L-R: Isabel Sutton, trainee clinical psychologist and Claire Franklin, clinical psychologist Pippa Hartley Follow our X account @RoyalFreeNHS to see what our patients and staff are saying about us Patient praises ‘incredible’ brain injury support group to the May/June edition of our bi-monthly staff, members and governors’ magazine. This edition marks the launch of our new RFL shared commitments. These principles have been developed by you to help unite us and guide us in our day-to-day work, and showcase what it is we stand for. A significant amount of work has been involved in making sure these accurately reflect who we are as an enlarged organisation. Thank you to every colleague who shared their ideas, feedback and reflections which helped shape them. Read more on page 6. We are now the largest provider for breast screening in the whole of England after expanding our services to encompass everything north of the River Thames and stretching right to the M25. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for the RFL to screen thousands more women every year, helping to diagnose cancer at the earliest opportunity. More information can be found on page 8 following the work of this team. On page 5, our North Mid diabetes team highlight the success of their collaborative community work which has seen a significant reduction in emergency department admissions for those with type 2 diabetes. You can also discover the story of one of our patients, Lisa, who recovered from a brain tumour at our neurological rehabilitation centre on page 3. I look forward to seeing many more achievements from our colleagues and services across the group. Thank you, as always, for all your hard work. When Pippa Hartley was rushed to hospital with a severe headache in December 2024, she never expected her symptoms to be a result of a brain tumour. “I hadn’t been feeling well for a number of years,” Pippa, 55, shared. “I was fatigued and fell asleep everywhere, I’d fallen a few times and was getting terrible headaches, but I’d always suffered from migraines – I never in a million years thought I’d have a tumour or mass on my brain.” She underwent brain surgery to remove the tumour a month later, before being referred to the neurological rehabilitation centre (NRC) at Edgware Community Hospital. There, she received support to help her regain her speech and manage fatigue. It was while she was receiving this treatment that staff recommended taking part in a new educational support group for people with acquired brain injuries – this includes those with a benign brain tumour, head trauma or who have recently had brain surgery. The six-week group intervention, run by clinical psychologist Claire Franklin and trainee clinical psychologist Isabel Sutton, aims to educate patients about the impact of having a brain injury and teach coping strategies. The initiative was introduced earlier this year, and Pippa was part of the first cohort to complete the course. “I remember being sceptical about how the group would work. I also hadn’t shared my journey with anyone else and was still experiencing sensory issues,” Pippa recalled. “But the group has been incredible.” From memory to concentration, sensory changes and communication, as well as managing fatigue and understanding the emotional impact, the group focused on a new topic each week to help patients understand how their brain works and build on skills to manage any challenges. Pippa said: “You can look fine on the outside but there’s so much that people don’t see. I can still have issues with speech and memory – when there’s Hello and welcome I hadn’t shared my journey with anyone else “ “ 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 lots of noise there’s a delay in processing and formulating words. “The education group allowed me to have the space to process and address these changes. It was helpful to understand the situations where I struggle to process information, and to recognise that I sometimes need to tell people I’ve had brain surgery so I can ask them to slow down or repeat things, ensuring I’ve understood before they continue.” 3 Claire explained the importance of teaching patients in a group setting: “Although we share tips on living life well after a brain injury, one of the crucial parts of this educational group is the peer support. “We encouraged patients to share experiences whenever they felt safe to do so and this group really did connect and share stories and resources with each other. I’ve never seen such positivity and consistent attendance from patients before.” Pippa added: “Being surrounded by a group of people who understand what I’ve been through, whilst being informed about what’s going on inside your brain, made me feel less alone. “Outside in the real world, there’s lots of empathy and care but it’s hard for people with brain injuries to have a voice in it. The group gave me that opportunity to have a voice and without a doubt helped with my recovery. I hope others who have had a brain injury get to experience a group like this one.” Care with compassion Act with integrity Champion inclusion Deliver excellence
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTI5NzM=