November 2011

Mail Online – 1 November 2011
How sticking a camera through your ribs can save you from open heart surgery
In this feature the Daily Mail describes how visiting consultant surgeon Dr Marco Solinas operated on a patient with a hole at Hammersmith Hospital using a new surgical procedure. The procedure employs the latest camera technology so surgeons are able to view the patient’s heart on monitors in the theatre, allowing them to repair the valve without opening the patient’s chest or ‘splitting’ the breastbone.
Mail Online

Channel 4 – 8 November 2011
My Transsexual Summer
In this programme about transgendered people adapting to and living with their new genders, a Trust patient is featured undergoing gender reassignment surgery with Mr James Bellringer, our lead surgeon for gender reassignment.
My Transsexual Summer

Luton Today – 8 November 2011
Indomitable courage of brave cancer mum
This article describes lung cancer patient Maggie Thomas’ hopes for the future after she had a tumour removed from her lung with a keyhole surgery at Charing Cross Hospital.
Luton Today

The Telegraph – 9 November 2011
Call for mobile phone health warnings despite ‘inconclusive’ evidence
The newspaper describes a report by campaign group MobileWise which claims that the risk of conditions such as brain tumours is doubled by the use of mobile phones. Trust neurosurgeon Dr Kevin O’Neill, one of the authors of the report, said: “Although further research is needed, it makes sense to err on the side of caution in the meantime.”
The Telegraph
The story was also in  Mail Online  

Pulse: Practical Commissioning – 9 November 2011
Getting everyone round the table
This story describes the benefits of the North West London Integrated Care Pilot (ICP) for elderly patients and those with diabetes. The article is co-authored by our consultant in diabetes Dr David Gable, co-chair of the ICP IT committee, and co-director of the ICP GP Dr Aumran Tahir.
Pulse

Westminster Chronicle – 10 November 2011
Festive cheer for Paddington patients
Star Ashley Jensen from the film Arthur Christmas and cast members of London musical The Lazy Elf paid a Christmas visit to our paediatric patients. The visit was organised by the children’s charity Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Westminster Chronicle
This story also featured in the Wood and Vale.

Westminster Chronicle – 11 November 2011
Grateful family raise more than £1,000 for Hammersmith Hospital
The daughters of a blood cancer patient at Hammersmith Hospital raised more than £1,000 for the hospital following the death of their mother. One of the daughters said: “The hospital staff kept my mother going and never gave up – they were like family.”
The money will be used to buy new televisions in ward D7, where the patient was cared for.
Click here to request a copy of this article.

Mail Online – 14 November 2011
Pensioner, 69, becomes oldest person to have a sex swap on the NHS
This newspaper covered the story of the oldest person in the UK to undergo a sex change operation which took place at Charing Cross Hospital. Donna, now 74, went through the successful operation five years ago, at the age of 69.
Mail Online

Mail Online – 15 November 2011
Test that shines a light on why you’re in pain
Consultant in pain medicine at our Trust Dr Michael Platt comments on the benefits of the new test to scan for pain, created by researchers from Sweden. He says that the test may enable doctors to treat pain better, in the early stages, with medication and avoid the problem becoming long term.
Click here to request a copy of this article.

The Sun – 24 November 2011
Asthmatics given new hope with new air cleaning machine
The Sun reported that the new bedside filter called Protexo, which sucks out dust particles and allergens that trigger asthma attacks, will soon be available on the NHS. Dr Robert Boyle, who researched the benefits of the filter at St Mary’s Hospital, said that the participants breathed in pure and allergen-free air while they slept.  
The Sun
This story also featured in The Telegraph, the Barnet and Potters’ Bar Times and Boots Web MD Daily Mail

Building Better Healthcare – 29 November 2011
New furniture designs to help NHS stamp out infection on the wards
Four new bedside furniture designs have been launched for the NHS to help fight against healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). The designs were tested in eight showcase hospitals across UK, including our Trust.  
Building Better Healthcare
This story also appeared in the eGov Monitor

Westminster Chronicle – 30 November 2011
Hospital has high survival rates
Our Trust is rated as having a high survival rate, this newspaper reports, according to the 2011 Dr Foster Guide. The report also states that we have the fourth best Standardised Hospital Mortality Indicator (SHMI) in the country. Our chief executive Mark Davies said: "I would like to thank staff for all their continued dedication and hard work."
Westminster Chronicle

Westminster Chronicle – 29 November 2011
Actress releases balloons for charity
EastEnders actress Barbara Windsor joined staff and patients at St Mary’s Hospital to mark the end of breast cancer awareness season by visiting wards and releasing 100 pink and white balloons.
Westminster Chronicle
This story was also reported in the Wood and Vale.

Top of the tweets
Here is a selection of tweets sent about our organisation on twitter, the social networking site. Our twitter name is @ImperialNHS

joanikin – 23 November 2011
@ImperialNHS Felt so well cared for last night at Charing Cross Hospital; A&E Doctor was top notch. #CharingCrossHospital

neildodd – 14 November
Very impressed with @ImperialNHS Charing Cross Hospital today. In and out in less than 20 mins, including a CT scan!

starlightmagic – 9 November 2011
Big Starlight thanks to @ArthurChristmas Ashley Jensen, bringing festive fun to poorly kids at St Mary's @ImperialNHS starlight.org.uk/latest-news/

Imperial web chat
Your diabetes questions answered – 14 November 2011
This online discussion was the first in a series of web chats that allow staff, patients and the public to interact with a specialist from our Trust and ask questions. Our diabetes web chat was held on World Diabetes Day and hosted by consultant in diabetes, endocrinology and general medicine Dr David Gable. The web chat, which lasted for an hour, attracted 64 people and 56 questions or comments were answered.
More information or play the web chat again