July 2012 - University College London Hospitals

Inside Story
July 2012
Follow us: @uclh
London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games special edition
Inside Story is the UCLH staff magazine
Inside Story - July.indd 1
10/07/2012 10:35:43
news
Budgie flies –
thanks to sport
institute
Nothing can stop 68-year-old
champion powerlifter Bernard
‘Budgie’ Mullan in his tracks. Not
even hip surgery.
Just weeks after undergoing an op at
UCH, the 12 times world champion
was back in training for another
top title. Budgie went on to win
silver in the 2011 world powerlifting
championship.
From elite sportsmen, Olympic
medallists to weekend warriors:
helping athletes overcome injury and
stay top of their game is one of the
goals of the UCLH/UCL Institute of
Sport, Exercise and Health.
It offers specialist expert assessment,
The Institute
Part of a national hub
to create a centre of
excellence in sports-related
and exercise medicine
and the prevention and
management of injuries. It
is a collaboration between
UCLH/UCL,the British
Olympic Association, English
Institute of Sport and private
hospital group HCA.
Will develop strategies to
prevent diseases related
to inactivity and promote
exercise in the wider
community, as part of the
2012 Olympic legacy.
diagnosis and treatment of exerciserelated conditions and injuries for
elite professionals and amateurs
alike. It also offers the same service
to patients with conditions like
diabetes and heart disease where
health would benefit from an exercise
regime.
A new, state-of-the-art treatment and
research centre is due to open at 170
Tottenham Court Road in the next
year.
Budgie was referred to UCH after
suffering discomfort and lack of
movement. Specialists diagnosed
serious arthritis.
He said: “I took in my powerlifting
book to UCH to show them photos of
what I did and said I was top of my
profession and wanted to stay there!“
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon
Professor Fares Haddad, who is
director of the Institute, suggested
hip resurfacing surgery, which
removes less bone than a standard
hip replacement. Instead of removing
the entire ball of the ball-and-socket
hip joint, a metal cap was inserted to
protect the worn cartilage.
“Two weeks after the operation I had
got rid of my crutches and was back
in training, in the gym. I was amazed”
said Budgie.
Fit and free on Fridays
The 52 Club is offering FREE
gym and sauna sessions to all
UCLH staff every Friday during the
Olympic period (from 27 July until
12 September). Just go along –and
show your ID card. You will also need
to complete a health form.
When the Olympics have finished,
any member of staff wishing to trial
the 52 Club can enjoy one free Friday
session at 52 Gower Street. If they
sign up for membership the same
day, the first payment will be waived.
Members can also take part in an
Olympic contest to challenge muscle
endurance, flexibility, strength, speed
and power through weights, running,
cycling and rowing. Health and fitness
manager (and former professional
footballer and coach) Scott Robinson
(pictured) will be on hand to offer
advice and encouragement.
For more information see Insight
page.
Contact us
If you have any information you would like included in Inside Story, or on Insight,
contact: Communications Unit, 2nd Floor Central, 250 Euston Road, London NW1
2PG. Email: [email protected], Tel: ext 79897, Fax: ext 79401.
Front cover: Nus Devon, therapies
and rehabilitation supervisor and
health care assistant Tiago Bravo
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10/07/2012 10:35:45
news
Safely steering us through
Preparing for the greatest sporting
show on earth has been a marathon
not a sprint for the UCLH 2012
Steering Group which has met each
week for the past six months to thrash
out the logistics.
Nicky Besag, Hospital Olympic and
Paralympic Liaison officer, said:
“Our detailed plans have focused on
ensuring it is business as usual for our
local residents and existing patients
whilst preparing for a potential influx
of extra people coming through A&E
during the Olympic period. It is a huge
remit.”
The steering group has worked closely
with suppliers, patient transport,
workforce, user groups, NHS London,
North Central London and Camden
provider services.
Exercises in planning for a major
incident during the games have also
increased.
Some of the steering group members (l-r): James Anderson, head of operations specialist hospitals
board, Liz Marsh, business continuity manager, Sheila Adam, deputy chief nurse, Alison Clements,
head of operations medicine board and Stephen Bagot, estates and facilities general manager.
The Olympic challenge comes to UCLH
Katherine Fenton, chief nurse, Richard Murley, chairman, Liz Davies, divisional senior nurse NHNN, Keisha
Mills, lead nurse Heart Hospital
Chairman Richard Murley and
chief nurse Katherine Fenton
are among 512 staff stepping
up to the UCLH Olympic
Challenge.
Armed with a pedometer, the
128 teams have one goal: to
build up to walking 10,000
steps or more a day – forever!
The challenge runs from 25
June to 5 August. If you’re
not taking part you can still
keep track of your local teams
score by searching Olympic
Challenge on Insight.
The average person walks a
mere 3,000 – 5,000 steps a
day, but with just a few simple
changes to your daily routine
you can quickly boost the
number.
Sue Parker, housing services
manager and co-ordinator of
the challenge, said: “You’ll
notice a positive difference to
your stamina in just three or
four days. It’s easy proof that
you can take control of your
own well being.”
The next pedometer challenge
will start in October.
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10/07/2012 10:35:54
London 2012
On your marks...get set...go!
From medical volunteers, to
ambassadors, to performers, Elke
Tullett meets some of the UCLH
staff who are going the extra mile
for the London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games.
“I’m loving it! says Dana Murray with a
wide grin. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever
done in my life!”
When an estimated one billion people
from around the world tune in to watch
the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony
at Stratford in a few days time, office
manager Dana will be part of sporting
history. She and dozens of her Trust
colleagues, will be among 10,000
volunteers performing in the show- toend-all-shows.
Surgeons, anaesthetists, cardiac
nurses, health care assistants,
dental consultants, supervisors and
managers: meet the members of Team
UCLH.
Under grey skies in Stratford, Nus
Devon, therapies and rehabilitation
supervisor sums up the sunny mood.
“None of us can believe we are part of
it – we are all so lucky! It’s going to be
spectacular.”
Although it’s public knowledge that
the opening ceremony will include a
tribute to the NHS, a pastoral scene
featuring real farm animals and a
celebration of all things British, the
detail remains elusive.
What costumes will you wear? What’s
the music? Are there fireworks?
“Sorry, can’t tell you.” “We’ve been
sworn to secrecy,” “I signed a
disclaimer.” “Can’t say – except the
dance steps are difficult and I’ve got
two left feet.” These were just some
of the responses from UCLH’s tightlipped recruits.
But it promises to be an experience of
a lifetime.
“When I was in the stadium and heard
the music, saw the special effects,
I almost cried. It was so emotional.”
adds Betsey Lau-Robinson, the Trust
lead for safeguarding adults.
Dennis Lalusis, nurse in the acute
coronary ward at The Heart Hospital,
agrees. “Representing the NHS and
being part of the Olympics. It makes
me feel very proud.”
Then, after posing for a group
photograph, they set off with a spring
in their step for another long night of
rehearsals.
Team UCLH: Just some of the staff taking part in the Olympic
Keeping competitors on track
First women’s beach volleyball, then
the coveted athletic track events:
when it comes to the Olympics,
consultant anaesthetist Wynne Aveling
is a winner.
He is one of the volunteer medics
who will be on the alert for any injuries
during seven days of athletic events at
the main Olympic stadium.
Wynne (pictured below) said: “I have
always been a big fan of the Olympics
and have always watched it on TV –
Tokyo in ’64, Mexico in ’68 etc. This
time, I’m very lucky to be able to watch
it at such close range.
“I initially put my name forward as
a general volunteer – at that point I
would have been happy to rake the
sand on the long jump!”
Wynne is one of several staff providing
medical aid during the Olympics. They
include:
Deputy charge nurse Nito Polenio
based at The Heart Hospital will be
working alongside a doctor in one
of the designated medical rooms
scattered throughout the Olympic
Park.
Luigi Andreoli, a staff nurse in the
Acute Medical Unit at UCH, will give
medical assistance to members of the
public at the beach volleyball event.
He said: “I’m really excited about the
role. I’m not an ‘everyday’ sport fan but
I like following these events like the
Olympics or World Championships.”
Phyllis Knight, a staff nurse in the
Acute Admissions Unit, is a field of
play medical team member based at
Wembley Arena. Her favourite sports
are athletics, tennis and football.
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Inside Story - July.indd 4
10/07/2012 10:35:57
London 2012
the Olympic opening ceremony. Pictured at Westfield Shopping Centre ahead of rehearsals
Welcome to London
In their role as Team London Ambassadors, Cynthia Burton and
Robert Newman will be spreading the word about why London is
the best city in the world.
Based at Kings Cross station and Covent Garden, they will
welcome visitors with a broad smile and A-Z knowledge of
London. Want to know where the nearest loos are? How to get
to Buck House? How much to tip a cabbie? Cynthia and Robert
will have the answer.
“I just want to enjoy the experience and make sure everyone
else does too. I was desperate to volunteer and signed up
straight away. I think I was no 77 to put my name down!” said
Robert, an HR administrator.
They are among 8,000 ambassadors who will be dressed in
pink and purple outfits and trilby hats. As part of the Olympic
legacy, a tree will be planted for each of them, complete with
their name attached.
Cynthia, administrator for the Friends of UCLH, said: “I think
London is the best city in the world and I want to share my
enthusiasm with visitors. During our training we were briefed by
the customer services team from John Lewis. We also had to
play team games to test our knowledge of London landmarks.
It has all been very professional and interesting. I’m really
looking forward to it.”
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Inside Story - July.indd 5
10/07/2012 10:36:02
interview
“I lost my gold medal for six months and didn’t tell my wife…’
It’s 4am on August 8, 1984 and
a thick mist descends over Lake
Casitas in California. Four young men
are fighting back the butterflies in
anticipation of the biggest moment of
their lives. This is the culmination of
years of intense training and sacrifice:
in around four hours they will take to
the water and row for Olympic Gold.
Among the crew is the 6ft 6ins,
25-year-old medical student Richard
Budgett. “I would normally calm
myself by thinking: ‘It’s just a rowing
race, I’m going to be a doctor and
that’s the most important thing’. And
then I realised it was a potentially
life-changing moment and my legs just
felt like jelly. But then after about ten
strokes I just clicked into race mode.”
Richard had taken a year out from
medical school and had been training
three times a day in preparation
for the following six minutes, 18.64
seconds. Having destroyed the rest of
the field in a previous race, breaking
the world record in the process,
the British coxed four were red hot
favourites. They included a 21-yearold by the name of Steve Redgrave.
groups. Not only is he one of 113
living Great British gold medallists
he is among just 50 consultant sport
and exercise physicians in the
country. Five of those
work at the UCLH
Institute of Sport,
Exercise and
Health which
Richard joined
last year.
The London
2012 Olympic
and Paralympic
Games will be his
11th as a medical
consultant (including
Winter Games) and
he goes into it as the chief
medical officer for the London
Organising Committee (LOCOG).
His career has taken him full circle.
It was the Middlesex Hospital which
gave him leave to compete in the 1984
Los Angeles Olympics. Richard has
fond memories of the day he returned
– just 24 hours after stepping off the
plane.
“There was a lady on one
of the wards who had
won a bronze medal in
gymnastics. I expect
she was in her 80s and
had competed about
50 years previously – it
might even have been
Los Angeles 1932.
She had her medal on
the ward so I showed
her mine and we
exchanged notes. It
m
was very nice.”
the podiu
dgrave on
e
R
ve
te
ir S
Sports and
) next to S
econd left
Richard (s
exercise medicine was
appropriately recognised as
At half way though, things weren’t
a speciality by the NHS,
going to plan. The American team
the day before London
were in front.
presented its medical
case for the 2012
“For the first time I thought: ‘My God,
Games to the
perhaps we won’t manage to do it’.
International
But we had a great push with about
Olympic
500m to go and I knew we were going
Committee
to win. Because we were favourites,
the immediate feeling was one of relief (IOC) in
February 2005.
and the elation came on the podium
getting our medals when we all cried.”
It meant that
Richard makes a habit of joining elite
could then be recognised as a
medical consultant in the speciality
which he loved. It is no surprise that
the UCLH/UCL-led Institute
of Sport, Exercise and
Health is a key strand
of the government’s
Olympic legacy.
Richard adds:
“Leaving a
legacy from the
Games was such
an important
part of our bid
commitment. We
told the IOC we
would have a centre
of excellence which
would develop sport and
exercise medicine and this is
the centre in London – the Olympic
city. It’s really exciting.”
While not many people can proudly
claim to have won an Olympic Gold
medal, even fewer can say they have
lost one. But that’s where Richard
enters yet another select group.
“I did lose the medal
for six months in a
house move and
didn’t tell anyone,”
he says with a
smile. “I didn’t
tell my wife until
it turned up at the
bottom of a crate – I
knew it must be
somewhere!”
Richard
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Inside Story - July.indd 6
10/07/2012 10:36:09
our trust
Games toolkit: getting over the finishing line
The Olympic and Paralympic Games are only days away. Everything you need to manage – including staffing levels,
annual leave requests, accommodation requests and staff with transport issues – can be done at the click of a button on
Insight. Here’s an overview to help you get over the finishing line:
Transport
With an extra 500,000 visitors in London, transport
services are expected to be significantly busier across
the capital on specific dates at specific times. Staff are
urged to check out Transport for London’s Get Ahead
of the Games website – where they can identify the
hotspots and plan their journeys in advance. Tubes and
trains will be running for longer hours during the Games
and stations may operate one-way pedestrian flows
into and out of station exits to help people along their
journey. There may also be station closures. Buses
may be diverted or disrupted but there will be extra
buses added to some routes.
Visit www.tfl.gov.uk
Policies
There are a number of policies staff can consult over
the Games period that will offer guidance and advice.
The following policies can all be found on Insight:
Annual leave and special leave
Internal and major incident management policy
Corporate on-call policy
Websites and social media policy
Media policy
Media
All contact with the media
should be through the
Communications Unit on ext
79897.
The Trust, nor its staff, will
release any information about
any staff member or patient
to the media without explicit
consent of the individual
concerned. Any media
interviews with staff, in the
capacity as a Trust employee, or
patients must be authorised by
the Communications Unit.
Security
The number of security staff at the Trust is being
increased. The team will be in operation for 40 days
between 25 July and 15 August and 24 August and 13
September. There will be increased ID card checks,
visual patrols around vulnerable areas and cover of
busy public areas to assist in dealing with challenging
behaviour. All security staff should be fully aware of
their role and what to do in the event of an increase in
the threat level, during a major incident or lockdown.
However all staff have a role in ensuring security is
maintained and that only authorised people enter wards
and departments.
Trust Security Advisors:
Rod Townley ext 74910
Gary Ross ext 79135
Paul Anstee (Queen Square) ext 83328
Interserve Security UCH ext 73078
If in doubt call the police: non-emergency number is
(9)101 and in an emergency (9)999.
Staff accommodation
There may be extreme
circumstances where staff
cannot get home. If they
need somewhere to stay
the Trust does have limited
accommodation available
for certain days. Tom
Hughes,leased buildings
manager (ext 79509), and Nicky
Besag, hospital Olympic and
Paralympic liaison officer (ext
77686), will oversee the booking
of staff accommodation. More
information is available in the
Disruption to Public Transport
Policy and Procedure.
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Inside Story - July.indd 7
10/07/2012 10:36:12
the back page
Secret lives
When Dr Eleanor Tillett receives text messages with
pictures of swollen ankles, bruised knee caps and –
heaven forbid – broken toes, her response is always
ice cool.
The UCLH sport and exercise medicine consultant is
also doctor to the Great Britain figure skating team.
And she knows just how to react when faced with
skaters’ injuries – because she’s been in their boots
too.
After taking to the ice at the early age of eight,
Eleanor rose to become the sixth best figure skater
in the UK. And weeks filled with 25 hours of training
and 5am starts meant she was well prepared for the
twists and turns of hospital life.
“I used to be the most awake person on the early
morning ward rounds and I would go home in the
evenings, study and sleep and then get up again. I
enjoyed the routine and discipline of it and I liked to
see how good I could get at something. I loved the
fitness and artistic aspect – I don’t think I would have
been much of a party animal at university!”
Good luck Team GB!
The best wishes of UCLH will greet Team GB during
the ‘golden hour’ when they arrive at the Olympic
Village this month.
UCLH staff recorded a ‘good luck’ message for the
Great Britain team which will be played alongside
others by the Prime Minister, Mayor of London, the
Met Police, London cabbies and the cast of Les
Miserables.
Competitors will be shown a video featuring the
messages upon arrival at the Olympic Village when
they spend a ‘golden hour’ being briefed about their
new accommodation for the coming weeks.
Eleanor (centre) with British ice dance champions Penny Commes
and Nick Buckland
Eleanor went to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics
with the GB team and saw Amy Williams win her
gold in the skeleton race. She says she’s ‘combining
the two things I love’ and her experience on the ice
means she knows what it’s like to be injured and train
intensively.
“There aren’t many people in Great Britain who can
be involved having the both sides of the experience I
have had. I like that I can give something back to the
sport that gave me a lot.”
Eleanor’s role involves not only reviewing skaters’
fitness and helping them get fit when they are injured
but – most importantly – identifying ways they
can improve their performance by optimising their
movement patterns.
She added: “The London Olympic and Paralympic
Games are going to be amazing and we have to hope
it raises the importance of sport and physical activity.”
Belinda Moore, head of athlete engagement for the
British Olympic Association, said: “It’s a big moment
for the Team GB competitors as they first enter the
village. Seventy-five per cent of the team has not been
to the Games before – it’s a very scary moment and
we want to show them that the nation is supporting
them. Thanks to UCLH staff for getting right behind
our team.”
Archives
The Trust has a legacy of winners – in 1962 a group
of Middlesex nurses won the Hospital Cup.
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