One Message
The monthly staff briefing
from the Chief Executive
Hitting the high notes
Dear Colleague,
December is traditionally that time of year
when we reflect back on the past and look
forward to the future and what the New Year
might bring.
St George’s has come a long way during 2008.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of
staff across the Trust I am confident that we
are now well on track to achieving our long-
term aim of developing a hospital that is in
tune with modern day patient needs.
Raising standards
The year is ending on a high note with St
George’s being recognised for its ability
to deliver excellent standards of care. Last
month we took our first step to becoming a
major trauma centre. If successful, St George’s
will operate at the heart of a clinical network
stretching into the Home Counties. We have
served London for 275 years and our vision is
to raise standards for trauma across an area
which serves over two million people.
In addition to our trauma news I am very
pleased to reveal that we have also made it
through the accreditation stages to become
a major stroke centre. It was therefore timely
indeed that our specialist stroke services were
Our values + Treat all featured recently on BBC News as part of a
people with respect and report about the launch of a national stroke
dignity + Deliver care in awareness campaign.
partnership with others
The public will be asked for their views on
+ Continually strive for both the trauma and stroke bids through con-
excellence + Ensure sultations, due to start in January 2009. These
probity and transparency two promising developments really demon-
in spending public money strate that St George’s is again becoming one
+ Be an exemplary of the capital’s most important hospitals.
employer + Be committed
to education, training and Cancer is another speciality in which St
George’s excels and we treat over 12,000
research + Be open and
patients each year. We are currently in the
honest with each other
process of developing a detailed strategy that
December 2008
will underpin the long-term future of cancer
services at the hospital.
St George’s has also been named among
five acute Trusts that passed recent hygiene
spot checks by the Healthcare Commission,
showing that the hospital is successfully
adhering to the government’s hygiene code.
Inspectors found that of 51 Trusts checked the
majority failed to meet standards introduced
to fight hospital infections such as MRSA and
C. diff. St George’s however was one of the top
performers and compliant with all
requirements of the hygiene code.
Raising awareness
The work we do here is not just about raising
healthcare standards but importantly also
about raising awareness of healthcare issues
and in doing so helping to educate patients,
the public and staff.
It is estimated that six out of every 1,000
Wandsworth residents aged between 15
and 59 have HIV, but a third of those have
not been diagnosed. World Aids Day, on
December 1, was marked across the Trust and
University by a variety of events and activities.
The main cause of morbidity and mortality
among individuals with HIV in the UK is late
diagnosis. Patients who do not know their
HIV status could also unknowingly pass the
infection to others. With treatment, HIV is
considered a chronic manageable condition,
but early diagnosis is the key to achieving this.
Staff from the Courtyard Clinic used World
Aids Day to raise awareness of the importance
of HIV testing, with events in the hospital and
at Wimbledon station, while the University
has held events aiming to educate and raise
awareness of AIDS and HIV.
 Special thanks
Staff at the Bolingbroke Hospital said good-
bye to the much-loved site this month, which
has been serving local people for 128 years.
Services are moving to the new St John’s
Therapy Centre in Battersea, and my personal
thanks go to staff for all their hard work
preparing for the move during an emotional
farewell.
I’d also like to acknowledge staff in A&E who
are experiencing unprecedented attendance,
with patient numbers up by 14% compared
to last year. Clinical teams in many specialities
are pulling together under what are challeng-
ing circumstances, so many thanks to you all
for your efforts.
New Year’s resolution
As we look forward to 2009 I would ask
all staff to consider making energy saving
one of their New Year’s resolutions. In the
last financial year St George’s spent nearly
£3.5m on energy and in the current year
is estimating a spend of £6m, due to rising
energy prices.
Studies carried out in other NHS Trusts
have shown that a good housekeeping
programme, well supported by all staff can
result in energy savings of over 4% annually.
A 4% saving for St George’s would be
equivalent to £240,000 a year. Some simple
ways in which staff can help include:
l turning off office lights, cost effective
after more than 15 minutes
l switching off all computers and
Our values + Treat all
people with respect and
dignity + Deliver care in
partnership with others
+ Continually strive for
excellence + Ensure
probity and transparency
in spending public money
+ Be an exemplary
employer + Be committed
to education, training and
research + Be open and
honest with each other
equipment at the end of the working day
avoid
l  blocking radiators with furniture
l switching off medical devices when

not in use, unless directed otherwise
by the manufacturer’s instructions - the
Medical Physics Department endorse this
approach and can provide further advice
if required
l reporting any leak or dripping taps

l o
nly boiling as much water as you need
when making hot drinks or cooking
Season’s Greetings
Christmas at St George’s is significantly
different to that of most other organisations.
We need to keep our doors open throughout
the holiday season and I would like to extend
my sincere thanks to those staff working over
both bank holidays.
I would also like to thank all those who give
their time throughout the year to support
the Trust, whether that be through volunteer
working or through supporting one of
the many charities that is connected to St
George’s. You all play an important role as
part of the extended St George’s family.
Finally, I would like to wish all colleagues and
their families a very merry Christmas and a
happy New Year.
David Astley
Chief Executive