AUTUMN 2014 ADAPTING TO INJURY THROUGH NEURO- REHABILITATION PAEDIATRIC HAEMATOLOGY MATERNITY SERVICES AT IMPERIAL PRIVATE HEALTHCARE

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1 AUTUMN 2014 ADAPTING TO INJURY THROUGH NEURO- REHABILITATION PAEDIATRIC HAEMATOLOGY MATERNITY SERVICES AT IMPERIAL PRIVATE HEALTHCARE

2 WELCOME: KAREN POWELL Head of nursing No matter which Imperial Private Healthcare site I am visiting, I am reminded of the quality of services we offer, and I constantly see the immense pride with which our nurses deliver care. I was delighted to hear one patient recently describe her therapy as excellent and say that coming to Imperial Private Healthcare was like landing on cotton wool. This publication is produced by the communications directorate at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. For feedback, suggestions or further information regarding this publication, please contact the editor: Julia Elmer +44 (0) julia.elmer@imperial.nhs.uk As part of maintaining these excellent standards, we continually strive for improvements and efficiencies across the Trust that allow our nurses to spend more time delivering care. For example, we have rolled out a new electronic system to manage appointments and admissions. This modern software is now being expanded to create a paperless database of our patients records and, ultimately, provide an even higher quality service. You can read more about this on page 10. In this issue we share how our broad, world-renowned expertise is put into action through truly collaborative working methods. We report on our obstetrics teams at Queen Charlotte s & Chelsea Hospital and the Lindo Wing (pages 8 9), who offer a wealth of exceptional prepregnancy, antenatal, neonatal and postnatal care from the most straightforward to the most complex of pregnancies and births. On pages 6 7, we focus on our neuro-rehabilitation unit at Charing Cross. The feedback on this service is always really positive. I was delighted to hear one patient recently describe her therapy as excellent and say that coming to Imperial Private Healthcare was like landing on cotton wool. Finally, we would like to tell you about our new theatre coordinator Andy Jackson (page 4) not only about his rather novel career progression from Buckingham Palace guardsman to his role at Charing Cross, but how his critical work supporting our surgeons is improving the overall experience for our patients. Karen Powell 2 INSIDE PRIVATE HEALTH AUTUMN 2014

3 NEWS: IN BRIEF Urogynaecology experts present research findings at major event Consultants from the Trust s urogynaecology department presented ten research papers at this year s International Urogynaecology Association Annual Meeting. Delegates at the event in Washington DC, US, heard the team s findings on areas including pelvic floor muscle damage after childbirth, biomarkers for overactive bladder and assessment tools for pelvic pain. The research team was led by consultant urogynaecologists Mr Vik Khullar, Mr Ruwan Fernando and Mr Alex Digesu. Study of stem cell treatment for stroke recovery shows promising signs Five patients have taken part in a trial to test the feasibility of using their own stem cells to aid recovery from severe ischaemic stroke (where the blood supply is blocked by a clot or fat). The six-month study by researchers from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London proved the therapy to be safe and the patients showed improvements in their condition. A larger trial is needed to confirm the technique s effectiveness and that the improvements were not part of the patients natural recovery. Source: Dr Soma Banarjee Fertility expert joins St Mary s team Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Rehan Salim has joined the team at the Lindo Wing at St Mary s Hospital. Mr Salim provides a comprehensive fertility and reproductive surgery service with consultations, all diagnostics tests and surgery if needed, and a full range of fertility treatments. Previously, he led the reproductive medicine unit at University College London Hospitals, and set up and ran an IVF centre in Abu Dhabi. You can contact Mr Salim though his secretary, Samantha Russell, by ing samantha.russell@phf.uk.com or calling +44 (0) Hospital wards transformed following refurbishment Improvement work at Imperial Private Healthcare is creating more modern and comfortable environments for patients. Ward 15 south at Charing Cross Hospital has been refurbished including redecoration, installation of air conditioning and new furniture in patients rooms. A new kitchenette has also been installed for relatives and new furniture has been added to patient areas and outpatient departments. Plans are under way to refurbish rooms in ward 15 north to include en suite bathrooms. The upgrade follows the addition of new bathrooms, furniture and linen at the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Wing at Hammersmith Hospital. CONTENTS: NEWS IN BRIEF 3 IN THE SPOTLIGHT 4 INNOVATION IS IN THE BLOOD 5 ADAPTING TO INJURY THROUGH NEURO- REHABILITATION 6 A WORLD-LEADING DELIVERY SERVICE 8 ELECTRONIC DATABASE GIVES BOOST TO PATIENT CARE 10 HOW TO FIND US 11 INSIDE PRIVATE HEALTH AUTUMN

4 IN THE SPOTLIGHT: ANDY JACKSON Andy Jackson is the Trust s first theatre coordinator to manage requests for private patients ensuring the efficient running of Charing Cross Hospital s 13 theatres. As a former guardsman at Buckingham Palace, Andy Jackson is used to keeping things in order, being organised and remaining unflappable essential skills for a theatre coordinator. In fact, his calm demeanour gave his early healthcare career a boost. He was on shift as a theatre porter at St Andrew s in Billericay when a nervous young patient ran away moments before his operation. I comforted the boy and encouraged him to go into the anaesthetic room, Andy recalls. The theatre manager was impressed and said, You re coming to work for me on Monday. After qualifying, Andy worked around the UK, joining the Trust in 2012 and started his latest role in June this year. Seeing the bigger picture Based at Charing Cross, Andy schedules the hospital s 13 theatres every day, and allocates staff with specialist skills to the most appropriate patient. The role is a juggling act, he says. It needs someone who understands theatres and each procedure s required specialties. If I have two surgeons asking for the same operating time, I need to see the big picture and fill the slots appropriately. Some theatres are set up for specific procedures. For example, three theatres have an air-changing system for certain neurosurgery and orthopedic procedures that can t be carried out anywhere else. It takes diplomacy to negotiate with clinicians and managers and make it work for everyone. Looking for efficiencies Andy s role makes booking theatres a quicker and more efficient process. With private patients, I m often asked about availability the next day, he says. Working with the theatre manager, Andy has added seven extra weekly slots for private patients and set up detailed calendars so that patients know the specific time of their procedure. He also plans to standardise the booking process. These changes should, indirectly, improve the service to patients, he says. We want to simplify their journey. That s the long and the short of it. It takes diplomacy to negotiate with clinicians and managers and make it work for everyone. 4 INSIDE PRIVATE HEALTH AUTUMN 2014

5 PAEDIATRIC HAEMATOLOGY: INNOVATION IS IN THE BLOOD The Trust s experienced and groundbreaking paediatric haematology team is treating non-malignant blood disorders in children using bold and successful methods. For any parent of a child suffering from a long-term condition the reassurance that they are in the best place for treatment is invaluable. Through research and innovative approaches, Imperial Private Healthcare s paediatric haematology team has achieved some of the world s best outcomes in managing non-malignant blood diseases in children. Patients are treated for disorders including aplastic anaemia, inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, sickle cell disease, and other blood conditions. Research breakthroughs For children with sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, the team has a 95 per cent success rate in transplants from family members and is the UK s only team to deliver transplants from parents who are only a 50 per cent match. The team uses less toxic approaches to bone marrow transplantation and accepts non-family donors something usually only considered for patients with leukaemia, but which the team has developed for non-malignant conditions. Other organisations generally do not consider alternative approaches, says Dr Josu de la Fuente, the paediatric haematology consultant and leader of the team. Typically, combinations of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and antibodies are used, but these can cause side effects. And using bone marrow from donors outside of the family has a high risk of rejection or the new bone marrow attacking the body. In 2014, Dr de la Fuente was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College in the Republic of Ireland for transplant services for children. He has also recruited the world s largest cohort of patients for his research into inherited anaemia. We are innovative in using new drugs and modifying combinations and treatments to reduce potential complications and rejection rates. We are innovative in using new drugs and modifying combinations and treatments to reduce potential complications and rejection rates. Dr Josu de la Fuente Communicating with young people The team s consultants and nurses work with the patients from birth until their transfer to adult services. We re with the family through difficult and happy moments, says Dr de la Fuente. We have to be good listeners to parents, and help our young patients understand and feel part of the process. When they are older, they must take responsibility for their condition. For further information, contact Dr de la Fuente s secretary at diane.james@imperial.nhs.uk INSIDE PRIVATE HEALTH AUTUMN

6 ADAPTING TO INJURY THROUGH NEURO- REHABILITATION Imperial Private Healthcare s neuro-rehabilitation service operates within one of the the UK s leading support centres for patients with brain and spinal injuries at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Our scope of expertise is broad enough to offer consistency of treatment from the outset to discharge. 6 INSIDE PRIVATE HEALTH AUTUMN 2014 Nothing can prepare you for life after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Neurological conditions often result in major lifestyle changes and comprehensive rehabilitation is critical to helping patients live comfortably and confidently. Imperial Private Healthcare s neuro-rehabilitation unit provides acute rehabilitation which maximises a patient s neurological functions, manages long-term complications, such as reduced mobility, and shows patients how to safely carry out daily tasks. The unit also helps manage spasticity pain and spasms in the muscles caused by damaged nerves through physical therapies and protein-based drugs. Broad expertise As one of the UK s biggest neuroscience centres, the Trust covers a wide spectrum, from strokes to neuro-muscular disorders. It also has one of the UK s largest neuro inflammatory centres, for the treatment of conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), and an impressive history for movement disorders such as Parkinson s. All of these services are available as private treatment options.

7 We don t believe patients should stay in acute rehab ad infinitum. When we feel a patient s recovery has plateaued, we will let them go home that s where they best learn how to adapt to their injury. Charing Cross Hospital is also the designated hyper acute stroke unit for north west London, explained Dr Omar Malik, consultant neurologist and an innovator in MS therapies. Patients transferring from A&E to neurological intensive care or rehabilitation experience a seamless transition through the whole journey. Our scope of expertise is broad enough to offer consistency of treatment from the outset to discharge. Therapy under constant review Exercises predominantly rely on standing frames or hoists. The Trust also has an on-site gym and hydrotherapy pool, which helps maintain suppleness. Psychological therapy for cognitive support and speech and language therapy are available, as well as dietary advice for example, some patients may find swallowing difficult in their initial recovery, and may need support. Weekly multidisciplinary team meetings, involving physicians, nursing staff and junior doctors, are key to developing patient management plans. We produce an action plan that anyone working with the patient can view. It s also ed to the relevant authorities, so that the patient s care path has been clearly communicated before discharge, said Dr Malik. Patients are kept in the loop throughout the process and we update the report with any changes. Giving patients the greatest level of independence possible is core to the team s ethos, explains Dr Malik. We don t believe patients should stay in acute rehab ad infinitum. When we feel a patient s recovery has plateaued, we will let them go home that s where they best learn how to adapt to their injury. Speech and language therapies are available A TEAM OF EXPERTS Imperial Private Healthcare s consultant neurologists cover a broad range of conditions. Below are three of the specialists working in the unit. Dr Paul Bentley is a clinical academic within the division of brain sciences, specialising in neurology and stroke. He is joint lead of the Imperial College stroke stem cell trial that was featured recently in the press. He is also developing novel stroke rehabilitation gaming devices and robotics, in conjunction with the Trust s internationally acclaimed engineering department. These devices are currently being trialled at the Trust. Dr Richard Nicholas is the director of the MS clinical trials unit at Charing Cross. As well as studying the biology of MS and novel imaging techniques, he is part of the MS research team. He has led trials into drugs that slow the progression of MS and significantly reduce the risk of symptoms returning. If you have any questions about the neuro rehabilitation unit, call our customer relations manager on +44 (0) Dr Richard Perry has been the clinical lead for neuro-rehabilitation and the acquired brain injury unit at Charing Cross since He specialises in memory disorders and the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer s disease running clinics, research projects and clinical trials for disease modifying drugs. He is also a member of a new centre for the investigation and management of cognitive disorders. INSIDE PRIVATE HEALTH AUTUMN

8 A WORLD-LEADING DELIVERY SERVICE However complex a pregnancy or birth is expected to be be, the obstetrics team at Imperial Private Healthcare caters to every need of mums-to-be and their new arrival. IN NUMBERS: THE TRUST S NEONATAL UNIT 45 Number of neonatal cots across the two sites: 25 intensive and highdependency cots and 20 special care cots. 75 Years in which families have been receiving (and donating) breast milk at the Trust, which runs the world s most established milk bank. 726 Number of neonatal admissions across both sites in 2013, including NHS and private patients and tertiary referrals. As life milestones go, your child s birth will rank highly. For many parents, the birth is straightforward and runs to plan; for others, the pregnancy and delivery are more complex. When you are pregnant, you may assume you are at lowrisk of developing any problems, but it is never no-risk, says Bryony Jones, consultant obstetrician and specialist in fetal and maternal medicine at Queen Charlotte s & Chelsea Hospital. The majority of women have a straightforward pregnancy and birth, but a few women become sick or their babies develop problems during the pregnancy. It is important that they have the most positive outcome and experience possible. What sets Imperial Private Healthcare apart is its experience of every scenario from gentle natural births, to complex deliveries, including caesarean sections requiring the extensive medical input. 8 INSIDE PRIVATE HEALTH AUTUMN 2014

9 Maternity services are based at the Sir Stanley Clayton Ward at Queen Charlotte s & Chelsea Hospital and the Lindo Wing at St Mary s Hospital. Tom Setchell, consultant obstetrician at the Lindo Wing, says: The maternity care by our consultants and midwives is excellent. Working within an NHS teaching hospital engenders a culture where people strive to be up-to-date and fully qualified in their specialist areas. The environment is continually improving, too. The Lindo Wing underwent a major redevelopment in 2012, and now the Sir Stanley Clayton Ward is being refurbished one room at a time, while remaining open. Complete care Both sites offer maternal and fetal medicine services, with Queen Charlotte s & Chelsea a national referral centre for fetal and maternal medicine. Due to this broad expertise, patients are often referred to us nationally and internationally. With NHS services also on site, patients can be confident that specialists in related matters are on hand. Many solely private institutions can only look after pregnant women with no known medical problems, adds Bryony. If the pregnancy becomes complex, the care has to move to another hospital, and the couple will not know the team of doctors. It adds another level of concern at an already anxious time. World-leading neonatal care The Trust s neonatal service is one of the UK s largest. Across the two units there are 25 intensive care cots and 20 special care cots. The units support tertiary fetal care services, which look after high-risk babies and mothers with high-risk pregnancies. Queen Charlotte s & Chelsea Hospital also benefits from having an MRI scanner dedicated to the unit. The two units are cooling centres for north west London and beyond. Cooling is offered to babies born at term who have suffered from lack of oxygen at birth, as it has been found to minimise the risk of long term damage. The UK research on total body cooling was carried out at Queen Charlotte s & Chelsea Hospital by Professor Denis Azzopardi, resulting in new national guidelines. Pre-birth support Many consultants care for patients with low-risk and high-risk pregnancies long before the big day for instance, women suffering from hypertension, diabetes or kidney problems or who have had previous preterm deliveries. They also run fertility and pre-pregnancy counselling services. The maternity care by the consultants and midwives is excellent. Working within an NHS teaching hospital engenders a culture where people strive to be up-to-date and fully qualified in their areas of expertise. Tom Setchell Imperial Private Healthcare guarantees continuity of care, says Bryony. Parents want to see the same consultants at each appointment and know who is going to be with them at the birth. Here, there s seamless interaction between multidisciplinary teams. If we know a baby or mother will need any help at birth, we can make the best possible plan. Contact lindomaternity@imperial.nhs.uk or sirstanley.clayton@imperial.nhs.uk for further details on Imperial Private Healthcare s maternity services. INSIDE PRIVATE HEALTH AUTUMN

10 ELECTRONIC DATABASE GIVES BOOST TO PATIENT CARE A huge project to replace and integrate patient management systems across the Trust will create a more efficient and seamless level of care. Each doctor and nurse will have a full picture of the patient s needs, meaning they will know the right treatment to continue creating a safer, seamless and higher quality programme of care. Baba Ogunniyi, Cerner champion Patient appointments and admissions are now managed across the Trust on a more modern administration system. The introduction of Cerner in April this year is a key initiative in the Trust s drive towards a paperless organisation with less reliance on traditional paper health records for patients. With the new system up and running at all the Trust s hospitals, the next steps are to implement the software s enhanced functionalities putting in place the building blocks for fully electronic records for both private and NHS patients. Every surgeon, consultant or nurse using the system, wherever they are based, will be able to see full details of a patient s treatment at any of the Trust s five sites. Systems coordinator Baba Ogunniyi is a Cerner champion. A patient s history is now on one single hospital number, so they won t need to re-register at each new site or tell medical staff where they have been seen previously or for what reason, he explains. Each doctor and nurse will have a full picture of the patient s needs, meaning they will know the right treatment to continue. This saves unnecessary consultations and creates a safer, seamless and higher quality programme of care. The advanced software offers immediate benefits with the potential for more in the future. For instance, Cerner has the capacity to store more patient information and it is linked to SPINE, the system that contains data about all NHS patients in England and Wales, such as their local GP. Moving away from paper health records will have the enormous benefit that clinical notes are available to all clinicians involved in a patient s care whenever and wherever they are required, Baba explained. Over time, Cerner will become a one-stop shop for key information. This is something that our doctors, nurses and therapists want for their patients sooner rather than later. For more information, contact Paul Harrison at paul.harrison@imperial.nhs.uk or Baba Ogunniyi at babatunde.ogunniyi@imperial.nhs.uk 10 INSIDE PRIVATE HEALTH AUTUMN 2014

11 HOW TO FIND US Queen Charlotte s & Chelsea Hospital Hammersmith Hospital EAST ACTON D U C A N E R O A D A40 W E S T W A Y A 4 0 St Mary s Hospital PADDINGTON A41 LEADING TO THE M1 EDGWARE ROAD MARYLEBONE A501 P R A E D S T R E E T S S E X G A R D E N S MARBLE ARCH A41 BAKER STREET Western Eye Hospital M A R Y L E B O N E R O A D A501 TOWARDS LONDON CITY AIRPORT S U A40 LEADING TO THE M40 H Y D E P A R K A219 A4 A4 LEADING TO THE M4 & HEATHROW AIRPORT A4 HAMMERSMITH A4 F U L H A M P A BARON S COURT Charing Cross Hospital R I V E R T H A M E S L A C E R O A D Tel: +44 (0) private.healthcare@imperial.nhs.uk THE LINDO WING OF ST MARY S Lindo Wing, St Mary s Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY CHARING CROSS Thames View, 15th Floor, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF WESTERN EYE Western Eye Hospital, Marylebone Road, London NW1 5QH HAMMERSMITH Robert & Lisa Sainsbury Wing, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS QUEEN CHARLOTTE S & CHELSEA Sir Stanley Clayton Ward, Queen Charlotte s & Chelsea Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS INSIDE PRIVATE HEALTH AUTUMN

12 EXPERIENCE WORLD CLASS CARE At Imperial Private Healthcare, our patients experience the best of both worlds modern private facilities providing world class consultant-led care in the reassuring setting of some of London s most trusted NHS hospitals. With over 400 consultants covering every medical, diagnostic and surgical specialty, we care for our patients whatever their healthcare needs. Our partnership with Imperial College London means that many of our consultants are involved in cutting edge research, to provide the most up-to-date treatment for patients. As well as offering all the benefits of private healthcare, all our profits are reinvested to support our NHS services. So choosing to have treatment with us in turn benefits many more patients in the community. For more information on our private healthcare services please contact our customer relations manager on: Tel: +44 (0) (0900 to 1700 GMT) or private.healthcare@imperial.nhs.uk For information on our consultants please visit