Governors’ update RFL 2026 annual members’ meeting – save the date Join us at our annual members’ meeting to celebrate the incredible achievements of our staff over the past year. You will hear about our operational and financial performance with the incredible work of our teams on display. This will be a chance to speak with our staff, share your feedback and learn more about our services. The meeting will take place Wednesday 4 November from 6 to 7.30pm at the RFH. To register, please email rf-tr.membership@nhs.net Become a member of the RFL and help make a difference Become a member of the RFL for free if you live in England and are 16 or over. By becoming a member, you’ll be able to stand for election as an RFL governor or elect governors to represent your interests, keep up to date with the latest developments and news and be invited to events about your local health services. More information can be found on our website or you can email rf-tr.membership@nhs.net Our occupational therapists (OTs) at North Mid have teamed up with community providers to create a safe and accessible space for children receiving occupational therapy to take part in sports. The leisure groups give children with conditions, such as developmental coordination disorder, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the chance to build their confidence and learn new sports – from bike riding to football and athletics. OT Chloe Seager said: “We create an inclusive and motivational environment for the kids – it’s not competitive or high pressure. Parents always say their child enjoys the activity, such as football or running, but doesn’t have the best opportunity to engage with it at school – for example, because of its competitive nature. Not every child engages in activities the same way, so we tailor groups and provide targeted support.” 10 11 Share your views: take part in our membership survey Bringing charity support closer Therapists level the playing field for children Sessions are led by local sports coaches with the OTs on hand to advise on the best way to practise the activity – some children even go on to join mainstream clubs after developing their skills. Bike club is just one of the popular groups. “This could involve children learning to sit on the bike and move it without using the pedals,” Chloe explained. “We would then introduce one pedal before they start to use both. It’s a life skill – it’s emotional to see parents so happy that their children have learnt to ride a bike. It makes me proud to be an OT.” Shir Grunebaum, paediatric OT, shared: “For many of these children, the groups give them a chance they’ve never had before: the tools, time and encouragement to succeed. Watching them learn to cycle, grow in confidence and take part in an activity so popular among their peers is extraordinary.” We are committed to strengthening how we engage with you, our members. In previous years, we have run a single survey for our entire membership. This year, we are taking a more tailored approach by developing audience‑specific surveys. Your insights will help us improve the experience for all our audiences, including patients, staff, and members of the public. Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing these surveys and inviting you to tell us what we are doing well – and where we can do things differently. Keep an eye on our monthly membership newsletter for further details. The Royal Free Charity is getting even closer to the heart of hospital life. Over the coming months, the charity will be open dedicated spaces at every hospital site, bringing together volunteers, complementary therapists and patient support colleagues into one local team. The new approach means every hospital will have a localised charity presence while giving teams the flexibility to respond to the needs of their patients and communities. It also means it will be easier to work together to help patients beyond their clinical care. Alongside the new hospital-based teams, advisers based in the charity offices in the Pears Building will provide specialist support for financially vulnerable patients across the trust who may need help as they prepare to leave hospital. The new approach has been shaped by feedback from RFL staff to ensure it helps deliver the trust’s clinical and strategic priorities and it will make it easier to support fundraising that reflects the needs of each hospital. Jon Spiers, chief executive of Royal Free Charity, said: “These changes are about making our support more visible and easier to access. By bringing our teams together at every hospital, we’re creating a more consistent experience for patients and making it even easier for NHS colleagues to work with us. We’re excited to be building even stronger relationships across the Royal Free London so together we can support more patients, staff and researchers when they need us most.” NHS staff will begin to see the new charity spaces and teams taking shape over the coming months as the new model is introduced across the trust. Chloe Seager, OT Exploring services across the RFL Governors and non-executive directors recently visited North Mid and the RFH, where they thanked staff for their dedication and commitment. These ‘go-see’ visits offered a first hand look at the outstanding work taking place across our sites, as well as a deeper understanding of the challenges teams are navigating to deliver the best possible care for patients. Highlights from the visits included: • Maternity at North Mid – attendees learnt how the team is transforming care for women in communities facing high levels of deprivation and saw the significant work undertaken to achieve the department’s improved Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating following last year’s inspection. • Dermatology at the RFH – attendees explored how advanced imaging and digital innovation are transforming dermatology care. • Pathology at RFH – attendees went behind the scenes to see how digital transformation is reshaping pathology services. • Ward 7 West at the RFH – attendees learned about the impressive improvements made by the ward team, recognised through the trust’s Clinical Accreditation for Recognising Excellence (CARE) assessment programme. Maternity ‘go-see’ at North Mid Pathology visit
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