Together with your support, we want patients and ... this newsletter of how your amazing support has already transformed
Spring 2017
Thanks to you
Making a difference for patients together
In this issue:
You can ACT on Cancer today! Changing patients’ lives together Ten year s of global health partnerships
Welcome
Welcome to the Spring 2017 edition of Thanks to you. We are so grateful to people like you for helping to change patients’ lives at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie. You will see throughout the newsletter examples of how you have really made a difference, from Dean Morley’s treatment following a stem cell transplant (see page 3) to the purchase of an x-ray specimen machine to help treat more patients on the Cambridge Breast Unit (see page 7). This year, we will again be fundraising for our ACT on Cancer Campaign, among many other projects, with a focus on the development of a new haematology day unit to provide the very best care for patients with blood cancers. You will find many examples in this newsletter of how your amazing support has already transformed lives of cancer patients and how you can continue to help in the future. Finally, as of 1 April 2017, ACT became entirely independent from the NHS, with a new registered charity number: 1170103. This will not affect your support in any way, but it will enable us to do even more to make a difference for patients across Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie and the local community.
If you have any questions, please call us on 01223 217757. We’d be delighted to hear from you. Thank you once again for all the fantastic work you do. Best wishes,
Stephen Davies Chief Executive
Hospitals rated ‘good’ In January the Care Quality Commission announced that Cambridge University Hospitals, the NHS Foundation Trust that runs Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, had its rating upgraded to ‘good’ and was taken out of special measures following re-inspection in September 2016. Stephen Davies said: “We are pleased with these developments. Our policy has not changed throughout this challenging period – our purpose is still to enhance the services that the hospitals offer patients and their families, above and beyond what can be achieved through NHS funding. The Care Quality Commission highlighted a few areas of outstanding practice following their
re-inspection, which included our overseas volunteering programme Addenbrooke’s Abroad for its project involving a number of the hospital’s staff to set up a trauma centre in Myanmar. We are very proud. Together with your support, we want patients and their families to benefit from the best equipment, the latest research, the most comfortable environment and the happiest
Cover image: John Bigmore and Vineetha Thankappannair 2
and most skilled staff. Together, we help to make Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie better for everyone. We are incredibly enthusiastic about 2017. We have some cutting-edge projects in the pipeline – all of which will help Cambridge University Hospitals achieve its ambition to be an ‘outstanding’ teaching hospital. We hope you’ll be with us every step of the way.”
Changing patients’ lives together
*ECP was mad e available at Addenbrooke’s thanks to £118,600 in donations from generous supporters like you.
Dean Morley from Newton in Suffolk was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2004 when he was just 34 years old.
Thank you!
Today, following two stem cell transplants and numerous other therapies, he is cancer free. But he still visits Addenbrooke’s once a week for additional treatment. Dean tells us why it is thanks to people like you that his quality of life has improved. “I never imagined that I had cancer. I was in my early thirties and working in a local picture framing business. I enjoyed leisurely cycle rides in the countryside, photography and spending time with my fiancée Karen, but I was feeling utterly fatigued.
with very few side effects, but quite frankly, it was knackering. The second day was always the worst and when we set off to leave Nottingham, I always wished I could just be back home. That’s why when I heard it was going to be available at Addenbrooke’s, I was delighted! My aim for the future is to get my GvHD under control and ECP is the best option for me. I’m so grateful to have it at Addenbrooke’s.”
Following test after test it was eventually found that I had a follicular lymphoma – a type of nonHodgkin lymphoma that was slow-growing; but it was already in my bone marrow, groin and other areas. I was scared stiff. Little did I know I had over twelve years of treatments ahead of me including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and two stem cell transplants – the second one with donor cells.
Dean faced further battles My second stem cell transplant in 2011 has kept the cancer at bay, but as a result I developed Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) which means the donor cells attack my body. GvHD has caused serious skin concerns. My skin is so itchy it drives me up the wall, especially at night when I can’t sleep. I also have distressing bowel complications and nausea. I take immunosuppressant drugs to help manage the disease, but this has resulted in chronic kidney problems and I am prone to serious infections. One treatment to help keep the GvHD under control is *extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), an alternative, novel technique that uses ultraviolet light to treat my blood cells outside of my body. I started this in 2013, when ECP was only available to me in London and Nottingham. I chose to have treatment in Nottingham but this meant travelling three hours each way. A single ECP treatment is given over two consecutive days so I would stay overnight in hospital accommodation. It is a superb treatment
“I was so honoured to be the first patient at Addenbrooke’s to receive ECP – it’s marvellous. I have had over 40 procedures here to date and it’s really helping with my skin condition.” See page 11 for information about how you could help patients like Dean in the future, through the next stage of our ACT on Cancer campaign. 3
Thanks to you
“We believe that every patient deserves the best care available. Your support makes this possible”
Thank you!
Supporters united in January to celebrate raising over £80,000 for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals.
For information about fundraising for the hospitals or to tell us Their activities ranged from charity of the year partnerships, fundraising calendars, fashion shows and fun days to rocking ukulele about your fundraising activities, please call and harp playing concerts. us on 01223 349805 You can read about just a few of our wonderful fundraisers below, or email fundraising@ and see many more on our website: www.act4addenbrookes.org. act4addenbrookes.org.uk uk/thankstoyou
Mother supports bereaved parents
Festive fun at the Rudolph Run!
Cheryl’s challenges reach £60k!
Bereaved mother, Sarah Kirkby, whose daughter Jennifer was born prematurely at 26 weeks in 1992, raised £1,500 to buy a refrigerated ‘cuddle cot’ for the neonatal intensive care unit to help other parents who have lost a child to say goodbye. Jennifer sadly passed away aged just seven days and Sarah wished she’d had a cuddle cot so she could spend every precious moment with her baby.
Team GB Paralympic athlete Laura Sugar joined over 250 people from across the local community who donned antlers and red noses for ACT’s familyfriendly 5km Rudolph Run in December. The event raised over £7,300 to help change patients’ lives throughout Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals. Special thanks to Tesco Bar Hill Extra and Premier Travel for their most generous support.
Intrepid fundraiser Cheryl Sayers has completed numerous endurance challenges in aid of Addenbrooke’s after losing her husband Pete to cancer in 2005. In February, Cheryl embarked on her final challenge, running the Death Valley Marathon in California to bring her total raised to a mammoth £60,000 for our ACT on Cancer campaign! Well done Cheryl and a huge thank you from us!
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Dedicated Evan
posthumously awarded for children’s cancer fundraising Evan (Ev) Rees-Humphreys from Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire, was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumour in his liver at just eight years old. Following treatment at Addenbrooke’s and four years in remission, his cancer sadly returned in 2015. Ev faced gruelling rounds of aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy but he decided he did not want cancer to take over his life. So, with the support of friends and family the ‘Team Ev’ fundraising group was created, raising over £18,000 for the children’s cancer ward at Addenbrooke’s by April 2016.
ion “Team EV’s dedicat e r th to raising funds fo d ar children’s cancer w ” has been amazing
Thank you!
Throughout 2015 Team Ev invited their local community to take part in a series of wacky fundraising events. These included a ‘wear a wig’ day at Ev’s school in Steeple Morden; a charity head shave by friends, family and the local fire fighters of Gamlingay; an ‘ice cream for breakfast’ day and local businesses placing collection tins. As well as organising their own events, Team Ev’s large network of supporters were also inspired to fundraise on Ev’s behalf. Gamlingay choir donated proceeds from their concerts, Ev’s scout troop organised a 24hour bonfire and members from
Ev was determined to do all he could to help future children in his position. the local running group ‘the Royston Runners’ ran the London Marathon in his honour. Ev proudly presented the cheque to the ward in April 2016 to be used to improve the experience for patients on the ward, with some of it going towards an interactive play floor. Sadly, just weeks later on 13 May 2016, Ev lost his fight with cancer at the age of 13.
In November 2016, Ev’s amazing fundraising efforts were officially recognised when Team Ev received the award for Best Volunteer Fundraiser at the Institute of Fundraising East Anglia Awards 2016. Emily Willdigg, Community Fundraiser at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, nominated Team Ev for the award. She said: “We are absolutely delighted for Team Ev on winning this award. Their dedication and commitment to raising funds for the children’s cancer ward
has been amazing. Ev was determined to do all he could to raise money to help future children in his position and he would have been immensely proud of this achievement. We are so very grateful to Ev, his family and friends for their wonderful support.”
Since Ev presented the cheque to the ward, Team Ev has continued to fundraise and their total now stands at over £25,000. Many congratulations Team Ev, and thank you!
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Breast cancer fundraisers
Improving treatment for patients Supporters of the Addenbrooke’s Breast Cancer Appeal 2016, kindly sponsored by Neaves & Neat Employment Services and Mr Hugh’s rapeseed oil, raised over £70,000 by hosting tea parties, baking cakes and fundraising across the county to fund a table-top specimen x-ray machine for the Cambridge Breast Unit. The machine, unveiled in January, is being used to examine breast tissue on-the-spot at clinic appointments, which will improve treatments and reduce waiting times, meaning less anxiety for patients. Dr Penny Moyle, consultant radiologist at the Cambridge Breast Unit said: “The specimen x-ray machine will improve the diagnosis of small calcifications that may be cancer, in a vacuum biopsy. With this, we can analyse the specimen faster and improve patient safety and comfort,
which in turn will help us to screen more patients. Many thanks to everyone who has helped make this possible.” This October, the Addenbrooke’s Breast Cancer Appeal asks people to get together with family, friends, work colleagues or fellow students for a fundraising celebration and help to raise even more money to support patients with breast cancer. To order an Addenbrooke’s Breast Cancer Appeal party pack see www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/ABCappeal or call 01223 217757
Please help patients across the region celebrate life and beat breast cancer
It’s time to get this party started! Hold your own celebration to help Addenbrooke’s patients with breast cancer
www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/ABCappeal | 01223 217757 7
Addenbrooke’s 250th Gala Dinner
Raises over £400,000! We are absolutely delighted to announce that the Addenbrooke’s 250th Gala Dinner in September raised a total of £400,837 to support patients across Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals! Thanks to the dedicated organising committee led by Mrs Ginny Robinson and the generosity of kind sponsors, supporters and friends of the hospital and the University of Cambridge, the money raised will transform patient care as shown on these pages. For information about how you can help to change patients’ lives in similar ways, please contact us on 01223 217757 or email hello@ act4addenbrookes.org.uk
29 Riser recliner chairs Supporting patients’ recovery with enhanced comfort
£55,980 Laboratory ultra-low temperature freezer For long-term storage of important tissue samples for brain injury research
£3,675
Seahorse analyser
Insufflator
Garden redevelopment
A key component in research for brain injury treatment
Improving ground-breaking robotic surgery for patients with kidney and bladder cancer
Transforming the rehabilitation garden for patients with serious head and spinal injuries
£32,351
£40,000
£25,355 8
10 Patient monitors For safely transporting high dependency patients
£52,616 Restorative dentistry surgical microscope Enabling specialist treatments
£21,860 Therapeutic play activities Helping children cope with hospital treatments
£2,000 Chiropody service Regular clinic to treat the most vulnerable/long term patients
£25,000 Cambridge Clinical Research Fellowship Funding for a fellow in clinical engineering to help solve clinical problems with innovative solutions at the ‘coal face’
£50,000 5 Mobile bladder scanners To easily assess if a patient is at risk of infection and what treatment route to take
£63,000 Addenbrooke’s Abroad
Diabetes Camps
Promoting mutual learning between Cambridge University Hospitals and our overseas partners
Camps combining education and adventure to help children with Type 1 diabetes live independent and healthy lives
£21,000
£8,000 9
Did you know…?
Money kindly given to be used ‘wherever the need is greatest’ supports patients at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals in a wide variety of ways. Thanks to you, in 2016/17 ACT gave over 70 grants to projects across the hospitals. Just a few of these are highlighted below.
Cancer exercise rehabilitation programme A new programme ‘REACT’ (Rehabilitation and Exercise during Addenbrooke’s Cancer Treatment) has been established thanks to £40,000 of charitable funding. It sees patients receiving the benefits of exercise during,
rather than after their treatment. For patient information contact Nicola Day, senior physiotherapist and cancer exercise specialist (pictured) at react@ addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Personalising kidn ey cancer treatment Kidney cancer is the seventh commonest cancer. It has poor survival rates and is becoming even more common. There are a broad range of kidney tumours and each subtype has its own genetic makeup.
ACT has provided £37,935 to support a research programme to improve classification of these subtypes, with the aim of helping to develop a personalised treatment plan for patients with the disease in the future.
Studying the immune system’s effect on depression Researchers have found that during stress and depression some markers of immune inflammation increase. ACT has provided £8,000 towards a research study to investigate whether one type of immune
cell, the B cell, is involved in these mood problems. The study will help determine whether medicines that target B cells could be used as a treatment for depression.
MyICUvoice – the patient’s side of the story Not being able to communicate is the most distressing part of being critically ill on an ICU (Intensive Care Unit). A £40,000 development grant from ACT has helped enhance an iPad app
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called ‘MyICUvoice’, to enable it to work as a communication interface between patients, their families and staff, as well as a symptom survey tool and a data collection device.
Improving the future of care for patients with blood cancer This year our ACT on Cancer campaign will focus on supporting a major redevelopment programme for the haematology oncology department. Can you help? The haematology day unit cares for people undergoing investigations and treatment of disorders affecting the blood or bone marrow, in an outpatients setting. The unit will be moving from Ward E10, to the recently vacated on-site dialysis unit, which will enable patients with bloodrelated cancers to be treated more quickly, with an improved quality of care. We need to raise £350,000 in addition to the NHS core provision, to make this new unit amazing; providing additional state-of-the-art equipment, a dedicated cancer counselling service and the most comfortable environment, and we’re asking our generous supporters to help.
Equipment Charitable funding can help provide additional specialist equipment that will make a huge difference for patients.
Dedicated support A platelet agitator to provide optimum platelets for transfusion, will reduce delays; a blood cell separator (pictured top right) will enable the hospital to treat more patients with a range of conditions; and a new extracorporeal photopheresis machine will help more patients with Graft versus Host Disease (see page 3).
Environment With your support, the new haematology day unit can be a welcoming area inside and out. By creating spaces with a less clinical feel, patients can feel more comfortable whilst waiting and when receiving their treatments. The outdoor space by the main entrance will be redeveloped to create a relaxing area through planting and art; providing respite in the middle of the bustling hospital complex.
For many, the time when they need to call on counselling support most is in the immediate period following diagnosis or a frightening prognosis. A new dedicated oncology counselling service will mean that individuals can talk to somebody when it’s most important to them, gaining advice and support to help with their next steps.
Today, it is predicted that one in two people will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Combined with a growing population this means that demand on cancer services at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie is growing by some five percent yearon-year. ACT is working with the hospital to ensure that services are fit for this evolving challenge.
To find out more and to support this fantastic new project see www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/cancer, call 01223 217757 or email
[email protected] 11
Spotlight on
Dr Amos Burke Meet Amos Burke – Addenbrooke’s consultant paediatric oncologist. Here he tells us why he does what he does and why he’s still firing on all cylinders after 13 years… “Communication is probably the single most important thing I bring to the table with families in addition to the diagnoses. It’s at the heart of what we do.” Tell us about yourself. What made you decide to work with children in oncology? During medical school I applied for a paediatric house job that helped me understand that I wanted to work with children that were sick. That was the beginning of my paediatric career. Oncology came a little bit later. For me, it captures all the things in paediatrics that are important to me. What prompted you to work for Addenbrooke’s? A mentor of mine – who has since died – said to me towards the end of my training when I was looking elsewhere that I should look at Cambridge, and that was all he needed to say for me to think about it. I came to visit and found a team that is remarkable. The times that I visited they were ridiculously busy but the team exhibited an amazing camaraderie and good grace. I just couldn’t find any reason 12
why I shouldn’t be interested. I couldn’t have asked for a better reception from the whole team. It’s a very excellent place to come. I’ve had the opportunity over the last few years in another capacity to visit every equivalent service in England and I think this team has a tremendous amount to contribute. What does a ‘normal’ day for you entail? I’m a full time NHS clinician so I do clinics, ward rounds and oncall, but I also have an important national research role and have time to pursue research interests here. I’m one of the associate lecturers so I really enjoy the teaching and interaction with students. What’s the best thing about your job? The children and their families. To see children come from a point that you know without treatment they would not survive, to go through their journey with its ups and downs and then see them thrive, develop and achieve – that’s a real joy when you see them getting on with life. What are you proud of? I’ve helped develop Brainbow – the UK’s first rehabilitation service for children with brain tumours, which started as a unique partnership between Addenbrooke’s and three charities. This service has
been really important locally and nationally and has helped to ignite a discussion about rehabilitation. How do you keep your young patients entertained? The children all mention my bowties! I wear them because they are smart. Parents have commented on the little bit of effort, and the children love them. I’ve got a whole drawer full in my office! What do you like to do in your spare time? I have a lovely family and we spend as much time as we can doing things together. I also have a very clear and strong Christian faith and am involved in my local congregation. I have been a founding member of a local community Gospel choir since 2005 and we held a Christmas concert at Addenbrooke’s a few years ago. Tell us something about yourself that would surprise those that know you? I grew up in a village in an arable farming area and when I was very young I said I wanted to be a tractor when I grew up. It was then pointed out to me that I couldn’t be one as I wasn’t a machine, so then I decided to be a giraffe!
Celebrating 10 years This year we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of our global health partnerships programme, Addenbrooke’s Abroad.
“In the last ten years the programme has supported over 400 volunteer placements across 59 countries in a wide range of health specialisms” Abroad and current committee member said: “I am so impressed by and feel immensely proud of Addenbrooke’s Abroad, and very pleased to have been involved throughout its first 10 years. We have achieved so much more than I would have anticipated when we started the programme in 2007.”
Addenbrooke’s Abroad was officially established in 2007 in response to increasing recognition within the NHS and Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) that engaging with global health has benefits for patients and healthcare workers both overseas and in the UK. Addenbrooke’s Abroad helps hospital staff in different roles contribute to solving the global health challenges that
2007 – Addenbrooke’s Abroad was officially established by Dame Mary Archer and senior clinical staff
affect us all. Three long-term health partnerships have been established with the ministries of health in Botswana, El Salvador and Myanmar, and there are plans to establish further partnerships in countries including Uganda, where the programme already has a project running in collaboration with University of Cambridge research. Malcolm Kerr-Muir, founding member of Addenbrooke’s
2011 – Working with local partners in El Salvador has seen improved outcomes for mothers and vulnerable babies
David Wherrett, chairman of the Addenbrooke’s Abroad committee, and director of workforce at CUH said: “I am convinced that global health partnerships are positive. “They provide a win for our overseas partners; a win for the individual staff members who have formative experiences and return to the NHS with a refreshed view of their role in healthcare, which means it is a win for Cambridge University Hospitals as their employer.”
2016 – Neonatal nurses from Botswana visited the Rosie to observe the role of practice development nurses
To find out more about Addenbrooke’s Abroad please go to www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/abroad; email
[email protected] or call 01223 349824. 13
Doing something
Amazing John Bigmore, 80, has done something amazing. He has left a gift in his Will to thank the clinic which treats him for his prostate cancer, so future patients can receive the same excellent level of care.
John explained why: “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer about 4 ½ years ago. My GP had referred me for a blood test, which turned out to be positive. I was immediately referred to Addenbrooke’s. My PSA* was apparently really high and a biopsy was done.
nurse from Clinic 4a calls me at home with the results. I like that they’re keeping an eye on my progress and I do appreciate the call. I’m getting things ship-shape legally; sorting out my Will. I’d already decided to leave a gift to the hospital, but I’m so grateful for how well the staff have been looking after me on 4a that I’ve decided to leave half of the amount specifically for the clinic.
I was really distraught at the time, but the nurses were so sympathetic and kind at my obvious distress. But time heals and I was put on regular hormone injections and now my PSA level has come right down; the staff are very pleased with me! I have blood tests done every six months and a lovely
John with Vineetha Thankappannair, Lead clinical nurse specialist for urological cancer
Like all stories, there’s a beginning, middle and end. I’m in the middle at the moment and I’m hoping it will carry on for some time yet!” *prostate-specific antigen – a protein in the blood that can denote prostate cancer
Digging deep for new Outpatients’ Garden The Outpatients’ Garden at Addenbrooke’s has been redeveloped with generous support from the Mick George Community Fund They have donated in excess of £110,000 to improve the previously overgrown garden and provide enjoyment for patients, their loved ones and staff. Thanks to this considerable contribution, the reconfigured space now features a number of beautifully 14
crafted benches, a wide variety of flowers and ‘The Otter’, a bronze water-feature that was commissioned for Addenbrooke’s by sculptor Laurence Broderick, who created the iconic ‘Bull’ centrepiece in Birmingham’s Bullring Shopping Centre.
Mary was the first patient to use the Outpatients’ Garden following its official opening. She said: “The garden is beautiful and comforting. It’s like an oasis from the hubbub in the hospital.”
How your money helps Donations and fundraising for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie through Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust can help change lives every day. From paying for activity packs to provide entertainment to children in hospital, to supporting the latest state-of-the-art MRI scanners for patient diagnostics, your support makes a difference in many different ways.
Cardiac patient Derek relaxes in a rise and recline chair
£2
could provide a sleep-well pack for someone staying in the hospital overnight
£5
could provide a children’s activity pack for distraction therapy
£50
could provide a dedicated bereavement counselling session
£600
could provide 50 thirty-minute music therapy sessions
£1,500
could provide a state-of-the-art rise and recline chair to help elderly patients
We are very grateful for all your support. If you would like to help patients further, please complete and return the donation form on the back of this newsletter, or you can donate online at www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/donate or call 01223 217757. We’d be delighted to hear from you.
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Since April 2016 over 237 prizes from £5 to £1,000 have been won! That’s an average of five winners per week. Will you be one of them? For information and to register go to:
www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/lottery Or call 01223 217757 to request an entry form
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