Royal Surrey Charity Matters: supporter magazine - Autumn 2020

Royal Surrey

Autumn/winter 2020-21

Charity Matters The support we’ve received has definitely helped us through.

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Closer to Care update Page 7

Lockdown challengers Supporter newsletter

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News in brief...

Hello!

Welcome to the autumn/winter edition of your magazine.

At the end of March, realising the impact coronavirus would have on our NHS and the incredible frontline staff working within it, we launched our Covid-19 emergency appeal. Its aim was to support staff health and wellbeing at a particularly stressful and busy time.

We could not have predicted the outpouring of love and support from the local community that was to follow, and we are immensely grateful to each and every one of you who donated or contacted us during this time. As we adapt to a different way of working, we are so pleased and thankful to have a stronger network to help us reach our goal of transforming care across South West Surrey, and beyond.

From all of us in the team, and across the hospital: thank you.

As our loyal supporters, we wanted you to be the first to know and to give you a sneak peak of our new name and updated logo – over the next few months, we will officially become Royal Surrey Charity; a name that reflects our wider work supporting not only the Guildford hospital, but also our patients out in the community who receive care at Haslemere, Cranleigh and Milford hospitals. Our logo has been updated to incorporate this new identity and you will begin to see it being used in our charity materials soon.

We hope you enjoy this issue, which covers just some of the ways you are helping to support patients and staff at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust.

Community shows their support for supermarket schemes We’re thrilled to have received donations from local Waitrose & Partners’ stores and Co-op’s Local Causes initiative. The money will make a difference to the work we can do to support young people with cancer and patients with dementia who are treated at the hospital.

Thank you to the superstores and to the community for choosing the charity to benefit from the schemes.

Alternative Shoebox Appeal Due to Coronavirus, we sadly cannot accept donations of shoeboxes this year, for those spending Christmas in hospital.

We are in the process of planning an alternative appeal to help spread some festive cheer, and we can’t wait to share news with you soon.

Happy reading!

Dave Smith Interim Head of Fundraising

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For updates, please visit: rschcharity.org.uk/shoebox

Thank you...

SC Johnson for donating £6,000 to support our Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Service (TYAC). The company has generously given an amazing £26,575 over the past few years.

You can read more about TYAC and the support it provides to young people with cancer on page 8.

The icing on the cake Our friends at Butter and Cream Cakes donated £1,740 last year and we are delighted that the bakery continues to support the charity.

Earlier in the year, they provided thousands of delicious sweet treats for staff working through the pandemic.

Thank you to all local caterers who donated their time and resources to support our amazing NHS staff when they needed it most.

Read how this support made a difference to staff member Louise on page 4.

Helping parents cope with loss

Read more about how your donations make an impact on pages 6-7.

Olivia, Callum and their four-month-old daughter visited the hospital earlier in the year to present our maternity department with a ‘cuddle cot’ they’d fundraised for: a cooling unit that helps preserve the bodies of stillborn babies, or babies who die shortly after birth, giving parents longer to say goodbye.

Olivia raised the money for the charity in memory of her son, Baillie, who sadly died in 2018. The family also kindly donated six memory boxes to the hospital, to support families dealing with the loss of a baby.

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Feature: Staff story

How your donations are making an impact “It’s hard to put into words how grateful we feel.”

Protective Equipment (PPE) and it was hard to get to grips with caring for patients with a respiratory problem that there was very little knowledge about.

Wearing PPE is so unpleasant, especially in hot weather: the plastic gowns make you feel very hot and sweaty; wearing the masks feels like you’re constantly breathing in hot air; and the visors give you a headache if you have to wear them for a long time. When you leave a patient’s room and take all the kit off, it is such a relief – especially when you remove the mask, breathing cool fresh air feels like such a luxury!

Nurse and mother-oftwo, Louise Miller, has worked at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust for eight years, since first qualifying. Here, she shares her insight into what it’s been like working during the pandemic, and how your support has made a difference.

My role has changed greatly in the past few months.

The team on Compton Ward where I work, have gone from working on a fast-paced surgical ward with a very high turnover of patients, to a Covid-19 ward, where the

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patients are all very unwell and in need of a lot of very close monitoring. The type of care we give could not be more different, but my amazing team adapted so quickly and really hit the ground running.

The unknown When the virus first hit the UK, I felt pretty nervous – especially when we were told that our ward would be the first to take suspected Covid-19 patients. It was challenging, especially to start with: the guidance was changing daily for things like Personal

It felt very strange when lockdown started; suddenly the hospital went from being so busy to being a complete ghost town. Thankfully all the doctors and nurses on Compton Ward have kept such a positive attitude throughout the whole pandemic. Seeing some of our colleagues and caring for them whilst they’re battling through Covid-19 has been very difficult. When something like that happens to someone you know, it really makes you realise how awful this virus is and how much devastation it has caused to so many families.

I have two young boys at home, my husband is also a key worker, and we really struggled during lockdown

Louise with her husband, Stuart, and their sons Henry, 2, and Oliver, 4.

with childcare. For most of lockdown, we were rotating childcare and didn’t really see each other at all, other than when we were both exhausted at the end of a long day at work. Luckily my sons are only two and four so they haven’t been too aware of what’s going on, but my eldest had a lot of anxiety around ‘the horrible illness’. Now normal life is resuming a little and he’s back at nursery he seems to be a bit less anxious about it all, thankfully.

A sense of community Despite it all, the support we’ve received from the community has been amazing. We’re all so grateful to each and every person who has supported the charity’s Covid-19 appeal. It has made such a difference to all of the staff and patients here at the hospital.

The tablets that the charity funded, thanks to your donations, have really helped patients who were unable to see loved ones, stay connected with those back home. Having no visitors in the hospital has meant that patients have often felt very isolated, especially those with coronavirus who are in isolation rooms: the tablets have meant that their loved ones can see them, and it can help settle their worries too.

The ‘clap for our carers’ definitely kept morale high and was a real boost when a lot of us were struggling. We were overwhelmed by the donations from individuals and local

businesses – we can’t believe how generous people have been and all the gifts have been so gratefully received. The readyprepared meals were an absolute godsend for so many of us and helped make sure we had a hot meal every day, as many of us – after a 12 and a half hour shift – would be too exhausted to cook.

It’s hard to put into words how grateful we feel: none of us ever thought we’d be working through a pandemic; but the support we’ve received has definitely helped us through.

Follow Louise on Instagram: @themummymiller Helpful ready-prepared meals for frontline staff.

Covid-19 emergency appeal In just a few months, close to £300,000 has been raised to support frontline workers – like Louise – in the fight against the virus. Thank you for your incredible support.

Read more about our Covid-19 appeal on the next page or online at: rschcharity.org.uk/covid-19

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The difference you make

Where your money goes Here are some of the projects your donations have funded...

Tech connects parents and their premature babies during lockdown that time. It meant we could access photos and information throughout the day via the app. Some days, we’d wake up and there’d be a video of Alba to watch – and that was really special to see how she had been doing in the night. She changed such a lot in those first days – you could see her getting healthier each day – and so it was great to record that and to be

Last November, we launched a video messaging service to help reduce separation anxiety for parents of premature or sick babies. The technology, called vCreate, allows nurses to record and upload video diaries, which parents can then access when they are away from the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), helping to reassure them of their child’s wellbeing. vCreate has been especially vital in helping families feel connected during the coronavirus outbreak, where visits to the unit have been limited to only one parent.

Manuel Diaz became a father to baby Alba (pictured here) at the peak of the virus back in April. Alba was born at 35 weeks and had to spend two weeks in special care.

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After seeing Alba briefly, Manuel was unable to visit due to Covid. He told us:

Thank able to watch it, especially as I couldn’t be there in person.

Having a baby in special care at any time is difficult, but it’s been especially hard during this pandemic. You feel bad because you can’t be there but at the same time, you’re not allowed to be there and you’re worried because of the virus as well. It was really hard – knowing your baby is at the hospital and not being able to visit. It was difficult not to be with her every minute and know how she was doing. vCreate really helped during

Funding for the service was possible thanks to a donation from video games developer, Fireproof Studios. Thanks to our emergency appeal, we’re thrilled to have been able to purchase a second iPad for the unit, so more families like Manuel, Elvira and Alba can benefit at this challenging time.

Baby Alba spent two weeks in special care.

Dementia patients benefit from RITA Thanks to your support, a programme called RITA is helping patients with dementia. The Reminiscence Interactive Therapy and Activities technology (RITA) can be accessed via a tablet and has a range of interactive activities and entertainment designed to relax and distract patients. This can help reduce agitation and confusion, and aid reminiscence.

Kendal Strong, who works with patients with dementia at the hospital, told us:

RITA is always being used by our patients and is in great demand. The memory clips are a great talking point. We watch programmes like ‘The Generation Game’, ‘Are You Being Served?’ and ‘Dad’s Army’. It gets patients talking and laughing and can also encourage people on the ward to talk and connect. The patients’ benefit so much from having a device like this and we are so grateful to the charity and to everyone who donated to the appeal and made it possible.

Staff member Kendal Strong.

Closer to Care update

you!

Your donations have funded: Around 45,000 nutritious meals and snacks over 16 weeks for staff working long shifts.

40 tablets to help staff and patients stay connected with their loved ones at home.

Refreshments between shifts and space for staff to take a socially distanced break.

Health and wellbeing initiatives at this difficult time.

We have received such amazing support for our Closer to Care campaign, which aims to transform care for premature and sick babies, and their families.

Your incredible generosity has meant work has started on the unit – providing the space needed for parents to be able

to stay overnight, next to their babies’ cots. We are so close to reaching our £500,000 goal, with less than £50,000 left to raise. With your help, we are looking forward to crossing the finish line and opening the new unit very soon.

Supporting frontline staff Your extraordinary response to our Covid-19 appeal has meant we have been able to support staff at this extremely challenging time.

But our support doesn’t end there. We are working closely with staff to ensure the projects that are funded will support their health and wellbeing for years to come.

Planning is underway to create a green space at our Guildford site, as well as improve current spaces at our hospitals in the community, so staff have access to a relaxing area to

take a break. We are also setting up dedicated health and wellbeing funds for each of our wards and departments, to help ease some of the pressures and anxiety many have experienced during these past few months.

Alongside your generous donations, we are also incredibly grateful for all the gifts to the hospital from local companies, including food and toiletries. These have been very much appreciated by staff.

To receive all our latest news straight to your inbox, sign up for our e-newsletter.

Visit rschcharity.org.uk or email rsc-tr.fundraising@nhs.net.

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Feature: Supporter story

‘Unforgettable’: James’ tribute supports young people with cancer

James and his girlfriend Hannah on a trip to New York.

When James Harry Taylor sadly died on 30 September last year aged just 19, his family set up a tribute fund in his memory to raise money for our Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Service (TYAC).

Messages and donations poured in and an incredible £12,444 was raised to support young people living with and beyond cancer.

Here his dad and step-mum, Mark and Janine, share their story and explain why they wanted to support the charity.

TYAC is a unique nurse-led team, who loved, supported and cared for James beyond our expectations. They also gave us as a family, including James’ girlfriend Hannah, care, advice and support through the toughest times.

They laughed with us and

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cried with us. James felt like they were almost family and when we needed them most in his final hours, they supported us. They came to our home and supported James’ every need. To know he was not in pain and was calm while they were there was a huge comfort, at such a horrible time.

James was just 16 when he first found a lump at the back of his knee and he was later diagnosed with Myxoid Variant Epithelioid Sarcoma, an exceptionally rare type of cancer. After an initial course of radiotherapy treatment, his right leg above his knee was amputated to try to stop the spread of the cancer. James had an incredibly strong character and we knew this would not hold him back: he was up walking with crutches within four days so he could

leave the hospital, which was a huge testament to him.

Before his diagnosis, James had been a golf scholar at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey.

He really loved playing at the golf tournaments around Surrey. We thought he’d never play again but, such was his determination, when he was asked to play at a charity tournament eight months later he came second place out of 50 plus able-bodied people.

Everyone was in awe of his achievement that day. He was the most determined person we knew and he never let the fact that he only had one leg hold him back. He lived life to the fullest and never complained.

The TYAC team made the whole process so much more bearable for him and for all of us as a family: they

made time for James and really looked after him. Anything James wanted; they helped facilitate. They gave him some control back over his cancer – asking what he wanted and how they could help, which made a real difference to him. He trusted them so much and he was totally relaxed when he was with them.

Heartbreakingly, removing his leg and the treatment he’d received wasn’t enough to stop the cancer from progressing and, less than two years after his amputation, James passed away at home.

When James was dying, the team came over on the Sunday – their day off – to make him comfortable. As soon as they arrived, he relaxed a bit. They just knew him and what he needed: they were absolutely lovely with him.

James with his dad, Mark.

We can never repay their kindness but we wanted to do something to thank them.

Shortly after James died, we set up a tribute page to raise as much money as possible in his memory, instead of people sending flowers. We wanted this money to provide special days and memories for other young people going through what James went through, making it a little bit more bearable.

We were so touched at how many people donated. James would have been so honoured that so much was raised and to know he would be helping others with the same diagnosis.

To donate in memory of a loved one or to set up a tribute fund, visit rschcharity.org.uk/donate-in-memory or call 01483 464146.

Kate Silver works as a Youth Worker for the service and met James in November 2018. She told us: It was a real learning curve for us working with James because he was the first patient who didn’t want to talk about his prognosis at all. James’s mum died from cancer just a few years before his diagnosis. The first time James ever said the word ‘cancer’ to me was around three weeks before he died and so, as a team, we had to support him in quite a unique way.

We were blown away by how much was raised and are very grateful to Mark and Janine for choosing TYAC. The money raised in James’ memory has left a fantastic legacy to support other young people.

James is unforgettable. I was so lucky to have met and supported him; he taught me so much. I feel very privileged to do this job and to meet people like James, his family and his girlfriend.

Claire Palles-Clark, Lead Nurse for TYAC, added: We are very grateful to James’ family and friends for donating such an amazing amount of money, which will be used to develop further services for young people with cancer locally. James was a wonderfully inspiring young man who was clear about the way that he wanted to deal with his diagnosis and treatment. He taught the TYAC team a lot about respecting patient wishes and the unique needs of young people with cancer.

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Thank you

Extraordinary people doing extraordinary things We are lucky to have some truly incredible supporters doing amazing things to raise money. Here are just a few examples of how you have gone above and beyond recently.

Belle’s Ball

Isabelle Steer was born almost eight weeks prematurely and was cared for in our Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). After three weeks in SCBU, Isabelle was discharged, but tragically, she died when she was just five and a half months old, in March 2019.

Earlier this year, her family organised a Valentine’s Ball in her memory and raised over £10,000 for our Closer to Care campaign. Isabelle’s family said: Losing Isabelle has left

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a huge hole in all of our lives, and she is missed terribly by us all. We wanted something positive to come from something so heartbreaking, so decided to hold ‘Belle’s Ball’.

The pain of losing Isabelle has been unbearable, but doing something for such a worthy cause will help her memory live on.

Read an update on Closer to Care on page 7.

Thank you to the incredible Steer family, and to everyone who supported Belle’s Ball.

Isabelle’s legacy will transform care for premature and sick babies treated at the hospital.

Such great heights works as a registrar at Royal Surrey, and was the reason the pair took on the challenge.

As Elaine explained: “We wanted to support the hospital and thank all the frontline staff for the amazing work they were doing. Our NHS, and all the people who work within it, is wonderful: they are all truly remarkable people.”

The team from Simon Merrony Architects.

Staff from an architects’ firm in West London went to great heights to support our amazing frontline workers, by setting themselves an incredibly tough target: to virtually climb the 30 tallest buildings in the world – in just 30 days. The team of four from Simon Merrony Architects climbed over 100,000 steps between them and raised an impressive £3,248.

Elaine and Simon Merrony’s daughter, India,

Elaine continued: “We wanted the challenge to reflect our love of architecture, and while it felt fairly easy to begin with – as the days went on and the number of steps increased, the challenge became much more difficult.

The motivation to keep going was the knowledge that frontline workers have no choice about continuing their work every day and in comparison to the horrors they were dealing with on a daily basis, our challenge was insignificant. The most memorable moment was on the last day when we virtually climbed the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, in Hampton Court.

To all be together to complete the last challenge was absolutely lovely.”

Huge thanks to Simon and Elaine, as well as team members Helen Ayton-Bridger and Sam Gill for your inspiring support.

Lockdown challengers

You ran, swam, cycled, shaved your heads, organised virtual events, held tabletop sales, took photos, and more for charity: there really was no limit to your creativity. While we don’t have the space to thank you all individually here, we are in awe of your dedication and are so thankful to each and every one of you for supporting us when we needed you most.

See more of these inspiring stories at: rschcharity.org.uk/news or get involved at: rschcharity.org.uk/fundraise

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Your support transforms lives:

thank you.

If you’d like to make a donation or find out more about how you can help, we’d love to hear from you.

01483 464146

RSC-TR.FUNDRAISING@NHS.NET

RSCHCHARITY.ORG.UK/DONATE

You can also write to us at: Fundraising Department Royal Surrey County Hospital Egerton Road Guildford GU7 2XX Follow us on social media and stay up-to-date with all our latest news: @royalsurreycharity

@royalsurreycharity

@RSCHCharity

Registered charity no. 1049776