For the third year in a row more patients and healthy volunteers participated in research at Guy’s and St Thomas’ than at any other NHS trust in England.

In 2016-17, just over 25,000 patients took part in clinical research studies at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and the Trust was London’s top trust for the number of active research studies with 500 taking place in the last year. The figures were released by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network on 3 August.

Everyone is welcome to attend Guy’s and St Thomas’ Annual Public Meeting at 6pm on Thursday 14 September in the Marquee in the gardens of St Thomas’ Hospital.

There will be refreshments and information stands about improvements to the care of older people both in our hospitals and in the local community in the same venue from 5.30pm.

The youngest child in the UK to have a middle ear implant has experienced life-changing benefits from the pioneering device.

Charlotte Wright was born with her outer right ear and ear canal not formed properly. Resulting hearing difficulties meant her speech was delayed, no one could understand her talk, and she had behavioural problems.

Surgeons at Guy’s Hospital have become the first in the world to routinely perform a new type of robotic surgery to transform the lives of patients with a condition called retroperitoneal fibrosis which can lead to kidney failure if left untreated.

A team of 31 Evelina London patients and their families celebrated success at the British Transplant Games in Scotland.

The team included young people aged from 4-17 years in age, as well as a team of parent donors. Together they brought home 58 medals – including 20 Gold, 20 Silver and 18 Bronze – and won the Best Children’s Kidney Team. 

New international guidelines are set to help thousands of babies around the world who are allergic to cow’s milk.

The advice is a collaboration between experts from every continent, led by Dr Adam Fox, Consultant Children’s Allergist at Evelina London.

King’s Health Partners has published the first outcomes book from our Orthopaedics, Trauma and Plastics Clinical Academic Group (CAG).

Our Orthopaedics, Trauma and Plastics CAG serves a large number of patients locally and nationally. The outcomes book highlights the high standards of care provided despite demand for services increasing every year.

Sue Coates is taking part in Guy’s Urban Challenge for the second consecutive year to say thank you for the care, support and treatment her dad received.

Sue’s dad, Brian, was diagnosed with inoperable advance bladder cancer which spread to his lymph nodes but responded well to palliative chemotherapy, giving him a further 10 months before he sadly passed away.

“We are all so grateful for the amazing care which my dad received and that he was able to benefit from the incredible facilities at the new Cancer Centre,” says Sue. 

Guy’s and St Thomas’ was rated above the national average in five out of six categories of the Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) when NHS Digital published results on 15 August.

More than 50 patient assessors and staff visited Guy’s Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital, Lambeth Community Care Centre, Minnie Kidd House in Balham, and Pulross Intermediate Care Centre in Brixton. 

Most patients who completed the Friends and Family Test questionnaire in July would recommend the care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ to their loved ones:

• 96% of inpatients and day case/surgery patients
• 91% of women receiving maternity care
• 98% of patients using our community services
• 92% of outpatients
• 81% of A&E patients
• 88% of patients using our transport service

Staff have recommended the Trust as a place to be treated and as a place to work in the latest Staff Friends and Family Test results which NHS England published on 24 August.

This short survey enables staff to give feedback about their experience of working in the NHS.

The Evening Standard this month published an article highlighting the story of Georgie and James Melville-Ross from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.

They have run a marathon, climbed four mountains and will now be running, cycling and swimming around Dorney Lake in Windsor, all to raise £50,000 for Evelina London Children’s Hospital as a thank you for the care given to their disabled twins. 

The Daily Telegraph have this month published an article looking at how parents with several children handle the pressures of raising such large families.

As part of the article, Tim Hanlon (Chief Pharmacist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust) and his wife Alison were profiled on their experiences of raising their six children, Ned (12), Bea (9), Kit (7), Posy (6), Mary (5) and Clemmie (11 weeks). 

BBC News this month published an article, and ran a piece on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, interviewing Sara Hanna (Medical Director, Evelina London Children’s Hospital) on the subject of the Evelina Resolution Project.

The Evelina Resolution Project supports health professionals at Evelina London and families where there is a disagreement. 

Events are taking place at Guy’s and St Thomas’ to celebrate Organ Donation Week which runs from Monday 4 to Sunday 10 September.

Please come and meet the team from 11am to 2pm on Wednesday 6 September in Birdsong Corridor at St Thomas’ Hospital and on Thursday 7 September in the main entrance of Guy’s Hospital.

Queen Mary’s Hospital (QMH) in Sidcup is marking its centenary with a special family fun day and open day on Saturday 9 September.

Our free health seminars for Foundation Trust members are very popular. Seminars include presentations, a question and answer session and refreshments. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis so book as soon as possible. Email members@gstt.nhs.uk or phone 0800 731 0319.