Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust Staff, members, and governors’ magazine // January / February 2026 The future looks good – thanks to our surgical eye team
Alan at home Alan and Karen in the training room Follow our X account @RoyalFreeNHS to see what our patients and staff are saying about us Rock fan nails home haemodialysis performance 3 to the January/February edition of our bi-monthly staff, members and governors’ magazine. The beginning of this year saw us reach the oneyear anniversary of our merger with North Mid. It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come and what we have achieved together in these 12 months. Just one of the benefits we’re already providing for our patients is access to a wider range of research – you can read more about the latest life-changing opportunities on page 4. In this edition we reflect on page 6 on our improving cancer performance. I am so proud of all the fantastic work that has already been done to reduce waiting times for diagnosis and treatment. But we’re not stopping there. As well continuing to cut waiting times we will redouble our efforts to provide the best possible patient experience when it comes to cancer care. On page 9, we celebrate our ophthalmology surgical team at Edgware Community Hospital on their recent NHS England accreditation. We also share the impact home haemodialysis has had for one of our patients on page 3. In addition, the development of our urgent care services is continuing with innovation and improvement in frailty services across BH, North Mid and RFH. On page 8, we highlight one of these developments and look at the impact of the dedicated frailty bay at the RFH. I look forward to seeing us go further and faster in offering the best of the NHS to our patients in the year ahead. Thank you, as always, for your exceptional hard work and dedication. Alan Last is battling a cough but the 66-year-old kidney dialysis patient is feeling pretty pleased with himself. For the last three weeks he’s been dialysing at home after undergoing weeks of training at the St Pancras Kidney and Dialysis Centre guided by Karen Turner, a home therapies clinical nurse specialist. Alan’s ability to self-dialyse means he no longer has to attend BH four times a week for four-hour sessions. On top of that he’s no longer having to factor in waiting for patient transport back and forth, another timeconsuming part of his routine. Now he dialyses at times that suit him, in the comfort of his living room. Alan admits that when Karen first suggested home dialysis training, he was unsure. “I was very much in favour of anything which meant I didn’t have to go to hospital, but I did wonder if I would master it,” he said. “An added complication is I’m colour blind, so I had to be confident I knew where everything was supposed to go without relying on the colour coded instructions. “On top of that I knew I would have to self-needle to enable the artificial kidney machine to filter waste products out of my blood.” Alan says keeping calm is key to his success. He said: “If there is a problem I try and think things through logically. I used to work with rock bands and if there is one lesson I learned it was not to panic!” Alan’s flat is not large, but a box room is used to store all the kit he requires. He also has a home alarm and a panic button. He said: “I’m so happy that I’ve done this. The training has been fantastic, and Karen regularly checks in with me which is enormously reassuring.” Karen is clearly delighted with Alan’s achievement and how the home dialysis service is continuing to steadily grow. Hello and welcome Peter Landstrom Group chief executive Key to abbreviations: Barnet Hospital: BH Chase Farm Hospital: CFH North Middlesex University Hospital: North Mid Royal Free Hospital: RFH Royal Free London: RFL 2 From just five patients when Karen joined in 2024 there are now 19. Patients who are still working find it particularly beneficial to be able to home dialyse, but age is no limit – the oldest home dialysis convert is 90 years old. Karen ensures home dialysis is now part of the conversation from the earliest opportunity. With approximately 850 patients on haemodialysis in the trust, there is still plenty of scope to grow the service. Karen said: “I attend the patient education session for pre-dialysis. That means people hear about this option even before they’ve started their dialysis journey. The key to success is the patient’s own motivation and it helps to plant that seed from the start.” She added: “There is a small cost saving to home dialysis, more when you factor in no longer requiring patient transport, but for me the major benefit is giving people back their independence. It changes their lives immeasurably.” “ “ The key to success is the patient’s own motivation
5 4 Waiting time screens, digital clocks for intensive care patients and a blood desensitisation clinic are just three new projects to receive funding from the Royal Free Charity in its latest funding round. The charity invited RFL staff to apply for grants to improve the experience of patients. Twelve applications – ranging from £911 to £10,000 – were approved, supporting enhancements driven by frontline insight. One grant will fund digital waiting time screens in North Mid’s radiotherapy department to provide real-time updates for patients having scans. By improving communication, the screens will help ease anxiety and support staff, benefiting more than 1,300 patients each year. Brishna Mohammad, a radiotherapy quality manager and the project’s lead, said: “This grant will enable us to provide our patients with clear, up-to-date information, directly supporting improvement in their cancer treatment. We are extremely thankful for this opportunity.” Other grants awarded include music therapy tools and sensory resources for dementia patients. The funding will also enable the launch of a blood desensitisation clinic to support patients with learning disabilities who have extreme needle phobia. People living with axial spondyloarthritis will also benefit as money has been awarded to run patient events. Applications were assessed by a panel of clinicians and patient representatives. Warren Sims, a panel member, said: “Staff identified very real challenges facing patients and proposed solutions that were rooted in daily experience. The quality of applications was impressive – each addressed issues that patients had identified themselves.” I felt everyone should have the benefit of support “ “ Charity backs staff ideas for patient care Patients across the RFL are benefitting from the opportunity to take part in a number of exciting new research opportunities. Having the ability to recruit more patients on to studies as a result of the merger makes the trust an even more attractive prospect for national and international trials. Two trials opening shortly at BH, North Mid and RFH are EASY CARE, a new sampling technique for detecting womb cancer, and EVITA, the first cross-site paediatrics trial, which will examine the effectiveness of different asthma drugs. Dr Charlotte Clements, a paediatric emergency medicine consultant based at North Mid and overall trust principal investigator for the EVITA trial, said: “All three medications are already available in the NHS for treating severe acute asthma and the study is trying to determine the most effective option clinically and in terms of cost.” The aim is to recruit 18 children at each hospital. Dr Clements added: “Taking part in this study strengthens the RFL’s reputation as a centre for excellence for the delivery of paediatric care and will hopefully lead to further research opportunities.” Triple the opportunity for research A new test for womb cancer will seek to recruit 1,500 women from the RFL, with 500 each from BH, RFH and North Mid. Due to open in early February, the EASY CARE study will compare a new swab test – which detects a different type of DNA secreted by the tumour – with the current test, a transvaginal ultrasound. The potentially faster, more sensitive and less invasive test could be a game changer for early diagnosis. If the swab highlights something that the scan does not pick up on, further investigation will be arranged. Dr Maria Memtsa, early pregnancy and gynaecological scanning consultant and principal investigator for the trial, said: “It is fantastic to be able to offer this cutting-edge research to our patients.” Dr Charlotte Clements Brishna Mohammad, radiotherapy quality manager L-R: Dr Maria Memtsa, early pregnancy and gynaecological scanning consultant, and Gemma Gluckman, bereavement midwife The early pregnancy loss support clinic at RFH has been running for three years this February, and such is its impact that the plan is to extend the clinic’s scope to include patients whose early pregnancy loss was treated at BH, and ultimately at North Mid. The motivation behind the clinic came partly as a result of a patient’s own experience of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. She was unaware of her pregnancy and had to have life-saving surgery, during which her fallopian tube had to be removed. Dr Maria Memtsa, a gynaecological consultant and expert in early pregnancy and gynaecological scanning, was contacted by the woman a few weeks later after her surgery. Maria performed a scan to reassure her and took time to answer her questions. The positive impact of this appointment on the patient was so profound that it stuck with Maria. At the same time, Maria was leading a group of international experts in early pregnancy care about developing future research priorities in ectopic pregnancy. “Today I’ve made a real difference” She said: “The work included hearing from service users as well as health care professionals and a common theme from women who responded to our survey was they wanted follow-up care.” This chimed with what Gemma Gluckman, the RFH bereavement midwife, was experiencing. Her involvement with early pregnancy loss patients and their partners had previously only occurred if they had chosen to have a hospital-arranged funeral. Gemma would then contact them offering additional support. She said: “I felt everyone should have the benefit of support, not just people who had opted for a funeral.” Patients who have experienced an early pregnancy loss are routinely called three weeks after the event by a nurse to check on their wellbeing. This call now includes the offer to attend this dedicated early pregnancy loss support clinic three weeks later. During the appointment, Maria and Gemma revisit the events surrounding the recent loss and patients are offered a transvaginal scan as well as pre-conception or contraceptive advice. In addition, patients can be signposted back to their GP for specialist care if needed. Data collected over the last three years shows a significant reduction in anxiety amongst patients before and after the consultation. The clinic has also received numerous positive comments via the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). Maria said: “The consultation and scan give our patients an extra level of reassurance, while also providing some closure and planning for the future. At the time of booking the appointment, the patients are encouraged by the nurse to bring any questions with them to help get the most out of the session. “For me, the clinic gives the immense satisfaction of knowing that today I’ve made a real difference.”
6 7 The RFL has been highlighted as one of the trusts that has made one of the most significant improvements in cancer treatment waiting times nationally. In December 2025, 80% of patients began treatment within 62 days, up from 54.7% the previous year – our strongest cancer performance to date. This places us in the top quartile of trusts nationally, a first for our trust. We have also achieved the NHS Faster Diagnosis Standard, with 78.2% of patients having cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days, and 92.1% starting treatment within 31 days of the decision to treat. Our hard work has not gone unnoticed, with Mark Cubbon, NHS elective lead, praising the trust for its “impressive improvements”. Our trajectory is particularly remarkable given we continue to be one of the busiest cancer providers in the NHS, receiving almost 66,000 suspected cancer referrals annually, the highest in London. This significant improvement reflects the hard work of colleagues right across our cancer pathways, from primary care referrals and diagnostics right through to treatment and follow up. It means more patients are getting diagnosed faster and benefitting from access to treatment sooner. In addition, the RFL is also working hard to ensure more patients than ever before have access to clinical trials. In the spotlight On World Cancer Day the Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting MP, launched the government’s National Cancer Plan at the Maggie’s centre in the grounds of the RFH, in front of an audience of staff, patients and national media. As a kidney cancer survivor himself he thanked his “amazing” surgeon Ravid Barod and praised his clinical nurse specialist, David Cullen, for “always being at the end of a phone call or e-mail”. He went on to share his vision for the future of cancer care across the country, including a focus on ensuring all patients can access the same high standard of care, no matter where they live, as well as the government’s ambition for the country to become a global leader in cancer outcomes by providing more screening. He also outlined the government’s commitment to harness data, equipment and technology such as more robotic assisted surgery, AI and genomic testing to ensure people live for longer. Mr Streeting, also spoke to RFL patients about their care and the support they are receiving, including Ian Gaskin, who has just finished treatment for prostate cancer and Agnes Jervis, who last year underwent surgery for kidney cancer. He told guests: “One in two of us will experience cancer directly during our lives and only a tiny number of people will be untouched by it. If we get cancer care right, we will get health care right.” Charity support The trust has benefitted from the support of the Royal Free Charity. The purchase of a PET-CT scanner has directly increased diagnostic capacity and speed. The trust also now has a second surgical robot which has doubled capacity to perform complex cancer surgeries. In addition, thanks to the charity, patients can access specialist massage techniques like scar tissue therapy and manual lymphatic drainage to ease discomfort and accelerate healing. Peter Landstrom, RFL group chief executive, said: “We know progress in cancer care is not just about clinical excellence but also the patient experience that wraps around it. That is why we are so grateful to the Royal Free Charity and Maggie’s for everything they do to support our patients.” “ “ I just get this incredible feeling of being cared for Danny’s story Behind the percentages are patients – like 66-year-old Danny Rudman, who has spent three decades under the RFL’s care. Danny, from Essex, was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in October last year and since then he has received two types of chemotherapy, as well as radiotherapy. He couldn’t praise his clinical team enough for the way they have supported him during his treatment. Ian Gaskin, prostate cancer patient Agnes Jervis, kidney cancer patient Danny Rudman, oesophageal cancer patient Daren Francis, colorectal surgeon Roopinder Gillmore, clinical cancer lead, Jemma O’Reilly, lead cancer nurse, Peter Landstrom, group chief executive, Ravi Barod, urological consultant and James Barber, pre-treatment superintendent therapeutic radiographer, at the National Cancer Plan launch “We’ve had just the most incredible support from all the teams looking after me – oncology, radiotherapy, the nurses, the consultants – they will do anything they can to help you,” he said. “I just get this incredible feeling of being cared for.” For 30 years Danny has been coming to the RFH for treatment for his severe reflux. His stomach acid travels up towards the throat, causing pain and damaging the lining of his oesophagus, also known as the food tube. Over time this has caused scarring and inflammation, which means he has been at risk of developing a tumour. Danny has had regular scans to test for any cancerous growths and last year a tumour was discovered. “They found a lump last year and at first they thought it was benign but then they found it was cancerous,” Delivering on cancer – behind every statistic are our patients Danny said: “The doctors say they don’t think it’s spread. Because it’s in a very difficult place in which to operate, I’m having oral and infusion chemo and radiotherapy and hoping that will blast it and wipe it out.” Danny is hoping his treatment will be over by March and it will have done the trick so he can go back to his job as a land agent. See for yourself A leading cancer surgeon at the RFL is starring in a new documentary series called The Surgeon. The programme goes behind the scenes of the highpressured world of the operating theatre and features Daren Francis, who specialises in bowel cancer surgery, alongside two patients – retired nurse Doris and head chef Antonio – who receive life-threatening diagnoses. Daren stars in the first episode of the series which is being broadcast on Channel 5 at 9pm on Wednesday 18 February and you’ll be able to catch up on My5.
8 A dedicated space designed to support patients with frailty needs in the emergency department (ED) is delivering outstanding results at the RFH. Members of the wider frailty team have implemented the rapid early assessment team (TREAT) clinical decision unit (CDU) bay within the hospital’s adult assessment unit. This short-stay area (designed for patients staying less than 23 hours) enables people with frailty identified in the ED to receive timely, holistic care from a multidisciplinary team. The bay has been operational since November 2024 and is now a key part of how the ED supports patients to stay well and independent. The TREAT and rapid emergency and acute medicine (REAM) therapy teams work together to identify those who would benefit from a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Their early input helps ensure that patients who do not require hospital admission can safely return home with appropriate community support, while those who do need further care are directed to the most suitable ward. The ophthalmology surgical hub at Edgware Community Hospital has received recognition from NHS England for its efficiency and outstanding care. It’s one of just 10 surgical hubs in the UK to have been granted accreditation as part of the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) scheme, which acknowledges high standards of treatment and adherence to guidelines aimed at improving patient experience. As a dedicated unit for planned eye surgeries, the hub is able to operate at maximum efficiency without being impacted by winter pressures in other parts of the hospital. The ophthalmology surgical team also deliver shorter waiting times for patients and prides itself on providing more personalised care, as many patients who return to the hub see the same members of staff. Anne Marie Williams, sister in charge, has worked in the unit since 2001 and has seen it transform from a more general day surgery unit to the surgical hub it is today. Blinking brilliant – surgical eye hub receives recognition Since its launch, the unit has supported around 790 patients. Data shows that this proactive approach is delivering demonstrable improvements in care and patient experience, with 90% of patients rating their care as good or very good once they leave. Patients seen in the unit experienced ED waits around 1.7 hours shorter on average than similar patients admitted elsewhere, and 60% of patients were able to return home directly from the bay. “We only began specialising in eye surgeries two years ago and, since then, our waiting times have reduced and patients are benefitting from the expertise based here,” Anne Marie said. “We’re a formidable family – we work together with colleagues in the eye clinic to get patients through the doors safely and quickly. The accreditation showcases our collaborative work in facilitating first-class day surgeries.” Rohit Jolly is the clinical service lead for ophthalmology at the RFL and said a lot of effort had led to the GIRFT accreditation: “I am so happy that Edgware has received this recognition – a lot of work goes into running the hub, ensuring the highest standards of care are met for all our patients, and making sure our staff are happy and their talents are acknowledged. “I’m really proud of the team and it’s another accolade to add to the many others we’ve achieved. We look forward to continuing to grow and welcoming many more patients who can walk away from the hub smiling and with better vision.” Dedicated bay supporting patients with frailty 9 Members of staff supporting TREAT CDU How to identify and support frailty Frailty affects many patients and can influence how well they recover from illness, injury or stressful life events. With frailty, an otherwise minor issue can lead to rapid decline in strength or cognition. This Frailty February, use the ‘5 P’s of frailty’ to guide care: • Proactive identification – recognise signs early and act before a crisis. • Personalised care plan – focus care on what matters most to each patient. • Prevent unnecessary admissions – explore community and therapy-led support. • Prevent deconditioning – encourage movement, nutrition and hydration. • Promote healthy ageing – champion engagement, socialising and connected care. Search for ‘frailty’ on Freenet for more resources and training tools. The ophthalmology surgical team Rohit meeting with a patient in the surgical hub “ “ We’re a formidable family The team – including medical, nursing and therapy staff – works together to meet patients’ physical, emotional and social needs. Regular activity sessions every Wednesday promote wellbeing, mobility and confidence, helping patients maintain independence after discharge. “Our patients benefit from truly joined up care,” said Dr Devkishan Chauhan, consultant physician and geriatrician. “This model shows how early assessment and teamwork lead to safer, better outcomes for everyone involved.” Myra Hernandez, lead nurse for TREAT, added: “The TREAT CDU reflects what’s possible when we combine specialist frailty expertise with rapid, personcentred care. Seeing patients return home safely and confidently is what motivates our team every day.” As we mark Frailty February 2026, the team is sharing its experience across the trust – encouraging colleagues to recognise frailty early and explore ways to provide person-centred, preventative care.
Governors’ update Become a member of the RFL and help make a difference You can become a member of the RFL for free if you live in England, are 16 or over, or are a carer for a patient that is under 16 years old. By becoming a member, you’ll be able to stand for election as a RFL governor or elect governors to represent your interests, keep up to date with the latest developments and news, and be invited to events at about local health services. More information can be found on our website, or you can email rf.membership@nhs.net. 10 11 Lead governor Linda Bogod looks ahead to 2026 Meet your new governors Patients see the benefits of expanded MRI service Last October we were delighted to welcome 10 new governors to the council across all constituencies. Below, you can get to know some of your newly elected patient governors. We will introduce our other new governors in future editions of Freepress. Joseph Adams has a background in primary school teaching. He has been a dialysis patient at the trust since 2020 after receiving a kidney transplant which unfortunately failed. Joseph plays an active role in improving patient safety and sat on the trust’s patient safety board until 2018. Richard Helyer has over 40 years of expertise in the insurance industry. A RFL patient since 2019, he is driven by a strong dedication to improving the patient experience and ensuring every voice is heard. Stephen Cameron has worked in healthcare communications for more than 40 years and is currently a non-executive director of a large multination healthcare communications group. Waiting times for suspected cancer patients awaiting an MRI at the RFH have been cut in half from 10 days to five days, and often even sooner. In recent years MRI at the hospital has undergone significant refurbishment to install new scanners, producing higher quality images with much shorter scan times. However, the real key to the success in significantly reducing waiting times for suspected cancer patients has been the expansion of operating hours, which has been enabled by growing the team. MRI at the RFH now runs Monday to Sunday on four machines. Magda Barrow, interim senior imaging operations manager, said: “Our new 8am to 8pm service every day of the week gives patients choice, which they really appreciate in terms of fitting in their scan around work or caring responsibilities. “Equally important for our staff, there is a certain amount of flexible rostering which gives them the opportunity to do more of the shifts they want to do. There is also the ability for them to swap shifts.” Orla Culligan, interim MRI superintendent, said: “There was a clear need to expand the service in order to keep up with demand, especially when it came to prioritising our cancer patients. “A number of slots each day are reserved for those with suspected cancer, and the team can often see these patients within just a day or two of referral.” Magda added: “Reducing waiting times for patients not only helps deliver peace of mind faster to those people who do not receive a cancer diagnosis, it also helps people who are diagnosed to potentially start on a treatment plan sooner. Our staff are rightly proud of being able to offer this fast turnaround for those patients.” Adrian Trinidade, interim group head of radiology said: “With the new expanded hours at the RFH, the trust now operates 10 MRI scanners across the group, delivering a seven-day service to patients. This fleet includes two state-of-the-art 3T scanners, which provide exceptional detail for complex diagnoses. “Looking to the future, the MRI scanner at Barnet Hospital is scheduled to be replaced shortly. This upgrade will allow the service to deliver faster scans, see more patients, and deliver improved image quality. These developments highlight the Royal Free London’s continued investment in diagnostic infrastructure and patient care. By upgrading technology and widening access, we are ensuring our services remain fit for the future and patients receive the best possible experience.” “ Staff in the expanded MRI team at RFH Joseph Adams Richard Helyer Stephen Cameron Our staff are rightly proud of being able to offer this fast turnaround “ “ “ This is my first opportunity to speak with our wider membership since stepping into the role of lead governor, and it is a genuine privilege to do so. I’d like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Sneha Bedi, whose dedication and leadership throughout her time with the trust have left a lasting and positive impact on the council of governors. As governors we’re here to listen – to staff, to patients, and the public – and ensure your experiences and perspectives shape the trust’s work. If you would like to contact me or any of my fellow governors, please email rf-tr.governors@nhs.net. One of our key priorities this year is to strengthen our connection with our members and with the communities served by the trust. By deepening these relationships, we can help ensure that every patient receives the best possible care. As part of this commitment, we will once again be seeking your feedback on how the trust engages with you. More than 900 of you shared your views in our 2024 survey – highlighting what is working well and where we can do better – and your insights continue to guide our approach. In my role as lead governor, I will work closely with our group chair, Mark Lam, and group chief executive, Peter Landstrom. I will also support the council in shaping its programme of work and act as a bridge between the council and the trust board, ensuring your voice is heard at every level. Linda Bogod
12 60 seconds with… Paul Sandajan Lead transfusion practitioner, North Mid Tell me a bit about your job history? When I came to the UK I worked as a medical lab assistant at Barts Health NHS Trust before moving to North Mid in 2011. In 2019 I applied for a job as an assistant transfusion practitioner with the help of the then-lead who encouraged me to get the necessary qualifications. What experience shaped you? Back in the early 90s, I worked in the largest hospital in the southern Philippines and saw rebels and soldiers being treated side by side in ED. Often the rebels didn’t have names, so you were reliant on a finger prick test to confirm their blood type at the bedside. That was my first experience of seeing transfusion saving lives. What’s the best part of your role? I really enjoy the training element of my job, it’s so important to make sure everyone has an in-depth understanding of blood transfusion, patient blood management and the importance of blood donation. My role is to ensure safe, effective, and appropriate use of blood components by bridging laboratory and clinical services, providing expert education, implementing policies, investigating incidents, and managing resources – all to improve patient care and reduce unnecessary transfusions. We also often receive trauma patients with gunshot or stab wounds and I’m one of the trainers for trauma and life support, specifically ‘major haemorrhage’, at the trust. What are you most proud of? Recently, I’ve been involved in creating a non-medical blood prescriber policy that is about to launch. It’s important that more people are trained to prescribe blood so we can help our patients faster. For patients with sickle cell and thalassaemia, longer wait times equals more pain. Nearly half of red cells that we give are for people with inherited red cell disorders so being able to support them in a timely manner will be a big step forward. What might people not know about what you do? One of the things I get involved in is supporting staff whose patients decline transfusion, mostly for religious reasons. We have a large Jehovah’s Witness community, so this comes up regularly. We always respect a patient’s beliefs, but we explain that we can still optimise the situation by providing alternative treatments, including the use of an autologous cell salvage machine. What are some of the day-to-day issues you face? I’m here to advise on any transfusion-related issues from clinical and clerical staff. I’m often to be found checking requests in the lab to ensure any incidents, errors or near-mistakes are acted upon immediately. We all work very hard to reduce risks, including regular auditing. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work? For me, baking is the perfect stress reliever. I pretty much took over the kitchen in the run up to Christmas and I’ll be baking again for blood donation awareness week in June. Everyone asks me for my cassava cake recipe but I’m never going to share it. Taking care of your wellbeing Every day, our staff go above and beyond to care for our patients. Please take the time to also look after your own wellbeing: • 24/7 helpline (out of hours) contact Care First on 0800 174319 (24/7) service) for emotional and psychological support or access online via carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk; login details can be found on Freenet • Contact the Samaritans (on 116 123), NHS Helpline (111) or your GP • Cost of living worries can have a huge impact on our mental health – visit our financial wellbeing page on Freenet • Visit Freenet for a range of resources, information and other wellbeing tips
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