Staff from St Thomas’ Hospital were recognised for their work in the aftermath of the Westminster Bridge terrorist attack at a prestigious awards ceremony, alongside the London Ambulance Service. They included doctors, nurses and physiotherapists who treated the wounded on the bridge, as well as staff who led the Trust’s response to the incident.

The ITV Good Morning Britain Health Star Awards are given to people who have changed and saved lives.

Set up to recognise the best in British healthcare, the awards took place at the Rosewood Hotel, London, with presenters Susanna Reid, Kate Garraway, and Dr Hilary Jones in attendance. Other stars at the bash included Pixie Lott, Larry Lamb, Alison Steadman, Kimberley Walsh and Peter Andre.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ new cancer centre – Guy’s Cancer at Queen Mary’s Hospital (QMH), Sidcup – opened its doors to patients for the first time on Monday 8 May.

For the first time radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients is available locally in outer south east London. Previously patients have had to travel into central London. Some chemotherapy was already provided at QMH but more patients will now be able to have this treatment locally.

The first patient to attend the centre was Anita Latham-James from Erith. She said: "I used to have to go to Guy's Hospital. It's nice to have it more local as well. If you're having other treatments it makes you very tired, going up on the train every day. It's nice to know that it is just round the corner. I can be here in 15 minutes."

Children and their families can get help coping with the trauma of childhood stroke thanks to the publication of a new child friendly book and animations.

Evelina London Children’s Hospital and the Stroke Association have created the first dedicated resources to explain stroke in childhood to children. They have been designed with the input of children affected by the condition and their families.

Stroke is usually thought of as a condition affecting older adults, but around 400 childhood strokes occur in the UK each year – more than one a day – leaving families shocked and confused. 

Patients are getting treatment and advice closer to where they live thanks to the opening of Guy’s and St Thomas’ new Low Vision Clinic at Streatham Library.

The one-stop clinic means that patients with a visual impairment can have their appointment with an optometrist from Guy’s and St Thomas’, get support to stay independent at home, and find out about local events and activities for the visually impaired - all under one roof and on the same day.

June Stillman, a retired nursery nurse was registered severely sight impaired four years ago due to age-related macular degeneration. She says of the Low Vision Clinic: “It’s saved me a lot of time. I can get everything done in one place. I think it’s brilliant.” 

Guy’s and St Thomas’ new Kidney Treatment Centre (KTC) at Queen Mary’s Hospital (QMH), Sidcup, opened its doors to patients for the first time on Monday 24 April. The KTC, which will be run in partnership with kidney dialysis specialists Diaverum, has replaced a temporary dialysis unit on the QMH site.

The number of kidney dialysis stations has increased from 12 to 20 and there are also consultation rooms for outpatient appointments, which means patients can have consultations locally rather than having to travel into central London.

One of the first patients to attend the KTC was Bhakshar Patel, from Petts Wood. He said: “The new centre is lovely. It’s more open and spacious than the temporary unit we were using before and because there is more daylight it’s brighter. The environment is better – it’s more peaceful, there is easy access to the unit and everyone feels more comfortable.”

Julie Screaton has been appointed as Director of Workforce and Organisational Development. She will succeed Ann Macintyre, who is leaving her current role after 40 years of NHS service at a local, regional and national level.

Julie has wide ranging experience of leading workforce and organisational development teams in the NHS, having worked extensively at a regional, and also a Trust level, in roles spanning operational and strategic responsibilities.

Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of Guy's and St Thomas', says: "Julie's considerable experience and skills will enable us to plan, recruit and retain the exceptional workforce we need to deliver high quality care to our patients in a rapidly changing environment.”

The 2016 King's Improvement Science (KIS) annual report has been published – KIS helps healthcare professionals in south east London to improve NHS services.

The annual report features projects led by KIS fellows, who are supported by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity and the Maudsley Charity.

It is available at www.kingsimprovementscience.org/publications-and-documents – printed copies of the report are available on request by emailing alexis.fidgett@kcl.ac.uk.

The London Marathon is one of our biggest fundraisers and this year we saw 55 runners cross the finish line and raise vital funds for your hospital.  The day was filled with cheer and excitement – check out our Facebook page to see all the action.

Feel like taking part in one of the UK’s most iconic events?  Registration for 2018 is now open, places fill up fast so apply for your place now!  

Looking for a different way to get involved?  Take part in our Celebration Walk on Cancer Survivors’ Day, hop on your bike for RideLondon or organise your own event!

For more information email the Fundraising Team. 

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

• 96% of inpatients and day case/surgery patients
• 89% of women receiving maternity care 
• 96% of patients using our community services  
• 92% of outpatients
• 84% of A&E patients
• 91% of patients using our transport service 

Three pioneering projects have been successful at the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Awards 2017.

The Geriatric Oncology Liaison Development (GOLD) service, which encourages closer working between clinical teams from geriatric medicine and cancer to improve care for older patients, won the Cancer Care Team category.

Staff from the Health Inclusion Clinic won the Primary Care Team category for their work helping refugees and asylum seekers.

On Wednesday 5 April, BBC presenter Dan Walker oversaw live coverage from Westminster Abbey of a special Service of Hope following the Westminster terror attack which took place on 22 March.

The programme was broadcast on BBC1 and as part of this a pre-recorded interview with our Chief Nurse Dame Eileen Sills was shown before the ceremony began.

Once the piece was finished, the camera panned to Eileen Sills in Westminster Abbey and Dan Walker highlighted her and the role that staff at St Thomas’ had played in responding to the attack.

South London Press this month covered the visit to the Trust by HRH Duke of Cambridge following the Westminster  terrorist attack. The Duke of Cambridge met staff from St Thomas’ Hospital who were among the first on the scene following the attack, including doctors, nurses and physiotherapists who treated the wounded on the bridge, as well as staff who led the Trust’s response to the incident.

On Tuesday 4 April, Channel 5 broadcast a documentary about restless legs syndrome. Dr Guy Leschziner, Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Lead for Sleep at our Sleep Disorders Centre, was interviewed for the programme and explained the impact of the condition on patients’ lives.

He told how people with restless legs syndrome often have major problems getting to sleep and can have very disrupted sleep. The programme highlighted the case of Terry who has found the condition severely affected his memory. Dr Leschziner explained that sleep and memory are closely linked so poor sleep may mean that the brain cannot consolidate memories during sleep as it should do.

On Friday 12 May, fundraisers will be taking in the views of London from St Thomas’ as they abseil 160 feet down the side of the hospital – dressed as their favourite superhero.

From 9am to 8pm, come and cheer our fearless fundraisers on as they raise funds for the Trust.

Everyone is invited to get involved with events and activities at the Trust to mark International Nurses’ Day on Friday 12 May.

We will be celebrating the outstanding work of all our nurses and midwives. The theme of the day is ‘Nursing and midwifery through the ages’. 

Diabetes in the community

Tuesday 16 May, 6-7.30pm

Auditorium, Burrell Street Sexual Health Centre, 4-6 Burrell Street, London SE1 0UN.

Patients, members of the public and staff will come together to celebrate International Clinical Trials Day at Guy’s and St Thomas’ between 10am and 4pm on Friday 19 May.

Visitors to Guy’s (Tom’s Café) and St Thomas’ (Birdsong Corridor) will have the chance to participate in interactive science demonstrations and find out more about how groundbreaking research taking place at the Trust is changing the way we care for our patients.

No registration required - just turn up. Emailclaire.oneill@gstt.nhs.uk, visit www.guysandstthomasbrc.nihr.ac.uk/news-events/events/ or search #iamresearch on Twitter to find out more.