Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Did you know that we host for one of seven National Liver Transplant Centres, providing all renal services for north central London?

We deliver around 230 liver and kidney transplants every year with excellent outcomes thanks to our brilliant teams.

Learn more 👇
https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/about-us/our-clinical-strategy-bringing-best-nhs-every-patient/group-clinical-priorities

Colleagues at the Royal Free Hospital recently held a stoma study day for staff on 7 north, 9 north and 9 west. Members of the colorectal cancer team and IBD also attended this event where staff could learn all about stomas and how to care for patient’s with a stoma.

A vaccine which protects against urine infections has helped a Royal Free Hospital patient to victory in the pool at this year’s annual transplant games.

Retired lawyer Hilary Gerlis, 76, came first in the over 70s freestyle 100m and 50m backstroke races at the games held in Nottingham earlier this month.

Following her kidney transplant in 2022, Hillary, from Wiltshire, started suffering from repeated and frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs). As a result, she was unable to do any exercise and lost 10kg.

As part of a study run by kidney consultant Professor Alan Salama, Hilary took the vaccine Uromune, last April and it helped turn her life around.

“I noticed the difference within a few weeks,” she said. “I thought, ‘I haven’t had an infection all month’. I started putting on weight and I am back riding my horse and swimming which meant I could compete in the transplant games.”

​​​​​​​Due to the immune suppressing medication that transplant patients take, they are vulnerable to UTIs and those with recurrent infections can spend an average of three extra days a year in hospital.

Persistent infections can lead to a loss of transplant function and may sometimes cause their new organ to fail.

In addition, because the treatment for urine and kidney infections is antibiotics, frequent use increases the chance of antibiotic-resistant bugs emerging.

But data from Professor Salama’s study has revealed that the number of infections could be cut dramatically thanks to the use of the vaccine.

It protects against the four most common bugs, which cause 95% of urine infection. As part of Professor Salama’s quality improvement project, a total of 21 people were given the vaccine, with 17 showing significant improvements in the number of infections.

Before having the vaccine, this cohort of patients had spent 78 days in hospital due to urine infections. Following the vaccine, there were just four days spent in hospital – the vast majority had not needed to come in at all.

Professor Salama said: “This vaccine has been available for a while, but one question we didn’t know was how well it would work in transplant patients who are taking immune-suppressing medication.

“But we’re really pleased that it has shown a dramatic improvement for this small number of patients who have received it.

“This vaccine is potentially hugely beneficial to patients as it will mean less time in hospital for them, and less time spent being unwell with an infection. It also has benefits in terms of reducing antibiotic resistance and in savings to the NHS as it will mean fewer patients needing hospital admissions.”

Professor Salama estimated that it could save the trust £32,000 per year, because of the reduction in hospital admissions. It will also mean beds becoming available for other patients who need to be in hospital.

He said the next step would be a larger study, involving patients from trusts across the country.

Hilary, who has a genetic condition called hereditary angiopathy with nephropathy, aneurysms and muscle cramps syndrome which damaged her kidneys over time, is now also planning a series of trips abroad, which wouldn’t have been possible without the vaccine.

She said: “This year I have been to Vienna, to Australia and to Denmark and in a few months’ time I’m going to Greenland – I was not well enough to do that before I had the vaccine.

“I would recommend it to other kidney transplant patients. Without doubt it’s made a huge difference to my life.”

Did you know that the first Wednesday of August is "changeover day"? This is the day that many junior doctors begin their postgraduate positions in NHS hospitals.

At the Royal Free London we are one of the largest providers of postgraduate medical education in the country, and this year we welcomed more than 200 new doctors across our sites.

We want to say thank you to the teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes to welcome the new cohort of junior doctors as they continue their educational journey.

We are proud of our strong tradition in educating and training both the future NHS workforce and our current staff and will continue to deliver our trust-wide objective of world class education.

Due to improvement works near the Barnet Hospital car park, patients, staff and visitors are advised to allow more time to travel to the hospital.

Buses which usually stop at the terminal next to Barnet Hospital on Wellhouse Lane will instead alight passengers on Wood Street

The discharge lounge at the Royal Free Hospital (RFH) has recently marked one year on from its refurbishment, and has reached many important milestones in that time.

The usage of the lounge has increased from an average daily attendance of nine patients per day to 31 patients per day, with 98% of patients having positive experiences with the service as reported through friends and family tests.

The lounge is staffed with two registered nurses, two health care assistants and an administrator who can help with transport bookings, new and existing.

There is a full a la carte menu available to patients to receive hot and cold meals, as well as a self-service snack station and a range of hot drinks available.

Kyle Harding, assistant operations manager, said patient feedback has been positive since the refurbishment.

“We have been really keen to ensure that despite seeing an increase in attendance, the patient experience remains positive,” Kyle said.

“Patients who used the lounge before the refurbishment could not believe how much it had improved, and lots are in agreement that our lounge is better than what you would find in most airport lounges!

“I encourage all staff to come and see the space for themselves and send your patients here when appropriate. Patients really prefer the discharge lounge over waiting on a ward environment.”

While the feedback from patients has been positive, the lounge has much more capacity.

“We have the capacity to see up to 26 patients which we can turn over every three to four hours,” Kyle explained.

Capacity ranges from high, mid and low back chairs, electronic reclining chairs, a dedicated bariatric electronic chair and a trolley space.

As well as the increased capacity of the lounge, the criteria of patient eligibility has also increased. The exclusion criteria for the discharge lounge now is any active respiratory infection, patients receiving end of life care and a patient under section or deprivation of liberties safeguards (DOLs).

If in doubt, it is always best to phone down and ask the lounge staff, Kyle says.

“If everyone makes a conscious effort to use the lounge, we can free up beds, help improve patient flow throughout the hospital and ensure a positive experience and environment for patients who are awaiting final elements of discharge," Kyle said.

Some GP services will be available over the bank holiday.

If you have a health concern, contact your GP practice or use NHS 111 online or call 111 for urgent medical help.

➡️ http://111.nhs.uk

Some pharmacies near you may have different opening hours over the bank holiday. To find an open pharmacy near you, click here 👇
https://nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy.

There is still time to book your place at our annual members’ meeting, which will be held on Tuesday 10 September from 6pm in the Atrium at the Royal Free Hospital.

This event is open to the public and those who are not members of our trust are welcome to attend.

We will reflect on the incredible achievements of our staff over the last 12 months and share our ambitions including our new five-year clinical strategy. You will learn about our groundbreaking research and the incredible work of our teams will be on display.

This will be a chance to speak with our staff, share your feedback and learn more about our services.

Due to a fault with our switchboard, all calls are being diverted to the Royal Free Hospital's operators. These operators may be busier than usual so please be patient when ringing us as your calls will be answered as quickly as possible.

If you need to call, please call the Royal Free Hospital on 020 3758 2000, 020 7794 0500 or 020 8375 2999.

This does not impact direct lines to departments.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

A suite of state-of-the art imaging equipment has been installed at the Royal Free Hospital which will deliver more accurate diagnoses and detect disease earlier for our patients.

The upgrades include three X-ray machines, three CT scanners, and one MRI scanner, which feature the latest advancements in imaging technology. The new equipment provides higher resolution images and faster scan times enabling the radiology team to diagnose 11,000 more patients every year.

Ash Saini, interim medical director of Chase Farm Hospital and group clinical services, said: “This is fantastic news for patients and our staff. We know that by diagnosing conditions as early as possible we’re able to ensure people receive the treatment they need sooner, improving their health outcomes and saving lives.

“I would like to thank everyone involved, our clinical teams, RFL Property Services, and estates and facilities colleagues who have delivered this important project while minimising disruption to our services. Our staff and patients can now reap the rewards.”

The project, which began in September 2023, not only involved upgrading seven imaging scanners but also refurbishing each of the rooms which house the machines. This included colour-coordinated panelling, LED skylight panels and new pictures on the walls to create a more welcoming and calming environment for patients.

Earlier equitable diagnosis is a key priority of the trust’s new clinical strategy. By focussing on detecting and preventing diseases at an early stage, we can improve outcomes for patients and reduce pressure on our emergency departments.

Due to improvement works near the Barnet Hospital car park, patients, staff and visitors are advised to allow more time to travel to the hospital.

Buses which usually stop at the terminal next to Barnet Hospital on Wellhouse Lane will instead alight passengers nearby at Wood Street’s junction with Wellhouse Lane, which is approximately 300 meters further away.

Patients and visitors leaving the hospital by bus will need to walk to the bus stops either side of the road on Wood Street.

All patient and visitor and staff car parks will be open as usual during this period, however, road access will be diverted towards the lower end of Wellhouse Lane via Elmbank Avenue and its adjoining roads.

Temporary works will be taking place next to Barnet Hospital’s car parks on Wellhouse Lane from Monday 19 August which will impact access to the site by car and bus.

Thames Water are carrying out urgent sewer repairs which will take place in three phases over the course of six to eight weeks.

All staff and patient car parks will be open as usual during this period, however road access will be diverted towards the lower end of Wellhouse Lane via Elmbank Avenue and its adjoining roads. A two-way traffic management system will be in place at the top of Wellhouse Lane – we anticipate there may some delays when leaving the hospital because of this and will closely monitor the situation.

During the first two phases of work, Transport for London have agreed that buses which usually stop at the terminal next to Barnet Hospital on Wellhouse Lane (routes 263, 384, 307 and N20), will instead alight passengers towards the top of the road at the junction between Wellhouse Lane and Wood Street.

Staff and patients leaving the hospital by bus will need to walk up to the bus stops either side of the road on Wood Street (stop B4 and stop D). The bus terminal on Wellhouse Lane will reopen during phase three of the works.
Throughout this period, pedestrians will still be able to access the hospital on foot via Wellhouse Lane.

Patients at Barnet Hospital (BH) are benefitting from a new minimally-invasive treatment option for recurrent superficial bladder tumours.

Trans urethral laser ablation (TULA) allows for small bladder cancers to be removed under local anaesthetic using a flexible cystoscope and a laser.

The procedure is carried out in an outpatient clinic and takes just 15 minutes, freeing up theatre space, and allowing the patient to go home within minutes of completion. If necessary, a biopsy can also be taken and sent for further analysis.

Dimitrios Volanis, consultant urologist, said the treatment offers many benefits to both patients and the trust, and feedback from patients has been positive.

“At Barnet we have an ageing population, often with complex healthcare needs so being able to treat them safely in a short period of time is a huge benefit,” he said.

"Patients avoid general anaesthesia and don’t need to stop any of their regular medications, including blood thinners. Following the procedure patients can return to their normal daily activities within a few hours.

"Outpatient day cases free up bed space and release theatre capacity, so TULA also offers a significant cost and efficiency benefit."

Malcolm Ozin, from Hendon, received the treatment after a small recurrent bladder cancer was identified.

“I didn’t know it was going to be a laser treatment, and it really didn’t hurt at all, it just felt like a pin prick,” said Malcolm.

“I came into the hospital and within 45 minutes I was finished and ready to leave.

“I enjoy going to the gym, yoga and swimming and I’ve been told I can do all of that again from tomorrow!”

Ageing well and transforming same day and integrated care services are BH's two priorities as set out in our new five-year clinical strategy.

Clinical research is extremely important to us and forms a fundamental pillar of our clinical priorities. To provide excellent health outcomes, we will give staff and our patients the best opportunities to participate in research which could translate into the very latest, and most effective, treatments.

Our work with the Royal Free Charity will help our research go further and faster by helping to provide new opportunities for research to improve treatments. The more research we do, the better the care we can deliver to our patients.

There is still time to book your place at our annual members’ meeting, which will be held on Tuesday 10 September from 6pm in the Atrium at the Royal Free Hospital.

This event is open to the public and those who are not members of our trust are welcome to attend.

We will reflect on the incredible achievements of our staff over the last 12 months and share our ambitions including our new five-year clinical strategy. You will learn about our groundbreaking research and the incredible work of our teams will be on display.

This will be a chance to speak with our staff, share your feedback and learn more about our services.

Visit our website to find our more and register 👇

https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/news/register-attend-our-annual-members-meeting

Welcome to our newest cohort of junior doctors at the Royal Free London!

We are proud of our strong tradition in educating and training both the future NHS workforce and our current staff. As one of the largest postgraduate medical education providers, we have more than 600 Health Education England-commissioned postgraduate training posts across 70 specialties covering foundation, core and higher specialty training.

Thank you, our brilliant teams who work so hard behind the scenes. We couldn't do it without you!

Thank you to the Royal Free Charity for supporting all of our staff.

We are delighted to announce that new chief executives for the Royal Free Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital and group clinical services have been appointed and are due to start their roles in October.

David Crampsey, a trained ear nose and throat surgeon and consultant otolaryngologist, takes up his role as chief executive of the Royal Free Hospital from Airedale NHS Foundation Trust where he has been deputy chief executive and medical director since 2020, having previously held the positions of deputy medical director and divisional director for surgery and diagnostics at Airedale from February 2018.

Palmer Winstanley has been appointed as chief executive of Chase Farm Hospital and group clinical services. He has been the acting chief executive at Northampton General Hospital for the past year. Prior to this, Palmer worked at King’s College Hospital before moving to Northampton General Hospital as the chief operating office and deputy chief executive. Before joining the NHS, he served in the military.

Peter Landstrom, group chief executive of the Royal Free London, said: “I’m delighted to welcome David and Palmer to the Royal Free London.

“They both have a huge wealth of NHS experience and expertise and I look forward to working with them to meet our ambition of delivering world-leading care to all our patients and creating a healthier future for the communities we serve.”

Anyone working in the NHS, receiving NHS treatment or visiting NHS premises has the right to feel safe and secure from violence and abuse, both physical and verbal.

If you experience or witness any form of abuse across our trust, please speak to a member of the team immediately.

Our community diagnostic centre has carried out more than 200,000 tests since it opened in 2021. Our local clinical priorities include working in our communities to improve early diagnosis for patients by using the latest technology to deliver faster and more accurate results.

There are significant health inequalities across the communities we serve which we can help address by providing early and accurate diagnosis for all our patients.

This will help our sites, like Finchley Memorial Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre, to provide local care to more patients than ever before. We are digitising our diagnostic services so we can better track patient health trends, identify at risk populations and prevent ill health at an early stage.

We will continue to work with our partners to create integrated care pathways which will help diagnose diseases earlier, prevent hospital admissions, and reduce healthcare inequalities.

You can learn more about Finchley Memorial Hospital Community Diagnostic Centre on our website here 👇
https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/services/community-diagnostic-centre

The community diagnostic centre (CDC) at Finchley Memorial Hospital celebrating its third birthday, having helped improve access to local care for 229,000 patients in that time.

256,000 diagnostic scans and tests have been carried out since the centre opened, with almost 100 staff in post and more soon to join.

Staff came together for a special event to mark this important milestone.

The CDC has a number of facilities including two CT scanners, three MRI scanners, four ultrasound rooms, two x-ray rooms and three ophthalmology rooms.

It also has two lung function rooms, a sleep room, cardiology rooms, blood test chairs and one microvascular room. In the coming months it is also set to open a trans nasal endoscopy room and begin a capsule sponge service, bring more patient choice and services to the populations of north central London.

Elizabeth Pickering, senior operations manager for the CDC, said:

“This time three years ago we were just four members of staff and now we have our 100th colleague joining us next week. I can’t believe what we’ve achieved in this time, and I am very grateful to everyone who has been a part of our journey.

“The CDC has had a hugely positive impact on NCL activity levels, and it is exciting to see more services are coming down the line at the centre that will further improve early and equitable access to services, which is a key priority for the CDC programme.

“It’s a perfect example of working in partnership between NHS services across north London. Thank you to all our teams who have worked hard to make the service the best it can be.”

Dennis Carlton, director of transformation at NCL, said:

“It’s fantastic to see how the CDC continues to go from strength to strength since opening three years ago, and I would like to say a huge thank you to the CDC team, who continue to do an amazing job.

“Finchley Memorial CDC has provided nearly a quarter of a million tests since it opened 3 years ago, and collectively, our CDCs are now providing over 10% of NCL’s total core imaging capacity. This is a fantastic achievement, which is helping to ensure that patients receive their diagnosis as quickly as possible, so that they can start receiving the treatment they need sooner.”

Did you know that one in eighty (80) pregnancies can be ectopic? An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. This can pose a risk to life of the mother and this type of pregnancy sadly cannot be successfully carried to term and will not result in the birth of a live baby.

To raise awareness about ectopic pregnancy, the early pregnancy and acute gynaecology team at the Royal Free Hospital have a message to about ectopic pregnancies and their symptoms.

A patient who received a liver transplant two years ago took to the road to make a special return trip to the hospital where he received his life-saving treatment.

James Lawton, 45, from Oxford, cycled 60 miles with two friends through the night. The trio travelled from his home to the Royal Free Hospital (RFH) to raise awareness and funds for PSC UK, a charity for people with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a chronic liver disease in which bile ducts inside and outside the liver become inflamed and scarred, and eventually can narrow or block.

James wanted to commemorate the journey taken by the ambulance which collected him in the early hours for his transplant the following day.

On arrival at the hospital, this time on two wheels, James visited some of the staff who had supported him before, during and after his transplant.

​​​​​James, a software developer, said: “I wanted to do something that would push me to train and encourage me to stay healthy so I came up with this plan.”

James was diagnosed with PSC back in 2006 but was mostly symptom-free until 2019 when he developed jaundice and fatigue. He had a transplant assessment, but his health improved and he managed to hold off needing the transplant before going downhill again in December 2021. He was finally put on the transplant list in March 2022.

On his first attempt to receive a donor James tested positive for COVID-19 and wasn’t able to go ahead as doctors didn’t want him fighting an infection while he was on immunosuppressants.

A more urgent case which came in at the last minute meant he missed out at the second attempt, but the third time the call came the transplant went ahead.

Since then James has made a steady recovery. He paid tribute to the staff who supported him during his transplant journey.

James said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who cared for me. From Mr Iype who performed my transplant operation, to the various nurses who cared for me in ICU and on the ward, to Nati who chatted with me while she cleaned my room, to Dr Patch and all the hepatology team – everyone provided me with excellent care in those early days. But the biggest thanks go to the transplant co-ordinators who were, and continue to be, a great support for me – special thanks to Michael and Emma who were with me and helped me through each of the days when I had received a call for transplant.”

He added: “I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for my donor – for the decision they made, that their family honoured. I’m so grateful that my wife Bex and I get to watch the kids grow up together. I can’t thank my donor enough for their generosity and all the life that I now enjoy because of it.”

Research forms a cornerstone of our clinical priorities. At the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Royal Free Clinical Research Facility (CRF), we provide innovative facilities, equipment, and experienced staff to enable early-phase clinical research in healthy adults and patients with acute, complex, and long-term conditions.

Our cardiology department undertakes a large amount of research and takes part in key national and international heart studies. This research is leading the way to ground-breaking new treatments that will meet growing demand for our services by combining the clinical, teaching and research expertise of cardiology and vascular surgery.

Read more about the work we do at the NIHR Royal Free Clinical Research Facility on our website.