Many more lives could be saved “if we can stop bleeding malfunction in trauma patients”
BBC World Service Radio – 28 Oct ‘ 11 – weekly audience 233 million listeners

Consultant Trauma Surgeon, Professor Karim Brohi, spoke about his research into excessive bleeding in trauma patients.  He said it appeared that humans may not be sufficiently evolved to cope with severe trauma, such as being hit by a bus, so the body’s usual clotting mechanisms simply shut down.  However, thanks to the greater understanding of what happens in trauma patients, many more lives are now being saved thanks to new drugs and techniques to control bleeding

To listen (until Thursday 3 Nov only) click on the following link:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00l7wvw    Time code: 14.05 – 17.34

Promises on care standards to breast cancer patients
East London Advertiser – 28 October ’11 – 12,000 readers

“Barts and The London have signed up to a breast cancer service pledge, ensuring every patient receives gold standard care based on a written set of promises.    Former Editor of BBC Woman’s Hour, Sally Feldman, who was successfully treated for breast cancer at Barts and said:  ‘A lot of the things in the service pledge were happending when I had my treatment last year, but it’s great these are now in the form of written promises’.”

Click on following link and go to page 12:  http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&refresh=8k1ZE03acB05&PBID=9818a089-581b-4a32-aca3-057ae08b1168&skip

Exclusive: trusts demand £350m to get through FT pipeline
Health Service Journal – 70,000 readers – 27 October ’11

“Hospital Trusts have asked for over £300m in loans by April 2012 to remain within the foundation trust pipeline. Sixty nine trusts have asked for at least £352m in “transitional support” and other help to meet regulator Monitor’s financial requirements for foundation trust authorisation.  The biggest demand for £93.5m came from a grouping of Barts and The London, Whipps Cross and Newham Trusts”.   

Lansley hails Academic Health model as ‘wealth-creator’ for UK
Health Service Journal - 70,000 readers - 27 October ’11

The health secretary has given his backing to an expanded “Academic Health Science System” in London, saying the model would “create wealth” for the country.  Andrew Lansley was speaking at the launch of the enlarged University College London Partners, which now includes Barts and The London Trust and Queen Mary University of London among its members.  Peter Morris, Chief Executive of Barts and The London NHS Trust, said the partnership would help the Trust take forward work on cancer, cardiovascular disease, children’s services and stroke.” 

Early intervention can bear fruit
East End Life – 70,000 readers – 24-30 October ‘11

“Speech and language therapists from Barts and The London NHS Trust are calling for earlier treatment of youngsters with communication difficulties to reduce the risk of them failing at school and falling into crime”. 

Small c campaign coverage 
MP backs vital campaign raising importance of breast self-examination
Newham Recorder – 26 October ’11 – 12,000 readers

“West Ham MP Lyn Brown has visited Barts Hospital to support an NHS campaign that aims to save thousands of lives annually thorugh early detection of cancer.  She is backing the small c campaign which aims to raise awareness about the benefits of early detetion of breast cancer through regular self-examination”.

As winter's dark days loom, experts explain why we still need a daily dose of sun... from a bottle
Daily Mail – 2m readers – Saturday 15 October ‘11

A growing number of people are suffering problems arising from a lack of vitamin D, according to the article.  ‘These increasing numbers are frustrating because it’s so easily preventable as Vitamin D supplements are inexpensive,’ says Dr Helen Storr, consultant in paediatric endocrinology at St Barts and the London NHS Trust.

How you can find out about Newham General Hospital merger plans
Newham Recorder – 12,000 readers – Saturday 15 October ‘11 

The newspaper reported that a series of drop-in sessions would be held to tell people about the merger between Newham, Whipps Cross and Barts and The London hospitals. It included full details of upcoming sessions.

East Ham cancer project schoolgirls find out about early detection
Newham Recorder – 12,000 users – Saturday 15 October ‘11 

“A group of schoolgirls spent a day at Barts Hospital learning how to spot cancer early.  The 50 girls from Plashet School in East Ham were taking part in the NHS’s Small c project which aims to raise awareness about breast cancer among women by teaching schoolgirls, who then pass on vital information to their mothers”.  

Healthy babies aborted due to ‘unreliable’ scans 
ITN Early Evening News at 6.30pm – 2m viewers – Friday 14 October ’11

In a study conducted at Imperial College London, experts found that the present guidelines for gauging if a pregnant woman has had a miscarriage are seemingly not foolproof.  We invited ITN to film a woman being scanned in our ante-natal unit.  They also interviewed Consultant Obstetrician, Joe Aquilina, who stressed the need for caution and repeat screening if there was any doubt about the viability of a foetus. 

Hospital “cannot continue” in current form
This is London – 700,000 readers – Thursday 13 October ‘11

“Whipps Cross Hospital is facing “substantial” financial problems and cannot continue in its current form, a report has concluded.  Public spending watchdog the National Audit Office says the Leytonstone site is “not viable” and the Trust which runs it agrees.  A spokesman said the report demonstrated the necessity of the hospital’s planned merger with Barts and The London NHS Trust and Newham University Hospital NHS Trust”. 

Hard-up hospital asks staff to work for free
Waltham Forest Guardian – 12,000 readers – Thursday 13 October ‘11

“Whipps Cross University Hospital Trust has launched emergency financial measures, which include asking staff to work for free after notching up a £4.5m deficit in five months.  The hospital is currently attempting to merge with Barts NHS Trust and Newham Hospital Trust in an attempt to gain foundation status and hopefully entitle it to extra funding”. 

Hospital asks staff to give up pay and holiday
Health Service Journal – 70,000 users - Thursday 13 October ‘11

“London’s Whipps Cross University Hospital Trust has asked staff to consider sacrificing leave and doing extra unpaid work.   A merger with Newham and Bart and The London Hospital Trusts will be assessed by NHS London later this year”. 

Lansley identifies 20 ‘unsustainable’ trusts
Health Service Journal – 70,000 readers – Wednesday 12 October ‘11

“The government has identified 20 Trusts whose “clinical and financial stability is at risk” because of “cash-flow shortages” and legacy debt.  Trusts assessed by McKinsey but left off the new list include Barts and The London, which has asked for a £22m annual PFI bailout and Portsmouth Hospitals, whose PFI repayments account for 10% of its turnover”. 

Girls learning about cancer in order to advise their families
Newham Recorder – 12,000 readers – Wednesday 12 October ‘11

“The schoolgirls were taking part in the NHS ‘Small c’ project which aims to save thousands of lives annually through early detection”. 

Hospital saves fortune just by swapping rubber gloves
The Operating Theatre Journal – October ‘11

“The government hopes smarter procurement can help the NHS in England to save more than £15bn over the next three years – and some hospitals are already proving it can be done.  One of London’s top teaching hospitals, Barts and The London NHS Trust, has saved the taxpayer more than £300,000 a year – just by changing its order for rubber gloves”.

Royal London’s poet-in-residence, Lemn Sissay, visited our children’s wards last week to mark National Poetry Day and we received coverage across several media, including the following:

BBC London Television, BBC 1, 6.30pm – audience 400,000 – 6 October ‘11

We organised access to the children’s hospital where they filmed the recital by Lemn and spoke to both him and young patients about the healing power of poetry.

Lemn Sissay’s visit to Royal London children’s ward is sheer poetry
East End Advertiser – circulation 12,000 - 5 October ‘11

London and national radio coverage – five separate interview slots on Thursday 6 Oct
Lemn was interviewed on BBC London Radio 94.9’s breakfast and afternoon shows (audience reach 550,000); on BBC Radio Five Live Drive (early evening programme) – 2m audience reach and on LBC Radio at 9.45 and 3pm. – audience reach 700,000.

The Guardian Health section also tweeted the story and we posted stills of Lemn on the Trust’s Twitter feed performing his poetry recital.

NHS hospital asks staff to give up holiday or do unpaid work
Daily Telegraph – circulation 630,000 - Friday 7 Oct ‘11

“Staff at an NHS hospital have been asked to give up their holiday time or work for nothing in a desperate attempt to save money". The piece concluded:  “Whipps Cross wants to merge with Barts and the London NHS Trust and Newham University Hospital NHS Trust as it believes the savings and new opportunities would help it clear its debts and reach Foundation Trust status”.  

Hospital staff offered unpaid leave as Trust announced ‘extraordinary financial measures’
ThisislocalLondon website – 6 October ‘11

“Whipps Cross University Hospital Trust has launched emergency financial measures, including asking staff to work for free, after notching up a £4.5m deficit in just five months”.  The Trust’s Chief Executive said the executive team would be giving up two days of annual leave and consultants were also being asked to work an extra session each month. The newspaper reported that Whipps was “attempting to merge with Barts NHS Trust and Newham University Hospital Trust in an attempt to gain foundation status.

Whipps Cross hospital staff urged to give up annual leave
BBC London website – 10m daily users - 6 October ‘11

“An east London hospital has urged staff to "sacrifice" some of their annual leave or do unpaid work to save money. Whipps Cross is planning to merge with Barts and the London NHS Trust and Newham University Hospital NHS Trust. The business case will be put forward to NHS London soon”.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15199437

Patients don’t want their doctors to be accountants
Hackney Gazette – circulation 12,000 – 5 October ‘11

In a piece on PFI and her opposition to it, MP Diane Abbott wrote: “Thirteen years ago, many of us in Hackney were part of a successful campaign to save Bart’s Hospital … Barts has a special place in the hearts of many Londoners but there are now concerns Bart’s is now facing bankruptcy”.   

Residents quiz health chiefs about merger
Newham Recorder – circulation 12,000 – 5 October ‘11

“Residents at Newham University Hospital NHS Trust’s annual meeting raised concerns about a proposed merger with Whipps Cross and Barts and The London. They asked about how the merger would affect service changes, how the hospital planned to maintain its standards and whether it would limit patient choice.”

Musicians compose lullabies for newborns in unique East End project
East End Advertiser – circulation 12,000 - 4 October ‘11

“Musicians have been visiting mums at an East End hospital in the hours after childbirth to compose lullabies for their new arrivals.  The project – a partnership between cultural arts group Spitalfields Music and Barts and The London NHS Trust’s Vital Arts department – has won the backing of the Royal Society for Public health and was recognised in its recent arts award”.