As you may know, one of our core values at Frimley Health is ‘Facing the Future’. That means we are always looking at what we can do differently to meet the needs of our communities for years to come. We aim for a culture in the Trust where we are always improving, and where we embrace new ideas and technologies that can give the population we serve a healthier future.

In this month’s newsletter you can read about just one of the initiatives in which we are using artificial intelligence to improve the experience for patients. Our ophthalmology team has launched the ‘Dora’ digital assistant to free up nursing time and help reduce our waiting lists. It is proving very popular with patients and has been shortlisted for an award.

Other articles this month show how we are thinking ahead in preparing teams to be ready for emergencies and using medical innovations to screen patients for lung and bowel cancer, knowing how important early detection is in successfully tackling the disease.

While we always want to look forwards, there are times when we have the chance to look back too – to remember where we have come from and what we can learn. Frimley Park Hospital is 50 years old this year and we’ll be celebrating the milestone on the NHS’s 76th birthday on 5 July. Although the original building will be replaced with a new Frimley Park in the next few years under the Government’s New Hospital Programme, we want to celebrate its people and the significant role the hospital has had over half a century at the heart of the community. So, if you have any special memories of the hospital we want to hear from you – the details are in the article below.

I also want to say a big thank you to all the runners, spectators and volunteers who came along to Frimley Lodge Park last Sunday for this year’s Run Frimley event. It is the biggest annual event of the Frimley Health Charity’s calendar and there was an amazing atmosphere with more than 1,200 runners across the three races. Thank you for helping the charity to raise vital funds to support our hospitals, patients and staff.

Hopefully, many of you are coming along to next week’s online health event. We’ve already had more than 150 people register for the event which will be hosted by consultant urologist, Mr Simon Bott, looking at ‘What’s new in prostate cancer? I look forward to seeing you all on screen then.

Bryan Ingleby
Chair
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Help us celebrate 50 years of Frimley Park Hospital

This year marks 50 years since Frimley Park Hospital first opened to patients and we’ve chosen to celebrate it on the annual NHS birthday on July 5. We want to hear your stories about Frimley Park – do you have a good story to tell related to our history? Maybe you were born here and are celebrating your 50th birthday on that day? Or perhaps you worked at the hospital when it opened and have not long been retired? We would love to hear from you and feature your story as part of our FPH50 celebrations.

Code Red! Knife trauma in spotlight

Our clinicians joined forces with 999 service colleagues for a special training day focused on knife trauma. More than 100 people took part in the second Code Red Trauma Day at Wexham Park Hospital’s postgraduate centre, following the inaugural event in February 2023.

The day shone a spotlight on care for patients with knife injuries, and how teams can work together to achieve the best outcomes. Among the Frimley Health staff taking part were consultants, doctors and nursing staff from the emergency departments at Wexham Park and Frimley Park, joined by paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service, medical students, and police and fire service representatives.

Events like these are organised to ensure that as well as having the practical skills to care for trauma injuries, staff from different specialties and services understood each other’s roles and could work well together to best support patients. Clinical psychologists and human factor experts were also critical to the day.

Digital assistant 'Dora' on awards shortlist

One of our innovative artificial intelligence (AI) technology projects is in the running for a prestigious HSJ Digital Award. With more than 300 entries received for this year’s Digital Awards, the Frimley Health project stood out as a real success story worthy of a place on the panel’s shortlist.

Digital assistant ‘Dora’ has been making surgical follow-up calls to cataract patients, successfully tackling a growing backlog. Usually a nurse-led call, having the AI system handle the routine clinical conversation to phone and assess patients after their operation has freed up hundreds of hours of nursing time within the Trust’s eye department.

As well as improving efficiency, patient feedback regarding Dora has been very positive.
“Patients love it. We’ve had one who wanted to take Dora to dinner, while another wrote a poem for her,” said Dr Lorraine North, head of ophthalmology strategy. She added: “Dora makes recommendations, not decisions, and her work is checked by human clinicians - there will always be a human element, as we have to maintain oversight.”

Cancer patient highlights dangers of alternative therapies in the media

There was widespread media coverage about one of our cancer patients, 36-year-old Irena Stoynova, from Crondall in Hampshire, who wanted to warn others about the dangers of “using alternative therapies to cure cancer”.

Irena was diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in May 2021 and had decided against traditional treatments after “reading about and watching many doctors and professors talk about the success rate of alternative therapies online”. She tried every potential ‘cure’ under the sun, from the raw diet, juicing diet, soup diet, boiled herbs, tinctures, special teas, lymph drainage massage, yoga and meditation. 

In August last year, Irena was brought by ambulance to Frimley Park ED in a very serious condition, she was emaciated with fluid on her lungs and her cancer had deteriorated to Stage 4B. She was cared for by consultant haematologist, Dr Claire Rees, and was told she would die without proper treatment. After refusing several times, Irena finally agreed to chemo. In January this year, just five months later, she was given the incredible news that she was in full remission and has since praised the care she received by the G1 team “I was treated by the most devoted, loving, caring, professional and unique people – I felt loved and supported by everyone and that had the biggest impact on me.”

Irena was very keen to tell her story and try to help other cancer sufferers who may be in a similar mindset. The story was covered on several media channels including Mailonline, Sky News online, The Times and Independent. 

ITV films at Frimley for Covid anniversary

Frimley Park Hospital recently hosted ITV Meridian to film the emotional reunion of a recovered Covid patient, who spent weeks on a ventilator during the early days of the pandemic, and the team that cared for him. Anwar Chaudhri came to visit Dr Subodh Tote and the intensive care team who looked after him during his 30-day stay on the unit.
The broadcaster was recording a piece to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the first UK lockdown, taking a look back at the intense pressures facing the NHS. Dr Gareth Roberts, chief of service for medicine, who treated our first ever Covid patient, and Dr Tote, about being the fourth busiest trust in the country were interviewed about our response to the pandemic. Both spoke about the “unity and fortitude” shown by staff and how it was a “massive collective effort” that got us through the busiest times.
Patient Anwar Chaudhri spoke to the TV broadcaster about his experience: “After I woke up in ICU, it was just unbelievably positive how Subodh and all his team looked after me. All the nurses and the doctors - it was such good care, I couldn't have asked for more, and this is the reason why I'm standing here today."
The report was lead story on ITV Meridian’s evening news last month.

BBC highlights more women needed for heart research

One of our consultant cardiologists, Lydia Sturridge, took to the airwaves recently, highlighting the need to have more women involved with medical research. In an interview on BBC Radio Surrey’s breakfast show, she pointed out that women’s health issues, especially in cardiology, have historically been overshadowed.

A study by the British Heart Foundation found two-thirds of all clinical research had been carried out on men, with women under-represented in cardiovascular trials. Understanding how women respond differently to medications and treatments is vital to evolving and improving medical guidelines. Research has shown the necessity for distinct treatment approaches for women, especially those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy. 

“Many women are keen on contributing to research but often feel they lack the time due to their caregiving roles,” said Lydia. “We need to go the extra mile to make participation easier for them.” Read the article on the BBC website and find out more about our research here.

Make-up workshop for cancer patients

Frimley Park Hospital recently hosted a Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) make-up workshop for people living with cancer in the local community. Beauty experts and volunteers from LGFB charity led a workshop for 10 women with varying types and stages of cancer, guiding them all through skincare, makeup products and application.

The team was particularly focussed on navigating treatment side effects such as dryness, redness, hair loss (eyebrows and eyelashes) and skin sensitivity. Sarah, a part-time make-up artist explained the importance of skin preparation before makeup application, colour correction for dark under eyes and uneven skin, and shared industry secrets to achieve a natural look with seamless application. 

Mark Flannery, CEO of the LGFB described the makeup workshops as “accessible and socially concentrated”, as individuals gain a community of people who share the same lived experience of navigating cancer as well as cosmetic products and guidance.

The right FIT for bowel cancer detection

GPs across East Berkshire, Surrey Heath, North-East Hampshire and Farnham are leading the way on referrals for patients with possible bowel cancer using Faecal Immunochemical Tests also known as FIT kits. 

FIT kits are helping detect cancer sooner, enabling treatment to begin earlier and increasing the chances of successful recovery. They are also helping to ensure fewer patients need to undergo invasive tests. 

Your GP may ask you to undertake this at-home test. You’ll be asked to collect a small amount of poo in the privacy of your own home. This is sent to a lab where it will be tested for blood. The result of this test will tell your GP whether you need further tests. 

If you are concerned that you may have missed your invitation to take part in screening or have lost or thrown away your kit, call the free bowel cancer screening helpline for advice on 0800 707 60 60. For more information see Frimley Health and Care website.

Targeted lung health check roll-out

The Targeted Lung Health Check programme run by Frimley Health and Care has been expanded to more locations across the cancer alliance footprint in the past 12 months. Following the initial launch in local areas including Slough, Aldershot has become the latest area to go live this year. 

The programme has identified 105 people with lung cancer – three-quarters of those were diagnosed at stage one and stage two (June 2022-January 2024). This compares to less than a third of lung cancers being identified at an early stage outside of the programme. 

People who are aged between 55 and 74 who smoke or who have ever smoked in the past are automatically invited for a lung health check when the programme reaches their area. They are invited to have an initial conversation with a health professional and, if needed, are offered a CT scan. For more information, see Surrey and Sussex Cancer Alliance website.