News from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Issue 32 | 2019 Happy Birthday Celebrating 150 years of Evelina London THIS ISSUE Contents 05 Green fingers Getting active in the garden Welcome I am delighted to welcome you to this issue of 08 Helping the hidden the GiST. Here for everyone Even though I have worked at Guy’s and St Thomas’ as a doctor for most of my career, I’m still amazed by the incredible work our staff do across the organisation and I’m pleased that we can share this with you. Many things have changed since Evelina Hospital for Sick Children first opened its doors in 1869. Over the years we’ve developed so many new and better ways to treat children, and we now care for 95,000 young patients a year in our hospital and community services. In this issue of the GiST, we look at our extraordinary history and the inspiring care we provide today. 10 Unsung heroes You can also read about a family who have paid the ultimate tribute to the Dedicated volunteers doctors and nurses that saved their daughter’s life – by naming her after Evelina London. Read their story on page 7. 12 Happy birthday Our Health Inclusion Team are making a difference to the lives of some of 150 years of Evelina London London’s most vulnerable people. Find out about the work they do on page 8. More than 750 dedicated volunteers provide around 33,000 hours of their time each year across our Trust. Meet the wonderful team who help our elderly patients to get active on the wards on page 10. You can also read about all the things we are doing as an organisation to become more environmentally friendly, on page 14. I hope you enjoy this issue of the GiST. 18 Helping hand A day with a hand therapist Dr Ian Abbs, Chief Executive We are delighted that the GiST has been shortlisted for the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust ‘Best Corporate Publication – External’ by the CorpComms Awards 2019 . Meet the team TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Words and photos by Marjorie Allen, Kelly Cook, Nzinga Cotton, Simon Ellery, Ciorsdan Glass, If you have any comments about the Maxine Hoeksma, Jessica Law, Rebecca Leddy, magazine or suggestions for future articles, Eloise Parfitt, Joe Parry and Anna Perman. please contact the communications department, St Thomas’ Hospital, Cover photo by David Tett. Westminster Bridge Road, 22 Behind the scenes Design: AYA-Creative www.aya-creative.co.uk London SE1 7EH, or email press @gstt.nhs.uk Discover the importance of art Visit us online at: www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk Print: O’Sullivan Communications Front cover: Evelina London patient Marina Yaqobi the GiST is published by 2 the GiST ROUND-UP Sam soars with IN THE NEWS breakthrough A round-up of media coverage featuring Guy’s and St Thomas’. study Daily Mirror The Daily Mirror featured Evelina London patient, Mia Mifsud A schoolboy has taken part in a (below), who was the youngest groundbreaking trial at Evelina London competitor at the British Children’s Hospital which has helped Transplant Games. him to grow. Sam Short with his sister Issy and brother Alex The three-year-old had both Sam Short, nine, has achondroplasia kidneys removed by the time she – also known as dwarfism. The condition hands over his head, tie his shoe laces and was three months old and a is caused by a gene mutation which ride a bike. kidney transplant from her dad means that bones do not grow properly. “While Sam has always been extroverted, after two years on dialysis. This can lead to other health issues it has really helped to increase his including developmental delay, sleep independence and confidence.” apnoea, and chronic pain. Dr Melita Irving, a clinical geneticist at The results of the trial, which have Evelina London and local principal been published in the New England investigator for the study, said: “The aim of Journal of Medicine, showed that a new this study was to reduce the serious treatment called vosoritide helped complications of achondroplasia, which can increase the growth rate in children with be far reaching and can really affect achondroplasia by 50%. patients’ quality of life. Sam’s mother, Jenn, from Fulham in “Being able to help prevent these west London, said: “The trial has been complications means that children like Sam completely life-changing for Sam. will be less likely to need interventions like “He can now stand straighter, link his surgery, which is a really fantastic result.” ITV London News Klinefelter’s syndrome is a common condition where men are Pharmacist develops information app born with an extra X chromosome. It can cause male infertility and often goes untreated. MedTap, which is free to download, ITV London News reported that provides answers to common questions Guy’s Hospital is running the first such as when and how to take pills, what to clinic in the UK to deal solely with do about side effects and how to re-order. the condition. Users can watch videos on topics such as BBC Look East heart attacks and atrial fibrillation. They can Theo Walker was interviewed on also record their medicines, appointments BBC Look East about how his life and test results to help improve how they has been transformed after manage their own care. pioneering treatment at Gayle Campbell, senior cardiovascular St Thomas’ Hospital for severe pharmacist at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: eczema. Gayle Campbell “Understandably, people can forget what The condition was so bad that it health professionals tell them about their left Theo in constant pain and A new app that features videos with Guy’s medicines during a clinic visit. unable to move, but everything and St Thomas’ staff has been developed “We developed this app to give patients changed after he became one of to help patients take their medications. that information at their fingertips. Patients the first people in the country to Research shows that 10 days after and their families can access the specific be given a new drug called being prescribed a medicine, more than information they need whenever they need it. dupilumab. half of patients are not taking them “It’s like having a recorded version of their correctly. consultation available 24 hours a day.” www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk 3 ROUND-UP P P i i c c t t u u r r e e c c o o u u r r t t e e s s y y o o f f R B a r e f a n e d l a a n D F o o m s t i e n r g o P s h Dr Ronx with two attendees o t o g r a Inspiring youth p h y TV presenters Dr Ranj Singh and Dr Ronx Ikharia encouraged Evelina London patients to “dream big” at the annual Inspiring Youth Conference. Young people aged 11 to 16 attended the event, which is now in its fourth year. Dr Ranj, a Strictly Come Dancing star, and Dr Ronx, presenter of children's TV show Operation Ouch, The 300 supporters and staff who took part in London's most thrilling 'urban triathlon' – Guy’s Urban spoke about their careers and the Challenge – raised an incredible £100,000 for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity. The classic route saw them run 2.4km, spin 15km on a Wattbike and climb 29 floors to the top of Guy’s Tower. importance of looking after yourself. Dr Ranj said: “It’s really important that we nurture and support young people to dream big and become the Your voice best they can be. Moving into adulthood can be a very tricky time We love to hear from our patients, staff and supporters so join the so it’s also vital that young people conversation by following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. know how to stay healthy and be happy.” @DrRanj @FrancisCoach01 (from Twitter) Dr Ronx added: “I wanted to show (from Twitter) Thanks as always to the fab young people that regardless of your The face you cardiology team @EvelinaLondon upbringing and background you can make when perfect balance of friendliness and do anything you want to do, with the you’ve just professionalism this morning with my right help, passion and dedication. secured a daughter #patientcenteredcare “I’m passionate about increasing $2billion deal at @BGCCharityDay in aid @_hannah_tomes (from Twitter) visibility and encouraging young of @EvelinaLondon! #BGCcharityday Spent my first ever night in hospital people not to put any limits on @JoWilsonEcho (from Twitter) (am alright!) and was bowled over by themselves. My motto is ‘you cannot Once again @GSTTnhs to the rescue!!! the warmth and boundless kindness be what you can’t see’.” Thank you so much to the Congenital of everyone I met. I knew the NHS was During the event young people Cardiology team at St Thomas’ hospital incredible, but as a generally healthy were encouraged to contribute ideas for their wonderful care for @ciciadamou person, it’s easy to forget when you about how Evelina London could today. A barrage of tests carried out with don’t use it often. To all at @GSTTnhs care for them even better. diligence and kindness and results – cheers! Isabelle Everest, 13, also gave an delivered by yet another lovely doctor! inspirational speech about living with Roxanne Vaneeza Butt Beechey cerebral palsy and how she become Alison Jayne Hunt (from Facebook) (from Facebook) a judo champion after undergoing 20 months after heart surgery I feel Thank you Evelina hospital for caring life changing surgery at Evelina amazing thank you Mr Bosco and for my boy under several London.