King’s looks to Bromley students to help drive up membership

A group of 23 health and social care students has been working with staff from King’s to develop new and exciting ways to promote the benefits of joining the Trust to young people.

The project concluded in November 2015, with the students presenting the Trust with ways of improving its membership ‘offer’ to young people, as well as how best to communicate with them through some vibrant new design ideas for a membership leaflet and poster.

As a Foundation Trust, King’s currently has 11,000 members, of which only 150 are aged 16-21. Anyone living locally or who is a patient can become a member of the hospital, and the Trust wants to do more to attract young members.

Membership is free, and enables local people to get more involved in their local hospital. Members are the first to hear about news and events, and can also stand to be elected onto the Trust’s Council of Governors, so have a real influence in how the Trust runs.

As part of the project with King’s, the students conducted research and carried out surveys with their peers, which has given the Trust some great ideas about how to encourage young people to join King’s.

Many young people said membership could be improved by offering work experience opportunities at King’s, as well as greater use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

As well as being beneficial to the Trust, the project helped students gain experience of team working, research, report writing, presentation skills, as well as design and marketing.

Helen Merati, Engagement and Experience Manager at King’s, said: “We are really pleased to have worked with Bromley College on this exciting project. The students have shown a real enthusiasm for the project, and we are confident their input will help us improve our membership ‘offer’ for young people.”

Student Emily Bryant (pictured) said: "The King's Project has helped me develop new skills and view the organisation in a different way. My team working skills have vastly increased through both working with peers and King's staff members. It is exciting to be part of something that could engage people in the NHS and my understanding of what makes a hospital work, how busy it is and the different aspects that are part of it."

King’s will now take the findings from the group and use them to inform future recruitment initiatives with young people in Bromley.

To find out more about becoming a member, visit our website

For further information please contact:

Chris Rolfe
Deputy Director of Communications
chris.rolfe@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3006

Notes to editors

1. King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching hospitals, training over 900 dentists, 750 doctors and 300 nurses every year. The Trust is recognized internationally for its work in liver disease and transplantation, neurosciences, cardiac, haemato-oncology, stroke and major trauma. On 1 October 2013, King’s took over the running of the Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley and Orpington Hospital, as well as some services at Beckenham Beacon and Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup. The new enlarged organisation has over 10,500 staff and provides over 1 million patient contacts a year. 9,000 babies are delivered by our hospitals each year, and over 750 patients come to our Emergency Departments every day. For more information, please visit the website. You can also support the work of King’s College Hospital at www.togetherwecan.org.uk

2. King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering collaboration between King’s College London, and Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

King’s Health Partners is one of only six Department of Health-designated AHSCs in England and brings together an unrivalled range and depth of clinical and research expertise, spanning both physical and mental health. Our combined strengths will drive improvements in care for patients, allowing them to benefit from breakthroughs in medical science and receive leading edge treatment at the earliest possible opportunity.

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

3. At King’s College Hospital we fundraise for the best in treatment, research and health education, leading-edge equipment and improving well-being in our communities. By uniting doctors, nurses, researchers and academics with our supporters and volunteers we can provide the best patient care that goes above and beyond. Find out more and support us at togetherwecan.org.uk

Patient's father runs half marathon to thank King's

The father of a 14-year-old patient ran a half marathon on New Year’s Day in a bid to raise money for King’s

On New Year’s Day Charles Constable ran the distance of a half marathon from his home in North London to Rays of Sunshine Ward at King’s and back again – a total of 13 miles – to raise money for King’s and say thank you for his daughter’s treatment.

Two years ago, Charles’s daughter Syrie – then aged 12 – was taken to A&E after her friend noticed her eyes and tongue had turned yellow and she was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), a rare chronic condition where the body’s immune system attacks the liver.

In order to receive the treatment she desperately needed, Syrie was transferred to King’s.

Charles said: “From that moment on we felt we were in the best possible hands. Her readings were off the scale, and despite being treated with very high doses of steroids and immunosuppressants, initially improvement was slow and Syrie missed nearly a full term of school.”

After several months at King’s, her health started to improve. While she still suffers from bouts of exhaustion and chronic pain and continues to need daily medication and regular check-ups, Syrie is now studying hard for her GCSEs.

Inspired by his daughter’s bravery, Charles decided to raise money for three charities that have made a big difference to Syrie and other children like her, including King’s College Hospital Charity. The other charities Charles raised money for were the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation and the Rays of Sunshine Children’s Charity. Charles beat his impressive target of raising £5,000 for King’s despite having issues with his knees and running the last three miles in pain.

Tanja Pardela, Paediatric Liver Matron in Child Health at King’s, said: “We’re so thankful for Charles’s hard work and determination to run the half marathon and raise money for King’s. The money raised by events like this give us the opportunity to buy extra equipment for patients and parents to help them get through their time in hospital.”

For further information please contact:

Molly Downing
Communications Assistant
molly.downing@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3257

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

Hope for patients with advanced heart failure

Pioneering new treatment piloted at King’s

Professor Olaf Wendler and Richard Reach

Surgeons at King's College Hospital have used revolutionary new treatment to care for a patient with advanced heart failure.

The cardiac team at King’s College Hospital in Camberwell is the first in the world to use a new device to improve the strength of the heart valve in a patient too unwell to undergo conventional treatment.

A balloon-shaped device, the size of a small chilli pepper, was implanted into the patient’s heart without the need for major surgery. It was used to close off the mitral valve and prevent it from leaking. After implantation, the balloon was connected to a small access port, sitting directly below the patient’s skin. This access port was used to adjust the balloon size to the capability and needs of the patient’s heart.

Richard Reach, 59, from Yalding in Kent was the first patient to be treated using the new device. He was admitted to King’s College Hospital in February 2015 following a heart attack and was found to have two blocked heart vessels. Mr Reach underwent surgery to unblock the vessels but his heart muscles were severely impaired and his heart valves were leaking, meaning further surgery was necessary.

After conventional treatments such as open heart surgery and pacemaker insertion were deemed too high-risk, the cardiac team at King’s was granted permission from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to use a Mitra-Spacer device. In June, the device was successfully inserted via keyhole surgery through Mr Reach’s heart into his left mitral valve. His condition improved significantly and he was discharged home a few days later. In November, Mr Reach was deemed strong enough to have conventional surgery. The device was removed and a mitral valve replacement was performed. He is now doing well at home.

Olaf Wendler, professor of cardiac surgery at King’s, who led the team treating Mr Reach, said, “This new treatment gives new hope for patients with advanced heart failure. Open-heart surgery is a very invasive procedure and not always suitable for very unwell patients.

“This device can remain in the patient indefinitely or it can be used to strengthen the valve so that the heart has time to recover before undergoing further surgery.”

Talking from his home, Mr Reach, said, “I was in hospital for more than three months following my heart attack and spent several weeks in the critical care unit. I needed regular dialysis and felt very weak. Just as it seemed the medical team had run out of options Professor Wendler suggested the new treatment.

“Now I’m walking around and feeling better each day. What the team has done for me is nothing short of a miracle. I owe my life to them.”

Heart failure currently affects around 1.5% of the UK population and is one of the most common causes of death. The end-stage of this illness (affecting around one million patients in the UK) involves left heart failure with a leakage of the mitral valve.

For further information please contact:

Karen Welsh
Communications Manager
karen.welsh2@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3850

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

4. Heart failure currently affects around 1.5% of the UK population and is one of the most common causes of death. The end-stage of this illness (affecting around one million patients in the UK) involves left heart failure with a leakage of the mitral valve.

5. The MitraSpacerTM is designed to be placed in the left side of the heart via a trans-apical procedure aimed to improve mitral valve coaptation. The device does not alter the anatomy, but instead provides a sealing surface for the mitral valve, thereby significantly reducing or eliminating mitral regurgitation. Patients with Mitra-Spacers can still undergo future valve repair or replacement surgery if necessary.

6. This reversible device is the first to be implanted without major surgery. It can be tailored to the individual patient’s needs and also preserves options for future treatments such as mitral valve repair. It may revolutionise the treatment of patients with severe heart failure and a mitral valve leak.

7. The King’s Heart Team has developed a protocol for a future trial, which is designed to achieve general approval from the authorities for use of this device in Europe. It is envisaged that this international trial will commence by the end of this year.

8. The King’s cardiac team comprises Olaf Wendler (Professor of Cardiac Surgery), Theresa McDonagh (Professor of Heart Failure), Philip MacCarthy (Professor of Interventional Cardiology), and Mark Monaghan (Professor of Echocardiography).

PRUH Multiple Sclerosis team best for patient satisfaction

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) service at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) has come top of a recent national survey for patient satisfaction

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) service at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) – which is run by King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – has come top of a recent national survey for patient satisfaction.

The team’s feedback – which includes 97% of patients surveyed saying they would recommend the service to their friends or family – puts them highest in the country.

The team cares for over 1,200 MS patients a year in a clinic setting, providing expert nursing assessment, advice, counselling and support. They also run a daily telephone advice service.

MS is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the body’s central nervous system. The symptoms vary between patients, but the most common signs of the condition include loss of balance, numbness in the limbs, blurred vision and a lack of co-ordination. It affects 1 in 800 people in the UK.

The national survey was carried out by charity The MS Trust, and aimed to evaluate the quality of MS services throughout the UK and develop ways of improving them.

Patients were asked 30 questions about their experiences of being cared for by the MS team at their respective hospitals, and the impact it has had on their ability to manage their condition.

98% of PRUH MS patients surveyed said they felt they had been treated with dignity and respect by the MS nurses in the last year, and 97% said they would recommend the PRUH MS nursing service to their friends or family if they needed similar care or treatment.

Maureen Ennis, who leads the MS Specialist Nursing team, said: “The service is committed to developing the expert nurses of the future, and continuing to improve the service we provide and our patients’ experience.”

MS patient Michelle De Leon comes to the PRUH regularly for treatment. She said: “It doesn't surprise me to hear that Maureen and her team have been rated the best in the country. Maureen has seen me through the good and bad times of my life, and they care about your whole being, not just the sick parts of you.”

The team will now use these results to improve some areas of their work, such as ease of contacting the service and coordination of patient care.

For further information please contact:

Ellie Morton
Communications Officer
eleanor.morton@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 4139

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

Surgery on King’s tiniest patients

Professor Kypros Nicolaides and the fetal medicine team at King’s College Hospital recently featured in The Guardian’s 'This Is The NHS' series

The work of Professor Kypros Nicolaides, Director of Fetal Medicine at King’s, was the subject of an article entitled Surgery in the womb: miracle maker for NHS's tiniest patients.

The article focused on the pioneering work of Professor Nicolaides and his team, including fetal surgery procedures performed at King’s to save the lives of unborn babies.

These procedures include fetoscopic tracheal occlusion (to treat congenital diaphragmatic hernia – a birth defect of the diaphragm) and fetoscopic laser treatment, which can help treat twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) – a syndrome which occurs in some identical twins who share a placenta in the womb, and affects approximately 50 out of 100,000 pregnancies.

Speaking of his work at King’s, and the innovations he has helped bring about, Professor Nicolaides is quoted in the article as saying: "It has been a very exciting journey to be at the forefront of a lot of developments, the creation of this new field … A lot of anxieties when we were developing new techniques. I think it is mainly rewarding. There are moments of distress, there are moments when you are excited. There are moments of depression when things don’t go right. But overall, it has been a fantastic trip."

The interview with Professor Nicolaides took place in the Harris Birthright Centre at King’s, which assesses and treats unborn babies and cares for more than 10,000 patients each year.

The full article can be read here.

For further information please contact:

Molly Downing
Communications Assistant
molly.downing@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3257

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

King’s Urologist awarded prestigious Hunterian Professorship

Mr Peter Thompson, Consultant Urologist at King’s College Hospital, has been awarded the prestigious Hunterian Professorship by the Royal College of Surgeons of England

The Professorship has been awarded annually to fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons since the 1900s. Hunterian Professors are invited to give the annual Hunterian Lecture around their field of specialism and chosen research.

Mr Thompson will give this year’s lecture at a meeting of the British Urology Association in Liverpool in June.

He will present his long term research identifying the risks of prostate biopsy which has involved patients from Sri Lanka and China as well as the UK.

Previous recipients of the Hunterian Professorship include several other King’s Urologists. The first was Sir John Thomson-Walker (1871-1937) in 1907, who went on to found the Urology service at King’s in 1919.

More recently, Mr John Pryor - a former Urological Consultant at King's and Dean of the Institute of Urology - was Hunterian Professor in 1971 and 1995.

Former King’s general surgeons Sir Cecil Wakeley (1892-1979) and Sir Edward Muir (1906-1973) were also awarded the Professorship – the former on five separate occasions.

Mr Thompson undertook his medical training at King’s, and spent ten years as Clinical Lead for the Department of Urology. He was also President of the Urology Sections for the Royal Society of Medicine in 2012.

Of being awarded the Hunterian Professorship, Mr Thompson said: “I am very grateful to the research department at King’s and the Urology Charitable Fund for sponsoring my research and making this possible. My project has a long history, and I am pleased it has come to fruition in such a way.

“I'm also very grateful to the rest of the Urology team at King's for their support. I am very proud to have been awarded such a prestigious accolade.”

For further information please contact:

Ellie Morton
Communications Officer
eleanor.morton@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 4139

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

Runner thanks King’s for saving her Valentine’s heart

A former King’s patient and his partner will be celebrating a Valentine’s Day they thought he might never see, due to a life-threatening heart condition

26-year-old Murtaza Abbas – known as Murtie – from Bexley was diagnosed with endocarditis after experiencing flu-like symptoms and severe leg pain.

Endocarditis is a type of heart infection that affects one in 3,000 people. If left untreated, it can damage the valves inside the heart that help pump blood around the body, potentially leading to heart failure, a stroke, or even death.

Murtie underwent four hours of emergency open heart surgery at King’s in April 2015 to replace his damaged aortic valve with a mechanical one.

Without the surgery, doctors at King’s told Murtie he would not have lived to the end of the year.

The operation was a success, and Murtie was back to playing cricket just 10 weeks later.

His partner Katy Jackson – who lives in Sidcup – is so grateful for the care Murtie received, that she is running this year’s London Marathon for the Cardiac Unit at King’s – and hopes to raise at least £2,500.

“We’re blessed that Murtie is so well now,” said Katy. “The surgeons, doctors and nurses didn't just save his life; they gave him a future, they gave his parents their son back, and they gave us a future together.

“I have never met such caring, reassuring and professional people as I have at King's. I will never be able to thank them enough for saving the life of the man I love, the man I hope to live the rest of my life and have a family with.

“Hopefully fundraising by running the marathon will show my appreciation of their hard work.”

You can donate to Katy’s Marathon campaign at justgiving.com/katyrunslondon.

For further information please contact:

Ellie Morton
Communications Officer
eleanor.morton@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 4139

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

Get Colourful for King’s

Come and support a fundraising awareness event being held at King’s College Hospital from 23 – 25 February

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is very excited to announce Get Colourful – a fundraising event to raise money for King’s College Hospital Charity.

From Tuesday 23 through to Thursday 25 February the Support King’s Fundraising Team will be at King’s College Hospital talking with patients, visitors and staff about how they can fundraise to support the work of the Trust.

Visitors and patients are welcome to join staff in Getting Colourful for King’s on Thursday 25 February, and supporting the Trust by dressing up, having fun and raising money.

The Fundraising Team will be at King’s College Hospital selling colourful hats, wigs, glasses, ties, belts, socks and tights. Please come along and get involved, and if you are visiting the hospital on Thursday 25 February, feel free to buy some colourful items or wear your own colourful clothing and donate £2.

There will be bucket collections across King’s College Hospital, and at Denmark Hill station on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 February. The Fundraising Team will be handing out free fruit and flyers and talking to people about the many ways they can show support.

One of the many members of staff who will be taking part is Damian Griffiths, a staff nurse on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at King’s College Hospital. Damian has always taken an active role in fundraising for the PICU as well as other departments within the Trust.

Damian says: “I am a keen runner and dedicate three to four running events to fundraising for King’s each year. I’ve decided to get involved and ‘Get Colourful’ because it’s a fun and exciting way for staff, patients and visitors alike to engage in fundraising, adding some light hearted fun and raising a smile.”

Fundraising makes a big difference to the Trust and the money raised is used in many different areas. In the past donations have been used to create a safe and stimulating play room in the Variety Children’s Hospital at King’s College Hospital, as well as going towards additional equipment to improve patient comfort.

For more information please contact the Fundraising Team at info@supportkings.org.uk or on 020 7848 4701.

For further information please contact:

Molly Downing
Communications Assistant
molly.downing@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3257

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

Joining up patient care in Southwark and Lambeth

King's clinicians now using Local Care Record to improve care for patients

NHS organisations in Southwark and Lambeth have joined forces to improve patient care by sharing electronic patient records through a new secure system. The Local Care Record allows GPs, hospital and community healthcare staff to see important information about a patient at the touch of a button before making any decisions about their treatment.

Patient records are already shared between local NHS organisations via traditional methods such as secure post, fax or email, but these can sometimes be slow.

Now healthcare professionals at King’s, Guy’s and St Thomas’, and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts and local GP practices can view each other’s patient records quickly and securely.

Patient care will be improved because clinicians will be able to see information such as test results, medication and previous treatments to help them make any physical and mental health treatment decisions.

The Local Care Record is the first patient information sharing system in the UK to receive an official accreditation from EMIS, a medical information system supplier. This means it can be accessed through existing patient IT systems and is not a new or separate database.

It is hoped that the new system will help reduce the number of repeat GP and hospital appointments, duplicate tests for patients and out-of-date administrative processes such as faxing. It will not only improve patients’ experience of their care but also save NHS time and money.

The Local Care Record was initially piloted at the Hetherington Group Practice in Clapham.
Dr Adrian McLachlan, Chair of Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group and GP Partner at the Hetherington Group Practice, said: “The Local Care Record is something my GP colleagues and I have been really excited about and it is already adding clinical value. We’ve already started to use it in our practice and it is helping us improve safety and the quality of care we provide to our local patients in Lambeth and Southwark, as we have a clearer picture of the people we are caring for and their different health needs.”

Dr Saadi Doha, GP at Lordship Lane Surgery, said: "The Local Care Record is really easy to use and allows staff to quickly see all the patient’s letters and test results when needed. Previously we would have had to wait for test results and X-rays or chase up information, which was frustrating for us and our patients. The Local Care Record will definitely help us improve care for local people."

Dr Jack Barker, Chief Clinical Information Officer at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Local Care Record will help those involved in providing healthcare locally to deliver better and more joined up care for the patients we see. These are exciting times, and will help ensure doctors and nurses have a more complete picture of a patient’s physical and mental healthcare needs.”

The Local Care Record has been developed with input from local patient groups. It is a view-only clinical information portal and is only for the purposes of direct provision of care or treatment to a patient. Therefore patient records remain within GP practice and hospital secure systems, so no external or private organisations can view the information.

Rosemary Glanville, Southwark and Lambeth Citizens Board member, said: “Many people think that the hospital and GPs are able to see each other’s information already – but this hasn’t been possible before. So this is a welcome step towards safer, better and more joined-up care, which has been designed with local people for local patients.”

The Local Care Record has been developed as part of the Southwark and Lambeth Integrated Care partnership. It is being rolled out across GP practices in Southwark and Lambeth over the next few months. For further information, including updates on where it has gone live, please visit the King's Health Partners website.

For further information please contact:

Chris Rolfe
Deputy Director of Communications
chris.rolfe@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3006

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

King's takes part in 'Exercise Unified Response'

King’s College Hospital has taken part in an emergency planning exercise involving actors playing injured patients

Dr Malcolm Tunnicliff assessing a patient

‘Exercise Unified Response’ – organised by the London Fire Brigade – was based on the scenario of a tower block collapsing at Waterloo station, resulting in mass casualties, with some being brought to King’s.

Teams across the hospital took part, including the Emergency Department, theatres, surgery, imaging and other specialist services involved in managing complex injuries.

The exercise allowed King’s and other hospitals in London to test their major incident plans, and practice procedures and protocols that would need to be deployed in the event of a real event of this kind occurring.

All patient services ran as normal on the day, and no hospital activity was disrupted as a result of the exercise.

Peter Fry, Director of Operations at King’s, said: “As a major trauma centre, we are likely to play a key role in managing casualties in the event of a major incident in the Capital. The exercise was an excellent opportunity for us to test our processes and protocols, and respond to events as and when they were unfolding. This was a really useful experience for everyone, and staff performed brilliantly.”

‘Exercise Unified Response’ was held between 29 February and 3 March, and was conducted simultaneously at four separate venues in central and south east London. The exercise involved a number of agencies and emergency response teams.

For more information, visit the London Fire Brigade website.

To view highlights from the day at King’s visit our Twitter (@KingsCollegeNHS) and Facebook accounts.

For further information please contact:

Molly Downing
Communications Assistant
molly.downing@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3257

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

UK first for King's neurosurgery team

King's is proud to announce the appointment of three of its consultant neurosurgeons to the positions of UK neurosurgery sub-specialty society leads

Consultant Neurosurgeon, Mr Keyoumars Ashkan scanning a patient using CT

Mr Nicholas Thomas took office as the President of the British Skull Base Society in 2015. This branch of neurosurgery involves managing and operating on patients with a range of conditions, such as pituitary tumours or acoustic neuromas.

Professor Keyoumars Ashkan was elected as the President of the British Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery in 2015, and will take office taking office in June 2016. This area of neurosurgery focuses on the surgical management of patients with movement disorders, epilepsy and intractable pain and headaches.

Mr Daniel Walsh was elected to the Chair of the British Neurovascular Group in 2016, and will formally take on the role in February 2017. This neurosurgical sub-specialty centres on the management of patients with aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and other vascular abnormalities that can cause brain haemorrhage.

This is a the first time in the UK that three sub-specialty leads have all come from the same hospital department.

Professor Ashkan said: "This is a credit to the national and international reputation of King's neurosurgery and a reflection of our vision to provide a sub-specialist care of the highest standard for our patients".

Professor Julia Wendon, Executive Medical Director at King’s, added: “Neurosurgery is one of our key services here at King’s, so this is a major achievement for our surgeons, and a reflection of the high esteem in which they and their teams are held by their peers, both locally and nationally.”

King’s neurosurgeons carry out 3,500 operations every year, and see over 15,000 patients in outpatient clinics.

Photo-caption: Professor Askhan is one of three King's neurosurgeons who now hold roles with UK neurosurgical societies

For further information please contact:

Chris Rolfe
Deputy Director of Communications
chris.rolfe@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3006

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

People losing teeth unnecessarily, warns King's dentist

Dentist urges public to swat up on the basic steps to take in the immediate aftermath of losing or damaging a tooth

Ms Serpil Djemal (pictured), a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at King’s, is also founder of Dental Trauma UK (DTUK), a charity set up to improve the way teeth injured or damaged as a result of trauma are managed.

Ms Djemal wants to educate the public about the steps they can take to save injured teeth. Often, people only visit the dentist when it’s too late.

People can have their teeth knocked out or badly damaged anywhere, at any time – such as walking to the shops, playing sport, or cycling to work. However, most people are unaware of the things they themselves can do to save their tooth – such as re-implanting it, or putting it in milk.

Exact figures are difficult to come by, but King’s – which runs a specialist dental trauma clinic for adults – has already seen over 2000 patients since it was set up seven years ago. However, the number of people affected by dental trauma is likely to be much greater, says Ms Djemal, as many people don’t access treatment, or do so days or weeks later, when it’s too late to save the tooth.

She says, “As soon as a tooth is knocked out, the clock starts ticking and the longer it ticks, the worse it is for the tooth. The best thing to do is put it back into the socket where it has come from and see a dentist straight-away. We have coined the phrase ‘Pick it, Lick it, Stick it’ to help people remember what to do. Pick it up by the crown and not the root; lick the root clean if it’s visibly dirty and stick it back into position. If you can’t put it back in yourself, put it in milk, and go to the dentist straight away if you want to save the tooth.”

Ms Djemal said: “Teeth are so important, but basic first aid about the best way to save them is generally not known and we want to change this. People who have lost teeth as a result of dental trauma face huge costs for reconstructive work which often includes implants. Of course, some teeth won’t be saveable, but many of them are, particularly if people follow these basic steps.”

DTUK has produced a short film available on its website showing the basic instructions people can take when they’ve knocked out or broken a tooth. To find out more, visit their website.

For further information please contact:

Chris Rolfe
Deputy Director of Communications
chris.rolfe@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3006

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

King’s nurse develops guidance to help prevent Never Events

Aimed at theatre nurses, the guidance will be issued globally in a drive to enhance patient safety

A Cardiac Theatre Sister at King’s College Hospital is the first nurse in the world to design a theatre manual to help prevent Never Events.

Sister Minija ‘Mini’ Joseph created the manual - which helps cardiac theatre nurses identify the different types and sizes of equipment, and how to prepare them - to reduce the risk of wrong implant Never Events.

Mini worked with the device manufacturer, LivaNova, to design a simple, illustrated manual, which details every aortic valve, mitral valve, tricuspid valve and repair device, so it is easier for nurses to know exactly what they are looking for.

Talking about the development of the manual, Mini, who has worked at King’s since 2007, said, “There are hundreds of surgical cardiac devices in an array of sizes, all with different preparation instructions. To help my nursing colleagues identify the correct device and preparation techniques for each surgical procedure, I developed my own rudimentary guidance many years ago.

“As more and more nurses commented on how useful it was, I decided to contact one of the main cardiac device manufacturers to see if they would be interested in developing guidance that would benefit nurses in other cardiac centres.

“To my delight, they thought it was a good idea and decided to bring me on board to help develop the instructions, as well as the look and feel of the manual, so it could be of maximum help to theatre practitioners.

Mini received no fee for her work on the manual, insisting that patient safety was her sole driver. She plans to work with other device manufacturers to produce similar manuals for their products.

LivaNova plan to send copies of the manual to all cardiac centres around the world where they supply devices.

Dr Geraldine Walters, Director of Nursing at King’s College Hospital NHS FT, said, “This is a wonderful example of a King’s nurse going the extra mile to safeguard patients - both within the Trust and further afield.

“Her dedication and innovative thinking make Mini an inspirational nurse and a real asset to our Trust.”

Mr Max Baghai, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at King’s who supported Mini with the project added, “It’s the first time that a document like this has been produced by a theatre nurse to benefit other theatre practitioners. It will aid all theatre colleagues to use the correct device for each procedure, which is another positive step forward in patient safety.”

For further information please contact:

Karen Welsh
Communications Manager
karen.welsh2@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3850

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

King's features in new BBC2 documentary

‘Employable Me’ looks at the challenges people with neurological conditions face when trying to secure a job.

A new three-part documentary series called Employable Me starts on Wednesday (23 March) at 9pm on BBC2.

The series looks at the challenges people with neurological conditions face when trying to secure a job. In the first episode, King’s Consultant Neurologist, Dr Davide Martino, gives expert comment on Tourette’s syndrome.

By using science to uncover their unique abilities, this series follows Britain’s most extraordinary job seekers as they try to prove that having a neurological condition, such as Tourette’s or autism, shouldn’t make them unemployable.

At the series’ heart is a radical new emerging idea in science – which is that neurological conditions shouldn’t always be looked at in negative terms.

By working with experts such as Dr Martino from King's, the job seekers are shown how their strengths and unique skillsets that accompany neuro-developmental conditions can be harnessed to help land them their dream job.

We will see Dr Martino working with 52-year-old Paul, who, until six years ago, was working a nine-to-five job. Then, one day, everything changed.

Paul developed a severe case of Tourette’s syndrome which left him with constant involuntary tics, including violent body jerks. Despite the extreme nature of his condition, Paul is desperate to find employment and, with the help of leading scientists, Paul uncovers talents that could allow him to work again.

King’s is a major centre for treatment of neurological conditions, and treats patients from across London and the south east.

For further information please contact:

Chris Rolfe
Deputy Director of Communications
chris.rolfe@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3006

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

King’s cancer nurse nominated for RCN Award

A specialist liver cancer nurse at King’s College Hospital has been nominated for the Royal College of Nursing’s Cancer Nursing Award 2016

Liver cancer clinical nurse specialist Gillian Al-Kadhimi – who has worked at King’s since 2002 – was nominated for her work setting up a Skype clinic for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer).

This new type of clinic – set up in July 2015 – allows patients to attend their outpatient appointments from the comfort of their own home via video link, instead of having to make the trip to hospital.

Gillian has a webcam and microphone headset fitted to her computer to allow her to both see and speak to her patients.

The service has been very well-received – Gillian currently has 28 patients registered for the clinic who have some of their appointments via Skype, and has plans to expand the service if she receives more interest.

“I am honoured to have been nominated for an RCN Nurse Award”, said Gillian. “As nurses, myself and the rest of the team work hard to make a difference to our patients, and make their experience of treatment at King’s as positive as possible.”

“Introducing a Skype facility in the hepatocellular carcinoma liver cancer clinic allows some patients to attend their outpatient appointment from the comfort of their own home, instead of making the often exhausting, expensive trip to hospital.

“It is especially valuable for patients undergoing intensive treatments. The Skype clinic has had excellent feedback from patients since I began running it in July 2015.

“I am very proud to be able to make a difference to our patients, and I am grateful to the wider liver team and the Trust for their support.”

The winners of this year’s RCNi Nurse Awards will be announced at a ceremony in central London on Friday 6 May.

For further information please contact:

Ellie Morton
Communications Officer
eleanor.morton@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 4139

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

Dr Geraldine Walters to take up new role at NMC

Dr Walters to play key role in transforming educational standards for nurses and midwives

Dr Geraldine Walters, Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Infection Control at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, will take up a new role at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) this summer.

A cardiac nurse by background, Geraldine leaves King’s after seven years, having joined the Trust in 2009 from St George’s.

She takes up the role of Director of Nursing and Midwifery Education, Standards and Policy at the NMC, where she will be leading the work on transforming educational standards for nurses and midwives to meet future healthcare needs.

During her time at King’s, Geraldine has played a key role in improving the quality and safety of nursing care, enhancing career opportunities for nurses working at all levels, as well as improving performance in infection prevention and control across the Trust.

Geraldine said: “King’s is a special place to work and, whilst excited about taking on a new challenge at the NMC, I will be very sad to leave. I have worked with some special people here, and would encourage anyone with ambitions in nursing or midwifery to work at the Trust.”

She added: “I look forward to bringing my experience to my new role at the NMC, and working to ensure that our education standards are fit for the future.”

Nick Moberly, Chief Executive, said: “Geraldine has made a huge contribution during her time at King’s, and will be missed by everyone on the Board, as well as across the Trust. I know her extensive experience at King’s and elsewhere will help her play a key role at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and we wish her well.”

For further information please contact:

Chris Rolfe
Deputy Director of Communications
chris.rolfe@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3006

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

MPs and Diabetes UK visit King’s Diabetic Foot Clinic

Staff and patients talked about the importance of excellent foot care for patients with diabetes

The King's team with Paula Sherriff MP and patient, Richard Lane

Today, 12 April, two MPs visited the Diabetic Foot Clinic at King’s College Hospital to discover firsthand the importance of good foot care, and to raise awareness of avoidable diabetes-related amputations.

Liz McInnes, Member of Parliament (MP) for Heywood and Middleton, Paula Sheriff, MP for Dewsbury, and colleagues from Diabetes UK met with the multidisciplinary diabetic foot team at King’s. Both MPs represent constituencies that have a higher than average number of amputations resulting from diabetes. While at King’s, they chatted with patients in the clinic about management of the condition.

King’s College Hospital was chosen for the visit, which was organised by the charity Diabetes UK, because it is a centre of excellence for diabetic foot care. Since being established in 1981, the clinic has achieved a significant reduction in the number of amputations in patients experiencing major foot problems as a result of diabetes-related complications, and has one of the lowest incidences of major amputation in the country.

Over 135 diabetes-related amputations currently take place in England each week. However it is estimated that four out of five of these amputations could have been prevented with better care and support. Amputations and foot ulcers have a huge impact on quality of life in terms of pain, mobility, depression, relationships and a person’s ability to work, and tragically up to 80 per cent of people die within five years of having had an amputation.

Dr. Michael Edmonds, Professor of Diabetic Foot Medicine at King’s College Hospital, said: “Foot care for patients with diabetes is of paramount importance. Failure to adequately treat foot ulcers can result in the rapid onset of infection, which can lead to amputation. Here at King’s we try to heal ulcers long before it gets to that stage.

“By providing urgent assessment, we use state of the art treatment to manage infection and improve blood supply to the foot. In cases where the foot structure has significantly deteriorated, surgery is used to reconstruct the limb.”

Bridget Turner, Director of Policy and Care Improvement, said: “There are currently over four million people living with diabetes in the UK and as these numbers continue to soar so do the numbers of devastating diabetes-related amputations which not only have a devastating impact on people’s lives but also see people die within five years of having one.

“While some areas have made real efforts to improve the poor state of diabetes foot care services so much more still needs to be done. For example, not enough people are receiving their annual foot checks, and those who do often tell us their check was not very thorough. As a result they do not understand their risk of amputation, how to look after their feet and the importance of getting help urgently if their foot health deteriorates.

“But this does not need to happen. A vast number of amputations are not inevitable and we know that with better care and support many people can be saved the trauma of enduring devastating diabetes-related amputations. The current postcode lottery in care and support across different areas of the country is unacceptable and we need all areas to take steps now to ensure they are providing effective care and support, including having a multidisciplinary team, so that all people with diabetes have the best chance of having healthy feet and avoiding unnecessary amputations.”

For further information please contact:

Karen Welsh
Communications Manager
karen.welsh2@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3850

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

Update on King’s College Hospital helipad

As regular visitors to King’s will know, construction on our helipad is nearly complete, and we anticipate being able to announce an opening date shortly

The last phase of the construction involves internal work to link the helipad with the main hospital via two lifts. Prior to go-live, we will need to rigorously test the helipad, which includes practising the off-loading of patient trolleys for transfer to the Emergency Department below.

The helipad has taken longer to complete than we originally anticipated, and the costs have also increased. This is partly due to an increase in the cost of materials, but also because we decided to make changes to the original construction plan, so we could better accommodate other important, large-scale building projects at the Trust.

Whilst this decision increased the costs of building the helipad, we believe running other building projects simultaneously will mean a saving for the Trust in the long term. We are making every effort to make sure the cost of building and running the helipad do not increase further.

The County Air Ambulance Trust HELP Appeal very kindly donated over £3 million towards the construction of the helipad, adding to the money raised by thousands of dedicated fundraisers – and we would like to thank everyone who has supported our helipad for their generosity, and patience while we finish building.

We are very excited about the helipad, which friends and supporters of the hospital have made possible. We anticipate being able to announce an opening date very soon – watch this space for more news, and look out for updates on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

For more information on why we’re building a helipad, click here.

For further information please contact:

Ellie Morton
Communications Officer
eleanor.morton@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 4139

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

Jane Bond joins King's

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Jane Bond as its new Director of Capital, Estates and Facilities.

As Director of Capital, Estates and Facilities at King’s, Jane will have overall responsibility for developing and modernising the Trust’s estate, which now covers five hospital sites in south east London and Kent.

She will also help ensure key hospital services such as cleaning and catering meet the high standards our patients rightly expect. Jane will take up her role at King’s in September 2016.

Jane joins the Trust from the Metropolitan Police Service, where she has worked since 2003, taking up her current role as Director of Property Services in 2009. In this role, she oversees an estate of 450 buildings measuring approximately 850,000m2.

Jane is currently implementing the final stages of the Met’s headquarters strategy, including the replacement of New Scotland Yard. This strategy will reduce annual running costs by £12 million and release £300 million of capital to reinvest in improving the Met’s across London.

Prior to working at the Met, Jane worked at Warner Village Cinemas (now Vue Cinemas) as Property Director, plus other roles in the private sector.

King’s now has one of the biggest hospital estates in the country, with a major programme of improvement works currently underway, including the expansion of critical care facilities and the construction of a helipad at our Denmark Hill site.

Nick Moberly, Chief Executive at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Jane’s experience and track record will play a key role in helping us modernise our hospitals to ensure they meet the needs of our patients, and the staff who deliver services. I am delighted she has accepted the position, and I look forward to working with her when she joins in September.”

Jane Bond said: “I am delighted to be joining King’s at an exciting time for the organisation. I want to play my part in helping modernise the hospital’s estate, so improving the experience of patients, and the facilities out of which staff deliver services. I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Jane will take over in September from Ahmad Toumadj, who will continue until then in his current role of interim Director of Capital, Estates and Facilities.

For further information please contact:

Chris Rolfe
Deputy Director of Communications
chris.rolfe@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3006

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.

Children’s wards at King’s undergo refurbishment

Thanks to a generous donation from a former patient, Lion Ward and Princess Elizabeth Ward at King’s College Hospital have been refurbished

In May 2010, 13 year old Meghan Frost, from Hartley in Kent, was diagnosed with Craniopharyngioma, a very rare type of brain tumour. Meghan was rushed to King’s College Hospital where she underwent two successful operations.

Six years on, Meghan has made a good recovery, but will continue to take medication for the rest of her life. She is now studying towards a degree in childhood studies at Canterbury Christchurch University.

Following her treatment at King’s and the great care she received, Meghan decided that she wanted to raise money for the ward she was treated on.

In 2011 she persuaded her dad, Marc, to do the King’s Skydive. The pair also took part in the King’s Abseil, down the front of the Golden Jubilee Wing at King’s.

Meghan and her dad were aiming to raise £10,000, but following the skydive, abseil and various fundraising events at Meghan’s school, Cobham Hall, they raised an amazing £50,000.

Meghan and her family came to King’s to officially open the refurbished wards on 15 April. The opening was also attended by individuals involved with Meghan’s care and the refurbishment of the wards, including Mrs Rani Kamaran-Nair, Ward Manager; Mr Nick Thomas, Consultant Neurosurgeon who performed one of her operations; and Professor Anil Dhawan, Clinical Director for Child Health.

Meghan said: “Family and friends have been very generous, as well as people we haven’t even met before.

“My decision to study childhood studies at university was inspired by my time at King’s. I did work experience on Lion Ward – the ward I was treated on – and also spent some time with the Fundraising Team. I’m so happy to be able to make such a difference to the wards, and it’s great to come back and see it all.”

Lion Ward and Princess Elizabeth Ward have been redecorated, with a new, soothing, colour scheme throughout. There is also a new 3D interactive distraction unit for use during procedures.

Mrs Rani Kamaran-Nair, Ward Manager on Lion Ward, said: “Meghan and Marc’s donation really has made a huge difference to the wards and we’re very thankful to them.

“The new parent’s room is particularly great as it gives families a nice place to relax in and spend some time away from a ward setting.”

Photo caption (from left to right): Mr Nick Thomas, Consultant Neurosurgeon; Meghan Frost; Marc Frost and Rani Kamaran-Nair, Ward Manager.

For further information please contact:

Molly Downing
Communications Assistant
molly.downing@nhs.net
Extension: +44 (0)20 3299 3257

Notes to editors

Our partnership brings together...

three of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts;
one of the top 30 universities in the world;
services provided over 225 locations, including seven hospitals and community and mental health centres;
2.2 million patient contacts each year;
31,000 staff;
25,000 students;
a combined annual turnover of £2.8bn.

... to advance health and wellbeing by integrating world-class research, care and teaching.