AND PLUS - University College London Hospitals

Inside Story
Wellcome award for Eastman scientist – page 3
AND
Brain tumour unit opens – pages 4 & 5
PLUS
UCLH consultants help in earthquake rescue – page 6
Inside Story is the UCLH staff magazine

news
Healthcare assistant named Apprentice of the Year
She’s enthusiastic, hard working and
conscientious – just the kind of traits to
impress Lord Alan Sugar in the
boardroom. But even though the NHS
London awards ceremony was not in
the same league as the TV show, it
proved just as exciting.
“I feel so honoured – hopefully it will
open doors for me and give me the
confidence to learn more and progress
more,” said Carla Jivraj who works in
the GI physiology unit at The
Rosenheim.
The London NHS Apprenticeship
awards were presented by Tim
Campbell (pictured right with Carla),
former winner of the BBC show The
Apprentice and chief executive of The
Bright Ideas Trust (a charity to help
young people turn ideas into a
business).
Carla, who won the over-25 category,
was nominated by Dr Amanda
Raeburn. She described Carla as an
integral member of the team who helps
ensure the GI Physiology unit runs
smoothly.
As part of the
apprenticeship scheme,
Carla completed eight
evidence-based
modules for which she
was awarded the NVQ
Health and Social Care
level 3, as well an
apprenticeship scheme
certificate. She said
Jane Connor, HCA
development nurse,
offered her guidance
and support
throughout.
The NHS
Apprenticeship Scheme
offers participants the
chance to achieve
nationally recognised qualifications
whilst working. There are 800 NHS
London apprentices across a range of
career areas.
The London NHS Apprentice Awards
were held by NHS London in
Tim Campbell with Carla Jivraj
partnership with the Greater London
Authority.
Managers who are interested in
introducing an apprenticeship
programme for their staff should
contact Marita Brown, head of training
and development.
NHS Pensions Choice
– are you eligible?
If you were aged under
50 on 1 October 2009
and joined the NHS
before 1 April
2008 then you might
be eligible for the NHS
Pensions Choice
scheme.
Staff who qualify
should have received
an information pack. If you are eligible, did not receive
a pack and are interested in finding out more, please
contact the Trust pensions department, on ext 79547.
For further guidance contact the NHS Pensions
helpdesk on 0300 123 1601 or visit their website at:
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions
Please note that transferring your pension is a
personal decision; UCLH and NHS Pensions are
unable to give financial advice.
This project is not related to the Hutton Report, which
reviewed public service pension provision, which was
published on 10 March.
Phone number changes
underway across UCLH
A major project is underway
which will see all phone
numbers change across the
Trust between April and
September this year.
The next big milestone will be
at the Eastman Dental Hospital
on April 17 when:
The new EDH number will
become 020 3456 7899
All existing four-digit EDH
extensions change to fivedigits
by adding the number
6 (ext 1111 would become
61111)
Staff must add 020 345 to
the start of the EDH
extension number to create
the full telephone number
(eg 020 3456 1111)
The emergency telephone
number at the EDH will
change to 62222
Earlier this month (March), all
staff with four digit extension
numbers that begin with a '9'
had their internal and external
numbers altered.
Please see the project page on
Insight for more information
about how to work out new
numbers and a timetable of
changes for other sites across
the Trust.
Posters will be available to
display in appropriate areas
and leaflets will also be
produced. For more information
contact John McGhee, project
manager, on ext 75135.
Contact Us
If you have any information you would like included in Inside Story, or on the Trust intranet
site Insight, contact: Communications Unit, 2nd Floor Central, 250 Euston Road, London
NW1 2PG. Email: communications@uclh.nhs.uk, Tel: ext 9897, Fax: ext 9401.
Front cover: Bacteria – by
Derren Ready, clinical scientist.
(Story on page 3)
2

news
Future leaders – sign up here
If you think you’ve got the talent and
tenacity to become an NHS leader of
the future, signing up for the graduate
management training programme
could be the first rung to success. It is
now recruiting applicants for the 2011
intake.
UCLH helps nurture a number of
rising stars each year as part of the
graduate programme, which includes
on-the-job experience and the chance
to gain invaluable educational
qualifications. It’s also a great way to
develop an impressive network of
professional contacts. Applicants
need a 2.2 degree or equivalent in
any subject.
Trainees include Katie Lahiffe who
beat off stiff competition from around
12,000 applicants. She is currently
undertaking her second year
placement at the Trust as a trainee
manager in HR, as well as studying
for her Masters degree in HR
management at Middlesex University.
Katie said: “It’s a great scheme and
offers amazing opportunities for
personal and professional
development and exposes you to a
wealth of practical experience.”
Although the application process can
be tough lengthy, Katie says it is
absolutely worth the effort.
“Graduate trainees are a
tradition at UCLH.
Colleagues make sure
opportunities are
available to you – and it’s
up to you to seize them!”
Graduate trainees Jitesh Sudera and Katie Lahiffe
personal skills to excel in whichever
area you eventually decide to
specialise in.”
Continual assessment, training days
and assignments are part of the
scheme. “It can be tough to study after
a full day at work- but the rewards are
Award for creative scientist
worth it.” said Jitesh.
Visit the following websites if you want
some more information about the
scheme: www.institute.nhs.uk or
www.nhsgraduates.co.uk, or email
Marita Brown, head of training and
development.
Derren Ready, a clinical scientist from the Microbiology department at the
Eastman Dental Hospital, has won a Wellcome Image award for his colourenhanced
photomicrograph of a species of bacteria that cause dental plaque.
The Wellcome Image Awards recognise the creators of informative, striking
and technically excellent images. Derren’s image, plus those of a further 20
other winners are on display at the Wellcome Collection until 10 July 2011.
Manchester University graduate Jitesh
Sudera is currently working as a
management accountant for the
cancer division, ensuring accurate
financial reporting.
Jitesh said: “Graduate trainees are a
tradition at UCLH. Colleagues make
sure opportunities are available to you
– and it’s up to you to seize them! It’s
not just about finance, the 360 degree
approach ensures you appreciate all
aspects of the NHS. The training arms
you with the right management and
3

NHNN brain tumour unit
Brain tumour unit opens
The NHS took a major step forward in
improving the care of patients with
brain cancer after the NHNN opened
the country's first dedicated brain
tumour unit.
The National Brain Appeal (formerly
the National Hospital Development
Foundation), the charity that supports
the hospital by funding clinical posts,
cutting edge technology, infrastructure
and research, has invested a total of
£2.5 million in the unit and brain cancer
service.
Dr Jeremy Rees, clinical lead for the
unit said, "The Molly Lane Fox Unit, as
it will be known, will enable us to
provide more rapid assessment and
treatment as well as concentrating the
multidisciplinary expertise available to
our patients in one place. Through the
generosity of the Lane Fox family and
their friends and relatives, together
with the support of The National Brain
Appeal who have done so much to
raise the vital funds, the dream of
being able to care for brain tumour
patients in this unique environment has
now become a reality.”
Every day at least 20 people in the UK
are diagnosed with a brain tumour. The
brain tumour unit and its pioneering
team of specialist doctors, nurses,
therapists and researchers will pave
the way for breakthroughs in the
treatment and understanding of the
disease for the benefit of anyone
affected in the UK.
Some of the brain tumour unit team
Patients will benefit from rapid
assessment and treatment thanks to
the dedicated unit and multidisciplinary
team – all specialists in brain tumours.
The 12-bed inpatient and assessment
unit will provide support for patients,
families and carers while they are in
hospital and after they are discharged.
Work on clinical trials and research into
tumours also forms a fundamental part
of the work carried out by the team.
The hospital’s comprehensive brain
cancer service has developed
significantly over the past three years,
with key clinical and research staff
recruited with the help of the charity.
Patients at the brain tumour unit will
also benefit from other recent charity
supported investments such as the
latest MRI scanning equipment in the
hospital’s neuroimaging suite and the
interventional MRI operating theatre.
Some of the nursing staff, plus ward domestics and the ward clerk at the brain tumour unit
Elaine Hill, clinical brain tumour unit manager and
Jeremy Rees, clinical lead to the unit
4

NHNN brain tumour unit
Ron’s journey
What better way to thank the hospital which
saved your life than embarking on mammoth
treks across foreign lands to raise funds for a
new inpatient unit.
That’s precisely what Ron Gainsford, OBE, did
after he was treated at the NHNN for a brain
tumour which was first identified in 2003.
Following two successful operations at the
hands of NHNN neurosurgeon Michael Powell
– one in 2003 and another in 2010 when his
tumour returned – Ron wanted to give
something back.
During his time at the NHNN the 60-year-old
father of four said he had always been struck
by how much the staff genuinely cared for their
patients.
So when he heard about the work of The
National Brain Appeal which was organising a
trek to Nepal, he saw it as the perfect
opportunity to show his gratitude and
appreciation. This was back in 2004 and he
was joined on the trek by his surgeon, Michael,
and many other NHNN staff members. Ron
followed this up with treks to Patagonia and
Ecuador, raising around £17,500 in total.
Looking back on the last seven years Ron
said: “Out of bad comes a lot of good. I have
been to places and done things I never
expected to and had great experiences.
"This July I am setting off on my latest
challenge, an arctic tour with my motorbike!”
Theresa Dauncey, chief executive of The
National Brain Appeal, said: "There is a real
and pressing need for more research and
investment into understanding and treating
brain cancer. We hope the public will continue
to donate to this vital work and we urge people
to be ‘brain aware’ and note the symptoms.
Severe headaches, fits, unexplained
numbness, vision, speech or concentration
problems could all be signs of a tumour."
Unit named after Molly
The new brain tumour unit was named after Molly
Lane Fox (pictured) who died from an inoperable
brain tumour aged just five.
In November 2007, what appeared to be an
innocent cough took a sinister turn. Molly
started to have headaches which were
relieved by being sick. On December 10 she
was diagnosed with a diffuse pontine glioma
– a malignant tumour that needs a million
cells to see it and once you can see it, it’s
too late.
Oliver and Hatty Lane Fox said: “Nothing
prepares you for a shock like this. Or
for the prognosis that the tumour is
inoperable, chemotherapy is
ineffective and the steroids and
radiotherapy may buy a little precious
time but no more.”
Oliver and Hatty described Molly’s
medical and palliative support as
‘superb’ but found that clinical trials
into brain tumours were few and far
between in the UK. Specialists in
brain tumours work out of different
hospitals and there was no
dedicated service on one site.
They were inspired to support the fundraising
efforts of The National Brain Appeal to fill this
gap and provide hope for patients in a similar
position.
“It was heartbreaking to watch our
beautiful angel decline slowly while
this terrible disease took its toll.
Eventually she died peacefully at
home, just seven months after
being diagnosed,” said Oliver
and Hatty.
Molly's Fund, the charity set
up in her memory, has now
raised over £600,000 for The
National Brian Appeal with
pledges of over £120,000 to
come.
Oliver and Hatty added: “We feel
passionately that nobody should go
through what this little person endured.
Brain cancer in the UK is woefully under
funded and under researched. It is time
something was done to change that. The
new Molly Lane Fox Unit will transform the
treatment of brain cancer in this country.”
5

interview
6
Consultants help rescue operation amid New Zealand devastation
Professor Tony Mundy and Mr Julian Shah talk to Elke Tullett
Two of our consultant surgeons aided
rescue workers following the
earthquake which devastated
Christchurch in New Zealand.
The hotel in which Professor Tony
Mundy and Julian Shah were based
was seriously damaged following the
disaster which claimed more than 160
lives last month.
Their passports, clothes, laptops,
tickets and credit cards still remain
buried inside the remains of the
Crowne Plaza hotel where they were
staying for a prestigious conference.
But they were among the lucky ones.
And their medical expertise proved
invaluable as part of the rescue
operation that followed.
When the shock tremor struck at
12.51pm on Tuesday February 22 they
had left the hotel and were waiting for
the afternoon session of the Australian
and New Zealand Urological
Association Conference to begin.
“We had just finished lunch when there
was a noise like an underground train
coming towards us, everything began
to shake, glass shattered … we were
all thrown to the ground,” said
Professor Mundy, UCLH’s corporate
medical director.
“After several minutes, we stumbled
out of the building and very soon after
made a conscious decision to do
whatever we could to help those who
were injured. No one was any great
hero – everyone did what they could to
help.”
Prof Mundy and Mr Shah separated
and headed towards the nearby
cathedral square which bore the brunt
of the devastation.
Some of the devastation in New Zealand
Julian Shah in New Zealand
Prof Mundy helped free several people
buried under collapsed buildings and
assessed those in need of urgent
treatment. He also reassured others
who were hysterical or bloodied but
not suffering from serious injuries.
Prof Mundy added: “Some were
stumbling around with dramaticlooking
injuries which were not serious
and I was able to tell them not to
worry. With others it was too late –
there was nothing I could do to help
them.”
“I helped put a drip in
the woman’s arm using
the light from my
mobile phone.”
Meanwhile, Mr Shah was
commandeered by rescue crews to
provide medical help to a woman
trapped in a nearby building.
He said: “We walked up three floors in
the darkness and then the stairs
stopped – there was nothing. The
woman had two big beams lying
across her. I could see that her arm
was broken and I said ‘don’t worry –
we’ll get you out’. Then there were a
couple of tremors and the building
shook and, at that point, it was scary.“
The woman was brought down in a
rescue crane and taken to hospital
accompanied by Mr Shah.
“There was a power cut and everyone
was milling around. I helped put a drip
in the woman’s arm using the light
from my mobile phone.
“People were saying we were heroes
and although I wouldn’t go that far,
both Tony and I did our best – we
didn’t shirk from trying to help.”
The next few days passed in a bit of a
Prof Tony Mundy
blur against a backdrop of 300 more
earthquake shocks. The last two days
of the conference were cancelled and
acquaintances offered Tony, Julian and
other conference delegates a place to
sleep. “The hotel was badly
damaged…everything I own on this
trip is buried under rubble.”
Despite the traumatic experience, Tony
was determined to continue with his
plans to undertake surgery at the
Tauranga Hospital on the North Island.
It was there that I finally caught up with
him – to talk to him about his
experiences.

our trust
Enjoying art
Older patients at UCH have been
reaping the benefits of an art project
that includes drawing, painting and
model making.
The weekly art workshops are a
team effort with the nursing and
occupational therapy staff identifying
patients that are able to attend a
group session and those who might
enjoy working from their beds.
The group workshops have a strong
social element to them with patients
and their families working alongside
each other and led by artist Frances
Newman. Hospital librarian Wilma
Young chooses the topic for each
session and provides books.
Rebecca Maud, ward sister, played
a key role in setting up the art
sessions. She said: “Our patients
are often with us for long periods
and it is great to be abler to offer
them something to occupy the mind
and keep them busy. The popularity
of the workshops has been
wonderful and I am surprised at the
quality of the pieces that our
patients create.
“Observing the participants out of
their role as patient, in a social
setting, helps remind us that all of
our patients are individuals with their
own past and personality.”
Art workshops also take place at the
NHNN. They are funded by the
Friends of UCLH.
A UCLH patient takes part in a workshop
Patient care ‘improving’
The overall quality of care we provide is generally improving and
patients would recommend us to others, according to the provisional
inpatient survey results (2010).
Our hospitals scored higher in 26 survey questions compared to the
average of other hospitals including explanations to patients about
surgery, results and their condition; involvement in discharge
decisions and medication information. UCLH scored higher than
other London hospitals on 40 questions, including those relating to
clinical care and discharge information.
Seven areas were lower than the average
including:
Admissions
Quality of food
Non availability of hand gel
The quality of clinical information
given by nurses
Noise from other visitors/patients
Recognition for long serving staff
Nurses, scientists and porters are
among a host of staff who have been
honoured for their long service to
UCLH.
Twenty-eight members of staff were
presented with an engraved
Dartington Crystal glass bowl by
chairman Richard Murley.
Richard said: “I am delighted to see
the loyalty, commitment and hard
work that these members of staff
have exhibited in their long careers at
UCLH.
“It is the staff at UCLH who are in the
position to make a real difference to
patients and their outcomes – the
dedication shown by these staff
members is inspiring.”
Staff were encouraged to bring
guests to the reception held at the
UCH Education Centre and the
attendance of governors and trustees
ensured a celebration fitting for longserving
staff, some of whom have
worked for UCLH for almost 40 years.
The award and event were
sponsored by UCLH Charity.
7

the back page
Secret lives
When keen cellist and RLHIM
consultant physician Dr Saul Berkovitz
sidled up to a beautiful violinist, he
didn’t want to string her along. “Shall
we make music together?” he asked
bluntly.
And the direct approach plucked at the
strings of her heart. Not only did she
agree to play alongside him in the
Bloomsbury Chamber Orchestra, she
went on to marry him.
“I was a registrar and Nico was a junior
doctor at the Whittington and we hit it
off. We were later married in a town
hall in Italy and as she was walking up
the aisle I played a medieval fanfare on
my cello. I put it down, stood by her
side, we took our vows and then my
new wife picked up her violin to play
the ceremony out. I suppose it was
quite an unusual start to married life!”
Their love of music has been a
constant companion. “Nico is the more
talented musician. I’m a jobbing,
average player but I enjoy it. It’s
sociable and, as my wife is a south
London GP, it gives us something to
talk about other than the NHS!”
The couple plays classical music
together in string quartets and showstopping
numbers in musicals such as
Sweeney Todd, Chicago and Jekyll
and Hyde. Saul also sings and plays
pop and jazz covers alongside five
other cellists in his band Massive
Violins.
“The cello is the closest string
instrument to the human voice
and has the biggest range, from
very low to very high. It can make a
stunningly beautiful sound and is
solidly comforting to hold.”
As a nine-year-old boy, he begged
his father for cello lessons.
“The cello seemed a
boy’s instrument, big
and commanding.”
His father used to lock
himself in a room with
his son – to make him
practice every day.
“Bless him! I have a
lot to thank my father
for – so many people
start playing an
instrument but then
give it up. I think that’s a tragedy. My
life is unthinkable without the cello at
its heart.”
Archives
Harry Prior, pictured in the front hall of The Middlesex
Hospital in 1955, came to work at the hospital as a
messenger when he was just 14 years old. He rose up
through the ranks and became the head porter in 1943.
Althea Clarke, PA to the Eastman Dental Hospital clinical
director, took part in a CLIC Sargent abseil, 110ft down the
University College London building in Torrington Place.
Althea said: "The view was stunning and the abseil
awesome!". She raised £400 for Caring for Children and
for young people with cancer and their families.
8