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
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