The K-FiT programme MDT team and support group members Claudette is recovering well Follow our X account @RoyalFreeNHS to see what our patients and staff are saying about us ‘Fantastic’ mood and food support group reaps positive results 3 to the September/October edition of our bi-monthly staff, members and governors’ magazine. It’s that time of year when we can see teams across the trust already gearing up for the winter months. Our emergency departments and urgent treatment centres see more than half a million patients each year, with winter being the busiest period. In this edition, we showcase teams already tackling waiting times across our hospitals on page 6. And ahead of winter, one simple step you can take to make sure you are as prepared as possible is to book your flu vaccine. It not only helps to protect yourself and your colleagues from the virus, but also our patients. Flu vaccinations are available to all staff from October. The annual NHS staff survey has also launched, offering an important opportunity for you to tell us how to make the RFL the best place to work. The more we hear from all of you, the bigger the difference we can make so please get involved and complete your survey. Find out more about flu vaccines and the staff survey on page 10. Our community diabetes team at North Mid features on page 5 for their work tackling health inequalities in Enfield. On page 4, you can also find out about the widespread impact of research as we look at BH projects involving newborn babies and elderly patients. Many of these stories highlight the power of innovative approaches and development across all areas of the trust in improving patient and staff experience. I want to thank all of you for your dedication to providing the very best care for our patients. A group of patients requiring a kidney transplant have praised a ‘fantastic’ weight loss support group at the RFH for helping them get one step closer to receiving the life-changing procedure. Some patients may be told they are unable to have an organ transplant or join the national transplant waiting list if they are overweight. The K-FiT programme supports patients with advanced kidney failure who are living with obesity to reach their target weight through regular clinic appointments with a multi-disciplinary team (MDT), which includes a consultant transplant surgeon, psychologist, dietitian, physiotherapist and renal pharmacist. Consultant transplant surgeon Ammar Al Midani explained: “Obesity can not only disqualify patients from receiving a kidney transplant, but it may also compromise long term outcomes after surgery.” The latest cohort of K-FiT patients also took part in the first ‘Mood and food’ support group alongside their regular appointments. “I had to start dialysis again earlier this year. The clinicians want to put me on the waiting list but I’m overweight and find it hard to lose weight,” she shared. “The programme has helped me cut down on my food a lot, and I’ve also received a weight loss injection from the pharmacists. I’m not able to go to the gym due to my blood pressure so I’ve taken up walking – I’ve managed to lose 20kg and keep the weight off for four months. “The support group helped me overcome my fear and become stronger. I feel like I can cope with this now.” Claudette Bailey was able to have a live-donor kidney transplantation after her daughter offered to donate her kidney. Ammar conducted the transplantation for Claudette and added: “The K-FiT programme enabled Claudette to undergo her procedure, achieve excellent kidney function and maintain her weight three months after her operation.” “I had such difficulty losing weight for the procedure at first, but it was really interesting speaking with the dietician, physiotherapist and psychologist,” Claudette said. “The weight loss support group was a great motivator. I used to pick at food all the time, but the group helped me control my diet and exercise. You meet different people at different stages of their journey. It’s fantastic.” After losing more than 24kgs, Claudette and her daughter successfully underwent the transplant procedure and are now looking forward to going away together to celebrate Claudette’s birthday. Hello and welcome The uniqueness of the group is something patients value and appreciate “ “ 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 Consultant health psychologist Sarah Afuwape led these peer support sessions. She said: “There aren’t many opportunities for patients to come together and talk in this way, particularly those undergoing kidney dialysis. The support group provides a chance for them to reflect on their journey and identify with others. The uniqueness of the group is something patients value and appreciate.” Dementia care assistant Flora Taki Dimitri was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2010 after her blood pressure began to rise. She said: “I was feeling dizzy and tired all the time, so I went to my GP and they told me something was wrong with my kidney. I was on peritoneal dialysis for four and a half years before I received a kidney transplant in 2016.” Flora’s transplanted kidney has now started to decline in function and she’s hoping to be re-enlisted on the national transplant waiting list to receive a new one.
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