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ISSUE 4: Autumn 2017 Princess Eugenie SCIC expansion opens Pain management programme Jenny's story Neurophysiology Lisa explains all
News from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Welcome
Welcome to the Autumn 2017 edition of
Reflexions, – the Royal National Orthopaedic
Hospital NHS Trust’s patient and community
. Find us online at
rnoh.nhs.uk
@RNOHnhs
RNOHNhsTrust
rnoh
magazine.
S o, as we race into Autumn, we look
back on a year full of activity across
the Trust. Most notably, the Stanmore
innovative online crowdfunding Make It Possible
campaign. This has enabled us to expand provision of
much-needed specialist rehabilitation to complex and
redevelopment programme has made seriously injured patients. Thanks to all who donated.
vast strides and we can now all see the Reflexions is all about you, our patients. We could
distinct shape of the new inpatient not produce this magazine without you. In this
ward block. This time last year, it was a big hole in the issue we have some great content from patients
ground and this time next year, it will be ready to take including a detailed insight into our residential pain
its first patients. You'll be seeing the external management and rehabilitation programme.
brickwork, cladding and the main atrium glass being Written by blogger Jenny Coles, it gives us a
fitted in the coming weeks as we run up to privileged look into her condition and how she
Christmas. Our thanks go out to the contractors and copes with the help of RNOH staff. Another patient,
the RNOH Redevelopment Team for their superb Emily Fishman, writes about the impact scoliosis has
work in keeping the project on schedule – and to had on her life and how, despite it, she has manged
budget! On the page opposite you’ll see we passed a to gain a place at Cambridge University. These and
major milestone in late June with the ‘topping out’ other patient stories inspire and motivate us every
ceremony. More details on the redevelopment can be day to provide the very best care we can. Thank
found on pages 16-17 in this issue. you for sharing them with us.
Summer also saw our annual RNOH Charity As ever, the RNOH volunteers continue to do
Buttercup Walk. This year it was rain free, which sterling work across the trust. The buggy service
was a bonus! Even better was the turn out and the goes from strength to strength and as of mid-
money raised that goes to help fund additional September they have carried an astonishing 22,000
facilities and services for our patients. The Buttercup passengers since starting in July 2016. Our thanks
Walk took place alongside all the other feverish go out to the drivers and all the volunteers. If you’re
fundraising that has been going on from patients, able to spare any time, please sign up and lend a
staff and supporters alike. We’re eternally grateful. hand to their valuable work.
Read more about fundraising on pages 18-23. Finally, our annual Staff Achievement Awards are
One major project that received a massive boost taking place. It’s our opportunity to say thank you
from the RNOH Charity and fundraisers was the to our staff and you can be part of that by voting in
expansion of the Spinal Cord Injury Centre, opened the Patient Choice Award. Details are on page 39.
by the Patron of the RNOH Charity, HRH Princes Best wishes,
Eugenie of York. Over £400,000 was raised via our Rob Hurd, Chief Executive
Tell us what you think
If you have any comments about Reflexions or suggestions for future articles, please contact the Involvement and
Volunteering team by email volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk or call 020 8909 5394. You can write to us at Involvement and
Volunteering Department, Eastgate House, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, HA7 4LP.
Editorial Production: China Hammond, Communications Coordinator ext 5569
Tony Higgins, Communications Manager ext 5349
Team Diane Young, Involvement Lead ext 5394
Design: Forrester Corporation
2 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394
Everything
is tip top .
A major milestone in the construction of the new
inpatient ward block was reached last month when the
‘topping out’ ceremony took place. Traditionally,
topping out is a builders' rite held when the last beam
Contents. (or its equivalent) is placed atop a structure during its
construction. It can trace its roots way back to ancient
3 New ward block
topping out Scandinavia – a time before Ikea.
4 Penny's art passion Despite the damp conditions, everyone donned their best Bob
6 Stanley the hairy basset hound the Builder gear and made their way to the roof to hear from
8 Darzi Fellow: Jalak Sukla Prof Tim Briggs and Trust Chair Prof Tony Goldstone before laying
9 Mealtime buddies
10 Customer care champions a few bricks themselves. It’s good to know that is a career in
12 Patient Group: get involved medicine doesn’t work out, they have trade to fall back on. Our
13 House of Commons visit longest serving nurse Sue Lister also lent a hand.
14 Mark Lane: gardening greatness
16 Building blocks: Stanmore
redevelopment update
18-23 RNOH Charity news
24 Rehabilitation programme:
Jenny's story
28 OPUS Nordic walking
30 Volunteers on the allotment
31 Royal opening of SCIC
32 A guide to safe food in hospital
34 Emily Fishman: scoliosis
35 Inter Spinal Unit Games
36 Lisa Griffths: Inside
Tony Goldstone Topping Out
Neurophysiology
38 Safe Passage: Reuniting
relatives
40 Spinal injuries garden
Sue Lister trowel at the ready
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News from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Penny’s
art passion . Ewe with Lamb
Penny Harrison has been tetraplegic as a result of a riding accident in 2011.
“At the time of the accident I was very active: I looked after, bred and rode
Connemara ponies, gardened, and ran a small herd of 40 sheep. In
addition, I ran a home, three children and a husband.
without thinking about it. My
brain had started to reconnect
which was fantastic! My
drawings started with a ewe in
lamb and as I became more
competent and confident,
moved on to horses with foals
with more detail and colour.
During my time at the RNOH,
Emma Linley, Occupational
Therapist has been a great
support. I emailed my drawings
to her to illustrate her how I had
Penny (far right) and family progressed. My sketches are
now proudly displayed in the
H aving enjoyed drawing
from a young age, I took
‘O’ Level Art in school but hadn’t
art shop and chose oil pastels in
a few colours and also a
draughtsman pen. These
corridor surrounding the Mike
Heaffey gym at the Aspire
Leisure Centre.”
sketched for years as I’d been allowed me to build up the Emma has been impressed
busy with the family. I didn’t picture without using too much with Penny’s art: “Penny’s pre-
think I could hold a pencil but pressure. injury passion for drawing has
my therapist recommended Over time as I became more been both her motivator and
putting sticky holders on the absorbed in my drawing I exercise regime for regaining
pens to prevent my fingers from noticed that my left hand, which further control of her hands
slipping. Watercolours were had been paralysed, became since her discharge. The
best as I wouldn’t have to apply more useful. I was passing items provision of an accessible work
a lot of pressure. We went to an from my left hand to my right table has also been instrumental
4 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394
in allowing Penny to drive her
power wheelchair to a set up
work station without needing
assistance from others. This in
turn has freed her to Lisa Haig – Chariot Queen
spontaneously draw as ‘the
The Bedside Trolley
muse’ strikes her“.
- A new Volunteering service!
Feedback from patients’ is at the heart of what we do in
the Volunteering team. For some months now we have
been planning a new bedside trolley service, offering a
selection of newspapers and confectionary with
additional items from our on-site grocery shop.
We have affectionately christened the service "The Chocolate
Mare with Foal
Chariot"; it will launch in September 2017 and visit all wards
during weekday mornings. Our keen team of volunteers are
"chomping at the bit" to get this service started - we know it
will be a great success.
Lisa Haig, Volunteer Coordinator, has been busy painting our
new venture in the signature volunteering colour of Sunshine
Yellow.
If you know of anyone who would like to help run this
valuable service, please contact Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk or
Goose
visit the RNOH website and follow the links to Volunteering.
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News from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Stanley the Hairy
Bassett Hound .
Our Pets as Therapy ambassador is a seven year old Grand Bassett Griffin
Vendeen, otherwise known as Stanley. Pets as Therapy (PAT) is a
humanitarian charity founded in 1983, in the forefront of community animal
assisted therapy. The pets provide companionship, friendship, confidence
and enjoyment to those in hospitals, hospices, nursing and care homes.
Stanley and I were interviewed
and after a criminal register
check (me not Stanley!) and
annual immunisation/hygiene
standards compliance we were
given the go ahead. We also
had to comply with the Trust’s
very vigorous independent
checks.
“During our first visit we
were immediately struck by the
tremendous friendliness
displayed by the doctors and
nurses, who clearly understand
the great benefits of the
Jonathan, Stanley and Olivia patients' interaction with an
animal. Accompanied by a
S tanley’s owner, Jonathan,
adopted him as a puppy to
join his family of Daschunds’,
“I saw a photo of this
unusual dog in a magazine and
researched its breed. I had
nurse throughout our visit, we
were introduced to the
patients. Parents who were in
Betty and Wilmer. Jonathan been thinking about attendance were eager to find
and Stanley volunteered to volunteering, when having other outlets to stimulate their
meet some of our young seen the way people generally children and Stanley was just
patients and their parents on react when they meet Stanley, the spoonful of sugar they
the paediatric Coxen Ward in I approached the PAT charity needed.
early June. Jonathan and it went from there. As a “Stanley definitely is a gentle
commented: volunteer member, both soul, apart from the postman
6 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394
and squirrels whom he
regularly chases - though I
suspect he’d just lick them
firmly if he ever caught either.
Patients, relatives and staff
usually beam when they see
him. The subsequent petting
seems to have a therapeutic
effect on children which often
leads to conversations about Pat & Colin
pets, a welcome distraction
from medical talk.
“We often see children who
are fed up with their
predicament or too ill to fully
respond but it’s always
amazing when a parent
exclaims ‘It’s the first time
they’ve smiled in days’. A few
weeks ago a little boy
practically ran across the ward
Philip & Davinia
to stroke Stanley. His mother
.
was amazed “That’s the
furthest and fastest I’ve seen
him move since he’s been
here!” On another occasion, a
Keeping it in
the Family
teenager whose movement
was fairly restrictive as he was
recovering from extensive back
surgery determinedly shuffled
to the edge of the bed to get a Sharing your hobbies and giving something back
better look and stroke of together can be even more rewarding when you do this
Stanley. This was much to the with family. Pictured here are married couple Philip and
surprise of his nurse who said Davina, two of our award winning buggy drivers. They
‘It was very difficult to get him came along to help support the Buttercup Walk on
to move at all!’ Sunday 25 June in glorious sunshine. The buggy service
“I'm not saying that our visits was an extremely popular experience, transporting
make all the difference but visitors around the site. So popular, visitors had to queue
they certainly help. Stanley for the arrival of the next buggy.
and I would like to say a big Pat Jones, Chair of the Patient Group, with husband Colin
thank you to Pets as Therapy, Jones, another member of our buggy driving team, joined in
for giving us the opportunity to and supported the event by engaging visitors, and inviting them
provide and receive such to become volunteers.
mutually rewarding We cannot thank our volunteers enough for the great service they
experiences!” provide for patients and visitors at the RNOH. They do us proud!
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News from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
.
Darzi Fellowship in Clinical Leadership:
Jalak Shukla
The Darzi Fellowship is a prestigious, high profile initiative coordinated by
the NHS Leadership Academy. Over the past six years, Darzi Fellows have
led major service improvements, implemented safety and quality initiatives
and made substantial savings for NHS Trusts across London.
During her 12 month course stating that “the
fellowship, Jalak will complete programme takes Fellows on a
a postgraduate leadership journey learning the
programme with London foundations of change,
South Bank University while developing an understanding
taking on leadership of the of methodologies for change
RNOH’s project to reduce as well as personal strategies
hospital length of stay for our and skills for leadership
most acute patients. including working with peers
“I will be undertaking a and with diversity. A major
transformational change strand throughout the
project with the aim to reduce programme is developing the
length of inpatient stays in ability to work effectively and
complex orthopaedic patients. productively with peers from
I will focus on a diverse backgrounds including
multidisciplinary approach to service users.”
streamlining the discharge The RNOH will be applying to
process. Exploring the wards host a Darzi Fellow again in
Jalak Shukla and clinics has given me the 2018 so if you are interested in
opportunity to collaborate with furthering your clinical
A fter a competitive
application process, Senior
Clinical Pharmacist, Jalak
other members of the MDT
and identify common barriers
to discharge, building upon
leadership skills
knowledge, please contact
valyou@rnoh.nhs.uk to stay
and
Shukla has been selected as this knowledge to improve up-to-date with our progress.
the RNOH’s Darzi Fellow in the patient outcomes.”
ninth cohort of the programme The London South Bank
starting September 2017. University has endorsed the
8 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394
RNOH
Volunteer Services
is supported by
.
the RNOH Charity
Volunteer
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Services
Mealtime Buddies – The Daily Menu Email:
volunteering
@rnoh.nhs.uk
Telephone:
020 8909 5394
volunteers act as guinea pigs,
rating the sample menus being
considered for our patients.
Whilst her stay at the hospital
has been unexpectedly
extended, Ann had been very
impressed by the hard work
and dedication of the nursing
staff. “Overall, I’d give the
volunteers 11 out of 10 for their
attention to detail, care and
Una Newman and Mealtime
volunteer Priyanka Moni enthusiasm.”
Are you interested in
W e’ve always known that
our volunteers are a very
special bunch and to cement
much for them. They even
popped over to the shop in
Outpatients and picked up
becoming a volunteer? The
RNOH believes that volunteers
can make a big contribution
this, it is being shouted loud some mousse for my hair. My towards enhancing our services
and clear on the Duke of favourite newspapers are and improving patient
Gloucester ward. Patient Ann delivered with a smile. They’d experience. Volunteers can
Cooper, enthused about the do anything for you.” bring a variety of skills,
care and thoughtfulness, dished Our caterers were also lined experiences, and enthusiasm,
out from the daily menu of our up for a compliment: “I cannot and the Trust offers many
Mealtime Buddies. fault the food – it’s been meaningful and valuable roles.
“They’re amazing. The excellent. If anything, there’s Contact Volunteer Services on:
volunteers appear on the ward been too much of it” 020 8909 5394 or
and refill your water jug Regular taste testing sessions volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk for
without asking. Nothing is too are held at the hospital. The further details.
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News from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Customer Care
Champions .
Customer service is the art of taking care of the customer's needs by
providing and delivering professional, supportive, high quality service and
assistance before, during, and after the customer's requirements are
resolved.
Customer Care Champions: Maya Benny - Staff Nurse, Helen Horner - Sister, Dorcas Thairu – Quality Team,
Mohammed Aldoun – Outreach/Site Manager, Geeta Kumar – Admin Coordinator, Diane Young –
Involvement Lead and Prof Paul Fish – Director of Nursing.
A team of eleven
multidisciplinary staff took
part in the customer care
we come in contact with.
The training will focus on
how we make an impression,
look after and nurture our
colleagues to enable us to give
our best to our patients.
training last year. The team, the importance of listening, We also work with the
unofficially known as the dealing with difficult Patient Advice and Liaison
Customer Care Champions, are conversations and the power of Service (PALS) and Complaints
working on developing a positive communication. The team to ensure there is link
mandatory in - house training team also felt it was important between teams and that best
package to focus on better to acknowledge we are not at practice is used to manage any
customer care. Our our best when we are tired, adverse situations.
“customers” at the RNOH are hungry or need a break. As
patients or staff; in fact anyone staff members we must also
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! !
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THE ROY
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If you'd like to get
involved in corporate
Get
!
volunteering, please email
volunteering
@rnoh.nhs.uk
Involved
or call
020 8909 5394
Join our Patient Group
The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital’s Patient Group is an independent
voluntary team of current and ex-patients, former staff, and interested members of
the local community. We are currently looking for new members to join the group.
What does the Patient Group do? Who can join?
The Patient Group helps to ensure that standards of patient We welcome applications
care are met through: from:
• Carrying out ward inspections • Current and former
• Reviewing patient information leaflets patients of the RNOH
• Attending specialist group meetings • Patient family members
• Interviewing patients at the hospital. or carers
The Group meets monthly to discuss recent activities, to hear • Interested members of
from a guest speaker (often one of the hospital's senior the local community.
managers or directors), and to decide upon future activities. We are especially keen to
They also arrange monthly ward or service inspections, ensure the group reflects
usually carried out by two members, where they visit a the diversity of our
particular ward to evaluate the standard of care and service. patients, and would
The members then prepare an inspection report for the Trust encourage prospective
Board, including interviews with patients, and members from all
recommendations for improving the experience of our backgrounds and age
patients – this helps to ensure that the patient voice is heard groups.
at the highest level.
How can I
Members need to be able to:
• Commit to monthly meetings (usually held on Thursdays get involved?
between 12:30-14:00) To apply, or for more
• Travel to and from the site independently information please contact
• Be mobile enough to conduct ward and department visits the Trust's Involvement Team
• Be able to keep in touch via email Tel: 020 8909 5394
• Complete a DBS check (the hospital will arrange this free Email: GetInvolved
of charge).
@rnoh.nhs.uk
12 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394House of Commons
- Volunteers tour .
A group of enthusiastic volunteers enjoyed a fascinating visit to the House
of Commons, organised by Bob Blackman MP for Harrow East.
House of Commons.
Our guide outlined the
history of the Commons and
how voting in ‘The House’
takes place. We were struck by
how outdated it all seems (a
silver cigar cutting mechanism
is still on the wall) yet
somehow it all still manages to
work.
Long overdue renovations to
the building are being
Visitors in the corridors
of power
undertaken and many of the
walkways and statues were out
T he tour started in the 12th
Century Westminster Hall
where Henry VIII played tennis
Palace of Westminster, a
Victorian building designed by
Charles Barry with a Gothic
of bounds or covered up. The
famous (or infamous) statues
of Winston Churchill and
in the 1500s and King Charles interior by Augustus Welby Margaret Thatcher are still
I was put on trial, found guilty Pugin. visible.
of treason and executed in We also journeyed through As photography was not
1649. More recently, Winston the sumptuous surroundings permitted inside we would
Churchill, Queen Elizabeth the of the Queen’s Robing Room, recommend a visit to see for
Queen Mother, lay in-state to the House of the Lords with yourself; it was truly awe-
within the hall before their the Sovereign’s Throne inspiring.
funerals. The tour took us up emblazed in gold and heraldry,
the steps into the stunning into the less ostentatious
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THE ROY
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Mark Lane:
Gardening
Greatness .
I was born in Hertfordshire but grew up in Brighton & Hove. School
was not an enjoyable experience. Whilst I didn’t struggle
academically and was always at the top of the class for just about
everything, my only salvation was in music and art.
accident curtailed my career
and I had to review the life I
had and what I enjoyed and
how I was going to go forward
in this new position.
With my love for gardening
and art background, I decided
to study landscape design. As
a child, I had followed my
grandparents around their
large garden with string, a pair
of blunt scissors and a small
fork and trowel tie in the
clematis and runner beans,
deadhead the roses and sow
seeds. I have a sneaky
BBC RHS Gardening Presenters
and Mark Lane suspicion that Grandad cared
for the seeds when I wasn’t
A keen flautist and artist
from a young age, I
steered towards architecture
became principle flautist for
the university orchestra.
After university I went into
there as I was always amazed
at how well they had grown.
I spent a long time at RNOH
and horticultural therapy as a publishing and worked my way following a car accident 17
profession but went on to up to the managing editor years ago. Amongst my many
study Art History at University position at a leading therapies, I met a wonderful
College in London instead. I international arts publisher. It horticultural therapist who told
continued playing the flute and was at this time that my car me that I had to go forward
14 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394and to champion being in a sites, I have 2 all-terrain enjoyed the presenting work
wheelchair. After a four year wheelchairs to help me. At and hope it continues for years
rehabilitation, I left the RNOH home I have a height many to come. More
and I started looking for adjustable desk and a importantly, if someone with a
horticultural courses and wheelchair desk chair. Other spinal condition sees me doing
visited many schools. If I was than that, I suppose the TV work, undertaking
shocked at the terrible layout biggest adaptions I have made landscape designs then all the
of the campuses and limited are from within. I am more better. Hopefully it will inspire
options for someone in a determined, level headed and others to get on with their
wheelchair, I was horrified to passionate about what I do. In lives.
be told that they would not be a strange way for me, I was honoured to be asked
able to validate the course becoming a wheelchair users to be the Health, Wellbeing &
because I wouldn’t be able to full time has been positive. I Community ambassador for
do the physical side of the probably would not be where I Groundwork, a charity which
course, for example, dig holes am today if I had carried on my focuses on improving
and complete site surveys. publishing career. communities by addressing
With a strong and dogged My first professional environmental issues and
determination, I looked online commission was a large garden improving deprived areas of
and found a suitable Open for a lovely retired the country by either building,
Learning course. headmistress, whose brief was redeveloping or maintaining
Even as an established low maintenance; would help green sites. Thrive, a
garden designer, I have had to with her physiotherapy and be gardening disability charity to
explain to clients that I have a joy to look at 12 months of which I can relate to, bestowed
help to undertake physical side the year. I designed 2 circular the title of ambassador to me,
of site survey and digging. lawn areas with a pathway and centres on positively
Sometimes I have bad days wrapping around the two in a changing lives through
which mean I will be figure of eight. horticultural therapy.
unavailable but every client has I have not looked back from I am where I am today
been welcoming and taking my first nervous steps as because of the very wise words
understanding. Finding a garden designer. After of Linda Exley and Viv Williams,
something as meaningful to designing numerous gardens, I RNOH horticultural therapists.
me as garden design, has really started writing articles for Thank you so much for your
helped remove the spectre of magazines which were picked words of wisdom and
depression that hung around up by a BBC research team. encouragement – it would be
my shoulders after my This opened the door to my great to see you again. I owe
accident. Of course I still have BBC presenting work. Whilst I so much to the RNOH and their
down days but with the right do not class myself as a incredible staff.
medication I know I can celebrity, it is surreal watching
continue, albeit at a managed myself on TV and people
pace. asking for photographs and
To help me negotiate muddy autographs. I have thoroughly
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THE ROY
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Building Blocks:
RNOH Stanmore Fitting out the inside
Redevelopment Update of the block
Richard Scott, Redevelopment Programme Manager, catches up with
Siobhan Keenan from architects BDP and Vijay Patel from Balfour
Beatty to find out the latest news on the new hospital.
Siobhan Keenan and
Sunrise over the building
Vijay Patel on site
Talking with Siobhan have you worked on? influenced by constraints of
Keenan, Project Architect Most notably I was involved in the site and following
at BDP the Dublin Children’s Hospital healthcare efficiencies albeit
How did you get into design which was a £500 unique to each project. For
designing? million project. the NIWB project the glass
I always enjoyed art and design Do you have a favourite Atrium is a unique design
at school and went on to study building design? feature of this development
Architecture at the University Yes, I particularly like the and will also deliver on
of Manchester. I then Cancer Centre at Guys Hospital bringing day light to patients
specialised in healthcare designed by Richard Rogers. on the wards and with views
architecture and now work for How do you get across the site. After future
BDP who have been inspiration for a building? phases this building will
commissioned by Balfour There is generally a become the Main Entrance
Beatty to work on the New collaborative brainstorming and gateway to the rest of the
Inpatient Ward Block ‘NIWB’. session by the senior architects hospital.
What other projects with ideas very much Design specifications
16 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394for the NIWB
I have been involved with this
development design since July
2015 when the project was re-
started and I will continue up
until it finishes in 2018.
Throughout this time there
have at various stages been up
to 10 people working on
different elements of the Aerial shot of the building site
design, such as the clinical
room layouts, documentation
for Council planners and are working for! consultants/contractors
completing regulatory What does your role working on, for example,
paperwork. involve? landscaping the children’s
To arrive at the final design I am responsible for delivering garden and planting the
there will be probably over on the project design; ensuring meadow area with wild
4000 drawings produced; the design is as intended in flowers and some trees.
1500 by us, 500 by other terms of the Trust’s brief and Today we have been in the
consultants and the rest by the requirements. I work closely Design Review meeting ironing
various specialist trades and if with you and Trudy Johnson on out and finalising the room
just one copy of each drawing internal design requirements as designs.
was stuck end to end is would well as other
be almost exactly half of the
football pitch at Wembley
Talking with Vijay Patel,
Design Manager, Balfour
Beatty
How did you get into
contractor design
management?
I originally qualified as an
architect but I enjoyed Drawing of the finished
inpatient block
delivering on projects and
working on site so I moved into
the construction sector. In fact,
as you know Richard, I joined
Balfour Beatty three years ago
and started working on a high
rise project with you as my
Senior Project Manager. Now
I am working here at the RNOH
only to find that you have
moved to work in-house at the A view from the road facing
the new block
RNOH and now the client we
17
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Charity
Marathon runner raises over
£13,000 for The RNOH Charity!
family, and his local community all the children and adults,
came flooding in. David has both patients and staff, at the
long been a supporter of the RNOH.
RNOH, as both his grandfather Huge thanks goes to
and daughter have been everyone for their support
patients here. leading up to the marathon. It
In David’s words, was a great, but tough day,
I ran this fab event to raise enjoyed by many. The support
money for the RNOH, as they around the course was
have spent the last eight years unbelievable! Everyone has
doing a brilliant job of looking been very generous in their
after my daughter, Charlie- donations and this carried me
David Clark marathon man Rose, who was born with a around a total of 27.33 miles
very poorly formed hip socket. in 5 hours and 33 seconds,
T he RNOH Charity’s 2017
London Marathon runner,
David Clark, smashed
When Charlie had her first
operation in the hospital, I
could imagine my grandfather
which I am more than happy
with.
everyone’s expectations when lying in the same bed 50 years
he exceeded his fundraising earlier – with not a lot If you or someone
target an incredible FOUR different. With the possibility you know gets a place in
TIMES in six months, raising of Charlie having to go back in the 2018 London Marathon
over £13,000 for The RNOH for further operations in the and would like to support
Charity. Initially aiming for future, I decided then that if I The RNOH Charity, please
£2,500, David found himself ever did a crazy fundraiser it ask them to get in touch
pushing that target higher and would be for this charity, to Fundraising
higher as support from friends, help improve the facilities for @rnoh.nhs.uk
18 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394Diane Young’s Isle of Wight
Challenge .
T he RNOH’s very own Patient
Involvement Lead recently
lives of RNOH patients. Well
done to Diane for taking on
such an incredible challenge –
took on the Isle of Wight
Challenge to support The we’d like to thank both you
and your blisters for your
RNOH Charity, raising over
achievement. If you’d like any
£1,000 in the process! The
information about taking on
Charity currently funds the the 2018 Isle of Wight
volunteers department, which challenge, just get in touch.
Diane on the Isle
makes such a difference in the
Max Reid appears
on national news ! Max said: “My running
days are over, but if people
are going to throw money
at me for sitting down and
playing fiddle tunes, that’s
fine with me.
“About twenty years ago
the Spinal Cord Injury
Centre at Stanmore patched
me up and gave me my life
back - or rather, a new life
as a street musician. The
Max and fans least I can do to thank them
is to help raise money
M ax Reid can often be seen
on London Underground
busking pitches wowing
specialists at the Royal
National Orthopaedic Hospital.
Since April 2015, Max has
towards improving facilities
for the hospital’s spinally-
injured patients.”
commuters with a medley of donated all of his proceeds If you missed Max's recent
pieces played on the fiddle. from busking on the interview on ITV News, you
Max has been wheelchair- Underground and at the can catch up via our Facebook
bound since suffering spinal London Marathon to The page.
malformations and has been RNOH Charity. This has now
treated numerous times by reached a staggering £45,550!
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Thames Valley
Housing Association
run for the SCIC
Eleven employees from Twickenham-based housing association Thames
Valley Housing showed their support for The RNOH Charity by putting on
.
their running shoes to take part in the Hampton Court Half Marathon, raising
just over £6000 for the RNOH’s Spinal Cord Injury Centre (SCIC).
Rachel Allen, who co-
ordinated the team’s efforts,
said: “Our aim is to raise
awareness of the amazing life
changing work undertaken by
staff at the spinal unit, and to
give thanks to the support and
care provided to Kim and Jon’s
families. Money is being raised
to help fund further
improvements to the spinal unit,
to help treat more patients so
that they can confidently return
to the normality of their life and
cope with any adjustments
The Thames Valley Housing needed to regain their
Association team
independence.”
T he hospital holds personal
resonance for Thames Valley
Housing staff, as two members
Ashley Grealish, a crane
operator, experienced a major
accident at work and suffered a
We are so grateful to the team
from Thames Valley Housing for
their donation. This is such a
of the team, Jon Clowes and severe spinal cord injury. He also great achievement and one
Kim Shanahan, have both had received support and which will enable us to do more
close family members treated at rehabilitation from the SCIC and for the patients we treat. Huge
the hospital’s SCIC. with the help of the spinal team thanks go to everyone that took
In June 2016, Kim’s partner is now doing much better. part.
20 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394London Irish
Ward Appeal
surpasses £600,000 !
Pedal Power: the cycling team
7 am on 3 May saw eight
cyclists setting off bright and
early for an intense cycle
organised by The Kelly Group,
as part of their London Irish
Ward Appeal. This particular
“The Appeal aims to build
and fit out one of the
RNOH’s new 32-bed adult
challenge spanning over 300 event was in aid of both The wards, which will treat
miles, from their start point at RNOH Charity, and CMRF patients with a range of
the Royal National Orthopaedic Crumlin, the fundraising body complex conditions, such as
Hospital to Our Lady’s Children’s for OLCH. The event raised a bone tumours, spinal
Hospital (OLCH) in Dublin. The staggering £101,000 which deformity and sarcoma, a
cyclists triumphantly arrived at brought the Appeal total to an rare form of cancer
the OLCH at 7pm on Friday 5 incredible £577,418. requiring highly specialised
May, ready for the next day’s This was followed by another treatment.
Charity Cycle Dinner to incredibly successful charity golf We are incredibly grateful
celebrate their enormous event, bringing the total raised to Tim Kelly, who is leading
achievement and to raise even to over £600,000! the London Irish Ward
more money. Professor Tim Briggs, the Appeal, and to everyone
The sponsored cycle ride is RNOH’s Director of Strategy and that has so generously
one of a series of events being External Relations, said: supported the appeal.”
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Buttercup
Walk
Text
.
Mary opening the
Buttercup Walk
H undreds of walkers came
out to support The RNOH
Charity’s 15th Anniversary
Mary Tye, whose determination
and positivity shone through as
she took the first few steps of
rolling in so we are absolutely
delighted.”
We’d like to say a massive
Buttercup Walk, and were our one-mile route. thank you to everyone that gave
treated to a day of sunshine, Rosie Stolarski, Fundraising up their time to volunteer on the
great music, and delicious food, Director of the RNOH Charity day and all those who
amongst other attractions. said: “The Buttercup Walk has participated in the walk. We
The walk was led by our so far raised over £20,000 and hope to see you all again next
amazing 96 year old champion, monies for sponsorship are still year!
22 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394Sian Gossa’s London
10k challenge .
Every year, thousands of runners pound the pavements of London for the
Vitality London 10,000, one of the most iconic events in the running calendar.
This year, Sian Gossa took on that challenge for The RNOH Charity, smashing
her initial fundraising target of £500 to raise over £1500!
S ian decided to take on the
challenge after her father
was treated at the RNOH for
saved his life, and preserved a
beloved man. I'm running the
London 10k for the hospital
sarcoma in his right arm. and would love to raise as
Although the treatment he much money as possible to
received was of the highest support the amazing, life-
quality, Sian couldn’t help but saving work they do. They're
notice that the facilities were currently undergoing works to
more than a little outdated, so bring their 100 year old
she decided to do what she hospital up to date.”
could to help. The money that Sian has
In Sian’s words, raised will go towards our £15
“On March 28th, dad million Redevelopment Appeal,
underwent major surgery at helping us to rebuild our
the RNOH in Stanmore to hospital replacing inefficient
almost entirely replace the and outdated buildings, and
bone in his upper right arm ensuring that the RNOH is on
which was, by that point, the cutting edge of
almost entirely bone tumour. orthopaedic research and
Despite all our fears, worries innovation. If you would be
and anxieties, the surgery went interested in taking on the
well and our dad recovered 2018 Vitality London 10,000,
well at the RNOH, getting just get in touch for more
fantastic care. We are more information about how to
grateful than we can say; the secure a place!
Meal winner Sian
hospital have saved his arm,
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.
Stanmore Three-Week
Pain Management and
Rehabilitation Programme
My name is Jenny Cole, I’m 28 and have a genetic condition called Ehlers-
Danlos Syndrome (EDS), alongside other related medical diagnoses, which
result in a host of symptoms including chronic pain, joint dislocations, fatigue,
difficulties with mobility and digestive, cardiac and urinary problems.
Reflexions magazine. During
your initial assessment the
team will decide whether you
need to be in the hospital or
the hotel programme.
Monday
It was an early 8.30am start at
the hospital. I received a warm
welcome from the ward
volunteer, who showed me to
my bed space and gave me a
Jenny Cole tour around the ward. After
going through my admission
I recently had a three-week
stay on the Jubilee
Rehabilitation Ward at The
places that specialise in it.
I was quite nervous about
what to expect before my
paperwork with one of the
nurses, I went to a welcome
meeting where we were given
Royal National Orthopaedic admission, so decided to keep a pack which, amongst other
Hospital in Stanmore, as part a diary on my blog, Ramblings things contained our timetable
of their specialist pain of a Jaffa Cat, to help other for the next three weeks.
management and people who may be waiting for Groups and therapy sessions
rehabilitation programme. a referral to the hospital. are interspersed with rest and
Although it is not exclusively There’s a lot packed into a relaxation. My first group
for people with EDS, they do three-week stay, but I thought session was run by one of the
see a lot of people with the I would try to summarise a Psychology team and centred
condition as there are so few typical week on the ward for on ‘Making Changes,’ to help
24 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394us prepare for the programme department - a seated gentle programme and my perception
and understand the steps stretching session to music, of failure. We later discussed
needed to make a change. which we all found very more sensitive issues and with
After lunch, we had another relaxing. It was always made my permission, Declan liaised
group session. This time it was very clear on the programme with my local mental health
run by one of the that we should do as much or services. Another psychologist
physiotherapists and was on as little as we felt able to. An took the last group of the day
‘Pacing.’ The staff try to make individual session with my on the topic of pain: how and
all groups interactive in order physiotherapist, Greg, why we need to communicate
to let patients get the most out followed. We discussed what it and how physical pain can
of them, so they involve a lot my worst problems are (not an impact our psychological
of discussion and questions. easy thing when you have a list wellbeing. Some patients had
The book we were given at the longer than your arm!). visitors but the majority would
welcome meeting also Starting on my walking, after spend time together chatting
included detailed notes of all an initial assessment, I was or playing games.
group sessions over the three given exercises to complete. I
weeks. Each patient also has then met up with Occupational Wednesday
individual sessions with their Therapist, Chloe, who also Our Tai Chi instructor wasn’t
Physiotherapist and went through a long available and instead we had
Occupational Therapist. The assessment that looked at the usual ‘Your Move’ session.
first session was with both of different areas of my life to Greg, my physiotherapist,
them together. We went focus on during my admission: considered another area to
through some questionnaires e.g: self-care, socialising, work on - core strength. Again,
to try and work out what goals household management and he assessed my level of
I wanted to achieve by the end productivity. strength before introducing
of my admission. Every After lunch, one of the OT’s new exercises to improve it. A
Monday evening, after dinner, led a group relaxation session. later session with the OT Chloe
an Art Therapist runs an Stress and its link to chronic went through my list and we
optional group. I was a little pain were discussed, alongside chose to focus on exploring the
apprehensive but it was a different relaxation techniques traffic light pacing system.
lovely way to get to know the like deep breathing, Pacing your day can really help
other patients and relax. visualisation, progressive with symptoms like pain and
muscle relaxation and fatigue. Chloe explained
Tuesday mindfulness. As well as the about red activities (those that
After a 7am breakfast - which physical problems that cause significantly increase
is a bit earlier than I’m used to pain, there is an opportunity to symptoms), amber activities
- we headed over to the main have individual sessions with a (moderately increase
hospital for a 9am activity. We psychologists attached to the symptoms) and green activities
started every day on the unit. I was assigned Declan, (turn symptoms down, relax or
programme with ‘Your Move’ with my first session talking distract). A key approach was
in the Physiotherapy through my goals for the having a combination across a
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SPITALNews from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital day/week rather than an those who were interested. wheelchair access into the abundance of red activities, The session was brilliant and I pool. A physiotherapist leads becoming unwell and being came away with information the session, with very gentle bed bound. Talking of pacing, about EDS I wasn’t aware of stretches using various pieces I was able to go back to the and recommendations of a of equipment. I found it less ward with plenty of magazines couple of specialists I could be painful to do some of these and books to relax with. referred to. exercises in water than I would Our first session was a group on land; although the heat of on ‘Coping Skills’ led by one of Thursday the pool severely affected a the Psychology team. This After our daily ‘Your Move’ condition I have called Postural session focused on family and session, we had a joint session Orthostatic Tachycardia friends and how pain and with our Physiotherapist and Syndrome (POTS). The team other symptoms can affect Occupational Therapist to set were brilliant, giving me lots of them. Further groups were goals. During the first two water to drink and allowing held on managing mood and weeks, these goals had to be me to rest in the wheelchair assertiveness. Every completed during our when needed. After the pool, I Wednesday afternoon weekend leave, whilst in the took my electric wheelchair everyone goes to the Aspire last week we set goals to work down to the small lake in the Leisure Centre, which is on the on over the next three months. grounds with one of the other hospital complex, for Greg and Chloe helped me patients. It’s a real hidden gem Recreational Movement. The work out achievable objectives and a lovely tranquil place to patients from the hotel that were personal to me, but escape to for half an hour. programme join the hospital without the pressure to achieve Every Thursday evening, patients, which is an everything. I then met up with everyone on the ward joined opportunity for the two groups Elaine, Therapy Technician, together for a little party, to say to mix. It sounded a lot like who worked out my baseline goodbye to the people leaving school P.E but thankfully it was times for sitting and standing. the following day. We ordered a lot better. The sports hall is This is helpful to know when a take-away to come to the set up with activities including trying to pace my activity ward and had a lot of laughs. table tennis, badminton, gym levels. Back on the ward, a You would never guess we balls and mini golf. Everyone weekly Health Promotion were all in hospital! then gets the opportunity to group led by a senior nurse, try out each activity in a way focused on managing Friday that suits their individual medication, nutrition and On a Friday we were needs. For example, I sat on a smoking. encouraged to do some of the perching stool and gave table Thursday afternoons are an stretches ourselves. This was tennis a try and did a few optional water-based followed by a discussion group gentle stretches on a gym ball. physiotherapy activity at the with a different topic each After dinner, every other Aspire Leisure Centre. The pool week. These included pacing Wednesday, a representative is specially adapted for people and sleep. Then in weeks one from EDS UK arrived to chat to with disabilities, with and three we had a relaxation 26 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394
session with Elaine, the therapy also made some great friends
technician, where we actively over the course of the three
tried out a specific type of weeks and their continued
relaxation like visualization or support and friendship will be
progressive muscle relaxation. invaluable.
In week two, Elaine ran a If you would like to read Jenny’s tim
etable
session about postural more about my time at the
management, where good RNOH, there are detailed posts
posture was discussed and over on my blog –
then examples of different www.jaffacat.co.uk
types of supports and cushions
were viewed. By lunchtime, it
was time to go home for the
weekend. Those returning
could leave their belongings on
the ward rather than carting
everything back and forward.
On our last day we were given
a survey to fill out and then
said our goodbyes to all the
staff and patients.
Overall, the three-week
programme was an incredibly
positive experience. It was hard
work and very tiring, but all the Chloe and Greg
staff were so knowledgeable,
caring and genuinely wanted Chloe Kitto, OT and Greg Ankylosing Spondylitis,
to help. I learnt a lot although Booth, Physio commented: Generalised Chronic Pain,
for someone with EDS, it won’t the Pain Management and Hypermobile Spectrum
be a quick fix, I have exercises Rehabilitation service is a Disorders, Ehlers-Danlos
and strategies to work on to multidisciplinary team of Syndrome, Complex Regional
try and improve my quality of occupational therapists, Pain Syndrome and Post-Polio
life. I will be invited back for a physiotherapists, therapy Syndrome. Our therapy and
three-month and twelve- technicians, psychologists, nursing advice is based on the priorities
month follow-up appointment staff, consultants and other and goals of the patient. We
alongside the rest of the three- medical staff. We deliver a holistic work closely with patients to
week patients I shared the self- management package for improve their quality of life
experience with. It will be a patients with persistent (chronic) through moving, thinking and
chance to find out how I’m pain. Common diagnoses include functioning better with their
getting on since the rheumatological conditions, pain condition.
programme started. I have such as Arthritis and
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News from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
number of charitable and voluntary
organisations which provide
RNOH COMMUNITY: support and facilities to our patients
and staff. Find out more about their
services in the 'RNOH Community'
.
pages of Reflexions .
OPUS:
Nordic Walking
Members of OPUS (Orthotic & Prosthetic Users Stanmore) recently
completed their Nordic Walking course. They are keen to recommend it as a
good way to keep fit and build confidence in stability and function in
patients with prosthetic lower limbs.
managed to walk on grass, walk up
and down slopes with ease and
more confidence. There was great
team spirit and camaraderie.
Congratulations to you all and
may your Nordic walking journeys
be just the beginning of something
very special.”
If you are interested in learning to
Nordic Walk please contact OPUS or
Nordic Walking Watford at:
Email:
OPUS Nordic walkers opus-rnoh@outlook.com.
Facebook:
N ordic walking was originally a workout walks, which are a great Facebook.com/
summer training regime for way to improve fitness, lose weight OPUSStanmore
cross-country skiers. It's based on and tone the whole body. Tracy Website:
using specially designed walking Reeve and Sharon Walsh from the www.OPUS-rnoh.wix.com/
poles in a way that harnesses the Watford Nordic Walking group usergroup
power of the upper body to propel agreed and explained more.
you forward as you walk. It is now a “We are hugely proud to be
recognised way to turn a walk into awarding Freedom Passports to the For further information on
whole body exercise that can be guys from OPUS at Stanmore. They Nordic Walking, visit:
done by anybody anywhere. completed their 'Learn to Nordic www.nordicwalkingwatford.co.uk
Nordic walking is suitable for Walk' course with style, enthusiasm
people of all ages and fitness levels. and lots of laughter.
Classes range from gentle walks for The group had a fantastic time,
people with health concerns, to and with the use of the poles,
28 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394The Buggy
.
Working
together
Bug with local
communities
R NOH Patient Involvement
and Volunteer Services
have recently met with
Stanmore College to discuss
the possibilities of working
together. The College has
many courses including Art &
Design, Media and Health &
Social Care. Students often
need a working environment
to gain valuable employability
Buggys, Italian style skills and experiences to help
give them an advantage
securing university places or
O ne of our volunteer buggy
drivers has found his
experience of driving a buggy at
Then, on a trip to the Palace
of Versailles in France, Arvind
was drawn towards the “for
employment.
We plan to work closely with
hire” machines, which are the College to promote the
the RNOH has made him a bit of
very similar to one of our own role of volunteers within the
a “buggy spotter” on his travels.
RNOH vehicles. hospital and how this can
Arvind Sanghrajka has been
However, Arvind is not provide skills for their futures.
with the RNOH Buggy service
alone; Voluntary Services Only volunteers over the age of
since its inception in July 2016.
Assistant Keith Reeve, who 18 years are accepted by the
On his worldwide travels he has
coordinates the service, also RNOH, and many of the
started to notice they are
spotted one when he visited current and previous
following him – or is he
the Statue of Liberty in New volunteers are studying health
imagining it?
York. Fortunately, for once, care subjects or are planning to
He visited the Singapore
Keith was on his best do so in the future.
Presidential Palace, and found
behaviour so it was not For more information or to
one of the machines President
needed to apprehend him. request a role description and
Tony Tan Keng Yam has at his
These two in the picture were application form, please
disposal for travelling around
spotted on the Isola de Garda, contact the team at: email:
the palace grounds. He
the largest island on Lake volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk or
managed to persuade one of
Garda, Italy. The one on the telephone: 020 8909 5394.
the palace guards to allow him
to have his photo to be taken left is a close relation to our
with it. own green buggy. Bellisimo!
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The Volunteer
Allotment Holders
Many of you may not be aware that there are allotments at the RNOH. The
.
allotments are situated in the Orchard near the Orchard Court flats. Prior to
2009-10 they had not been used for over 20 years but the then gardener,
Ken Cousins, resurrected 16 plots which were then in high demand.
However, as the years have gone by tenants have found that they have not
had the time to maintain them and we now have several empty plots.
certainly is a labour of love.
Last summer the gardener, Kerry
Sear, and the Community Payback
Scheme workers, have made a
huge effort to clear up the
greenhouse, replacing the roof so
the allotment keepers to have a
storage space. This year they have
been clearing the overgrown
empty plots and the surrounding
area trying to make it more
attractive for potential plot
holders.
Hayley Williams
and Sukhy Sanghera
A couple of months ago, Hayley
Williams and Sukhy Sanghera
- Volunteers supporting and
cucumbers. Hayley said: “It's
great to be able to grow and eat
something that is healthy and
enhancing the patient’s experience organic, and to know where it has
- have taken on one allotment come from. It is hard work but my
If you are interested in
each. It is in a beautiful part of the partner and son have been
and would like to find out
hospital grounds, especially when enjoying its fruits and helping too.
about more about having an
the sun has popped its hat on. I tend to it about three times a
allotment, please contact:
Hayley has decided to put down week, and make sure the rabbits
Kim.Kenealy@rnoh.nhs.uk.
a membrane and have raised beds have not eaten anything else.”
on her allotment, and is ready to Sukhy is working hard on her plot
harvest carrots, peppers and too, and plans to grow flowers. It
30 Volunteer with us! Email Volunteering@rnoh.nhs.uk Call 020 8909 5394You can also read
