INSIDE VIEW Issue 64 July 2022
Centre upgrade gets underway
www.stricklandscanner.org.uk
INSIDE VIEW
Audited annual report published Our latest annual report and financial statements is now available on our website. The report details how we carry out our charitable activities for the benefit of patients and how we spend any money we receive, including your donations.
This year’s report focuses in particular on how Paul Strickland Scanner Centre adds value to Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, where the vast majority of our patients receive their cancer treatment. To read the report, visit www.stricklandscanner.org.uk
Scanning for a healthier future Paul Strickland Scanner we undertake more Centre is an independent than 16,000 scans, medical charity cogiving patients the located with Mount opportunity of a Vernon Cancer Centre, a healthier future. centre of excellence for We receive no cancer patients in government funding. Greater London. Our Legacies and team provides donations help fund comprehensive medical new scanners, which Claire Strickland, imaging services to NHS Chief Executive must be replaced and private patients, frequently to ensure the specialising in the diagnosis, best possible patient care. treatment, monitoring and www.stricklandscanner.org.uk research of cancer and other appeals@stricklandscanner.org.uk serious conditions. We offer the 01923 886315 highest-quality CT, MRI and PET Paul Strickland Scanner Centre, CT services with highly trained Mount Vernon Hospital, staff to deliver excellence to all Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2RN patients and clinicians. Annually Registered charity no. 298867
INSIDE VIEW
The first of our two new Siemens Magnetom Sola MRI scanners.
Scanner arrives The first of two new MRI scanners due at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre this year has now been installed as part of a major upgrade to Paul Strickland Scanner Centre. The upgrade will provide a more comfortable environment for patients and could allow us to carry out more scans than ever before while providing better scan images to oncologists and other referrers. We are still actively fundraising for
£1.6m to help pay for a second new MRI scanner, after we have had to prematurely decommission one of our machines due to technical problems. If you can contribute to our MRI scanner appeal, or would like to contribute to future scanner upgrades please tick the Scanner Fund when making a donation using the enclosed donation form, or ring 01923 886315. 3
INSIDE VIEW
‘A special place’ We speak to MRI superintendent Linda Culver, our longestserving member of staff, who is retiring from Paul Strickland Scanner Centre after 35 years of loyal service When Linda Culver travelled up to Paul Strickland Scanner Centre from Plymouth for her job interview back in 1987, she had never seen an MRI scanner. She was attracted by the fact that Paul Strickland Scanner Centre offered both CT and MRI scans. “We only had a CT head scanner in Plymouth at the time and I was really interested in MRI, which was a new-fangled thing not many people had heard of back then. “The only thing we knew was that it was something new that was coming out and that we should never scan a person who has a pace-maker. That’s all we knew about MRI when I trained.” The moment Linda saw her first MRI scans on the day, she was won over. She said: “I saw the MRI scans and I was completely hooked, the minute I saw them. I wanted to do scans like that.” 4
“After the job interview, they asked me to wait while they decided and I asked if I could go back into MRI to see some more scanning, as I was so excited by it. They offered me the job on the day, at first on a 3-year contract.” When she first came to the centre, there were only one CT and one MRI scanner. “CT patients came from as far afield as Luton, and many MRI patients were referred to us from the central London hospitals, as we had one of a very small number of MRI scanners in the area— and indeed the whole country. It was mainly brain and spinal work we were doing but the number of scans continued to grow and it quickly became clear that we needed more scanners.” Linda was promoted after two years in post but in 1991 took a job at Hillingdon Hospital to start their first-ever CT service. After another
INSIDE VIEW two years, she was offered the opportunity to head up the MRI service at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre (which had by then added a second MRI scanner), which she enthusiastically accepted. “I have been here ever since”. The scans took a lot longer back then, with scanning having to be interrupted every few minutes, as the computers just couldn’t cope with scanning and making the calculations to produce the images at the same time. “While the patient was out of the scanner, one of us would be in a separate room processing the scan images, which were all on film at that point. We would also have to manually adjust the scanner in the back room for each individual patient’s Linda receiving an MRI cake, baked by a colleague, during a long-service celebration at the centre in her honour. 5
INSIDE VIEW body to ensure we got good centre built. He was an incredibly pictures. It was similar to the way determined man – this is what he you had to manually focus and wanted for his patients and he was adjust the aperture on cameras going to get it for them. before automation was introduced. “He originally just wanted a CT By the time I returned to head up scanner, but his fundraising drive the service, a lot of this was was so successful that he ended automated thanks to the new up buying one of these newscanners that had been installed. fangled MRI scanners in addition That was a bit of a shock but also to the CT scanner, which turned very nice. Over the out to be a very years gradually things good investment as were automated and it’s since been ‘As a young the machines can proven that MRI is actually perform a lot radiographer excellent for finding of routine tumours and, when I found [Dr examinations virtually they are being Strickland] a treated, that this is on their own, after setup and the patient has being done in the bit scary’ been correctly right way. adjusted. However, the “As a young high-end cancer radiographer I found examinations at Paul him a bit scary, Strickland Scanner Centre still however when I went to tell him require quite a lot of radiographer that the scanners he had originally input.” bought were no longer good enough and needed to be upgraded, he was lovely and said: Working with Dr Strickland ‘If you’re telling me we need new “The best way to describe Dr scanners, then new scanners we Strickland would be as a ‘force of shall have. nature’. He drove everything and “We have expanded in every everyone – from raising the direction since then, towards the necessary funds to having the 6
INSIDE VIEW
Linda during installation of the first of two new MRI scanners recently. Below: Linda with an MRI scanner in 2001 alongside Dr Strickland.
7
INSIDE VIEW back, the front, outwards, etc. Things have grown and moved around considerably.”
work can take. The job we do here is very serious; most people I have looked after during my time here are no longer with us. We do try to keep ourselves cheerful but it can be hard. You use up all your TLC at work and sometimes there’s nothing left at the end of your shift, it’s almost like you’re a shell when you get home. You’ve literally worn yourself out emotionally. However, It’s a really lovely place to work and I shall miss everybody.”
Staying the course “I first came here because the centre offered me something new. This sounds crazy when I have never left, however every time I felt I was on top of everything, something new happened – whether it’s a change of staff, scanner or even the boss. Every time I thought about leaving, something new and Linda’s last working ‘The patients exciting came up to day will be on 9 entice me to stay. and the team I September, with her The patients and the official retirement work with team I work with make date two days later. make Paul Paul Strickland Scanner Ultimately, Linda Centre a very special plans to move back Strickland place. The patients to Plymouth to be Scanner need us to help them close to her mum. Centre a very But first, travel through their cancer journey, as many special place.’ beckons. “I’m going people don’t fully on a cruise to Malta, understand how their visiting Croatia and own bodies work, let the Greek islands. alone cancer treatment. The team One former trustee told me: ‘If here has always been very good. anyone asks you what you’re doing, We employ staff at a higher level tell them you’re going on a gap year than many other centres, partly and you’ll make your mind up about because of the emotional toll the what you’ll do next.” 8
INSIDE VIEW
Rickmansworth and Croxley Green U3A Strollers were amongst those who completed our annual Stepping up for Cancer walk.
Busy supporters raise thousands Caroline Wren reports on the fantastic work our supporters have been doing to raise money for the centre It’s been a busy period for many of our supporters, who got active to raise money. Rick Wilmott and his sister Kristie took part in the Vitality 10k on Monday 2 May in memory of their dad and raised over £800. They were closely followed by Michael Martin, who took part in a 15km Tough Mudder event and has so far raised over £300. Over the whole month of May, people got together with friends or
family for our Stepping Up For Cancer walk in the countryside near Chenies Manor. Some are new to this walk, whereas others have been doing it annually for many years. The Whitehead family first took part in 2005 when Miles Whitehead was a patient at the centre and they went on to raise an incredible £33,000 in Miles’s memory. They have continued to be regular walkers and this year baby Gus joined them on the walk 9
INSIDE VIEW for the very first time! More challenges ahead In August, Gary Sexton and his team of friends will also be taking on a Tough Mudder challenge in memory of Michael Perry. Philip Gibbs will be cycling from London to Brighton in September, when Annie Harrington will be taking on the Chiltern 50 Challenge. The Thames Moonlight 10 Walk is safe, fun and rewarding – with full support and great hospitality. It’s the ideal challenge to take on as a team of friends, family, or work colleagues – or join as an individual and meet others whilst seeing our magnificent capital at its best on a Friday night to remember! The Walk is on Friday 9 September, starting from 4pm and you can choose between 10 km or Three
10 miles. Get in touch for further details or to register. Golf Day
On 6 June the sun shone and a fun day was had by all who took part in our Golf Day at Denham Golf Club. As ever, Pam Holland brought her great team of volunteers from Moor Park Golf Club and past Mayor of Hillingdon John Hensley auctioned off some fantastic prizes, helping us raise £5,000. Congratulations to Biggers Buggy Boys, who won first prize, and thanks to everyone who donated and took part to make another successful Golf Day. We’re about to start selling tickets for our Bridge Drive on 11 October, which is taking place at Moor Park Golf Club.
Please leave us a gift in your Will Legacy donations make it possible for us to give cancer patients access to leading-edge technology, world-class expertise, and promising clinical research. Get in touch today for a confidential, no obligation chat. Just email
appeals@stricklandscanner.org.uk or ring us on 01923 886315. For further information on writing a will visit Rememberacharity.org.uk
9
INSIDE VIEW From top left clockwise: Michael Martin together with a fellow Tough Mudder contestant, the Whitehead family, Golf Day winners Biggers Buggy Boys, Rick and Kristie Wilmott.
Three
9
Take on a challenge for us We have all been keeping close to home for a long time, but if you now feel ready to plan ahead for next year and take on an exciting challenge, we have just the thing for you. We have links with various organisations who run a vast range
of challenge events. Whether your limit would be a 25km walk, run or jog on the Isle of Wight (pictured) to a double marathon in the Sahara, and so many other options in between, get in touch and we will help you find the challenge that is right for you.
Just ring us on 01923 886315 or email us at appeals@stricklandscanner.org.uk