Barts Charity Extra - Winter 2019

BARTS CHARITY

SUPPORTER MAGAZINE WINTER 19

Caring for older patients Page 12

aving lives S with innovative heart surgery Page 4

“My son’s life-changing treatment” Page 8

What’s inside?

Hello!

Contents

And welcome to the latest issue of Barts Charity’s supporter magazine.

06

In August, I had the great privilege to watch my stepson get married. I’m enormously grateful as I was at death’s door just last year. That was when my consultants at St Bartholomew’s Hospital recommended a new cardiac procedure which has given me a new lease of life. I can’t thank them enough!

The equipment was funded by Barts Charity so my family has begun fundraising to say thank you for the hospital’s fantastic care. You can read more about my story on page 4, as well as being inspired by other fantastic fundraisers and the amazing projects they’re helping to support.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Barts Charity Extra – please get in touch with the charity with any questions or feedback.

04

Improving appointments for East London’s young patients

A new way to tackle heart failure

12

Thanks for your support,

Colin Barts Charity supporter

A little bit about Barts Charity...

08

10

How specialist equipment helped change a little boy’s life

Inspirational fundraising at the hairdresser’s

Want to keep supporting extraordinary healthcare?

Follow us on social media

02 02

We’re the dedicated charity for the Barts Health NHS Hospitals: Mile End, Newham, St Bartholomew’s, The Royal London and Whipps Cross.

Last year we gave £31 million to fund research, equipment and other initiatives which give extraordinary care to patients in our hospitals.

Supporting older patients with dementia and delirium

Our funding helps hospital staff to go above and beyond what the NHS can provide.

Sign up to our fortnightly e-newsletter

Support your hospital with a monthly donation

Get in touch!

Visit us at bartscharity.org.uk, call us on 020 7618 1720 or email us at hello@bartscharity.org.uk 03

What’s inside?

Hello!

Contents

And welcome to the latest issue of Barts Charity’s supporter magazine.

06

In August, I had the great privilege to watch my stepson get married. I’m enormously grateful as I was at death’s door just last year. That was when my consultants at St Bartholomew’s Hospital recommended a new cardiac procedure which has given me a new lease of life. I can’t thank them enough!

The equipment was funded by Barts Charity so my family has begun fundraising to say thank you for the hospital’s fantastic care. You can read more about my story on page 4, as well as being inspired by other fantastic fundraisers and the amazing projects they’re helping to support.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Barts Charity Extra – please get in touch with the charity with any questions or feedback.

04

Improving appointments for East London’s young patients

A new way to tackle heart failure

12

Thanks for your support,

Colin Barts Charity supporter

A little bit about Barts Charity...

08

10

How specialist equipment helped change a little boy’s life

Inspirational fundraising at the hairdresser’s

Want to keep supporting extraordinary healthcare?

Follow us on social media

02 02

We’re the dedicated charity for the Barts Health NHS Hospitals: Mile End, Newham, St Bartholomew’s, The Royal London and Whipps Cross.

Last year we gave £31 million to fund research, equipment and other initiatives which give extraordinary care to patients in our hospitals.

Supporting older patients with dementia and delirium

Our funding helps hospital staff to go above and beyond what the NHS can provide.

Sign up to our fortnightly e-newsletter

Support your hospital with a monthly donation

Get in touch!

Visit us at bartscharity.org.uk, call us on 020 7618 1720 or email us at hello@bartscharity.org.uk 03

Where your money goes

Where your money goes

Colin (right) and his family at Jason’s wedding

Thank you!

We’re so grateful for every penny that you donate.

Over the next few pages you can see a snapshot of the projects you’re helping to fund…

World-class cardiac care Our large grant to Barts Heart Centre is helping cardiac patients receive cutting-edge care.

Consultants have recently developed the innovative use of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD), a kind of pump which is fitted to replace the work of the heart.

Used to treat heart failure, the LVAD takes blood from the left ventricle and pumps it around the body when the heart can’t do this itself.

How the device works 1 Batteries to provide power 2 Cable connecting the device to the batteries 3 Left Ventricular Assist Device 4 System controller to run the pump and

provide messages and alarms to help operate the system.

The pump is powered by a battery pack that must be worn at all times and is usually used as an interim measure.

But consultants at St Bartholomew’s Hospital are the first to use the LVAD in a long-term way.

1

1 3 2 4

What the doctors say...

“Our aim is to show that this can be done for an acceptable cost in carefully selected patients. We are delighted that Colin has done so well and has recently been on holiday to Sardinia. We have now treated 3 patients and we hope for more holiday snaps!”

Dr Simon Woldman, Director at Barts Heart Centre 04

How the procedure helped Colin Colin was the first patient in the UK to have this procedure as a long-term measure.

In Spring 2019, he was admitted to St Bartholomew’s Hospital with heart failure. Having previously battled with cancer and Hodgkin’s Disease as well as undergoing several pacemaker procedures throughout his life, Colin’s heart was failing and the treatment options to prolong his life were limited and risky. Consultants at Barts Heart Centre recommended that Colin undergo the LVAD procedure.

As a way to give back for this life-saving care, Colin’s stepson Jason and his fiancée generously asked guests attending their wedding to donate to Barts Charity instead of giving them presents. So far they’ve raised over £600, including a kind donation from Colin’s wife, Carol.

“Before the LVAD operation I was at death’s door and could hardly walk or go upstairs.

Now, although I am still in training to get back to a fitter self, I can go upstairs and walk for a couple of hours, even if it is slow at this stage.

I am eternally grateful to Barts Charity – your charitable input to kickstart this whole process will help a lot of people who are desperately ill. I’ve been the lucky recipient of your generosity. I feel so much better, I’m speaking from the bottom of my heart. I have been so lucky with the team here, they show amazing dedication and it’s been a team effort. The equipment is world-class.”

Colin, cardiac patient

We need your support to fund projects like this.

To donate please visit bartscharity.org.uk/donate or call 020 7618 1720.

05

Where your money goes

Where your money goes

Colin (right) and his family at Jason’s wedding

Thank you!

We’re so grateful for every penny that you donate.

Over the next few pages you can see a snapshot of the projects you’re helping to fund…

World-class cardiac care Our large grant to Barts Heart Centre is helping cardiac patients receive cutting-edge care.

Consultants have recently developed the innovative use of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD), a kind of pump which is fitted to replace the work of the heart.

Used to treat heart failure, the LVAD takes blood from the left ventricle and pumps it around the body when the heart can’t do this itself.

How the device works 1 Batteries to provide power 2 Cable connecting the device to the batteries 3 Left Ventricular Assist Device 4 System controller to run the pump and

provide messages and alarms to help operate the system.

The pump is powered by a battery pack that must be worn at all times and is usually used as an interim measure.

But consultants at St Bartholomew’s Hospital are the first to use the LVAD in a long-term way.

1

1 3 2 4

What the doctors say...

“Our aim is to show that this can be done for an acceptable cost in carefully selected patients. We are delighted that Colin has done so well and has recently been on holiday to Sardinia. We have now treated 3 patients and we hope for more holiday snaps!”

Dr Simon Woldman, Director at Barts Heart Centre 04

How the procedure helped Colin Colin was the first patient in the UK to have this procedure as a long-term measure.

In Spring 2019, he was admitted to St Bartholomew’s Hospital with heart failure. Having previously battled with cancer and Hodgkin’s Disease as well as undergoing several pacemaker procedures throughout his life, Colin’s heart was failing and the treatment options to prolong his life were limited and risky. Consultants at Barts Heart Centre recommended that Colin undergo the LVAD procedure.

As a way to give back for this life-saving care, Colin’s stepson Jason and his fiancée generously asked guests attending their wedding to donate to Barts Charity instead of giving them presents. So far they’ve raised over £600, including a kind donation from Colin’s wife, Carol.

“Before the LVAD operation I was at death’s door and could hardly walk or go upstairs.

Now, although I am still in training to get back to a fitter self, I can go upstairs and walk for a couple of hours, even if it is slow at this stage.

I am eternally grateful to Barts Charity – your charitable input to kickstart this whole process will help a lot of people who are desperately ill. I’ve been the lucky recipient of your generosity. I feel so much better, I’m speaking from the bottom of my heart. I have been so lucky with the team here, they show amazing dedication and it’s been a team effort. The equipment is world-class.”

Colin, cardiac patient

We need your support to fund projects like this.

To donate please visit bartscharity.org.uk/donate or call 020 7618 1720.

05

Where your money goes

Hear, hear!

Where your money goes

Eating for two

Young patients having their ears tested are often scared and nervous of the procedures. Your donations have helped to introduce a new piece of kit to the audiology clinic room. It includes mirrors, fibre optics and a bubble machine to distract and relax even the most anxious children.

This new equipment means that diagnostic appointments are quicker and more enjoyable for the children and their families. It’s even reducing the number of patients needing a general anaesthetic.

“One child the other day came up and put his head right on it.

We’re very grateful for this funding and happy that it’s allowed us to improve our service for our patients and their families.”

Hospitals can be stressful environments – and not just for patients. Staff are often juggling a variety of important and emotionally demanding tasks when they’re on the ward.

The Barts Research Centre for Women’s Health, supported by your donations, looks at issues affecting mums and babies.

The team investigated whether a change in diet could help mums-to-be and found that by eating a Mediterranean-style diet, mums could reduce their risk of gestational diabetes by 35% and gain less weight during their pregnancies.

A Mediterranean-style diet is rich in:

Rebecca, Paediatric Audiologist Audiologist Audiologist Kay Kay with with the the new new kit kit

FRUIT VEGETABLES NUTS EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL You can find out more and see some Mediterranean-style recipes at bartscharity.org.uk/ESTEEM

06

Wellbeing on the wards

We’re supporting Newham Hospital with a performing arts programme, led by professional theatre practitioners, that teaches staff how to better care for themselves, each other and their patients.

“Sometimes working on a 12-hour shift can be stressful because we have so many things to do that we tend to forget about taking care of ourselves.

I learned in this lecture how to take a pause, relax our minds and take things one step at a time.”

Programme participant

Pagers for waiting patients Patients visiting the Cancer Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital are benefitting from new pagers. These discreet gadgets mean that patients no longer need to wait in the hospital waiting room for their appointment. Instead they have freedom to get a coffee or a breath of fresh air, comfortable in the knowledge that they’ll be alerted by the system when they are needed.

The pagers have been funded thanks largely to a generous £12,000 donation from Tim and his wife Catherine (pictured). Tim has been a patient at the hospital for several years and wanted to support a project to improve things for patients who may have lengthy waiting times for their chemotherapy treatment.

Just £16 a month for a year could fund a patient pager. Go to bartscharity.org.uk/donate to set up your own monthly donation.

07

Where your money goes

Hear, hear!

Where your money goes

Eating for two

Young patients having their ears tested are often scared and nervous of the procedures. Your donations have helped to introduce a new piece of kit to the audiology clinic room. It includes mirrors, fibre optics and a bubble machine to distract and relax even the most anxious children.

This new equipment means that diagnostic appointments are quicker and more enjoyable for the children and their families. It’s even reducing the number of patients needing a general anaesthetic.

“One child the other day came up and put his head right on it.

We’re very grateful for this funding and happy that it’s allowed us to improve our service for our patients and their families.”

Hospitals can be stressful environments – and not just for patients. Staff are often juggling a variety of important and emotionally demanding tasks when they’re on the ward.

The Barts Research Centre for Women’s Health, supported by your donations, looks at issues affecting mums and babies.

The team investigated whether a change in diet could help mums-to-be and found that by eating a Mediterranean-style diet, mums could reduce their risk of gestational diabetes by 35% and gain less weight during their pregnancies.

A Mediterranean-style diet is rich in:

Rebecca, Paediatric Audiologist Audiologist Audiologist Kay Kay with with the the new new kit kit

FRUIT VEGETABLES NUTS EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL You can find out more and see some Mediterranean-style recipes at bartscharity.org.uk/ESTEEM

06

Wellbeing on the wards

We’re supporting Newham Hospital with a performing arts programme, led by professional theatre practitioners, that teaches staff how to better care for themselves, each other and their patients.

“Sometimes working on a 12-hour shift can be stressful because we have so many things to do that we tend to forget about taking care of ourselves.

I learned in this lecture how to take a pause, relax our minds and take things one step at a time.”

Programme participant

Pagers for waiting patients Patients visiting the Cancer Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital are benefitting from new pagers. These discreet gadgets mean that patients no longer need to wait in the hospital waiting room for their appointment. Instead they have freedom to get a coffee or a breath of fresh air, comfortable in the knowledge that they’ll be alerted by the system when they are needed.

The pagers have been funded thanks largely to a generous £12,000 donation from Tim and his wife Catherine (pictured). Tim has been a patient at the hospital for several years and wanted to support a project to improve things for patients who may have lengthy waiting times for their chemotherapy treatment.

Just £16 a month for a year could fund a patient pager. Go to bartscharity.org.uk/donate to set up your own monthly donation.

07

Supporter story

Supporter story the pain become so bad for him I asked my GP to send me to somewhere where he could be tested further.

Why we support Barts Charity:

We were referred to the CAPS team at The Royal London Hospital and had our first appointment in August 2018.

We had appointments every three months, having lots of tests and trying lots of different treatments.

Ronnie-Scott’s family

Although the condition my son has is not life-threatening, I was seeing his spirit of being a little kid disappearing, as all he felt was shame.

Ronnie-Scott in hospital

Danielle’s son Ronnie-Scott had life-changing treatment from the Children’s Anorectal Physiology Service (CAPS). She’s now enlisted her friends and family to help fundraise for the team at The Royal London Hospital.

“My son Ronnie-Scott is now eight. He was born at 32 weeks, weighing 3lb 13oz. He spent 16 days in intensive care and a total of three weeks in hospital. We were so happy when he came home.

Ronnie-Scott always suffered with tummy aches and trouble opening his bowels as

a baby, we were told it was because he was premature and it took longer for his food to digest. Sometimes he could not even walk as his pain was so bad.

Who would have thought that going to the toilet can cause so much pain and emotional upset? But it can. My little boy has had chronic pain all his life, it has really affected him growing up and he was becoming very distressed and hardly wanted to leave the house. His attendance at school became very poor.

Clinicians Dr Athanasakos and Mr Cleeve with the endoanal ultrasound

We saw a couple of consultants at our local hospital who tried making changes to Ronnie-Scott’s diet and giving him laxatives. This went on for four years and

The road to recovery Ronnie-Scott had a stoma fitted in July. A thin tube has been placed directly into the usually blocked part of his bowel and he has a small hole in his tummy where we administer medicine to clean the bowel.

Without the specialist equipment used to test Ronnie-Scott, I really don’t think we would be where we are today. In 2017, CAPS used Barts Charity funds to purchase the endoanal ultrasound machine for paediatric patients which has a smaller probe than traditional imaging machines.

It’s used to view the muscles and identify the structural abnormalities that cause bowel conditions such as constipation and soiling. Children should not have to suffer like this if we can help.

Since the stoma was fitted, my son has not had one accident and has not had to wear a pull-up or incontinence pad. In that short space of time I have seen a massive change in him.”

His medication could be quite high, and it could cause him to have accidents. He would have to wear incontinence pads or pull ups. This became unhealthy for him as he would say ‘Mummy I am not a baby, why does my body think I am?’

Difficult diagnosis

08 Ronnie-Scott in intensive care

Whilst most eight-year olds are usually having a great time having playdates and enjoying afterschool clubs and sleepovers, I had a little boy that just wanted to be normal.

Ronnie-Scott and his family doing a muddy run to raise money for CAPS

Family and friends have pulled together to fundraise in a number of ways:

Christmas charity quiz night

Teddy bear tombola at a village fete

24-hour video game stream

Muddy run 09

Supporter story

Supporter story the pain become so bad for him I asked my GP to send me to somewhere where he could be tested further.

Why we support Barts Charity:

We were referred to the CAPS team at The Royal London Hospital and had our first appointment in August 2018.

We had appointments every three months, having lots of tests and trying lots of different treatments.

Ronnie-Scott’s family

Although the condition my son has is not life-threatening, I was seeing his spirit of being a little kid disappearing, as all he felt was shame.

Ronnie-Scott in hospital

Danielle’s son Ronnie-Scott had life-changing treatment from the Children’s Anorectal Physiology Service (CAPS). She’s now enlisted her friends and family to help fundraise for the team at The Royal London Hospital.

“My son Ronnie-Scott is now eight. He was born at 32 weeks, weighing 3lb 13oz. He spent 16 days in intensive care and a total of three weeks in hospital. We were so happy when he came home.

Ronnie-Scott always suffered with tummy aches and trouble opening his bowels as

a baby, we were told it was because he was premature and it took longer for his food to digest. Sometimes he could not even walk as his pain was so bad.

Who would have thought that going to the toilet can cause so much pain and emotional upset? But it can. My little boy has had chronic pain all his life, it has really affected him growing up and he was becoming very distressed and hardly wanted to leave the house. His attendance at school became very poor.

Clinicians Dr Athanasakos and Mr Cleeve with the endoanal ultrasound

We saw a couple of consultants at our local hospital who tried making changes to Ronnie-Scott’s diet and giving him laxatives. This went on for four years and

The road to recovery Ronnie-Scott had a stoma fitted in July. A thin tube has been placed directly into the usually blocked part of his bowel and he has a small hole in his tummy where we administer medicine to clean the bowel.

Without the specialist equipment used to test Ronnie-Scott, I really don’t think we would be where we are today. In 2017, CAPS used Barts Charity funds to purchase the endoanal ultrasound machine for paediatric patients which has a smaller probe than traditional imaging machines.

It’s used to view the muscles and identify the structural abnormalities that cause bowel conditions such as constipation and soiling. Children should not have to suffer like this if we can help.

Since the stoma was fitted, my son has not had one accident and has not had to wear a pull-up or incontinence pad. In that short space of time I have seen a massive change in him.”

His medication could be quite high, and it could cause him to have accidents. He would have to wear incontinence pads or pull ups. This became unhealthy for him as he would say ‘Mummy I am not a baby, why does my body think I am?’

Difficult diagnosis

08 Ronnie-Scott in intensive care

Whilst most eight-year olds are usually having a great time having playdates and enjoying afterschool clubs and sleepovers, I had a little boy that just wanted to be normal.

Ronnie-Scott and his family doing a muddy run to raise money for CAPS

Family and friends have pulled together to fundraise in a number of ways:

Christmas charity quiz night

Teddy bear tombola at a village fete

24-hour video game stream

Muddy run 09

Thank you

Thank you

SUPER SUPPORTERS

Thank you to our wonderful supporters, who help to save lives and improve hospital visits for patients in the Barts Health hospitals. We’re so grateful for all of your fundraising efforts! Here are just a few recent heroes…

TINY FEET, GIGANTIC FEAT!

Seven-year-old Elliot became one of our youngest fundraisers when he ran the Great Manchester Run in memory of his Great Uncle Duncan. Duncan worked as Clinical Nurse Manager at The Royal London Hospital for twenty years before he sadly died two years ago. Elliot said that it was his Gran’s cheering and the thought of how his fundraising could help that spurred him over the finish line.

David (centre)

A CUT ABOVE

David raised over £3,000 for Whipps Cross Hospital when he took on the iconic London Marathon.

This was his first (and last) marathon, as a special thanks to the team at the Margaret Centre who looked after his father at the end of his life. To raise some extra funds, he got creative and did a day’s volunteering at his local hairdressing salon.

We have a brand new toolkit to help you with your fundraising!

Visit bartscharity.org.uk/toolkit 10

Do you know any companies who may want to support us? Contact us at hello@bartscharity.org.uk

GETTING PHYSICAL

Inspired by the work being done at The Royal London Hospital to prevent young people becoming victims of violent crime, the team at Partners Wealth Management have raised over £34,000. Colleagues at the finance company have worked up a sweat in a number of active challenges including skydives, a Himalayan trek and a 100 mile cycle. A team also braved Britain’s highest hills in the Three Peaks challenge.

A HIMALAYAN HIKE

After two years of treatment at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Stephanie showed her gratitude to the staff who supported her by doing a six-day, 32-mile trek in the Himalayas. Despite the cold weather and difficult paths, Stephanie loved the trek and managed to raise nearly £9,000 thanks to the support from her friends and family.

Jackie (left)

BELLE OF THE GALA BALL

Jackie has been supporting us since 2013 following her sister’s Leukaemia diagnosis. Her gala balls and quiz nights have raised a jaw-dropping £77,500 so far! This fundraising has been supported by her generous employer Anglo American, who offer match funding. Jackie’s busy planning her next gala ball which she hopes will take her over £100,000.

FEELING INSPIRED?

Visit bartscharity.org.uk/get-involved or email hello@bartscharity.org.uk to get started 11

Thank you

Thank you

SUPER SUPPORTERS

Thank you to our wonderful supporters, who help to save lives and improve hospital visits for patients in the Barts Health hospitals. We’re so grateful for all of your fundraising efforts! Here are just a few recent heroes…

TINY FEET, GIGANTIC FEAT!

Seven-year-old Elliot became one of our youngest fundraisers when he ran the Great Manchester Run in memory of his Great Uncle Duncan. Duncan worked as Clinical Nurse Manager at The Royal London Hospital for twenty years before he sadly died two years ago. Elliot said that it was his Gran’s cheering and the thought of how his fundraising could help that spurred him over the finish line.

David (centre)

A CUT ABOVE

David raised over £3,000 for Whipps Cross Hospital when he took on the iconic London Marathon.

This was his first (and last) marathon, as a special thanks to the team at the Margaret Centre who looked after his father at the end of his life. To raise some extra funds, he got creative and did a day’s volunteering at his local hairdressing salon.

We have a brand new toolkit to help you with your fundraising!

Visit bartscharity.org.uk/toolkit 10

Do you know any companies who may want to support us? Contact us at hello@bartscharity.org.uk

GETTING PHYSICAL

Inspired by the work being done at The Royal London Hospital to prevent young people becoming victims of violent crime, the team at Partners Wealth Management have raised over £34,000. Colleagues at the finance company have worked up a sweat in a number of active challenges including skydives, a Himalayan trek and a 100 mile cycle. A team also braved Britain’s highest hills in the Three Peaks challenge.

A HIMALAYAN HIKE

After two years of treatment at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Stephanie showed her gratitude to the staff who supported her by doing a six-day, 32-mile trek in the Himalayas. Despite the cold weather and difficult paths, Stephanie loved the trek and managed to raise nearly £9,000 thanks to the support from her friends and family.

Jackie (left)

BELLE OF THE GALA BALL

Jackie has been supporting us since 2013 following her sister’s Leukaemia diagnosis. Her gala balls and quiz nights have raised a jaw-dropping £77,500 so far! This fundraising has been supported by her generous employer Anglo American, who offer match funding. Jackie’s busy planning her next gala ball which she hopes will take her over £100,000.

FEELING INSPIRED?

Visit bartscharity.org.uk/get-involved or email hello@bartscharity.org.uk to get started 11

Where your money goes

Where your money goes

Life in the Dementia and Delirium Team Lynda McNab is a Dementia Lead Nurse, working with older patients in each of the Barts Health hospitals.

Lynda and her team are regular fundraisers – see her in action on the back cover!

What does your team do?

We work with patients who also have a diagnosis of dementia or delirium, as they often find being in hospital very distressing and their families or carers may need extra support. Being in hospital can be very disorienting – there’s lots of unusual noises and smells and strangers coming in and out of their room and sometimes they don’t remember where they are. It can become quite a frightening experience.

We use Barts Charity funding all the time to help with this. For example, we bought a selection of physically active games, like bowling and skittles, for older patients in Newham. People often grow socially isolated as they get older, so this is a good way to get them out of bed and help them forge friendships with the other patients on the ward.

How do you help patients?

A lot of the work we do is about understanding the root of the problem. We’re a bit of a ‘Miss Marple’: we start investigating people’s lives, gathering lots of information.

What their job used to be, what makes them tick, things they like or dislike… Finding out what someone dislikes is very important, because if you keep doing something they dislike, you’re going to see the same “challenging” behaviour over and over.

I feel very strongly that it is a privilege to work with older people. They’re allowing you into their life and you can learn so much from them. I really respect what they’ve gone through in their life.

We quickly worked out that one of the main reasons our patients were getting upset was simply boredom. They might not have any visitors all day, then they are told that they should stay in bed because they are at risk of falling, so there is nothing to distract them for however many days they spend in hospital. Patients with dementia particularly find it hard to occupy themselves.

12 Lynda (top left) and the Dementia Team >

What made you decide you wanted to work as a Dementia Nurse?

For me, dementia care is about finding out about my patients as people and not thinking of them as their illness. It’s important to spend time with people.

Sometimes, when people come into hospital, they aren’t spoken to outside of a medical examination the whole day. If I get a smile back from someone, that can be enough to make my day. Just a wee smile.

How your donations support older patients

Tilt in space chairs Physiotherapy chairs keep older patients comfortable and help them get out of bed by moving gradually from reclining to upright.

The chairs are relaxing and supportive to sit in, even for long periods of time.

Pamper trolleys Pamper trolleys make their way round the wards with supplies like curling tongs, shaving razors and dry shampoo. For patients who aren’t well enough to shower, this is a great way to feel clean and ready for the day.

Activity boxes on all of the wards Every adult ward at Whipps Cross, The Royal London and Newham Hospital now has activity boxes filled with board games, puzzle books, fidget toys and radios.

Reading glasses and hearing aids When patients with hearing and sight impairments are rushed to hospital, they may forget glasses and hearing devices. To help patients communicate and understand, donations have paid for spares to be on standby.

Dementia-friendly wards For patients with dementia, an unfamiliar environment where all the wards look the same can be confusing and frightening. We’ve created dementia-friendly environments, including personalised doors to help patients remember which room they’re staying in.

A Christmas gift Every patient on an older people’s ward at Christmas receives a present to show that someone cares. Gifts of soft blankets and dressing gowns keep them warm and cosy through the winter months.

Help us give the Greatest Gift to hundreds of older patients by visiting us at bartscharity.org.uk/christmas 13

Where your money goes

Where your money goes

Life in the Dementia and Delirium Team Lynda McNab is a Dementia Lead Nurse, working with older patients in each of the Barts Health hospitals.

Lynda and her team are regular fundraisers – see her in action on the back cover!

What does your team do?

We work with patients who also have a diagnosis of dementia or delirium, as they often find being in hospital very distressing and their families or carers may need extra support. Being in hospital can be very disorienting – there’s lots of unusual noises and smells and strangers coming in and out of their room and sometimes they don’t remember where they are. It can become quite a frightening experience.

We use Barts Charity funding all the time to help with this. For example, we bought a selection of physically active games, like bowling and skittles, for older patients in Newham. People often grow socially isolated as they get older, so this is a good way to get them out of bed and help them forge friendships with the other patients on the ward.

How do you help patients?

A lot of the work we do is about understanding the root of the problem. We’re a bit of a ‘Miss Marple’: we start investigating people’s lives, gathering lots of information.

What their job used to be, what makes them tick, things they like or dislike… Finding out what someone dislikes is very important, because if you keep doing something they dislike, you’re going to see the same “challenging” behaviour over and over.

I feel very strongly that it is a privilege to work with older people. They’re allowing you into their life and you can learn so much from them. I really respect what they’ve gone through in their life.

We quickly worked out that one of the main reasons our patients were getting upset was simply boredom. They might not have any visitors all day, then they are told that they should stay in bed because they are at risk of falling, so there is nothing to distract them for however many days they spend in hospital. Patients with dementia particularly find it hard to occupy themselves.

12 Lynda (top left) and the Dementia Team >

What made you decide you wanted to work as a Dementia Nurse?

For me, dementia care is about finding out about my patients as people and not thinking of them as their illness. It’s important to spend time with people.

Sometimes, when people come into hospital, they aren’t spoken to outside of a medical examination the whole day. If I get a smile back from someone, that can be enough to make my day. Just a wee smile.

How your donations support older patients

Tilt in space chairs Physiotherapy chairs keep older patients comfortable and help them get out of bed by moving gradually from reclining to upright.

The chairs are relaxing and supportive to sit in, even for long periods of time.

Pamper trolleys Pamper trolleys make their way round the wards with supplies like curling tongs, shaving razors and dry shampoo. For patients who aren’t well enough to shower, this is a great way to feel clean and ready for the day.

Activity boxes on all of the wards Every adult ward at Whipps Cross, The Royal London and Newham Hospital now has activity boxes filled with board games, puzzle books, fidget toys and radios.

Reading glasses and hearing aids When patients with hearing and sight impairments are rushed to hospital, they may forget glasses and hearing devices. To help patients communicate and understand, donations have paid for spares to be on standby.

Dementia-friendly wards For patients with dementia, an unfamiliar environment where all the wards look the same can be confusing and frightening. We’ve created dementia-friendly environments, including personalised doors to help patients remember which room they’re staying in.

A Christmas gift Every patient on an older people’s ward at Christmas receives a present to show that someone cares. Gifts of soft blankets and dressing gowns keep them warm and cosy through the winter months.

Help us give the Greatest Gift to hundreds of older patients by visiting us at bartscharity.org.uk/christmas 13

Where your money goes

Contact us

How your donation could help…

Contact us

£7.50

Would you like to make a donation or let us know about your own fundraising achievements? We would love to hear from you!

See other ways your donation supports older patients on page 12.

Call us on: 020 7618 1720

a month could fund hearing aids for older people who are rushed to hospital unexpectedly.

£13.99

could fund a sensory toy to soothe an anxious child.

Donations can also add up to buy bigger pieces of equipment like the ‘sensory voyager’ on page 6.

£22

a month could fund remote check-ups so that patients can be examined from the comfort of their own home.

Doctors are currently running a pilot scheme for patients with blood cancer who have many appointments.

14

Email us at: hello@bartscharity.org.uk

£80

Write to us at: Barts Charity 12 Cock Lane London EC1A 9BU

could pay for four baby mobiles to calm infants on inpatient wards.

The slow movement helps soothe babies off to sleep.

Visit our website: bartscharity.org.uk

£39.95 could buy ten ‘worry monster’ toys to help children with cancer cope with their illness.

Young patients write down their worries and the monsters ‘eat’ them to make them disappear.

15

Where your money goes

Contact us

How your donation could help…

Contact us

£7.50

Would you like to make a donation or let us know about your own fundraising achievements? We would love to hear from you!

See other ways your donation supports older patients on page 12.

Call us on: 020 7618 1720

a month could fund hearing aids for older people who are rushed to hospital unexpectedly.

£13.99

could fund a sensory toy to soothe an anxious child.

Donations can also add up to buy bigger pieces of equipment like the ‘sensory voyager’ on page 6.

£22

a month could fund remote check-ups so that patients can be examined from the comfort of their own home.

Doctors are currently running a pilot scheme for patients with blood cancer who have many appointments.

14

Email us at: hello@bartscharity.org.uk

£80

Write to us at: Barts Charity 12 Cock Lane London EC1A 9BU

could pay for four baby mobiles to calm infants on inpatient wards.

The slow movement helps soothe babies off to sleep.

Visit our website: bartscharity.org.uk

£39.95 could buy ten ‘worry monster’ toys to help children with cancer cope with their illness.

Young patients write down their worries and the monsters ‘eat’ them to make them disappear.

15

Upcoming events London Santa Run

Lynda’s a Dementia Lead Nurse who has run in four events so far and will soon be running the London Marathon – see more from her on page 12.

8th December 2019

Vitality Big Half 1st March 2020

London Landmarks Half Marathon 29th March 2020

Brighton Marathon 19th April 2020

Virgin Money London Marathon 26th April 2020

Hackney Half Marathon 17th May 2020

ASICS London 10K July 2020

Royal Parks Half Marathon October 2020

Sign up for any of these events at bartscharity.org.uk/get-involved

Registered charity no. 212563