Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals

This month we launched our 'Gloves Off’ campaign across the Trust to help us reduce inappropriate use of non-sterile gloves. We want colleagues to feel informed and empowered to make the right choice when it comes to when (or when not to) wear gloves so that we can decrease our plastic waste, reduce the risk of infection and save money. Stephanie Ireland, a staff nurse and sustainability champion in the acute intensive care unit (AICU) at Royal Brompton Hospital, said: “I was keen to support the Gloves Off campaign from the start. Disposable gloves make up a huge part of our hospital waste - and therefore our carbon footprint. And we can actually do something about it. Since Covid, glove use has increased, but a lot of the time, wearing them isn't necessary. In fact good hand hygiene is more important when it comes to preventing the spread of infections. “Changing behaviour isn't easy but in the AICU we made small progress around reducing our glove use since we implemented Gloves Off. Education around hand hygiene is key, because making the call to wear gloves or not has to be based on good infection prevention and control practice, and then on sustainability. It's important that staff feel confident they can keep patients safe, because it makes the decision not to wear gloves, and reduce our impact on the environment, a little easier.” #GlovesOff #TeamGSTT #Sustainability Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals

Tal Golesworthy was born with a genetic condition called Marfan syndrome which affects the body’s connective tissue and can lead to cardiovascular, skeletal and visual problems. For Tal, an engineer by trade, the condition took a particular toll on his heart, weakening the walls of the aorta and causing them to expand. Surgical intervention would involve total root replacement of the aorta, including the valve, and re-implanting the coronary arteries. The idea of major surgery, and the ensuing lifelong dependency on anticoagulant medicine to prevent blood clots, was enough for Tal to explore an alternative route. With the help of Professor John Pepper, now retired from his position as cardiac surgeon at Royal Brompton Hospital, Tal drew on his expertise as an engineer to develop a prototype of a device – called a Personalised External Aortic Root Support (PEARS) – that could be placed around the ascending aorta and prevent aortic root expansion. In 2004, four years after conceiving the idea, Tal became the first patient to undergo this surgical procedure, which was performed by Professor John Pepper himself. In this episode of our podcast, More than a Hospital, Tal and Professor Pepper recall the journey that led to that moment, and how they forged an unexpected partnership to help not only Tal, but the hundreds of lives that the revolutionary procedure would go on to benefit. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/eFfviSSU #MedicalInnovation #PatientStory #HealthPodcast

Say hello to Jola, a transplant coordinator at Harefield Hospital. She works with patients who may be suitable for a transplant and supports them throughout their transplant journey. Jola tells us about what her day-to-day looks like, the best part of her job, and the importance of organ donation. Read Jola's Q&A: https://lnkd.in/e-Z5wN72 Jola was also awarded as 'Heart, Lung and Critical Nurse of the Year' in the Trust's Nursing and Midwifery Awards 2024. She was recognised for her work in developing activity books for children of transplant patients, to help them better understand the process and the transplant journey of their parent. Read more about the books: https://lnkd.in/esvC4aET #OrganDonationWeek Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Over 40 years ago, the first combined heart and lung transplant took place at Harefield Hospital. Hear from Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub as he reflects on that first procedure in our podcast, More Than a Hospital, and listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eEnKNvGD #OrganDonationWeek

Our latest research newsletter is out now. Read about: ☑️ a clinical trial into pleural mesothelioma treatments ☑️ a trial to explore treatments for acute respiratory distress syndrome ☑️ a review into the first cases of artificial stone silicosis ☑️ and much more. Read the newsletter online and sign up to receive updates direct to your inbox: https://lnkd.in/enTcB7yc

Our Trust's annual public meeting is on Wednesday 18 September. Join us online or in person at St Thomas' Hospital to find out about the work that we do and hear a round up of the past year. To find out how to join the meeting, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eYHNuDqc

A new pacemaker system to treat patients with complex heart rhythm conditions has been successfully implanted in patients for the first time in the UK at Royal Brompton Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital. The AVEIR dual chamber (DR) pacemaker system from Abbott is composed of two separate cylindrical devices, smaller than a AAA battery, which are implanted into two chambers of the heart via a catheter inserted through a blood vessel in the patient’s groin. The devices communicate with one another wirelessly to make the patient’s heart beat with a regular rhythm so that blood is pumped more efficiently around the body. Leadless pacemakers are self-contained devices with no wires connecting the device to an external battery; they therefore offer a less restrictive and shorter recovery period after the procedure than traditional pacemakers and reduce the risk of complications arising from broken leads or infections. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eghqaxWm Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Do you want to learn about what goes on behind the scenes at a world-leading heart and lung hospital? Join us for a free open day at the theatres and catheter labs at Royal Brompton Hospital on Wednesday 16 October from 9am to 12.30pm. No booking is needed - turn up on the day ready to learn! Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

📣 We have launched an exciting and ambitious new strategy to deliver 'better, faster, fairer healthcare for all'. Read more about our plans to 2030 on our website: https://lnkd.in/eVgk4iMg

Congratulations to Professor Andrew Bush, paediatric respiratory consultant at Royal Brompton Hospital, for being awarded the European Respiratory Society Presidential Award 2024. The award recognises his outstanding contribution to the strengthening of respiratory medicine worldwide 👏 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gCnUKYJ5 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust