RM M A G A Z I N E SPRING 2021
AN IMAGE OF HEALTH Behind the scenes of our interventional radiology service From student to consultant: a doctor’s training journey Our ambitious plans to transform Sutton
At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. And when people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That’s why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
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EXECUTIVE NOTES
CONTENTS 4 Bulletin What’s happening around The Royal Marsden 12 Our vision for Sutton An illustrated look at our plans for the Sutton site 14 Fine fellows We speak to the six surgeons who trained on our Robotic Surgery Fellowship 17 It happened to me John Sutton’s experiences of a lifesaving clinical trial 18 A day in the life Radiographer Jodie Basso takes us through her working day 20 Somebody to lean on How we’re supporting staff wellbeing during the pandemic 22 Learning on the job Our skilled doctors discuss their training journeys 25 Liquid measures The BRC is trialling liquid biopsies for bowel cancer 26 Fundraising News from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity 28 Foundation news Updates from our Foundation Trust and Governors 30 Puzzles and prizes Test your wits and win a prize with our crossword 31 Stay in touch Your comments on social media, plus hospital contacts
WELCOME to the spring 2021 edition of RM, the magazine for our staff, patients, carers and Foundation Trust members. In this issue, we look at the success of our Robotic Surgery Fellowship programme (page 14). Since 2017, The Royal Marsden has trained six surgeons through this programme who have gone on to take up surgical positions at hospitals elsewhere, benefiting patients across the UK and beyond. On page 20, we also reflect on the work of our Staff Counselling and Psychotherapy Service. This has been essential during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and has been adapted to be as flexible and responsive as possible to ensure that we support the mental health and wellbeing of our staff. While the past year has brought its obvious challenges, our research teams have continued to run the latest clinical trials and publish groundbreaking results, making a real difference to cancer patients everywhere. In our Bulletin section (pages 4-11), we highlight just some of this research – including trials involving some of our young patients in the Oak Centre for Children and Young People, and the difference this work has made to their lives. I hope you enjoy this issue.
ON THE COVER Jodie Basso, Superintendent Radiographer for X-ray and Interventional Radiology Some of the photographs in this issue were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and may not reflect current social distancing and PPE guidelines
Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive, The Royal Marsden
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B U L L E T I N W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G A R O U N D T H E R O YA L M A R S D E N
Centre of excellence THIS SPRING, The Royal Marsden Private Care is opening a new COVID-secure diagnostic and treatment facility in Cavendish Square, central London. The new outpatients centre will offer fast and direct access to world-leading diagnostics in a modern and reassuring environment. Our experts will treat multiple tumour types and offer other specialties – such as genetics, plastics and pain management – in a centre housing consulting rooms, 12 chemotherapy chairs, a minor procedure suite and state-of-the-art imaging facilities. The Royal Marsden’s unique integrated model means all revenue generated from the Private Care service goes back to the NHS Foundation Trust.
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COMBINED STRATEGIES The CHAMP clinic helped Mia Rumbold to manage her pain
? DID YOU KNOW?
Photograph: Alamy
Grainne Brady and Lauren Leigh-Doyle of our Speech and Language Therapy team have been awarded prestigious NIHR fellowships to carry out preand postdoctoral research.
A holistic approach to young patients’ pain YOUNG ROYAL MARSDEN patients who experience persistent pain during and after treatment can now benefit from a new service run by an expert multidisciplinary team. Funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the Centre for Holistic Approach to the Management of Paediatric Pain (CHAMP) clinic is held weekly for patients in the Oak Centre for Children and Young People. The team employs a holistic approach that encompasses physical, psychological and emotional needs at each consultation. The team’s physiotherapist and psychologist have pivotal roles in supporting the patient to manage their pain, attend school, connect with friends and engage in activities they enjoy.
Mia Rumbold, 14, has been under the care of the CHAMP team for chronic pain after being treated for Hodgkin lymphoma. Her mum Sarah said: “Mia’s skin was so painful to touch, and she couldn’t walk. The team listened and gave her the manageable steps she needed to aid her recovery. I can’t put into words the gratitude I have for what the team has done for us.” Consultant Paediatrician Dr AK Anderson, who leads the clinic, said: “Mia is a wonderful example of how we help patients manage their pain. Through learning to understand her pain experience and listening to her body, she uses both physical and psychological strategies to overcome the challenges.” RM magazine 5
NHS approval for kidney cancer treatment NHS patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma can now benefit from the immunotherapy drug avelumab plus axitinib, a targeted therapy. Positive data from the JAVELIN Renal 101 immunotherapy trial – which researchers at The Royal Marsden have contributed to – has led to the approval of this promising treatment. Professor James Larkin, Consultant Medical Oncologist and investigator on the trial, said: “This approval is excellent news and an important advancement for patients. “This is the first time a first-line combination therapy with immunotherapy and targeted therapy has been approved on the NHS for the treatment of metastatic kidney cancer, which will make a real difference to patients and their quality of life.” Lorraine Ruxton, 66, has been a patient on the JAVELIN Renal 101 trial for five years. She said: “My most recent scans show no changes or growths, which is very positive news. As long as my treatment keeps working, I’ll remain on the trial, and for that I’m very grateful.”
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COVID-19 vaccinations begin for our patients and staff IN LATE DECEMBER, we began providing the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Royal Marsden staff, health and social care workers from the local boroughs, and our patients – delivering almost 6,000 jabs in the first month alone. Trish Hughes, Divisional Nurse Director, was among the staff who received a vaccination in January. She said: “As well as being the right thing to do for me, my family and friends and the patients at The Royal Marsden, I felt it was important, as a senior nurse, to set an example to colleagues both here and across London. It really is the way forward out of this pandemic.” In late January, in accordance with NHS England guidance, we also opened up our
CRUCIAL JABS Staff member Riccardo Bonocore receives the vaccine
vaccinations to those cancer patients who are clinically extremely vulnerable. Deborah James, one of the first Royal Marsden patients to receive the
“The vaccine really is the way forward out of this pandemic”
vaccine, said: “There was never a doubt in my mind – I was always going to have it. What really struck me as I walked into the clinic was the sense of hope. The staff were beaming with pride at what they are doing. “It’s incredible that they are part of the biggest vaccination drive in our history.”
Patients: have your say online Involving and engaging patients and the public ensures that our research and services function better for the communities we serve. That’s why the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has launched the Cancer Patients’ Voice digital platform. It gives patients, carers and the public a quick, easy and secure way to have their say via computer or smartphone about improving
cancer research and treatment, while enabling healthcare professionals to include a wider range of people in their research. Whether it’s joining an online discussion, taking part in a survey or simply sharing an idea, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Want to know more? Email steven.towndrow@rmh.nhs.uk or visit patients-voice.cancerbrc.org
BULLETIN
SPOTTING LUNG CANCER EARLIER
Photograph: Murray Sanders/Daily Mail. Artwork: Natalia Avdeeva ROI
The healing power of art THROUGH THE Arts in Health Programme, The Royal Marsden displays artworks and organises art activities to enhance the wellbeing of staff and patients. Evidence from the World Health Organization shows that art, and participation in art projects, eases anxiety, stress and depression, can shorten the length of a patient’s hospital stay, and can even reduce the need for painkilling medication. In 2019, patient Barbara Davies noticed a painting called Cloud Bank Island, loaned to the Trust by London-based Russian artist Natalia Avdeeva ROI, moments before being told she had breast cancer for the second time. Barbara already knew and loved the painting, so decided to purchase it – and the artist generously donated 40 per cent of the money to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Barbara said: “It seemed too much of a coincidence that a
? DID YOU KNOW?
ART AND SOUL Patient Barbara Davies (above) saw Cloud Bank Island (top) in the hospital and decided to buy it
painting I’d already fallen in love with, three years earlier at an exhibition at Bankside Gallery in London, was now in front of me on the waiting room wall. “I took it as a sign that whatever the oncologist was going to tell me, all would be well.”
Consultant Histopathologist Dr Ayoma Attygalle has been highly commended in the 2020 Royal College of Pathologists Achievement Awards for her contribution to education.
Thanks to funding from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the Trust is establishing an Early Diagnosis Centre to support research and specialists in this field. Two clinical oncology registrars are working alongside Dr Richard Lee, Consultant in Early Diagnosis, to investigate how artificial intelligence (AI) technology can be used to diagnose lung cancer earlier and provide better care and treatment. Dr Benjamin Hunter is developing AI tools to predict whether lung nodules are malignant or benign, and is establishing a system to enable NHS trusts across London to collaborate in AI-based lung cancer research through the LIBRA study. And Dr Sumeet Hindocha (above) is running the multi-centre OCTAPUS-AI study, which aims to use AI to determine the cause of changes in the lung, better predict which patients are at risk of their cancer returning, and detect recurrence earlier.
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TREATMENT ON THE ROAD Patients can now be treated with immunotherapy in the community, thanks to The Royal Marsden’s Mobile Chemotherapy Unit (MCU). The MCU team has been providing chemotherapy in the community for three years and started offering immunotherapy treatments before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Diana Schofield, Sister in the Medical Day Unit in Sutton, said: “The MCU allows our lowrisk patients to receive treatment closer to where they live. It has been particularly helpful in reducing the footfall in the hospital during the pandemic and is very popular with patients.” The MCU travels to supermarkets and parks in Sutton, Epsom and Croydon. Patients still come to the hospital for blood tests the day before treatment. Bowel cancer patient Valerie de Buriatte said: “I’d been having immunotherapy at The Royal Marsden for about a year when I was told I could have my treatment in Croydon. It’s closer to my home, so I jumped at the chance as it’s much more convenient. I feel like I get to know the MCU staff so well as there are only four patients at a time and two nurses.”
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First young patients join pioneering trial THE ROYAL MARSDEN’S Oak Paediatric and Adolescent Drug Development Unit has recruited the first UK patients to an innovative trial. ESMART is a multiarm clinical trial that tests the benefits of several new drugs and treatments that were previously unavailable for children and young people. Its design allows these treatment options – including targeted drugs, immunotherapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy – to be tested in new combinations and made available for patients with relapsed cancers. Patient Alfie Ward, 18, was among the first to be recruited to the trial in the UK after relapsing with neuroblastoma. He was diagnosed when he was five years old, and was recruited to the ESMART trial in the autumn. His mum, Shelley King, said: “This trial may not work for him, but it could
SMART MOVE Alfie Ward has joined the ESMART trial
“The Royal Marsden has offered us more options”
help others. We are grateful to The Royal Marsden for offering us more options. ESMART has given us hope that there will be something out there that will work. “Cancer has taken a lot from us, but it has also given us a lot as well.”
Paediatric service update NHS England has decided that children with cancer who are at higher risk of needing a paediatric intensive care unit should receive treatment where intensive care is available on the same site, known as co-location. This isn’t available at any hospital in London and the south east, so The Royal Marsden and St George’s University
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust propose changes to our joint service that would meet all aspects of co-location. Our option also provides the speediest and most economical solution and the best access for patients in the region. A decision on the preferred option is due this spring.
BULLETIN
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FAST FACTS Research at The Royal Marsden POSITIVE RESPONSE Patient Mick May (above, with daughter Daisy) was treated by Professor Sanjay Popat (left)
Lung therapy targets rare gene mutation A ROYAL MARSDEN patient has received treatment that targeted an “incredibly rare” genetic mutation and shrank his tumour by a third within just three months. Mick May, 62, was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a rare cancer that usually develops in the lining of the lung, caused by exposure to asbestos – seven years ago. Following surgery and years of different treatments, Mick started a course of targeted therapy at The Royal Marsden under the care of Professor Sanjay Popat, Consultant Medical Oncologist. His case has since been published in the JCO Precision Oncology journal. Professor Popat said: “Mick’s genomic sequencing showed us
“There’s no documented case like this... Mick may be one of the first”
that there was a mutation present in a gene called PTCH1, in the cell tissue from his tumour, which is incredibly rare. The type of targeted treatment he is on is vismodegib – normally used for basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. “There’s no documented case of someone with Mick’s type of cancer and such a rare mutation responding to this treatment, so he may be one of the first. It’s an incredibly positive step forward and amazing to see Mick doing so well.” Mick said: “Being told I had mesothelioma was pretty scary. There’s no ‘get out of jail free’ card and you learn to live with a terminal diagnosis. “Coming to The Royal Marsden and having such a ‘medical dream team’ has given me time I didn’t think I’d have, particularly over the 18 months since having such a positive response to this new treatment – it’s unheard of with my condition. I feel very lucky that I can continue to spend time with my wife and six children.”
45%
of our paediatric patients are involved in clinical trials
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studies of the impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatment are taking place at The Royal Marsden
75
early-phase trials are conducted by the Oak Foundation Drug Development Unit every year
750
clinical trials involving The Royal Marsden are running at any one time
£15m
in research funding over five years was granted by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in 2016 RM magazine 9
IN BRIEF
HCAIs due to transmission or inappropriate use of antibiotics are avoidable. The IPC team at The Royal Marsden monitors, advises and teaches staff on how to keep patients safe through good and robust IPC practices.
Scholar’s story
Florence Nightingale Foundation scholarships offer nurses and midwives opportunities for leadership development. One such scholar is Lian Lee (above), a Matron at The Royal Marsden, who has shared her story and experience of the scholarship on the foundation’s website. Read her inspiring blog at florence-nightingalefoundation.org.uk/ news-events
Sutton snacks
Eatwell Express opened in December in the main reception at The Royal Marsden in Sutton, selling an increased range of hot and cold drinks, snacks and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity-branded items. The main restaurant area has been refurbished, with a new provider, Fontanella, offering a wider menu.
High standards
The Royal Marsden has again been awarded the Customer Service Excellence Standard, which recognises services that are efficient, effective, excellent, equitable and empowering – with the ‘customer’ at the heart. The Trust was rated as compliant across all elements, with the assessor impressed by our work in response to the pandemic.
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Q&A: INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL Dorothy Chakani, Infection Prevention and Control Matron, on how she and her team are adjusting to COVID-19 while retaining focus on other infections during the pandemic Q What is Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)? A IPC represents the processes and systems in place to prevent the occurrence of healthcareassociated infections (HCAIs), or to control their spread when infections do happen. Our IPC team is made up of infection control nurse specialists, microbiology consultants, antimicrobial pharmacists and administrative staff. It’s our responsibility to
monitor every aspect of healthcare practice at The Royal Marsden that has the potential to lead to infections, and to educate others on how to identify, prevent and control them. Q How does this service benefit patients? A Our patient population can be incredibly vulnerable to infections. Some HCAIs may be unavoidable when caused by a patient’s own microorganisms, but
“The pandemic has really emphasised the importance of what we do”
Q What has changed as a result of COVID-19? A We’re still providing the same service as we were pre-pandemic, as other infections haven’t stopped! However, the past year has really emphasised the importance of IPC. Our team has almost doubled in size, which has been important in enabling us to better support staff. It’s been brilliant to work more closely with different teams across the Trust, largely on COVID-19 awareness, responses and training on IPC precautions including hand hygiene, PPE and social distancing. We look to ensure staff are safe and feel confident to provide safe treatment and care for our patients. During the pandemic, we have also been providing an out-ofhours on-call service. Q What are the next steps for IPC? A COVID-19 has elevated our profile and support enormously, which we need to sustain in the future. As a centre of excellence, The Royal Marsden leads in cancer research and novel treatments. My vision is for the Trust to also lead in the niche area of IPC in the cancer setting.
BULLETIN
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THE WINNERS Cancer Services
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• Ellie Bateman, Divisional Director, Cancer Services (1) • Dr Nadia Yousaf, Consultant in Acute Oncology (2) • Sue Vickers, Ward Clerk, Wilson Ward (3) • Nikki Snuggs, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Lead Nurse, Breast Unit (4) • Dr Susan Lalondrelle, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Head of Radiotherapy (5) • Medical Day Unit, Sutton • Kennaway Ward • Gynae-oncology Surgery Team • Colorectal Surgery Team
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• Steve Russell, Clinical Business Unit Manager, Pathology and Genetics (6) • Robbie Pyburn, Videographer (7) • Ade Adedapo, Head of Legal Services (8) • Infection Prevention Team • Cancer Surgical Hub • Command and Control Centre
Clinical Services
Saluting the best of the best OUR STAFF AWARDS are normally held at the end of the year, with more than 1,000 members of staff gathering to celebrate their colleagues’ achievements. Last year, we held our awards quite differently, recognising more than 30 staff and teams from all areas of the Trust who have gone above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic (see right). Chief Executive Dame Cally Palmer and senior colleagues gave out the awards at individual ceremonies, which were filmed so staff could watch them in their own time.
“I’m so proud of our staff for their work during the pandemic”
Dame Cally said: “Although things were very different last year, we felt it was more important than ever to recognise the work of our staff. It was an unimaginable year for many, if not all of us – and a year that none of us expected. “I’m so incredibly proud of every member of staff for their work during the pandemic. We’ve continued to provide the very highest level of treatment and care, displaying compassion, kindness and empathy in the most trying of circumstances. “While we’ve all been worried, we’ve continued to treat our patients and colleagues with dignity and respect, and uphold the values of The Royal Marsden.”
• Jo-Anne Gilroy, Advanced Critical Care Practitioner (9) • Fleur Harvey, Lead Haemato-oncology Pharmacist (10) • Meg Martin, Anaesthetic Manager (11) and Nellie Sullivan, Anaesthetic Co-ordinator (12) • Siobhan Johnson, Sister, Admissions and Pre-assessment Unit, Sutton (13) • Yukie Kano, Research Nurse, Palliative Care (14) • Dr Firza Gronthoud, Consultant Microbiologist (15) • Critical Care Unit and Intensivists • Theatres and Anaesthetic Teams (Chelsea and Sutton) • Admissions and Pre-assessment Units (Chelsea and Sutton) • Microbiology Team • Psychological Support • Therapies – Outpatients
Research
• Clinical Research Operations Managers • Renal and Melanoma Research Team
Private Care
• Private Care Matrons • Robert Tiffany Ward • Private Care Commercial Team
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1 London Cancer Hub This globally significant life-science district is being developed by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the London Borough of Sutton, with the support of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and the Greater London Authority. It aims to become the world’s leading centre for cancer research, treatment, education and enterprise, and will
OUR VISION FOR SUT TON Here’s how we plan to modernise our Sutton site over the next few years Illustration: Jamie Jones
THE ROYAL MARSDEN in Sutton has been home to world-leading oncologists and has delivered outstanding patient treatment and care since the 1960s. But some of the buildings and infrastructure are now approaching 60 years old. We need to transform our hospital and its surroundings so they are fit for the 21st century and can help us tackle the most pressing challenges in cancer research. We’re increasing the already huge levels of investment in the site over recent years to achieve this. Here is our vision of what Sutton will look like in just a few years from now. RM 12 RM magazine
host a community of scientists, doctors, commercial research and development and life-science companies. The hub will provide 12 acres of commercial development space and is one of London’s leading knowledge exchange projects, as well as being part of the LondonOxford-Cambridge ‘golden triangle’ of life-science research.
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2 Oak Cancer Centre Due to open its doors to patients in 2022, this state-of-the-art research and treatment centre will help The Royal Marsden save more lives by diagnosing and treating more cancers at an earlier stage, and by speeding up the development of new cancer treatments. Thanks to £70 million in funding from supporters of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the centre will bring together more than 400 researchers in spaces designed to encourage collaboration and the sharing of ideas across teams working on different types of cancer. It will also be home to a new rapid diagnostic centre, Medical Day Unit and Outpatients department.
SUTTON’S FUTURE
3 Epsom and St Helier specialist emergency hospital Thanks to £500 million in government funding, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is set to build a new specialist emergency care hospital next to The Royal Marsden in Sutton, and to modernise its existing hospitals in Epsom and St Helier. This co-location with The Royal Marsden will lead to greater synergy between clinical teams at the Trust and Epsom and St Helier, ensuring that all patients get the very best integrated care. Commissioners are also considering plans for an elective oncology surgery centre – which would expand the surgical capacity at Sutton – and for collaboration on critical care in the new building.
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4 The ICR Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery 7
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This new research centre opened in November 2020 and aims to overcome cancer’s ability to evolve and become resistant to treatments. Here, scientists hope their approaches will lead to a new generation of ‘antievolution’ treatments that provide long-term control of cancer, as well as cures. The centre will house the world’s first ‘Darwinian’ drug discovery programme, aiming to create innovative new strategies to defeat cancer.
Sutton’s current buildings 5 Maggie’s Centre 6 NIHR Centre for Molecular Pathology 7 The Institute of Cancer Research, London 8 The Royal Marsden
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FINE FELLOWS The Royal Marsden launched the Robotic Surgery Fellowship in 2017 with funding from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Since then, we’ve trained six surgeons to operate on patients using the da Vinci surgical robots. We find out how their training has given them the expertise to perform robotic surgery in hospitals in the UK and beyond
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Mr Marc Bullock
Mr Ibnauf Suliman
Mr Suliman was The Royal Marsden’s first robotics fellow and completed his one-year training in April 2018. He is now a Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon at the Royal Free London and specialises in minimally invasive surgery. “For me, it was the perfect fellowship as I gained experience with three different specialties – urology, gynaecology and coloproctology,” he says. “These aren’t normally integrated in training. It also prepared me to become a consultant. There’s a close-knit community of experts at The Royal Marsden, and learning from them enhanced my leadership and organisational skills. I’m in the process of acquiring a second surgical robot for the Royal Free and my experience from the fellowship has been invaluable.”
After completing his Royal Marsden training in April 2019, Mr Bullock became a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at the Royal United Hospital in Bath and found that the fellowship advanced his career prospects. “Thanks to The Royal Marsden, I’m one of a small number of colorectal surgeons who underwent robotic training before becoming a consultant,” he says. “This was a huge advantage in securing my current job, where I’m planning to set up a surgical robotics programme.”
“There’s a close-knit community of experts at The Royal Marsden”
ROBOTIC SURGERY
Our robotics expertise
Ms Eva Bolton
Photograph of Ms Collins: NHS Lothian
After completing her training in August 2020, Ms Bolton became a Consultant Uro-oncologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. She credits the fellowship with improving her surgical and patient management skills. “Before coming to The Royal Marsden, I had no experience of robotic surgery as there were no surgical robots in public hospitals in Ireland when I trained,” she says. “The fellowship was a great introduction to robotics. I learned from excellent mentors, worked across specialties and even visited the da Vinci training lab in Ghent, Belgium, where I had one-to-one training. “The multi-specialty training has improved my overall patient care. Working with each of the three pelvic sub-specialties has given me greater insight into operative planning and post-operative management.”
Ms Danielle Collins
Ms Collins, a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, finished the fellowship in August 2019. She moved to Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, where she pioneered the use of the Versius surgical robot in both the NHS and Europe. “While Versius differs from The Royal Marsden’s da Vinci system, the fellowship gave me a good understanding of how the technology works, which was great as we were setting up the service from
scratch,” she says. “I also learned how to perform pelvic exenteration, a complex procedure used when cancer has spread within the pelvis. “Introducing the system at NHS Lothian was amazing as it demonstrated we’re an innovative centre open to new techniques. “As a surgeon, it’s very exciting: robotic surgery can make operations easier as you can see better, have a greater range of movement and can be more precise.” >
The Royal Marsden has been performing robotically assisted surgical procedures for patients since 2007. We now have two da Vinci Xi robots in use at the Trust – both funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity – and have performed thousands of operations for patients with head and neck, urological, gynaecological, gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers. Using a control console to manoeuvre the da Vinci’s robotic arms, surgeons can make microscopic incisions with greater accuracy and control. For patients, this means less pain and faster recovery after surgery. The Robotic Surgery Fellowship was launched in 2017 in order to train the robotic surgeons of the future to operate across multiple tumour types. The programme is led by Consultant Surgeons Mr Pardeep Kumar, Ms Marielle Nobbenhuis and Mr Shahnawaz Rasheed. It is made possible by the da Vinci Xi’s dual console, which allows our consultants to supervise trainees during live surgery without compromising patient safety.
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ROBOTIC SURGERY
Ms Ailín Rogers
The most recent robotic recruit, Ms Rogers will complete her training in August. She recently secured a position as a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Mater Hospital in Dublin. “Surgeons have traditionally been trained separately in gynaecology, urology and coloproctology,” she says. “But pathologies in the pelvis don’t obey these rules, so it’s beneficial to be equipped with the skills to operate in all the pelvic compartments. “I’m excited by the possibilities, including expanding my skill set and using robotic surgery in more advanced cancer cases. My main goal is to improve patient experience and outcomes in my next role.”
“More patients across the country will benefit from robotic surgery” 16 RM magazine
Miss Manou Kaur
After finishing her training in October 2020, Miss Kaur joined Liverpool Women’s Hospital as a Consultant Gynaecological Surgeon to set up a robotic surgical programme for treating gynaecological diseases. “I became interested in gynaecology because women
can be a vulnerable patient group,” she says. “There are some chronic gynaecological diseases, such as endometriosis and fibroid disease, that are debilitating and severely affect quality of life, yet lack treatment options. “The fellowship provided me with a unique opportunity to learn new surgical skills and techniques. I have taken this knowledge and experience to my new post. This means that more patients across the country – including those with gynaecological cancers and other chronic diseases affecting women’s reproductive organs – will benefit from the latest robotic surgery. I’m looking to introduce new procedures using robotic surgery to improve pelvic pain and fertility and help women cope with abnormal uterine bleeding.” RM
IT HAPPENED TO ME
I TOOK PART IN A RESEARCH STUDY THAT SAVED MY LIFE AND WILL SAVE MANY MORE John Sutton, 71, prostate cancer patient
At the start of the study, I had a biopsy. It showed no evidence of cancer, but because I was at greater risk, I was told that my PSA [prostate-specific antigen] levels would be monitored regularly, which I thought was a fantastic deal. Over the next few years, there was a gradual increase in my PSA levels and, in 2015, the team decided to investigate. An MRI scan and another biopsy confirmed I had prostate cancer. I was told the cancer was not in a dangerous spot, so I decided to go on active surveillance, which meant having regular tests and scans to monitor my cancer. That went on until 2017, when my PSA
“It has underlined the importance of early diagnosis”
PROSTATE CANCER RUNS IN my family. My father died of the disease when I was 25 and, years later, my brother Ray was also diagnosed with it. Luckily, it had been caught early and Ray was successfully treated. I knew this put me at greater risk so, in 2011, I visited my GP, who told me about research
led by Professor Ros Eeles at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London [ICR]. The study aimed to better understand the genetic markers that cause prostate cancer, and the researchers were looking for people with a family history of the disease to take part. I was keen to be involved.
levels went up again and I was advised that I’d need treatment. I was offered a number of treatment options, and I chose to have robotic surgery using the da Vinci surgical system to remove the cancer. The operation was a success. Some 15 months later, I was able to trek 140 miles in the Himalayas, which proved to me that I had fully recovered. Since the surgery, my PSA levels have been virtually zero and continue to remain undetectable. I will continue to be monitored by my local GP. I feel unbelievably fortunate to have taken part in Professor Eeles’ study. I have received the best possible care and treatment at this wonderful hospital and my experience has underlined the importance of early diagnosis. It not only saved my life, it is absolutely paramount for saving many more, too. RM
Professor Ros Eeles
Consultant Clinical Oncologist “We are very grateful to John for taking part in our research studies. “There is a close partnership between the ICR and The Royal Marsden to enable discoveries in the lab to be rapidly applied to clinical trials and care. We have established a prostate risk clinic at The Royal Marsden to translate our research advances in prostate cancer genetics. “John’s story shows how the involvement of patients in our research helps us to make the discoveries which we hope will diagnose cancers earlier when they are easier to treat and more likely to be cured.”
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A DAY IN T HE L IF E OF
JODIE BASSO SUPERINTENDENT R A D I O G R A P H E R F O R X- R AY A N D INTERVENTIONAL R ADIOLOGY
I JOINED THE ROYAL MARSDEN as a rotational radiographer in 2016, before moving into my current role in 2019. I lead the X-ray and interventional radiology (IR) services at the Chelsea hospital. Our X-ray service, which provides plain-film imaging for outpatients, inpatients and patients who need imaging during surgery, is available both here and in Sutton. But my role is based mainly in IR – which involves using real-time imaging techniques, including X-rays and ultrasound, to perform minimally ALL IN THE IMAGE Jodie uses a range of specialist imaging techniques to help deliver the best treatment options for patients
invasive medical treatments. We have a small team of specialist consultant interventional radiologists, nurses, radiographers and a booking co-ordinator, who work closely to provide procedures for patients. We are also supported by the daily units to help with patient recovery. Setting daily priorities Normally, I start work at 8am when I review the elective procedures planned for that day. We sometimes receive urgent or emergency referrals overnight, so I also prioritise these according to clinical need.
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A D AY I N T H E L I F E
Our daily list often includes supportive procedures, such as image-guided biopsies, drain insertions and enteral tube placements. We also provide disease-modifying procedures such as image-guided ablation therapies and embolisations. At 9am, we have a daily huddle where I delegate tasks to the team to ensure that patients are ready for their procedures. We then prepare sterile procedure trolleys for each case. It’s important we check that patients’ blood test results show it’s safe to proceed with any planned intervention. We also confirm that they have fasted so they can be sedated safely, and we will insert a cannula so they can have an intravenous sedative. I co-ordinate which staff are needed for each procedure and what their specific role will be. I may also help to provide specialist imaging, such as cross-sectional imaging (such as CT scans) and fluoroscopy or digital subtraction angiography, which allow us to depict structures and blood vessels so that consultants can perform the procedure safely.
CO-ORDINATING CARE Jodie plans which staff are needed for each procedure and may also help to provide specialist imaging
Personalising treatment Two days a week, we perform ablative therapy with the help of the anaesthetic team. The most common procedure is microwave ablation, which we routinely perform to treat tumours in the liver, lungs and kidneys.
“Providing new therapies means we can deliver more personalised treatment options for our patients”
Using image guidance, the interventional radiologist places a probe into a tumour. Heat is then applied via the probe, destroying the cancer cells in the localised area. I particularly enjoy being involved in ablative therapy: I’m responsible for providing the cross-sectional imaging, which allows the consultant to see that the probe is in the ideal position. I normally finish at 5pm, but we also provide a shared on-call service out-of-hours for all NHS trusts on Fulham Road. I love being part of a hard-working team that always puts the patient first. IR is a small part of a bigger department, but we are always striving to improve the service that we offer. For example, in the past two years, we’ve started providing new therapies, such as NanoKnife and cryoablation, which means we can deliver more personalised treatment options for our patients and improve their outcomes. RM RM magazine 19
SOMEBODY T O LE A N ON Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on the mental wellbeing of healthcare workers, which is why The Royal Marsden has enhanced the support it offers to its staff “2020 WAS A CHALLENGE for me. I lost my mum early in the year and, once I returned to work, adapting to changes related to COVID-19 and witnessing the impact on staff and patients was tough.” The story of Aly Foyle, Matron in The Royal Marsden’s Bud Flanagan Unit, is a familiar one for many people working in healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the pressure on healthcare workers considerably, 20 RM magazine
as they have had to adapt to new safety measures and protocols, work with fewer staff, and care for patients with the virus. From the start of the pandemic, The Royal Marsden’s Staff Counselling and Psychotherapy Service has adapted the support it offers to help our staff cope with these uncertain times. Funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the service is made up of accredited counsellors
WELLBEING AT WORK Sara Lister, Head of Pastoral Care, Psychological Support and the Patient Advice and Liaison Service
and psychotherapists and provides individual and group counselling, clinical supervision, support following traumatic events, stress management education and mindfulness courses to employees. “Supporting hospital staff has always been essential, but COVID-19 has really brought the importance of having a flexible and responsive service to the fore,” says Sara Lister, Head of Pastoral Care, Psychological Support and the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). Safe spaces Along with the Adult Psychological Support Service and the Trust’s chaplains, our counsellors set up the Telephone Emotional Support
S TA F F S U P P O RT
“It’s great to see teams around the hospital prioritising their wellbeing” for Staff (TESS) crisis helpline, which is staffed outside of normal working hours, and began offering telephone and virtual counselling, which had previously been provided face-to-face. They also set up daily drop-in spaces in Chelsea and Sutton to help staff de-stress, facilitated conversations for teams to talk through their experiences of the pandemic, and created an online mindfulness course. “Caring for patients with cancer often involves uncertainty and loss, which can have a significant psychological impact,” says Angela Gillard, Psychotherapist and Lead of the Staff Counselling and Psychotherapy Service.
COUNSEL IN A CRISIS Eilidh Bateman, staff psychotherapist
“The pandemic has added a new dimension to the work being undertaken. Our usual distractions and coping mechanisms are less available, so more staff are turning to the service we offer. As the pandemic continues, we’re supporting them with issues such as low mood and compassion fatigue, which have become more prominent and mirror society.”
STAFF SUPPORT Angela Gillard leads the Staff Counselling and Psychotherapy Service
Caring for the carers Aly received support from the Staff Counselling and Psychotherapy Service to help her cope with the changes brought about by COVID-19. “The staff support service enabled me to continue helping my staff and provided light on the dark, difficult days,” she says. “There is no judgement.” Our psychotherapists and counsellors – including Georgina Gibbard, Eilidh Bateman and
Robert Sookhan – know the importance of practising what they preach and are mindful about the way they operate as a team. “We’re the carers of the carers, and although there has been a crisis, the service has focused on staying stable and solid to help contain everyone’s anxieties and worries,” says Georgina. “We consciously model how we look after each other and hope to create a ripple effect to other teams in the hospital. “It’s great to see teams around the hospital prioritising their wellbeing during the pandemic by attending reflective groups, carrying out mindfulness exercises on the wards, and supporting colleagues to ensure they know it’s OK not to be OK.” RM
Want to know more? To get in touch with the team, email support.staffcounselling@ rmh.nhs.uk RM magazine 21
LIFELONG LEARNING Histopathologist Dr Shraddha Adamane (top); Dr Jaishree Bhosle, Director of Medical Education (left); Miss Fiona MacNeill, Consultant Breast Surgeon (above)
22 RM magazine
M E D I C A L E D U C AT I O N
LE ARNING ON THE JOB We trace the medical education journey from student to consultant and speak to doctors at different stages of training about their roles QUALIFYING AS A specialist consultant doctor in the UK is a lengthy and rigorous process – the medical education pathway can take more than 15 years – yet myths persist about the expertise of doctors in training. Dr Jaishree Bhosle, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Director of Medical Education, says that the term ‘junior doctor’ is often misunderstood: “Patients have told me that they don’t understand the different job titles, especially ‘junior doctor’. But when I explain the length of training many of our junior doctors have had, they’re quite taken aback.” All doctors in training are broadly referred to as junior doctors. They form a vital part of the NHS, treating patients at The Royal Marsden and elsewhere. From student to Foundation doctor “All aspiring doctors start by obtaining an undergraduate degree in medicine, which can take four to six years,” Dr Bhosle says. “Students learn the basic knowledge and skills required to be a doctor, from physiology and biochemistry, to how to take a medical history and examine a patient.” Students become qualified doctors following graduation, but must undertake further training with consultant supervision.
“A medical professional is in training for life”
First, they enrol on a two-year Foundation Programme. Foundation doctors always train in general medicine and general surgery, but can also cover fields such as general practice, paediatrics and psychiatry. Choosing a specialty Junior doctors then decide which specialty to train in – for example, anaesthetics. For many hospital-based specialties, training can take seven years and is often split into core training and, later, higher specialty training. It is supervised by the Royal Colleges and Health Education England, and is regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC). “Following Foundation training, doctors are known as specialty registrars, with a number to denote the year of training they are in – for example, CT1, ST4 – though often they are referred to as senior house officers or registrars,” says Dr Bhosle. Specialty Registrar Dr Nadza Tokaca completed medical school in 2006 and has been at The Royal Marsden since 2010. She says: “I’ve had the chance to rotate through different units. But when I qualify as a consultant, I’m considering specialising in lung cancer, my doctorate topic. It’s been so exciting to see treatment for the disease change with the introduction of targeted therapy and immunotherapy. “My specialty training has been flexible – it has allowed me to have three children, spend four years doing research, and mature and acquire experience.” >
THE MEDICAL EDUCATION PATHWAY Medical degree
4-6
years
Foundation Programme
2
years
Core training
2-3 +
years
Higher specialty training
4-6 +
years
Consultant appointment
RM magazine 23
M E D I C A L E D U C AT I O N
Fellows and fellowships “In addition to specialty trainees, The Royal Marsden has lots of doctors who we refer to as fellows,” Dr Bhosle says. “Often, doctors in this group want to gain more experience and, as the hospital is a world-class centre for treatment and research, many are employed in clinical academic roles. Also, many senior doctors or consultants come here from abroad for specialist training.” Histopathologist Dr Shraddha Adamane trained in India, where she was working as an associate consultant. She is undertaking an international fellowship at The Royal Marsden and aspires to become an NHS consultant. “For me, it’s an honour to work in such a prestigious institution alongside world-renowned consultants,” she says. “Working internationally has taught me different approaches, broadened my horizons, and given me the opportunity to develop my diagnostic approach.” Becoming a consultant Before becoming a consultant, doctors need to receive a certificate of completion of training, which confirms that they
HIGHLY TRAINED Junior doctors perform vital duties at The Royal Marsden and across the NHS
24 RM magazine
have successfully completed a GMCapproved training programme. Dr Bhosle says: “Medical professionals can then apply for consultant jobs, which vary considerably; most are focused on delivering patient care, but many hold other roles such as research, education or management.” Miss Fiona MacNeill became a specialist Consultant Breast Surgeon in 1996 and has been at The Royal Marsden since 2006, pioneering advances in breast reconstruction. “I decided to become a surgeon because, at the time [in the 1970s], everyone said women couldn’t be surgeons,” she says. “There were two women for every 500 men doing medical training then. Things are much better now, and about 60 per cent of medical students are female – though only 25 per cent of surgical trainees are women. “My role as a consultant means that I’m a clinician, researcher, leader, administrator and educator, but also a learner. I need to keep up with medical advances, so I am constantly learning through teaching my trainees and being taught by them and my colleagues worldwide. To be a medical professional is to be in training for life.” RM
CALLING ON THE SAS Staff, specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors are permanent employees who are neither consultants nor trainees. They undertake at least four years of postgraduate training – two of which are in a relevant specialty – and there are 25 of them working at The Royal Marsden. “SAS doctors are often confused with junior doctors, despite the fact they are fully trained for the roles they undertake,” Dr Bhosle says. “However, these diverse roles involve a high level of autonomy and, for many, are more appealing than becoming a consultant due to geographical stability and the chance to work regular hours in a chosen specialty.” Dr Michael Frow, an anaesthetics and intensive care SAS doctor and newly appointed SAS tutor, says: “While the role is a good option for those who enjoy practising clinical medicine over managerial activities, there is a drive to get more SAS doctors into leadership roles. The Royal Marsden is supporting this initiative, which is exciting for the SAS doctors at the Trust.”
ON TRACC Professor David Cunningham
LIQUID MEASURES BRC experts are researching whether a simple blood test could help patients with early bowel cancer avoid unnecessary chemotherapy after surgery BOWEL CANCER IS the third most common cancer in the UK, with more than 42,000 people diagnosed with the disease every year. Around three in four patients are diagnosed when it is at an early stage and undergo surgery to remove the cancer. Patients with high-risk stage 2 or stage 3 bowel cancer are then offered chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells, and are monitored for recurrence for up to five years via blood tests and CT scans.
Despite this ‘one size fits all’ approach, around half of these patients will have been cured by surgery alone, so they gain no benefit from chemotherapy and may suffer side effects unnecessarily. Researchers from The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR), are aiming to improve care for early bowel cancer patients in two areas. First, we need to detect recurrence early so that effective treatments can be started as soon as possible.
Second, we need a precise method to identify patients who will benefit from chemotherapy after surgery. The Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at The Royal Marsden and the ICR is running the TRACC study to investigate whether a blood test, or ‘liquid biopsy’, can help with this. Liquid biopsies can detect fragments of DNA from tumours in the blood – known as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) – which indicates that some cancer cells remain in the body. Blood samples taken from patients in the first part of TRACC in 2016 have helped us to develop tests to measure ctDNA levels, and will help guide chemotherapy decisions in the next phase of the study. Now, researchers will look for ctDNA in patients. Those whose tests show ctDNA will know that chemotherapy is necessary and beneficial. Meanwhile, those whose tests do not detect ctDNA can avoid chemotherapy. They will have repeat liquid biopsies at regular intervals to monitor ctDNA, with chemotherapy an option if needed. The study is led by Professor David Cunningham, Director of the NIHR BRC at The Royal Marsden and the ICR. He says: “The use of a simple blood test could revolutionise treatment for operable bowel cancer within five to eight years, sparing around 6,500 patients from unnecessary chemotherapy every year.” This project is funded by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme, a Medical Research Council and NIHR partnership, and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. RM
What is the Biomedical Research Centre?
The National Institute for Health Research-funded Biomedical Research Centre for cancer is a partnership between The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London. It supports the rapid translation of leading-edge cancer research from the laboratory and into a clinical setting. Find out more at cancerbrc.org RM magazine 25
TWO DECADES OF PINK PONY SUPPORT A virtual celebration
RALPH LAUREN’S global Pink Pony fundraising and cancer awareness initiative celebrated its 20th anniversary in October. With a theme of ‘More Conversations, More Love’, the anniversary campaign focused on how love and support form part of a cancer patient’s journey. The annual Pink Pony Walk went virtual, while The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity benefited from the entire purchase price of each pink ‘Live Love’ T-shirt sold and 25 per cent of the purchase price of all other items in the Pink Pony Collection. Antonia Dalmahoy, Managing Director of the Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Ralph Lauren Corporation for their ongoing commitment to supporting the Charity and The Royal Marsden. This has helped to establish the Ralph Lauren Centre for Breast Cancer Research, will
“Ralph Lauren’s campaign has raised vital funds for the Charity” 26 RM magazine
enable us to create the Ralph Lauren Research Zone in our new Oak Cancer Centre, and so much more. The Pink Pony campaign has been an enormous part of this, bringing staff and customers together each year to raise vital funds for the Charity.”
Want to know more? Visit ralphlauren.co.uk/ pinkpony
LIVE LOVE Deborah James, cancer patient and podcaster, wears a Ralph Lauren Pink Pony T-shirt
Last year’s Celebrate a Life carol service was a little different, with our supporters, patients and staff gathering virtually in December. There were hymns, prayers and performances from local bands and choirs, as well as a very special reading from our guest speaker, Jonathan Pryce CBE. The Christmas trees outside our hospitals were still decorated with thousands of gold Celebrate a Life stars, each one with the name of someone special handwritten in the centre. The event raised a record £112,059, helping us make a real difference to the lives of cancer patients and their families. Barry Symons named a star for his wife Ann, who was treated at The Royal Marsden and passed away in 2014. He said: “Celebrate a Life is a lovely event. We take part because it’s a way of remembering and connecting with Ann, who loved Christmas, and giving back too.”
Want to know more? Visit royalmarsden.org/star
T H E R O YA L M A R S D E N C A N C E R C H A R I T Y
Hat’s magic Jeannie Donnelly, a breast cancer patient at The Royal Marsden, is raising funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity through the sale of her bamboo beanie hats. She designed Jeannie’s Beanies to support patients going through chemotherapy and other treatments who may experience side effects of hair loss. Jeannie said: “I wanted to create something that would help patients like me, as well as giving back to The Royal Marsden, who I am forever grateful to. I hope they bring comfort to others during a challenging time.”
Want to know more?
Movie magic in miniature YOUNG PATIENTS, FAMILIES and staff enjoyed a very special Christmas display over the festive season, thanks to the support of Disney+ and its celebration of the classic family film Home Alone. To mark 30 years since the film’s release, Disney+ commissioned a gingerbread house recreation of the McCallister family home in the movie. The 1.7m-long, 1.25m-wide edible replica took more than 300 hours to make. Through Disney+’s support for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the display was moved to the Oak Centre for Children and Young People in December to bring some Christmas magic to all. The centre is also home to a permanent AMAZING MODELS The edible Home Alone house (top) and Lego London (above right)
Visit jeanniebeanie.co.uk
Jog on!
Lego display: a miniature model of London that includes a working train and features some of the capital’s iconic landmarks. It was kindly donated by Charity supporters Sir Ben and Lady Ainslie, with the bespoke case created by technicians at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London.
Contact The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity Telephone 020 7808 2233 Email charity@royalmarsden.org Visit royalmarsden.org Registered Charity No. 1095197
In January, over 2,700 supporters and Royal Marsden staff joined our Facebook group and laced up their trainers to tackle The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s ‘Jog 40 Miles for January’ challenge, raising more than £200,000 for the Oak Cancer Centre appeal. Taking part was Amy Sutton, who was diagnosed with leukaemia aged three in 1991 and has been treated at The Royal Marsden since she was eight. Amy said: “The challenge has been really fun. I have been fast walking around my local area, which has been great exercise and a chance to get some fresh air.”
Want to know more? Learn more about the appeal at royalmarsden.org/appeal RM magazine 27
MEET THE GOVERNORS Two Patient Governors reflect on their experiences so far, and the challenges of the last year in particular
Tom Brown
Nigel Platt
Patient Governor Having been diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014, Tom, who was elected as a Patient Governor in 2019, is aware how stressful the past year has been for cancer patients. “I know that 2020 brought special anxiety to anyone with a cancer diagnosis, past or present,” he said. “Even for those who have had the ‘all clear’, there was the nagging worry of whether annual scans would be cancelled or delayed, meaning a recurrence could go undetected.” Although the Trust’s Governors haven’t been able to visit the hospitals since
“2020 brought special anxiety to anyone with a cancer diagnosis” 28 RM magazine
Patient Governor
last March, the Council meetings resumed quickly in a virtual format, mirroring The Royal Marsden’s rapid response to the pandemic. Tom said: “It has been heartening to see executive leadership and clinical teams moving rapidly to create a COVID-19-safe environment for staff and patients, and by early summer putting a recovery plan in place for all pre-pandemic treatment standards and targets.” Tom is involved in the Preparing for Excellence in Patient Administration project, which aims to bring patient administration into the 21st century. He said: “COVID-19 has accelerated initiatives to give patients the safety and choice of video consultations and online appointment tracking.”
Nigel was elected as a Patient Governor in 2019, but his connection to The Royal Marsden goes back decades. “My father was diagnosed with melanoma in 1985, before my late first wife fell ill with breast cancer some years later,” he said. “They received fantastic care and advice at The Royal Marsden – and, for my part, when I became a kidney cancer patient in 2016, I appreciated the effort the Chief of Surgery, Professor David Nicol, made to perform my operation as soon as possible.” In his role as Governor, Nigel aims to consider what the patients’ angle on key issues might be. “The Trust is working hard to provide new capacity, more modern facilities and better transport for outpatients in
“The Trust is working to provide new capacity and facilities” Sutton – all of which are critical to patients,” he said. “As a scientist myself, I’m also interested in the new research being done. “2020 was a frightening year for our patients,” Nigel added. “The Royal Marsden’s decisions to test all staff right from the beginning of the pandemic, and to invite surgical teams from other London hospitals to use our theatres, were transformative, allowing urgent treatment to continue and over 2,000 more operations to be completed during the first half of the year alone.”
F O U N DAT I O N N E W S
Dates for your diary Council of Governors meeting 17 March 2021 Board of Directors meeting 6 July 2021 Council of Governors meeting 14 July 2021
WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAND FOR ELECTION? WE’RE LOOKING FOR candidates to put themselves forward for election to The Royal Marsden’s Council of Governors. In this year’s elections, which run from 12 March to 11 May, there are vacancies in two categories: Patient Governor, Elsewhere in England, and Public Governor, Elsewhere in England. Our Governors play an important role in the governance framework of The Royal Marsden, providing advice and support to the Board of Directors, which is responsible for the overall management of the Trust. By attending quarterly Council of Governors meetings and the Annual General Meeting, Governors become aware of and discuss key issues as well as the strategic direction of the organisation while representing the views of their members.
The Council of Governors meetings are the main forum through which Governors fulfil their statutory duties. However, they also contribute and add value outside of these meetings by joining various working groups and committees. You don’t need any specific qualifications to become a Governor, as all successful candidates will be provided with training and support to carry out the role effectively. So if you’re interested, please get in touch!
Want to know more? To stand as a candidate in the elections, or to find out more about the role, please contact Rebecca Hudson, Membership Manager, on 020 7808 2844 or rebecca.hudson@rmh.nhs.uk
For details of these meetings, please call 020 7808 2844 or email corporate governance@ rmh.nhs.uk
Keep in touch
2021 election timeline
Call 020 7808 2844 or email trust. foundation@ rmh.nhs.uk. Contact your Governor by email at governors@ rmh.nhs.uk
Nominations open Friday 12 March
Become a member
Deadline for nominations Monday 29 March Voting opens Tuesday 20 April Voting closes Tuesday 11 May
To sign up and become a member, visit royalmarsden. nhs.uk/ membership or call 020 7808 2844 to request a membership form
Results published Wednesday 12 May
RM magazine 29
PUZZLES & PRIZES
PRIZE CROSSWORD
Winter 2020 crossword solution Across 1 Topaz 4 Choir 6 Napkins 8 Bath 9 Nudge 12 Niche 13 Jill 15 Several 17 Funny 18 Girth Down 1 Trombones 2 Plastic 3 Zany 4 Capone 5 Obi 7 Shellfish 10 Daimler 11 Nearby 14 Slug 16 Van Congratulations to Catherine Bell, the winner of the winter 2020 issue’s crossword prize. 3
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Try the fiendishly tricky numbers puzzle – it’s just for fun
FOR THE ROYAL MARSDEN
8
3 1
5 3 7 1
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Send your crossword with your name and contact details to RM, PR and Communications Team, The Royal Marsden, Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW3 6JJ. The entry closing date is Monday 10 May 2021. See below for prize draw rules.
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THE TEAM
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The lucky winner of our prize crossword will receive a £50 John Lewis & Partners gift card.
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SUDOKU
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CROSSWORD CLUES Across 2 Dog (9) 6 Donkey (3) 7 Tropical fruit (7) 8 Male ducks (6) 9 Outdoor event with stalls and entertainment (4) 11 Takes part in a play (4) 12 Famous tenor (6) 16 Military dress (7) 17 Female rabbit (3) 18 Musician (9)
Down 1 Facial hair (5) 2 Get the engine going again (7) 3 Make fun of playfully (5) 4 Religious painting (4) 5 European river (5) 10 South American country (7) 11 Grown-up (5) 13 Allow to enter (5) 14 Greek letter (5) 15 Used for cleaning (4)
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SPRING 2021 PRIZE CROSSWORD ENTRY FORM Fill in your details below when sending in your crossword competition entry. See above for details of our address. NAME ADDRESS
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30 RM magazine
Rachael Reeve Director of Marketing and Communications Elaine Parr Head of PR and Communications Abby Samuel Senior PR and Communications Manager Catherine O’Mara Senior PR and Communications Officer Francesca Vitale Senior PR and Communications Officer Georgia Tilley Senior PR and Communications Officer Emma Dowse Senior Case Studies Officer Orla Anandarajah PR and Communications Assistant
FOR SUNDAY Marc Grainger Editor Robert Hearn Senior Designer Gill Tait Account Director Richard Robinson Content Director Sam Walker Creative Director Toby Smeeton Managing Director
PRIZE DRAW TERMS AND CONDITIONS
RM magazine is published by The Royal Marsden in partnership with Sunday: wearesunday.com
1. The Prize Draw is open to all readers of RM except employees of the Press Office at The Royal Marsden and Sunday, who produce RM magazine. 2. The closing date for receipt of all entries is Monday 10 May 2021. Only one entry per person per draw. 3. Responsibility cannot be accepted for entries that are incomplete, illegible or not received. Proof of posting is not proof of receipt. No cash alternative is available and prizes are not transferable. Value of prize is correct at time of going to press. 4. Winners will be notified by post within 14 days of closing date.
© The Royal Marsden 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission of the Editor. The Royal Marsden and Sunday accept no responsibility for the views expressed by contributors to the magazine. Repro by F1 Colour. Printed by Geoff Neal Group.
5. The Promoter’s decision on any aspect of the promotions is final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into. 6. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should circumstances make this necessary. 7. Entry implies acceptance of rules. 8. The winner of the crossword prize of a £50 John Lewis & Partners gift card will be the first correct entry drawn out of the bag. 9. The Promoter is The Royal Marsden, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ.
S TAY I N T O U C H
COMMENT, LIKE, SHARE Join the conversation on Twitter @royalmarsden and @royalmarsdenNHS Facebook @royalmarsden, @royalmarsdenchelsea and @royalmarsdenNHS Instagram @royalmarsden Twitter
Instagram Tia Daby @tiabobbirosh_daby Thank you @royalmarsden for all you do, the highlight of my birthday on Thursday was finding my star on the tree! [right]
Shiona Ramage @shomelanoma Big thanks to the incredible teams at @royalmarsdenNHS who have continued to look after patients so well during this very challenging year #royalmarsden Jo Frost @Jo_Frost Join me in giving the NHS @royalmarsden the biggest THANK YOU for all they do!
MaxGreen @MaxGreenpi1 Early diagnosis saved my daughter Emily’s life. That, and the skills of The Royal Marsden surgery and chemotherapy teams. I’m grateful every day.
Richard Harvey @harves79 Very proud to deliver presents with @ElizabethMayes from our wonderfully generous @STJLowerSchool this morning to the @royalmarsden Oak Centre for Children and Young People which treats young people fighting cancer [above].
Hazel Ball-Walker Good luck to the Oak Cancer Centre. I was a patient at Sutton Marsden 7 years ago. What can I say... they looked after me and [gave me] after support... they are amazing
thank you be enough to say, this hospital deserves a mention and accolades every day
Gill Foster My friend owes her life to the Royal Marsden Hospital, 28 years later she is still very, very well. How can
Kathy Baker The brilliant Royal Marsden! Helping so many patients to live life to the full and enjoy all the precious family times. Priceless!
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE ROYAL MARSDEN CANCER CHARITY
CONTACT THE FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL MARSDEN, CHELSEA
CONTACT US CALL THE ROYAL MARSDEN, CHELSEA
020 7352 8171
CONTACT THE ROYAL MARSDEN HELP CENTRE For confidential chat, support and information, call
CALL THE ROYAL MARSDEN, SUTTON
0800 783 7176
020 7808 2233
CALL US
CALL US
VISIT US ONLINE royalmarsden.nhs.uk
or visit royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ your-care/royal-marsdenhelp-centre
EMAIL US charity@royalmarsden.org
EMAIL US friends.chelsea@rmh.nhs.uk
VISIT US ONLINE royalmarsden.org
VISIT US ONLINE formc.uk
Registered Charity No. 1095197
Registered Charity No. 222613
020 8642 6011
WANT TO WORK AT THE ROYAL MARSDEN? Visit jobs.royalmarsden.nhs.uk READ RM MAGAZINE ONLINE royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ rm-magazine
For general feedback, compliments, concerns or complaints, send us a message royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ get_in_touch
020 7352 3875
Look out for the summer 2021 issue of RM – coming June 2021 RM magazine 31
LAKE DISTRICT TRIPLE CHALLENGE Trek to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston, cycle the off-road mountain trails of Grizedale Forest, then kayak across iconic Coniston Water. Join us from 10 – 12 September 2021 for this incredible adventure! Your support will help build the Oak Cancer Centre, which will transform the lives of cancer patients at The Royal Marsden and beyond. Sign up now to help us build hope, brick by brick.
royalmarsden.org/lakedistrict community.events@rmh.nhs.uk 020 8661 3391 Registered Charity No. 1095197