RM M A G A Z I N E SPRING 2019
NIGHT LIFE On the late shift with our dedicated hospital teams The pivotal role of pathology services Awards time: celebrating our outstanding staff
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At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. And when people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That’s why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
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EXECUTIVE NOTES
CONTENTS 4 Bulletin What’s happening around The Royal Marsden 12 Open all hours We join hospital staff working through the night 18 A night in the life Elodie Malard takes charge in the Critical Care Unit after dark 20 Under the microscope How pathology is vital for diagnosis, treatment and care 23 It happened to me Young patient Bryony, 11, talks about her leukaemia journey 24 Shining lights A look back at our Staff Achievement Awards 26 Fundraising News from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity 28 Foundation news Updates from our Foundation Trust and Governors
WELCOME to the spring 2019 edition of RM, the magazine for our staff, patients, carers and Foundation Trust members. This special ‘night’ issue of the magazine features a photostory of a night shift at The Royal Marsden (page 12). Over a 12-hour period, we follow the work of our staff who keep the hospital running during the small hours. We also have a special ‘night in the life’ story of a nurse in our state-of-the-art Critical Care Unit (CCU) (page 18), one of the largest critical care facilities for cancer in Europe, and a look back at our annual Staff Awards evening (page 24). In this issue, we also pay tribute to Professor Martin Gore CBE, a leader in medical oncology who devoted his career to improving the quality of life and outcomes for all those affected by cancer (page 5).
30 Puzzles and prizes Test your wits and win a prize with our crossword 31 Stay in touch Your comments on social media, plus hospital contacts
Cally Palmer CBE, Chief Executive, The Royal Marsden
ON THE COVER Elodie Malard, Critical Care Unit nurse in charge, during a night shift
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B U L L E T I N W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G A R O U N D T H E R O YA L M A R S D E N
Tried and true THANKS TO an investment by NHS England to upgrade radiotherapy equipment across the country, along with a £1.5-million donation from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, we now have a third Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator in Chelsea. The TrueBeam delivers all forms of advanced external-beam radiotherapy: image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT); intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT); stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT); and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Having three units means we can now treat
up to 120 patients with various tumour types – including breast, lung, head and neck, prostate, gastrointestinal and gynaecological cancers – every day. The Royal Marsden’s Radiotherapy department delivers treatment via 11 linear accelerators – including the three Varian TrueBeams – across both hospital sites, as well as a CyberKnife stereotactic radiotherapy machine, a superficial radiotherapy machine for the treatment of skin cancers, a brachytherapy service, and the UK’s first MR Linac.
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A GREAT LEGACY Professor Martin Gore was at the heart of The Royal Marsden’s work
Remembering Martin Gore IT WAS WITH DEEP sadness that we announced the sudden death of Professor Martin Gore CBE in January. Professor Gore was at the heart of life at The Royal Marsden. His contribution as Medical Director for 10 years, as a Trustee of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and as a clinician is unparalleled. He was central to our work in cancer research and treatment, and a well-loved friend, colleague and mentor. During his 40-year career as one of the world’s leading cancer experts, Professor Gore’s vast knowledge helped save the lives of thousands of cancer patients. Alongside being a professor of cancer medicine at The Royal Marsden and The
Institute of Cancer Research, London, he was also a member of the Commission on Human Medicines at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the Inter-Committee Scientific Advisory Group on Oncology at the European Medicines Agency. He was appointed CBE for his services to oncology in 2016. In a message of condolence, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, President of The Royal Marsden, said: “Martin was such an inspirational man with unparalleled enthusiasm and passion for his work, and I feel privileged to have known him. In 2015, he accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award to a standing ovation
throughout the room – reflecting the utmost respect and admiration that everyone at The Royal Marsden held for Martin as a mentor, leader and friend.” Cally Palmer, The Royal Marsden’s Chief Executive, said: “Professor Gore was one of the world’s leading oncologists and devoted his career to improving quality of life and outcomes for all those affected by cancer. He inspired generations of oncologists through his leadership, teaching and training. “His intellect, humour and wisdom and his impact on modern cancer care will be his legacy to patients, the NHS, and cancer research and treatment internationally.” RM magazine 5
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HONOUR FOR PROFESSOR Congratulations to Professor D avid Cunningham ( above) , Consultant Medical Oncologist and Head of the G astrointestinal Unit and lymphoma clinical trials unit, who was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours for services to cancer treatment and research. One of the country’s most pre- eminent oncologists, Professor Cunningham’s pioneering work has significantly changed our understanding of cancer and its treatment, and improved outcomes for patients across the globe. Meanwhile, in education and training, he has shaped the country’s medical oncology training programme and inspired the next generation of clinicians. Professor Cunningham is internationally recognised as a leader of research into gastrointestinal cancer and lymphoma, and the development of novel molecular therapies. He has published extensively and his papers have set the foundation for many vital advances in treating gastrointestinal cancers.
THAT WINNING FEELING Our successful Private Care team at the LaingBuisson Awards
Private Care’s fantastic four IN UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS, The Royal Marsden Private Care has won four prizes at the 2018 LaingBuisson Awards, including the award for best Private Hospital for the second year running. Now in their 13th year, these prestigious awards recognise excellence in private healthcare and social care. The finalists were chosen by independent judges from more than 350 nominations, and The Royal Marsden was the only organisation to win as many as four awards. We won the Private Hospital award for our robotic surgery programme, which is the largest and most
comprehensive for cancer in the UK, while the Healthcare Outcomes prize was given for our use of PlasmaJet, a surgical energy device that has transformed treatment for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. In the Nursing Practice category, we were awarded for our Altered Airway Multidisciplinary Team, which significantly improves care for patients with
The Royal Marsden was the only organisation to win four awards
tracheostomies and laryngectomies, and the High Growth accolade was given for the partnership between our NHS and Private Care services. These awards are a testament to our unique model, which enables us to reinvest revenue generated by Private Care into the hospital for the benefit of all patients, whether NHS or private. Shams Maladwala, Managing Director of Private Care, said: “Winning these high-profile awards and being shortlisted for a further three in two other categories reflects the fantastic work that all staff do for all our patients, every day.”
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BULLETIN
Award highlights our support for staff THE ROYAL MARSDEN has won the Best UK Employer of the Year award at the 2018 Nursing Times Workforce Summit Awards. The inaugural awards celebrated innovation and excellence across the spectrum of practice affecting nursing and healthcare staff.
“ his award re ects o r staff c lt re and the positive impact this has on patients”
The award win centred on our success in reducing the vacancy rate in nursing roles, improving staff health and wellbeing and investing in staff training and development. The judges noted our focus on equality and diversity, and recognised that we have a “genuine commitment to support staff across the organisation”. Nina Singh, Director of Workforce, said: “The best way to ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care is to ensure our staff feel valued, listened to and recognised. “This award reflects our staff culture and the positive impact this has on our patients.”
NHS Long Term Plan
? DID YOU KNOW? DisabledGo has changed its name to AccessAble. Patients can find access guides to help plan their visit to the hospital at both royalmarsden. nhs.uk and accessable.co.uk.
In January, the NHS announced its Long Term Plan, in which a key priority will be improving cancer survival rates. The NHS’s ambition is that, by 2028, the proportion of cancer patients diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 will rise from around the current half to three-quarters. This will mean further raising awareness of symptoms of cancer, lowering the threshold for referral by GPs, accelerating access to diagnosis and treatment, and maximising the number of cancers that we identify through screening. This will include modernising the bowel cancer screening programme to detect more cancers earlier; reducing the age at which we start screening for bowel cancer from 60 to 50; implementing human papilloma virus (HPV) screening for cervical cancer across England by 2020; and extending lung health checks for those at high risk of lung cancer.
Want to know more?
BEST EMPLOYER The Trust has reduced the rate of nursing vacancies
Turn to page 9 for 5 Fast Facts about the NHS’s Long Term Plan
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DUO OF BREAST CANCER DRUGS SHOWS PROMISE Adding a targeted drug to hormone therapy could stop the growth of tumour cells in women with early- stage breast cancer, according to new data from a maj or clinical trial. The research, led by scientists at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, L ondon, provided a detailed picture of the women’s responses to the targeted drug palbociclib. Chief Investigator Professor Stephen J ohnston, Consultant Medical Oncologist, said: “Patients with breast cancer often respond to various drug treatments, only for the cancer cells to adapt, change or sidestep the initial beneficial effects. “We have demonstrated that the current standard of care for many women – hormone treatment – is effecti e at sto ing the growth of tumour cells prior to surgery. With the addition of this new drug, palbociclib, patients may benefit e en further. For Kathryn England, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2015 , the trial was a vital part of her treatment. She said: “The drugs made one tiny tumour disappear and shrank the larger one. I have been clear of cancer for three years now and have been able to carry on ith my life.
SURGERY STUDY Mr Kelvin Ramsey
Surgical option offers relief AN INNOVATIVE PROCEDURE may offer a new option for treating lymphoedema – a long-term condition where lymphatic fluid builds up after surgery or radiotherapy, causing abnormal swelling. In a pilot study by The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, researchers investigated whether the surgical procedure – lymphaticovenous anastomosis – could help to reduce lymphoedema in patients who had previously been treated for breast cancer. Study author Mr Kelvin Ramsey, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, said: “Lymphoedema can severely affect the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. It comes with a lifelong commitment to managing symptoms, which can have both physical and psychological effects.
“Until now, the standard of care is specialist management including compression garment therapy, manual drainage and tailored exercise programmes. We found that this new surgical technique led to a significant and sustained reduction in limb volume in some patients.” Co-author Mr Aadil Khan, an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer, said: “This procedure opens up much-needed surgical treatment options for patients. We are expecting to carry out more research across the UK and internationally to further confirm these findings.”
“Lymphoedema can affect the quality of life of breast cancer survivors”
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BULLETIN
NEW STANDARD Dr Sheela Rao
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FAST FACTS The NHS Long Term Plan for cancer
75%
of cancers will be diagnosed at stage 1 or 2 by 2028
Trial improves treatment for rare type of cancer A NEW APPROACH to treating advanced anal cancer is safer and more effective than the most widely used current treatment, according to the first-ever randomised clinical trial in this group of patients, led by The Royal Marsden. About 1,300 people are diagnosed with anal cancer each year in the UK – a number that is rising by around three per cent annually. Due to small patient populations, there is very limited evidence to guide treatment decisions, and international consensus among clinicians is lacking. The findings from the InterAACT study, which were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in October, will set a new standard of care for this rare type of cancer. They showed that a combination of the chemotherapy drugs carboplatin
and paclitaxel is a better option than the current standard. Around 30 per cent of people with anal cancer will develop advanced disease that cannot be treated surgically, and all of these patients are eligible to receive this treatment. Dr Sheela Rao, Consultant Medical Oncologist, who led the study, said: “While treatment with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil was generally considered a reasonable option for advanced anal cancer, we now know that carboplatin and paclitaxel is more effective and better tolerated. In our study, these patients lived seven months longer overall. “This study shows the benefit of international collaboration within the International Rare Cancer Initiative, and provides the backbone for future trials into novel treatments for advanced anal cancer, including immunotherapy.”
55,000 more lives could be saved each year by diagnosing cancer earlier
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days will be the new standard, by 2020, within which cancer should either be diagnosed or ruled out
2019
will see the introduction of a new quality of life metric to track and respond to the long-term impact of cancer on patients
£70m
to fund 10 projects offering lung health checks and low-dose CT scans to people at high risk of lung cancer RM magazine 9
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IN BRIEF
additional, more effective treatment options. Q What has the trial found so far? A STAMPEDE has already changed clinical practice, as the addition of docetaxel chemotherapy or abiraterone is now part of standard care for many patients. More recently, a STAMPEDE trial we led at The Royal Marsden – published in The Lancet and presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress – showed that treating the prostate with radiotherapy increased survival times by 11 per cent in some men with advanced prostate cancer.
Leading the way
The Royal Marsden has been chosen as the lead for one of NHS England’s seven new laboratory hubs for genomic cancer testing. Dr Angela George (above), Clinical Lead for the Cancer Genetics Unit, said: “This testing promises better diagnoses, and more effective treatments with fewer side effects.”
New aid in Africa
Professor Theresa Wiseman, Strategic L ead for Health Services Research, visited health centres in Tanzania and G hana to help set up a study offering reco ery packages to women who ha e finished breast cancer treatment. “Breast cancer survivors in Africa lack post- treatment support, and we have to share expertise in this area for their benefit she said.
Giving thanks
Charles Alexander, Chairman of The Royal Marsden and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, held an afternoon tea for the Trustees and committee members from the Friends of The Royal Marsden, Sutton, to honour their contribution to the hospital. He thanked volunteers for serving patients in the tea bar for nearly 50 years.
Q&A: STAMPEDE TRIAL Dr Chris Parker, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, explains how this clinical trial has the potential to revolutionise prostate cancer treatment Q What is the STAMPEDE trial? A STAMPEDE (Systemic Therapy in Advancing or Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Evaluation of Drug Efficacy) is the largest-ever trial of prostate cancer treatment. It’s based at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, but involves hospitals throughout the UK and Switzerland, including The Royal Marsden. Since it opened in 2005, more than 10,000 people have joined the trial. The aim is to see if we can improve the way prostate cancer is
managed by adding new or different treatments to the standard approach. Q What is the standard approach? A When the trial started, the standard drug treatment was hormone therapy, which works by stopping the testicles from making testosterone. Prostate cancer cells usually need testosterone to grow. Hormone therapy is typically effective for several years, but prostate cancer cells eventually become resistant to it, so there is a need for
“We’ve proved the benefit of additional radiotherapy for certain men with advanced prostate cancer”
Q Why are these findings important? A It could change the standard of care worldwide for certain men with advanced prostate cancer. Until now, it was thought that there was no reason to treat the prostate itself if the cancer had already spread, as by that point it was too late. However, this study proved the benefit of prostate radiotherapy for these men. Unlike many new drugs, radiotherapy is a simple, relatively cheap treatment that is available in most parts of the world. Q What happens next? A We now need to investigate whether adding radiotherapy to current treatment could also work for other types of cancer. If we can understand exactly why certain men with prostate cancer benefit from additional radiotherapy, we may be able to use this approach to treat even more patients.
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BULLETIN
Success for GI cancer event
IMMUNOTHERAPY INVESTIGATOR Dr Naureen Starling
?
Bowel drug trial opens ONE OF THE WORLD’S first trials of immunotherapy for colorectal cancer that has been removed by surgery is being led by The Royal Marsden and Royal Surrey County Hospital. Immunotherapy provides an option for a rising number of cancers, and researchers are applying these findings to colorectal cancer. The POLEM study will recruit 402 UK patients to explore if adding a new drug, avelumab, to standard chemotherapy lowers the risk of stage 3 bowel cancer returning. Avelumab is a checkpoint inhibitor, which blocks proteins that stop the immune system from attacking cancer cells. It has been licensed in the USA for bladder cancer and Merkel-cell carcinoma.
Co-Investigator Dr Naureen Starling, Consultant Medical Oncologist, said: “A small group of patients with inoperable cancer, whose tumours have a certain type of genetic abnormality, responded very well to immunotherapy drugs in clinical trials. This study will help us develop better treatments and to examine if giving immunotherapy after surgery and chemotherapy in patients with this abnormality can increase cure rates, helping us develop treatments for some patients with early stage bowel cancer.” The trial is supported by Merck and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London.
MILESTONE FOR MAGGIE’S CENTRE The Royal Marsden and Maggie’s, the charity that provides practical and emotional support for people with cancer and their loved ones, hosted a ‘topping out’ ceremony – traditionally held when new buildings reach their full height – for its new centre in November.
Due to open in the summer, the centre marks another step in the redevelopment of our Sutton hospital. Patients in Chelsea will also be able to visit Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden, or may prefer to use the centres at Charing Cross or St Bartholomew’s hospitals.
DID YOU KNOW? Patients and the public are invited to attend a free NIHR Biomedical Research Centre event, held in Chelsea at 5pm on 2 July, on the development of new treatments in melanoma and urological cancers. Please email lisa.leavey @rmh.nhs.uk for more details.
Nearly 200 people attended an event for patients and the public in November to hear about the latest clinical research innovations in the care and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. The free event, hosted by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, L ondon, was attended by patients and their carers, friends and family, as well as students, teachers, and healthcare professionals and staff. Topics ranged from nutrition and robotic surgery to lab- grown mini tumours and the latest radiotherapy technology. The audience also heard a talk on demystifying cancer from D eborah J ames, a patient of The Royal Marsden and co- presenter of BBC Radio 5 L ive’s podcast You Me and The Big C, and second ash presentations from j unior doctors outlining their research proj ects.
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9pm On a night shift, the Chelsea and Sutton sites are each managed by a clinical site practitioner (CSP), who oversees the activity across each hospital and works closely with other night shift staff. This includes a junior doctor, a radiologist and a biochemist, as well as the Critical Care Unit (CCU) – which is fully staffed by nurses, a registrar and a consultant – and a Critical Care outreach team, who respond to emergency calls and assess any patients on wards who may need additional care. A theatre team – including nurses, a consultant surgeon and a consultant anaesthetist – is on standby to come to Chelsea in case emergency surgery is required. The CSP is responsible for escalating any issues to the wider on-call team where necessary, which every night consists of a lead nurse on call and executive on call. Here, CSP Gladys Dolina is on the first of her evening ward rounds in Chelsea, where she’ll check on patients and address any immediate concerns. 12 RM magazine
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NIGHT SHIFT
OPEN ALL HOURS While London slumbers, The Royal Marsden remains a hive of activity around the clock. We join colleagues on the night shift to discover what happens at the hospital after dark >
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8pm
9.30pm
Members of nursing staff who have been on duty during the day hand over to the Hospital at Night core team: a Critical Care outreach nurse, a CSP and a junior doctor. They’ll speak about any patients who might require care that evening, and then plan which wards to visit first on their rounds.
Dr Charlotte Butler, the junior doctor on duty, visits a patient with a fever. On a night shift, the junior doctor is responsible for assessing patients and identifying those who might need intervention. She works closely with the CSP and CCU outreach nurse, and will liaise with them regularly during the night.
10pm
11pm
Porter Lee Watkins locks the main gates to the hospital car park. In Chelsea and Sutton, the night shift porter team is responsible for keeping the hospital safe and secure throughout the night.
The Royal Marsden Macmillan Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the Hotline hub room, nurses Lisa Wells and Amy Hollingsworth provide specialist advice and support to any patients and carers who call with concerns about side effects or complications of treatment.
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NIGHT SHIFT
11.30pm Patient Steve Doughty is recovering on Burdett Coutts Ward after having a robotic procedure to treat his prostate cancer. Gladys speaks to him as he’s feeling unwell; an infection means he will be staying for longer than expected. Steve was able to go home after a short stay in hospital, and has since made a full recovery. >
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2am Biomedical scientist Janet Okon places a sample under the microscope in the haematology laboratory in Chelsea. She’s just received a blood sample from the CCU and, after date- and time-stamping it, will run a number of tests. Throughout the night, she’ll also carry out quality control on all the equipment, making sure that they produce reliable results.
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NIGHT SHIFT
2.15am As well as keeping the hospital secure, a team of two night porters – including Alfie John – is responsible for transporting patients who might need urgent scans, emergency surgery or additional care in the CCU, and manning the main reception desk.
6am After a busy night for staff and a restful one for patients, The Royal Marsden rises early, with catering staff receiving deliveries at 6am so breakfast can be served at 8am. The CSPs hand over to a day team at 8am and head home for some well-earned rest. RM
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A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF
ELODIE MALARD CRITICAL CARE NURSE IN CHARGE
I’VE BEEN WORKING in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) at The Royal Marsden for more than eight years, and I do a mixture of day and night shifts. We’re equipped to support patients who have been admitted following major surgery, or for the management of their underlying health conditions, cancer or cancer-related treatment. Our intensive care patients require one-to-one care and multi-organ support, and the high-dependency patients, who are less at risk, still need two-to-one ratio care. Because we help care for some of the most unwell patients, the service we provide is exactly the same during the night as in the day. We have 17 nurses, including one who is on standby to travel to Sutton if needed, where we have a facility ready to transport any patients to Chelsea should they need intensive care support. Through the night If I am in charge of the CCU on a night shift, I usually start the evening at 7.45pm. I’ll catch up with the nurse who has been in charge for the day, and we run
through the individual needs of the patients. We then have a handover with the medical teams – the registrar and CCU junior doctor – to discuss cases and what we may have to prepare for during the night. At about 9pm, we start our ward rounds. The night CCU registrar, the night CCU junior doctor and I will walk around to each patient, speak to them, check how they feel and see if there is any treatment we think they may need during the night. It’s really important in our jobs that we have compassion to deal with very unwell patients and their families, and make them feel supported in what is often an emotionally charged environment. After the rounds, we’ll action any treatment that might need to take
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A NIGHT IN THE LIFE
place. This could be sending blood samples to the laboratory for analysis, or managing pain medication. Each bed is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, and throughout the night we’ll monitor major body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and levels of oxygen in the body. The patient may also have a ventilator, IV lines, drains and catheters, and we are responsible for checking those, too.
Throughout the night, we’ll also be in constant contact with the rest of the hospital’s night teams, particularly the CCU outreach team and the clinical
site practitioner (CSP). The CCU outreach nurse for the night will monitor patients recently transferred from the CCU, and respond to those whose condition may be worsening. At midnight, they talk us through any of these cases and whether patients may need further support in our unit. If we have any quieter moments, I’ll try to catch up on administrative work, such as organising appraisals for team members or looking at ways to support new staff. Finally, at 7.45am, I’ll hand over to the day nurse in charge, and head home to sleep! RM
NIGHT NURSE On a late shift, Elodie will catch up with her counterpart from the day shift, check on patients during ward rounds, and speak with night teams elsewhere in the hospital
Planning ahead A patient’s condition can change suddenly, so we have to make quick decisions with confidence about the best course of action. In an emergency, we may have patients who require CT or MRI scans, and so we will arrange for them to be transported to the imaging centre. X-ray scans can be done at the bedside, and often the on-call radiographer will come to perform those in the CCU with portable equipment. RM magazine 19
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U N DE R T H E MICROSCOPE Interacting with almost every patient that comes to the Trust, our pathology teams play an invaluable role in diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care
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PAT H O L O G Y
PATHOLOGY SERVICES are the beating heart of modern NHS trusts. At The Royal Marsden, they perform a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers as well as preventing the spread of harmful viruses and ‘superbugs’. Pathology is also key to devising and measuring the efficacy of treatment plans, including analysing tissue samples, crossmatching blood and bone marrow samples, and monitoring chemicals and hormones to see how well the body is functioning. Our main Biochemistry department is based in Sutton and operates a 24-hour service to cover emergency and urgent work outside of normal hours. In 2018, it handled nearly 215,000 blood samples and issued more than 2.5 million results to patients and their clinical teams. Dr Robyn Shea, Consultant Clinical Biochemist, says: “Our department is one of the few that will interact with almost every patient that comes into the Trust. The blood tests that we offer are particularly important for confirming diagnoses and determining whether a patient is well enough to have chemotherapy
treatment, based on their kidney and liver function. “By analysing tumour markers, we can also predict the likely outcome of treatment and monitor a patient’s progress after treatment. Our tests tell us whether a patient is in remission and if their cancer is likely to come back, and allows us to monitor for other health issues.” The Biochemistry department previously ran a satellite service in Chelsea, meaning routine samples were transported to Sutton five to six times a day. However, later this year, we’ll start measuring more tests across both sites – including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, to help detect prostate cancer, and troponin analyses, which are typically used to indicate if someone has had a heart attack. The technology of tomorrow Thanks to investment in new equipment, both Sutton and Chelsea will soon have two VITROS 5600 integrated machines. These combine routine biochemistry and immunoassay machines into one unit, making the process more efficient and significantly increasing our capacity.
“Our current analysers all use traditional ‘wet chemistry’ techniques to produce results,” Dr Shea explains. “Substances in the blood, such as too much fat, can interfere with this approach and make the results unreliable. “The new instruments will use ‘dry-slide’ technology, so the measurement will be carried out on a slide that has multiple layers, which filter the blood for impurities that may affect our results. This improves the quality of our results and means we can carry out tests much more quickly. “Currently, 99 per cent of our routine chemistry samples are processed within three hours. With this new machine, we’re aiming for a turnaround time of 90 minutes, and all urgent tests under an hour.” The Biochemistry department also supports clinical trials by checking whether patients are eligible to take part, and by monitoring any side effects from treatment, including the latest immunotherapies. > PUT TO THE TEST Dr Robyn Shea, Consultant Clinical Biochemist (left); our scientists at work in the Biochemistry lab (below)
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PAT H O L O G Y
“We’re even more vigilant against infection than general hospitals”
“We also conduct our own research into groundbreaking new approaches, such as dried blood spot methods,” says Dr Shea. “Our PhD student, Nithya Paranthaman, is investigating a technique where myeloma patients could one day take a small sample of their blood via a pinprick in the comfort of their own home, which is transferred to filter paper and sent to our lab. If the trial finds that this works as well as if the test was taken here at The Royal Marsden, patients who are stable wouldn’t need to travel to hospital. In myeloma, this kind of technique is completely unique.” Staying safe The Trust’s pathology services encompass the Microbiology department, which is also heavily
involved in day-to-day patient treatment and care. The department is also based at Sutton and works closely with the Infection Prevention and Control Team, screening patients for MRSA, C. difficile (a bacterium that can infect the bowel) and multi-drug-resistant organisms, as well as performing environmental screening to monitor and enable the highest standards of hospital hygiene. Similarly to their Biochemistry colleagues, the Microbiology team also check patient eligibility for clinical trials, particularly by screening for hepatitis (C, B and E) and HIV. Dr Jackie Kenny, Microbiology Lab Manager, says: “In many cases, cancer patients don’t die directly from their cancer. The disease and treatments such as chemotherapy weaken their immune system, which in turn increases their vulnerability to life-threatening infections. This means we need to be even more vigilant than staff at general hospitals, where otherwise ‘healthy’ patients can rely on their immune system to get rid of less harmful bacteria or viruses. “We investigate patient samples such as blood, urine, stool, swabs
SCREENING ROOM Dr Jackie Kenny (above); Sue Alexander (below); examining microorganisms in a Petri dish (below left)
and sputum to look for viruses, bacteria and microorganisms that might cause a problem. If we find anything of concern, this is flagged up urgently with a consultant microbiologist, who informs the relevant clinical team. “When harmful bacteria are found, the lab performs antimicrobial susceptibility testing, so that the clinical teams know which antibiotics will be most effective in treating the patient.” The Microbiology department also plays a crucial role in combating the threat of antimicrobial resistance, says Sue Alexander, Principal Biomedical Scientist and Pathology Services Manager. “We try to identify any emerging antimicrobial resistance to a specific treatment, and work closely with clinicians to tell them which treatments will work for a particular patient,” she explains. “This is especially important for vulnerable patients, so we run weekly screening for multi-drug-resistant organisms on patients in the Trust’s Critical Care Unit, Oak Centre for Children and Young People, and Haemato-oncology Unit.” RM
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IT HAPPENED TO ME
IN THE BEGINNING I WAS A LITTLE BIT SCARED, BUT EVERYONE AT THE ROYAL MARSDEN HAS BEEN REALLY NICE Bryony Faasen, 11, acute myeloid leukaemia patient
told us that I had a type of leukaemia that not a lot of people have, and would need to have something called a bone marrow transplant. I didn’t want to be in hospital for Christmas, but the nurses made it really fun. We had Christmas food and I got extra presents: some shiny boots, a sewing kit and some really soft socks. It was a bit better because Mummy, Daddy and my brother were all allowed to be there on Christmas Eve. I got to give them presents I had wrapped in the school room and Kale got some presents as well. On Christmas Day, my auntie, uncle, cousins
“I was nervous when we were taken to The Royal Marsden, but the nurses and doctors made me feel a lot better”
AT THE START of year six, I wasn’t very well. I didn’t want to go to school and felt really tired. My best friend had a cold so Mummy and Daddy thought it might be that, but I didn’t really get better. I wasn’t eating much and was just lying on the sofa. My brother, Kale, wanted to play, but I just didn’t want to move. Mummy and Daddy took me to hospital and the doctors said I was really sick. It was my first
proper time in a hospital and I was a little bit scared. After they did lots of tests, they told me I had cancer – something called leukaemia. I didn’t really understand, but Mummy explained that it was what Granny had, so I knew it was a bad illness. When we were taken to The Royal Marsden, I was nervous, but all of the nurses and doctors made me feel a lot better. They
and Granny and Grandad also came along. Having everyone there made me feel a little bit better. I found out in September last year that my transplant hadn’t worked, which made me really sad. The doctors and nurses have all been really nice and I’m still on chemotherapy until they say I can try another transplant. When I come into the hospital, I like going to the play room and doing lots of activities with the play specialists, which is fun. RM
Innie Johnson
Paediatric Transplant Clinical Nurse Specialist “Bryony has a very rare type of cancer called acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia, which can be very difficult to treat. But throughout everything, she’s been so strong and resilient – even when she had to be in hospital for Christmas, which we know no child wants to do. It’s been a tough few months for Bryony and her family, but we continue to do everything we can for them.”
Carol Faasen
Bryony’s mum “We are so proud of Bryony for being such a fighter. She really is a remarkable little girl. Despite everything over the past 18 months, she was determined to start secondary school last year and keep doing the things she loves. Of course, we were all disappointed that the first transplant didn’t work, but we are so thankful for the staff at The Royal Marsden for their continued support.” RM magazine 23
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WE WERE PROUD to celebrate The Royal Marsden’s exceptional staff at our 2018 Staff Achievement Awards, which were held in November at the Honourable Artillery Company’s Artillery Garden in London. Cally Palmer, Chief Executive, said: “It was wonderful to have more than 900 people in attendance for a great evening. I would like to congratulate the winners on their outstanding contributions and achievements, as well as all those who were nominated for an award.” In her speech at the start of the evening, Cally said: “Every year, I stand here and congratulate you on the amazing work you do every day for patients with cancer here in the UK and globally through our research and education. While we are always striving to do more for the patients who need us, tonight is a time to celebrate your achievements over the past year, which have been exceptional. I am so proud to be your Chief Executive.” Here, we recap the two winners in each of the four awards categories. Above and Beyond – Clinical Grainne Brady, Clinical Lead for Speech and Language Therapy Grainne goes above and beyond for patients and her profession in general. She has presented on the national and international stage and has been elected to chair a national group advising governmental policy, as well as keeping her clinical skills up to date and supporting her team’s development. Dr Angela George, Consultant in Oncogenetics Dr George is an innovative and dedicated clinician who has set up a number of international collaborations and brought together the procurement of genomics for
SHINING LIGH T S The outstanding accomplishments of our talented and dedicated staff were recognised at our annual awards
north, west and east London. Her efforts will ensure that patients everywhere will continue to benefit from the high-quality genetic testing offered by the Trust. Above and Beyond – Non-clinical Louise Hakem, Medical Secretary, Lung Unit Louise has been described as a “remarkable colleague” with whom it is a privilege to work. She has revolutionised pathways and systems, ensuring a smoother process for the entire team and, most importantly, our patients. Bob Slater, Porter Bob assists in any situation he can with good grace and was described
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S TA F F AWA R D S
as an exceptional member of the Sutton hospital team by everyone who works with him. He was nominated for this award by several departments, which shows how much he is valued. Working Together Nurse Recruitment Project Team This team has been vital in helping The Royal Marsden to reduce the nursing vacancy rate, develop ways to reach out to new audiences, and increase training opportunities. This cross-organisational team, which includes clinical, non-clinical and corporate staff, captured good practice and knowledge to ensure a continual cycle of improvement.
Head and Neck Nursing and AHP Team This team enabled the roll-out of a world-leading new surgical service. They introduced innovative techniques, developed their skills in complex procedures and liaised with international colleagues on best practice to ensure that patients could benefit from these life-changing procedures. Lifetime Achievement Jill Cooper, Head of Occupational Therapy With 25 years of service at The Royal Marsden and an MBE for her contribution to cancer care, Jill has paved the way for occupational therapy in cancer care. She is
renowned nationally and internationally for her experience and knowledge, and always puts the patient and their family first. Professor Mitch Dowsett, Head of the Ralph Lauren Centre for Breast Cancer Research A biochemist by training, Professor Dowsett is one of the world’s most respected translational scientists in breast cancer. He has won two of the highest awards in international breast cancer research and his lifetime of work in aromatase inhibitors is now a standard of care worldwide. His contribution to improving treatment for women with breast cancer is simply immeasurable. RM
WINNING SMILES Clockwise, from top left: Jo Rydon, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Head and Neck Unit; Grainne Brady; Helen Lavell (left) and Karen Musee of the Nurse Recruitment Project Team; Professor Mitch Dowsett; Louise Hakem; Jill Cooper. Opposite: Bob Slater and family
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OBE honour for appeal Chairman Mike Slade, Chairman of our appeal to build the Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to charity. Mike ( above) , Chairman of Helical plc, a property investment and development company, was appointed to lead the Oak Cancer Centre Appeal in J anuary 2017. Since then, it has raised more than £ 5 0 million towards the target of £ 70 million. He is also President of the property industry charity L andAid, a Fellow of the College of Estate Management and of Wellington College, a Trustee of Purley Park and of Sherborne School Foundation, V ice Admiral of the Mary Rose Trust, and a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron. Mike said of the Oak Cancer Centre Appeal: “I am both honoured and highly motivated to be chairman of this incredibly important appeal. The Oak Cancer Centre will equip The Royal Marsden for the future and ensure more eo le can benefit from their research breakthroughs.”
BRIGHT LIGHTS Sophie, Phoenix and Zoe named a star in memory of Sophie and Zoe’s dad Michael London
The shining stars of our lives SUPPORTERS, PATIENTS AND STAFF gathered at our Chelsea and Sutton hospitals in December for our annual Celebrate a Life services, celebrating the lives of those dear to them. Thousands of stars were displayed on the Christmas trees outside both hospitals, each with the name of someone special handwritten in the centre. Some of those who named a star also chose to receive a gold star lapel badge to give as a gift or to wear in recognition of their loved one. Supporters watched as the Christmas lights were turned on and the front of both hospitals were beautifully lit for the services. Those attending the evening enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies and
were treated to performances by local choirs and brass bands. Thanks to our supporters, we raised more than £96,000, with almost 3,000 stars named for loved ones, making this our biggest-ever Celebrate a Life. One of the names on the stars was for Michael London, whose daughters Sophie and Zoe, and granddaughter Phoenix, attended the Chelsea service. Sophie said: “Dad passed away in May 2016, and this was our second Celebrate a Life. We decided to make it a tradition, and bring one of Dad’s grandchildren each year to keep his memory alive.”
Want to know more? Find out more at royalmarsden.org/star
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T H E R O YA L M A R S D E N C A N C E R C H A R I T Y
Google’s hamper gifts
Running the good race
BUNDLE UP Baskets of treats for staff at The Royal Marsden helped boost the festive spirit
IN DECEMBER, 27 employees from Google UK visited The Royal Marsden to deliver 50 luxury Christmas hampers to show their appreciation for the hard work of our staff throughout the year.
The volunteers were all colleagues of Vicki Woodall, who works at Google and whose son George was diagnosed with cancer at the age of four. Google has chosen George and the
Giant Pledge – set up by Vicki and her husband James to help beat childhood cancer with The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity – as its inaugural Charity of the Year, and aims to help them meet their fundraising target of £1 million. The Google hampers included a variety of fantastic items, ranging from purses donated by Ted Baker to salmon pâté donated by Inverawe Smokehouses.
Want to know more? Find out more at giantpledge.com
New support for research taff at acfarlanes ha e chosen he oyal arsden ancer harity as the ity la firm s harity of the ear. acfarlanes is su orting a research ro ect that aims to hel clinicians use immunothera y in a more targeted and ersonalised ay. his artnershi ill hel researchers from he oyal arsden led by r amra ura lic and rofessor ames ar in to better
understand hy some cancers res ond to immunothera y and to identify hich atients ill benefit most hich could lead to ne brea throughs in cancer treatment. ouise e aria ead of nclusion and at acfarlanes said e are delighted to be su orting he oyal arsden ancer harity. he im act of this groundbrea ing research ill benefit cancer atients across the and around the orld.
Contact The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity Telephone 020 7808 2233 Email charity@royalmarsden.org Visit royalmarsden.org Registered Charity No. 1095197
he oyal ar s alf arathon is one of the s most beautiful races, ta ing you on a a dro ing route through four oyal ar s and central ondon. he . mile route starts in yde ar then asses through reen ar t ames ar and ensington ardens and allo s runners to ta e in the sights of orld famous landmar s such as uc ingham alace orse uards arade and the oyal lbert all along the ay. s ell as a fundraising ac eam arsden runners recei e a shirt or running est fundraising ad ice on the day su ort ith cheering oints around the route massages and snac s and access to a aceboo grou of fello eam arsden runners for su ort and moti ation.
Want to know more? Visit royalmarsden. org/royal-parkshalf-marathon
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ELECTION TIME: WE NEED YOU! 2019 ELECTION: KEY DETAILS
Would you like to get involved in the governance of the Trust? Why not put yourself forward to become a Governor?
ELECTION VACANCIES Patient Governors Kensington & Chelsea and Sutton & Merton Three vacancies Elsewhere in London Two vacancies Elsewhere in England Two vacancies Carer Two vacancies Public Governors Sutton & Merton One vacancy Elsewhere in England One vacancy Staff Governors Clinical Professionals One vacancy Doctor One vacancy Nurse One vacancy ELECTION TIMELINE Nominations open 12 March Deadline for nominations 12 April Voting opens 3 May Voting closes 30 May Results published 31 May
THE TRUST IS HOLDING its 2019 elections for the Council of Governors this spring, which is a fantastic opportunity to become more involved. Our Governors play an important role in the governance framework of the Trust. By attending quarterly Council of Governor meetings and the Annual General Meeting, they discuss key issues as well as the strategic direction of the organisation while representing the views of their members. Outside of these meetings, Governors also contribute and add value in many other ways,
such as participating in clinical visits around the hospital and joining various working groups and committees. This year, the election runs from 12 March to 31 May, and there are opportunities to become a Governor in a number of categories (see left).
JOIN THE TEAM Stand for election and join Carol Joseph (right) as a Governor
Want to know more? If you would like to stand as a candidate in the elections, or would like to find out more about the role, please contact Rebecca Hudson, Member and Governor Lead, on 020 7808 2844 or email rebecca.hudson@rmh.nhs.uk
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F O U N DAT I O N N E W S
Dates for your diary Council of Governors meeting 20 March 2019, 11am-1pm, Chelsea Board of Directors meeting 29 May 2019, Chelsea Council of Governors meeting 31 July 2019, 11am-1pm, Chelsea Annual General Meeting 18 September 2019, Chelsea
MEMBERS’ WEEK RETURNS THE TRUST’S GOVERNORS are leading our 2019 Members’ Week, which takes place on 8-12 April. The aim of the week-long event is to recruit and engage with as many patients, carers and visitors as possible around the hospital. During the week, Governors will
SPRING MEMBERS’ EVENT
do walkabouts around Sutton and Chelsea and visit outpatient areas, as well as manning their stands in both hopsitals. On 10 April, there will also be an opportunity to meet our Governors at a drop-in session in the Boardroom at Chelsea.
The Trust held a Members’ Event in Sutton this spring that featured several interesting presentations. D r Richard L ee discussed early diagnosis; Samantha Wigfall, Matron in the Haemato- oncology Unit, and L orraine Hyde, Matron in the Medical D ay Unit, presented on initiatives to bring care closer to home; and D r Clare Shaw, Consultant D ietitian, spoke about dietary advice during cancer treatment. Members also heard from L ead G overnor
TIME TO TALK Governor Fiona Stewart meets the public during a previous Members’ Week
and Patient G overnor Fiona Stewart and Public G overnor D r Ann Smith about their G overnor roles at the Trust. We would like to thank all of the members who attended, as well as the speakers for their excellent presentations. If you are not already a member and would like to be invited to our next event in the summer, please contact Rebecca Hudson, Member and G overnor L ead, on 020 7808 2844, or email trust.foundation@rmh.nhs.uk.
Council of Governors meeting 24 September 2019, 11am1pm, Sutton To attend any of these meetings, please call 020 7808 2844 or email trust. foundation@ rmh.nhs.uk
Keep in touch To contact your Governor, email governors@ rmh.nhs.uk or telephone 020 7808 2844. Sign up and become a member at royalmarsden. nhs.uk/ membership RM magazine 29
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PUZZLES & PRIZES
PRIZE CROSSWORD
Winter 2018 crossword solution Across 1 Bosky 4 Brews 6 Trident 8 Exit 9 Kilns 12 Igloo 13 Toga 15 Austria 17 Expat 18 Liszt Down 1 Ballerina 2 Spaniel 3 Yeti 4 Bricks 5 Eve 7 Testament 10 Lioness 11 Poirot 14 Mall 16 Sip Congratulations to Jane Snell, the winner of the winter 2018 issue’s crossword prize.
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SPRING 2019 PRIZE CROSSWORD ENTRY FORM Fill in your details below when sending in your crossword competition entry. See above for details of our address. NAME ADDRESS
POST CODE TELEPHONE
Try the fiendishly tricky numbers puzzle – it’s just for fun
FOR THE ROYAL MARSDEN
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7 5 9 1 5 7 9 1 3 6 7 4 8 1 3 7 6 4 6 8 1 7 3 5 6 4
Send your crossword with your name and contact details to RM, PR and Communications Team, The Royal Marsden, Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW3 6JJ. The entry closing date is Friday 3 May 2019. See below for prize draw rules.
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THE TEAM
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The lucky winner of our prize crossword will receive a £50 John Lewis & Partners gift card.
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SUDOKU
CROSSWORD CLUES Across 1 Animal (3,8) 6 Metal (3) 7 Word formed by rearranging letters of another (7) 8 Mollusc (5) 9 Transport (5) 11 Use money (5) 13 Domineering (5) 15 The act of reaching a destination (7) 16 Edible tuber (3) 17 Not at the back of the house (5,6)
Down 1 Assigns a standard or value (5) 2 Old comic-book character (3,4) 3 Bird (5) 4 Not suitable (5) 5 Fruit (5) 10 Run away (7) 11 Employees (5) 12 Crane on a ship (5) 13 Lightweight wood (5) 14 Long for (5)
PRIZE DRAW TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. The Prize Draw is open to all readers of RM except employees of the Press Office at The Royal Marsden and Sunday, who produce RM magazine. 2. The closing date for receipt of all entries is Friday 3 May 2019. Only one entry per person per draw. 3. Responsibility cannot be accepted for entries that are incomplete, illegible or not received. Proof of posting is not proof of receipt. No cash alternative is available and prizes are not transferable. Value of prize is correct at time of going to press. 4. Winners will be notified by post within 14 days of closing date.
5. The Promoter’s decision on any aspect of the promotions is final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into. 6. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should circumstances make this necessary. 7. Entry implies acceptance of rules. 8. The winner of the crossword prize of a £50 John Lewis & Partners gift card will be the first correct entry drawn out of the bag. 9. The Promoter is The Royal Marsden, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ.
Rachael Reeve Director of Marketing and Communications Elaine Parr Head of PR and Communications Abby Samuel PR and Communications Manager Catherine O’Mara Senior PR and Communications Officer Hannah Bransden Senior PR and Communications Officer Jack Stonebridge Senior PR and Communications Officer Orla Anandarajah PR and Communications Assistant
FOR SUNDAY Marc Grainger Editor Mark Wheeler Art Director Sian Purdy Designer Gill Tait Account Director Richard Robinson Group Editor Matt Beaven Creative Director Toby Smeeton Managing Director RM magazine is published by The Royal Marsden in partnership with Sunday: wearesunday.com © The Royal Marsden 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission of the Editor. The Royal Marsden and Sunday accept no responsibility for the views expressed by contributors to the magazine. Repro by F1 Colour. Printed by Pureprint.
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S TAY I N T O U C H
COMMENT, LIKE, SHARE Join the conversation on Twitter @royalmarsden and @royalmarsdenNHS Facebook @royalmarsden, @royalmarsdenchelsea and @royalmarsdensutton Instagram @royalmarsden Twitter
Paul Mitchell @PaulMitchSport Now 3 years clear of cancer and returned with our “against all odds” baby Stanley [right]. Thanks to @NHSuk and @royalmarsden and my Tanya. #checkyourballs Shiona Ramage @shomelanoma Happy Monday scan results good after an anxious scanxiety weekend never gets any easier. Big thank you to the amazing #Melanoma team at @royalmarsden #skincancer #livingwithcancer
The Apple Tree @TheAppleTree10 @royalmarsden Every visit to the Royal Marsden gave my dad hope, I remember every visit we made during his battle with @ProstateUK He fought like the brave soldier he was. #gratitude #mydad #ThankYou I will not let this next gen suffer!!
John Fisher Music We gathered quite a crowd on Saturday as people began their Christmas shopping We got lots of positive comments about singing and how smart we looked in our performance attire We raised money for The Royal Marsden Hospital who do such good work for those suffering from cancer. Libby Pink Amazing amazing place and so glad my big bro Robin Butler is under the care of the best team and environment in the world who will help him beat this horrific disease!
Instagram OSCARS GIFT @oscarsgift The Royal Marsden is where our son Oscar [above] is under care. This was taken in Feb 2017 during Oscar’s treatment for a Wilms Tumour. It’s an amazing hospital and I can’t thank the staff there enough for all they have done to save Oscar’s life.
CONTACT US CALL THE ROYAL MARSDEN, CHELSEA
020 7352 8171
CALL THE ROYAL MARSDEN, SUTTON
CONTACT THE ROYAL MARSDEN HELP CENTRE For confidential chat, support and information, call
020 8642 6011
0800 783 7176
VISIT US ONLINE royalmarsden.nhs.uk
or visit royalmarsden.nhs.uk/your-care/ royal-marsden-help-centre
WANT TO WORK AT THE ROYAL MARSDEN? Visit jobs.royalmarsden.nhs.uk READ RM MAGAZINE ONLINE royalmarsden.nhs.uk/rm-magazine
For general feedback, compliments, concerns or complaints, send us a message royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ contact-us/get-in-touch
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE ROYAL MARSDEN CANCER CHARITY CALL US
020 7808 2233 EMAIL US charity@royalmarsden.org VISIT US ONLINE royalmarsden.org Registered Charity No. 1095197
Look out for the summer 2019 issue of RM – coming June 2019 RM magazine 31
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Spinnaker Tower abseil 4 May
London to Brighton cycle ride
Royal Parks half marathon
15 September
13 October
Up for a challenge? We have many exhilarating events for you to take on, from cycling, trekking and running, to parachute jumping and abseiling. Every pound you raise will ensure our expert nurses, doctors and research teams can provide patients with the very best care and develop life-saving treatments. Find out more at royalmarsden.org/challenge
Registered Charity No. 1095197
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