8 The Royal Free Charity’s winter fundraising appeal is highlighting how donor-funded services ease the loneliness that patients can experience in hospital – often amplified during the festive season. According to a recent study more than 60% of older adults admitted to acute hospital wards reported feeling lonely. Charity massage therapists, peer support groups and volunteers bring comfort and connection to recovery, helping patients heal faster and return home sooner. Bhavisha, an ulcerative colitis patient, was admitted to the RFH following major abdominal surgery. There, she found solace through the charity volunteers, therapists and support groups. Bhavisha said: “The charity massage therapist offered to massage my swollen legs. It was bliss. Later I joined the charity’s inflammatory bowel disease support group. Sitting in a room full of people who understood was life changing – for the first time, I didn’t feel alone.” Now, Bhavisha runs the same support group that helped her. She said: “We’ve got a community which is lovely because the condition can be isolating. Now, if I can help someone with my experience, then all of this will have been worth it.” Lots can happen in 40 years – but for nine members of staff across our trust, one thing has remained constant: their dedication to caring for patients and supporting the NHS. We caught up with these colleagues as they celebrated this milestone to hear about their career highlights and reflections. Congratulations also go to the 189 staff who have reached the 25 year milestone. You can find the full list of awardees on Freenet. Still caring after 40 years Bhavisha’s story is at the heart of the charity’s winter fundraising appeal to fund the services that ease loneliness and promote faster recovery. Sinead Hanton, ICU matron at RFH, said: “When patients feel calmer and more grounded, they’re often more engaged in their recovery. The charity really does make a meaningful difference, for patients and for the staff caring for them.” Find out more at royalfreecharity.org/winterappeal Senior midwife Caroline Garside began her NHS career as a nurse in 1984 before qualifying as a midwife in 2008. “No two days are ever the same and I’m proud of my skills and experience,” she said. “Midwifery underpins maternal health and is all about compassionate, skilled and respectful care.” Royal Free Charity launches appeal to ease hospital loneliness 9 Keeping loneliness at bay Patients with sickle cell disease or thalassemia syndromes are now benefitting from a 24-hour service helping them to bypass ED at North Mid and get the help they need sooner. The daytime model launched at the end of last year and the service became fully 24-hour operational last month. That means a patient can ring a hotline manned day and night by a member of the haematology team. They will either provide self-care advice or invite them in for assessment by one of the team during the day or the medical team out of hours who, if necessary, can admit them immediately to a dedicated bed. Alternatively, if appropriate, patients can be directed to the community team or virtual ward, or be seen at a consultant haematology ‘hot’ clinic to deal with longer term issues. Patients have praised the ED bypass service for reducing wait times for vital pain medication, with average waits being just half an hour, and for Here for our patients 24/7 helping them navigate their hospital journey in a more holistic way. The number of admissions to inpatient wards has fallen since the ED bypass unit opened and there has been a consistent fall in length of stay for patients who are admitted, which is now less than two days for the last three recorded months. Monitoring of repeat attendance does not show a consistent pattern but there is a focus on support for those coming into hospital on a frequent basis, so their condition can be managed as well as possible. Sekayi Tangayi, haemoglobinopathy nurse consultant, said she was incredibly proud of what had already been achieved but there were still improvements to be made. She said: “We are delighted that London Ambulance Service are about to start bringing patients directly to the haematology day unit which will again improve their experience and speed up their route to care.” L-R: Morag Oldfield, Sandra Vaughan and Mary Butler celebrating their long service awards Patrick Sockalingum Sandra Vaughan worked as a sister at North Mid and later as a community midwife before retiring and returning part-time to a baby vaccination clinic. “I enjoy talking to the mums,” she said. “It’s lovely when they come back and show me their little ones.” Morag Oldfield, now QI midwife audit lead, rejoined North Mid after raising her three children and currently works under the ‘retire and return’ scheme. “I’m really appreciating my work life balance,” she said, adding that she spends her free time travelling in her new campervan. I’m really appreciating my work life balance “ “ Mary Butler has had a varied nursing career at North Mid, from general medicine and HIV and AIDS wards in the late 1980s and early 1990s to oncology. Now matron for care of the elderly, she reflected: “The HIV and AIDS work was very challenging but it’s wonderful to see how people are living with it today.” Janet Pardo, matron for maternity at North Mid, has never worked anywhere else in her 40 year career. “I always felt that if I didn’t have anything more to add or improve, I would move on,” she said. “But there was always something to work on – and there still is!” After “just 24 hours of retirement” Jennifer Law came back to work in outpatients at Edgware Community Hospital three years ago. Her advice for new starters: “Always strive to learn more and respect everyone and their role. Everyone’s position counts and keeps the NHS running. Honesty and fairness are so important.” When Patrick Sockalingum started his NHS career in intensive care at BH, his first day coincided with a snowy winter – a stark contrast to 35 degree heat in Mauritius, his home country. “I’ve met wonderful people and learned an awful lot,” he said. “But my focus has always been on patient care. Basic care done well with courtesy, kindness and attention to detail is fundamental.” June Winterflood, patient navigator in paediatric care, reflected on decades of change. “After having my family I moved into paediatrics, and I’ve seen a lot of change as services have grown and evolved.” Shortly after receiving her long service award, she began her retirement with an “amazing” trip to Japan. Earlier this year, Caroline Haggard, ophthalmology clinical PA, received her long service award before retiring after 45 years at BH. She said: “I’ve seen so many changes through the years, but I’ve always put patients first.”
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