to have Nhs services and such a wonderful people delivering it. I am thankful.

As a parents I am eventually happy with all members of staff and provided amenities. In a past had a still born baby boy apart from that they have made immense contribution for the another birth of baby boy. We parents are feeling so blessed with all mid wives best wishes and God Grace. Many thanks to Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital. Unforgettable moments they have given to us.

Waited for more than 2 hour's to see a doctor. Even though we had an appointment. 2nd visit to the gynaecology depth in the Winston churchill building and again had to wait more than 2 hours.what's the point of this. Common sense states that maybe clinic ends of be run more ften or don't over book patients. This is unfair to patients who are unwell and take unpaid leave etc for these visits, not to mention the travel costs. VERY DISAPPOINTED. �

To Whom It May Concern:

My mother who is visiting from Jamaica but is a British citizen had to be admitted to St. Mary's hospital on Friday, October 9 to the 14th for a kidney infection & it was all downhill from there.

Firstly, the so called care & treatment that she was supposed to receive was pathetically lacking especially for a first world country.

When we returned on October 12 at around 5pm from the memorial service for our aunt, her sister, which she had to miss due to her infection, my sister & i came back to see her lying in her own feces & urine & that she hadn't been changed since lunchtime that day.

We were not amused & the sister on the Joseph Toynbee Ward didn't even show the slightest bit of empathy for the situation. Also, I had to wipe & clean her as nobody looked like they were going to do it even though that is part of their job. It wasn't until the night head nurse

came on duty did we see a more active & caring demeanor from that Ward.

Subsequently, we were informed the next day by a patient, not the hospital, that my mother is being moved to Thistlethwaite Ward. Is it the normal procedure not to inform the family when their relative is being moved? It doesn't look right at all.

Her treatment on Thistlethwaite Ward was a bit better however she had no diaper on nor did the doctors or nurses seem to be updating each other after each shift regarding her treatment.

All this is very unimpressive & frustrating as an overseas patient & the children of a specialist doctor who practiced in the U.K. whi in addition is a senior citizen. I won't even mention some other events that took place on the ward that leave a lot to be desired.

As of today, December 26, we have yet to hear the outcome of the investigation despite your complaints procedure page stating we should receive a response within 25 days and no timescale having been offered apart from a written warning that we will not be allowed back in the country unless we settle our bill within 3 months of the receipt of the bill.

We await a response nonetheless.

The latest CQC rating shows they have Inadequate Leadership. However, I believe that to be generous. They are one of the largest Trusts and by far the worst. It's time there were legal penalties for avoidable suffering, disability and deaths due to lack of care and accountability.

No star!!! the system of your hospital is just shit considering your the biggest hospital in UK!!!! Get it sorted

If there was a Zero star available this hospital would get that.

Shocking service firstly with appointments, waited over 2 and half hours to see Professor Hanna and he wasnt even going to see me even when I did it lasted all of 2 minutes.

Formal Complaint has been lodged.

Worst Hosital I have ever been too.

Great Western Eye...ADMIN. The administration/computer system still clearly remains in need of review. Following a considerable delay over appointments a few years ago (appointments supposedly sent in the post) resulting in significant deterioration in my mothers eye sight - causing her real issues now- I have just been notified that my mother has a "re-booked appointment following her non attendance" of an appointment in August. My mother has been very dilligent in attending all her appointments since her heart operation earlier this year. She hasnt missed any and so this cant be a re-booked appointment! The eye consultant /Dr we saw in the eye clinic , about 2 years ago for Cataract and diabetic issues was visibly agitated at what was (& still is, it seems!) a failure with the appointment/ administration department of the hospital. The staff at the hospital, however, have been most respectful and caring towards my mother and cant be faulted, through her diabetic and various eye clinic consultations and follow ups, since that time. I dont think I wrote at the time but I write now because it seems there is still a problem- despite this being highlighted at the time, with the staff. The extra resources required when preventative action is not taken is a drain on the NHS that really could be prevented- not to mention the distress to patients and their families with having to cope with the consequent deterioration in health.