Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Meet Mark Witherden, Assistant Chaplain, who won Corporate Services Champion in our recent staff awards, Royal Surrey Stars ⭐ Mark devoted his spare time to putting together a practical and thoughtful book to help our patients come to terms with dying, called 'Me – A Journal for My Journey'. The book includes pages for patients to write funeral wishes, life reflections or messages to their families. Dominque Vincent, Head of Communications, nominated Mark. She said: “Mark is always thinking about improving the service the Spiritual Care Team offers, coming up with inventive ways to bring sunshine into people's lives. He is a wonderful person for people to lean on when they need support.” Thank you Mark for your devotion to our end-of-life patients <3

March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, a vital time to spotlight this difficult-to-diagnose disease. Debbie McPhie, Royal Surrey patient, experienced a year of persistent small pains and abdominal discomfort, which she initially attributed to menopause. In February 2024, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Debbie said: "If you're worrying about uncertain niggles and things that don't feel right, don't ignore them or put up with them. You know your body better than anyone." Read Debbie's full story: https://ow.ly/Iw7K50VlfNK #RoyalSurrey #OvarianCancerAwarenessMonth #NHS

Dr Elizabeth Potter, Clinical Lead in our Intensive Care Unit, recently met Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace for International Women’s Day 👧🏻 She attended a special reception for The WOW Foundation, celebrating its 15th anniversary. #RoyalSurrey #WOWFoundation #NHS

Meet our Breast Radiology Team who won Clinical Team of the Year in our recent staff awards, Royal Surrey Stars ⭐ Throughout the year, the team encountered significant challenges, such as a rise in service demand and a nationwide lack of skilled breast radiologists. To overcome these hurdles, they transformed how they deliver their service and now see more women than ever in the same time frame. Emma Wood, Chief of Service for Diagnostic and Clinical Support Services, nominated the team. She said: “I nominated this team because of the vision, dedication and sheer hard work that they have shown and continue to show in providing the breast radiology service for our patients in Surrey. “Their teamwork has resulted in significant efficiencies compared to working alone and allows them to see more women than previously in the same amount of time.” Congratulations to our Breast Radiology Team for your incredible resilience and ingenuity 👏

Congratulations to our Hepatology team, who have officially been awarded the Improving Quality in Liver Services (IQILS) accreditation from the Royal College of Physicians College of Physicians. Our hepatology unit is the only centre in Surrey, and one of the very few in the country, to have achieved this accreditation. Read more about our incredible hepatology unit: https://lnkd.in/ex4d4NaS #RoyalSurrey #Hepatology #NHS

“I am most proud when I see people are able to hear again. It brings an enormous sense of satisfaction to both me as the clinician and to the patient,” Laleh Dastan, Audiologist and Hearing Therapist. To celebrate Healthcare Science Week (10-16 March), we're shining a spotlight on some of the brilliant healthcare scientists at Royal Surrey. These professionals play an essential role in patient care, ensuring accurate diagnoses and safe, effective treatments. Say hello to Laleh 👋 Laleh cares for patients with hearing loss, tinnitus and balance dysfunction. She works closely with them during their treatment and rehabilitation. Read Laleh’s Q&A: https://lnkd.in/eBJM5Qza #HealthcareScienceWeek #HealthcareScientists #Radiotherapy #CancerCare

“The investigations I conduct as a duty biochemist play a crucial role in helping clinicians determine the causes of patients' illnesses. I find great satisfaction in this aspect of my job, as it allows me to contribute in a meaningful and unique way,” Vanessa Lo Curto, Clinical Biochemist. Meet Vanessa 👋 She works as a Clinical Biochemist in the Berkshire Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS) network. Her responsibilities include clinical interpretation and analysis of patient samples, such as blood and urine, to help diagnosis conditions such as diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, and abnormal liver function. Vanessa is one of our 230+ brilliant healthcare scientists. This Healthcare Science Week (10-16 March), we’ve been celebrating these professionals, who play an essential role in patient care, ensuring accurate diagnoses and safe, effective treatments. Read Vanessa’s Q&A: https://ow.ly/sTH650VhrtH #HealthcareScienceWeek #HealthcareScientists #Radiotherapy #CancerCare

It’s Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Day 💙 As a specialist Cancer Centre, we have almost 60 CNSs with expert knowledge in supporting individuals affected by cancer. They make sure that our cancer patients and the people closest to them have the information and advice they need about their diagnosis and treatment. To mark the day, earlier this week our CNSs were invited to a special celebratory breakfast with our Chief Nurse, Jo Mountjoy. Jo said: “It can be devastating to be told that you have cancer and this wonderful group of nurses are at the heart of the care that more than 8,000 patients receive every year. “They provide a constant source of knowledge, support and comfort from initial diagnosis, right through treatment and beyond. “To all our cancer CNSs, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do.” #RoyalSurrey #CancerCNSDay #NHS

“Many people have never heard of a cardiac physiologist, in fact there is a national shortage! And we have the ability to control, start and stop a patient’s heart rhythm!” – Hannah Capper, Senior Cardiac Physiologist. Say hello to Hannah 👋 Hannah works closely with cardiology teams to assess the health of patients’ hearts, helping to diagnose and manage heart conditions and support patients with implanted devices, such as a pacemaker. To celebrate Healthcare Science Week (10-16 March), we're shining a spotlight on some of the brilliant healthcare scientists at Royal Surrey. These professionals play an essential role in patient care, ensuring accurate diagnoses and safe, effective treatments. Read Hannah’s Q&A: https://lnkd.in/eY4eJWNX Stay tuned for more insights from our healthcare scientists all week long 👀 #HealthcareScienceWeek #HealthcareScientists #Radiotherapy #CancerCare

Meet Naheeda – helping carers get crucial support every step of the way ⭐ As Hospital Carer Support Advisor, Naheeda Majid works with our ward teams to identify people who care for loved ones alongside their daily lives. While her role is to support unpaid carers of all ages, this Young Carers Action Day, she talks about the importance of supporting young carers aged 17 and below. “Caring for a loved one can be very hard. Left unsupported, young carers can feel isolated, fall behind in their education and be left mentally and physically exhausted. The pressures they face balancing school, friendships and responsibilities at home cannot be underestimated.” Naheeda works as part of a wider team at Action for Carers Surrey charity. Once a young carer who is supporting one of our patients is identified, Naheeda directs them to expert support from the Surrey Young Carers team. From arranging mental health support and social outings to raising aspirations and liaising with schools to get extra educational support, this team makes a real difference. Naheeda is proud to be a part of the process: “I love my job because I can make a positive difference to families. I am a carer myself, to my daughter who has special needs and previously to my mum who suffered vascular dementia, so I know first-hand the difference the right support can make. It upsets me to see people struggling alone and it is a privilege to be in a position to help them get vital support. I want to make sure carers feel seen, supported and empowered.” There are more than one million registered young carers in the UK and an estimated 14,000 in Surrey. Thank you, Naheeda, for your dedication to young carers at our trust 💙 #YoungCarers #RoyalSurrey #NHS #YoungCarersActionDay