PULSESUMMER 2014 Issue 29
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Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust Find out more about your trust members’ newsletter PULSESUMMER 2014 Issue 29 MakingMaking hospitalhospital funfun – – pagepage 55 Plus Annual Cardiology Members’ – we’re the Meeting tops – page 5 details – page 3 Walk for wards – page 6 News and Events TV fame for museum’s star exhibit To the casual visitor it looks no more interesting an item than a large metal box – but for the production team working on an important television documentary it resulted in an emotional scene in their film. One of the treasured exhibits in the museum at the Royal Berkshire Hospital is an iron lung – one of only a few still in existence. It will soon have a starring role in an important BBC documentary which examines the facts behind polio and its terrible effects on patients and their families. When former BBC TV economics reporter Stephanie Flanders, who narrates the programme, visited the museum it was an emotional personal journey. Her father – Michael – was one half of the famous Flanders and Swann musical comedy act who entertained the nation in the 1950s and 60s with a series of songs including Dr Tim Smith of the medical museum helps Stephanie Flanders into the iron lung during the filming of “The Hippopotamus Song: Mud, Mud, the documentary Glorious Mud”. lung – which had to be specially polio sufferers such as her father. Tragically, during his wartime naval service, constructed to fit his 6ft 4ins frame. Michael Flanders contracted polio. He later During the programme curator of the recalled: “I was lying off Yarmouth, listening Eventually he was discharged – but his polio medical museum, Dr Tim Smith, explains to for e-boats – fortunately I never heard one meant that he could only walk with great Stephanie how the iron lung kept patients – when I started to feel something that was difficulty. For the rest of his life he used a alive and also helps the TV journalist to like a very bad dose of flu, which was wheelchair. discover the discomforts of attempting to eventually diagnosed as polio.” eat and drink while inside the machine. As she waited for the camera to roll, His commanding officer refused to let him Stephanie said: “I’ve never seen an iron lung The Museum is open to the general take immediate rest and as a result the before today.” Television viewers will see public from 2:00 until 4:30 pm on the first polio became far more damaging. He spent Stephanie squeeze into the machine and and third Sundays of the month. Admission several months being treated in an iron discover first-hand what life was like for is free. Information update Visitors to the Royal the following colours: Berkshire Hospital over the • Dark Blue – Patient and past few months may have visitor information noticed a number of • Red – Information for colourful new noticeboards people with learning around the buildings. The disabilities colour-coded boards have • Light Blue – Support groups been purchased thanks to and useful organisations the League of Friends and should make it easier for • Green – Staff information people to find information which is relevant to them. These are located across the hospital in areas accessible To get the information most to those they are aimed at Patient Information Manager Jane Burnett and Martin Butler of the League of appropriate to you, look for helping. Friends with one of the new noticeboards. 2 Our Annual Members Meeting: – your chance to find out the facts and ask questions It is the “must” event of the year – our Trust’s Annual Members Meeting on Wednesday 16 July 2014. We’ve a new home for the event this year – the Henley Business School, on the University of Reading Whiteknights Campus, Shinfield Road, Reading. Among the highlights at the event will be a keynote talk to explain about our new dementia-friendly wards – an exciting project which has transformed particular their help for Parkinson’s the look of our elderly care department patients, the Emergency Department and is proving popular with patients and and the work of the Council of their families. Governors. But there is a great deal more to see Volunteers from our museum will be and hear about. When the doors open manning a special display at 6pm visitors will be able to tour the commemorating 175 years of the Royal “market place”, packed with displays Berkshire Hospital. evening. Our Chairman, Stephen showcasing a range of departments Billingham, will host the meeting. There across the Trust. And parked outside will be our new will be reports on our performance over mobile chemotherapy unit which is the past year and a look ahead to the Staff will be on hand to explain more bringing treatment closer to where next 12 months as well as the about the work they do and answer people live in West Berkshire and will opportunity for you to ask questions. your questions. Displays at this year’s soon be visiting South Oxfordshire. event include the work of our audiology So make a note in your diary today – team, cancer support services, the After touring the market place members Wednesday 16 July – and we look physiotherapy department and in will attend the formal proceedings of the forward to meeting you there. Cancer charity honours ward for outstanding care Adelaide Ward at the Royal Berkshire chairman Gordon Johns who read an Hospital has been honoured by a cancer emotional citation featuring the words of a About the Lymphoma charity for its outstanding care of people lymphoma patient being treated at the Trust Association affected by lymphoma – the UK’s fifth most who said: “I am still here today for two Founded by patients in 1986, the common cancer. reasons. Firstly, from the consultants to the Lymphoma Association is a UK charity healthcare assistants, the clinical and physical dedicated to providing accurate medical The staff on Adelaide won a Beacons of Hope care that I received was simply first class. information and support to people Award at the Lymphoma Association’s annual Secondly, the pastoral and emotional care affected by lymphatic cancer including awards ceremony. given to my wife and loved ones, so that they families, friends and carers. could be strong for me, was just as excellent. The event was one of the highlights of Every year, more than 14,000 new cases of lymphoma are identified in the UK Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week which “I don’t think the staff on Adelaide Ward are alone, making it the fifth most common aims to raise awareness of lymphoma, the aware of how their attitude and work ethic cancer diagnosed by clinicians. Lymphatic most common type of blood cancer. benefit patients because they do it without a cancer can occur in both men and women conscious effort.” at any age, but is most common in people Common symptoms of lymphoma include a over 55. It is also the most frequently painless lump or swelling, often in the neck, Sally Penrose, Chief Executive of the diagnosed cancer in the under-30s. armpit or groin, feeling worn out for no Lymphoma Association, said: “We were reason, being drenched in sweat during the delighted to be able to present the Adelaide anyone affected by lymphoma, and the night and persistent itching. Ward with a Beacons of Hope Award. We Beacons of Hope Awards are a chance for us specialise in giving reliable medical to say thank you to people like those in the The event was hosted by the charity’s information and appropriate support to Adelaide Ward who made a difference.” 3 News and Events Providing young people with memories The Trust paediatric team works But, where we can, we try our utmost to closely with the Alexander do it – it might be having a driving lesson on private land because we realise the Devine charity and is keenly young person won’t live until they are 17 supporting their aim of opening a or getting to The Oracle for a milkshake hospice for children in Berkshire. with their best friend or planning who Dr Abigail Macleod – Trust they want to give their favourite shoes paediatric palliative care doctor to when they die – and writing that in an writes a personal account of her ‘instruction list’ for their family. work and how young people with Dying is not a ‘normal’ teenage life limiting conditions can be experience, but the things teenagers who helped through their difficult are dying want to do often are. Trying to journey. bring some normality, some choice and some power is so important for this ‘I think you look lovely’ – I smile, but on special group of young people and it is the inside I am groaning slightly, what I try to do in my working life. wondering how long it might be before Dr Abigail Macleod her teacher tells her to unroll the Photo courtesy of Reading Chronicle Sadly, part of that decision-making waistband of her skirt. It is the first day includes where they want to die. of the September term and my teenage disease and conditions that will result in Currently, children, young people and daughter has put on her uniform and, death before the age of 18. their families can choose to die at home, along with probably most of the other in hospital or children’s hospice. The girls her age in Reading, is pushing One of the things I have learnt over my nearest hospices to Reading are 30-40 some boundaries when the day has only years in palliative care is that although miles away in either Oxford or just started.