Dear colleague, 

This week is Dying Matters Awareness Week. It comes as we’re a few months into a new project between our Palliative Care and A&E teams to improve care for these patients.   

We now have a member of the Palliative Care team located in our A&Es at both of our hospitals, who can identify patients nearing the end of their lives earlier and can improve their experience by providing specialist care and support through honest conversations with them and their families. 

So far, it’s benefitted over 80 patients and their loved ones. 

Our palliative paramedic specialist Josh Singleton’s gives an insight into the project and his role in his video. 

New SDEC is helping us continue to reduce A&E waits 

Our new SDEC (Same Day Emergency Care) department at King George Hospital is up and running, treating patients quicker and having an impact despite only being open for a month. 

In the first few weeks, the department treated 250 patients which means they don’t have to wait in our A&E, and they get the right care, in the right place which in turn eases the pressure in our A&Es. 

I’m glad to see it’s reflected in the latest national A&E figures for April with our Type 1 performance (those who are most seriously ill) being the highest it’s been in the past four years.  

For All Types, it puts us fifth out of 18 acute trusts in London and 24th out of 122 in England.  

Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford, who visited Queen’s A&E earlier today, acknowledged the efforts of our team.  

We know there are areas we still need to improve on with some patients waiting far too long for treatment especially in our corridors.  

I’ve spoken before about the need to redesign and improve the department at Queen’s and the estimated £35m to do so. I’m grateful for the support Andrew is providing in helping us do that. 

Lastly, I’d like to wish all our nurses a happy International Nurse’s Day on Monday and I hope our midwives enjoyed International Day of the Midwife earlier on this week. 

I hope you have a great weekend. 

Matthew Trainer 

Chief Executive