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Epsom & St Helier - Podcast

News from Epsom & St. Helier NHS Trust 

From the lifesaving to the routine, and featuring staff working behind the scenes and on the frontline of our NHS services – Epsom and St Helier have launched a new podcast (thought to be the first of its kind in the country), to help provide more of an insight into the experiences of patients and the diverse and specialised roles that our staff carry out. 

The first podcast was released on 30^th November and will be available on a monthly basis via the Trust’s website at:

www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/podcast and for download from your usual podcast provider – simply search for ‘Your Epsom and St Helier. 

The ‘Your Epsom and St Helier’ podcast is being produced by the Trust’s Communications and Engagement Team and aims to provide a new platform for both patients and staff to share their stories with a wide audience. 

The very first episode covers the story of Rob Glanville – a professional inline skater who suffered a life-changing brain injury while out skating and was subsequently cared for by the neuro-rehab team at St Helier. Rob is joined by one of the speech therapists who treated him – Sally Tan. 

Rob gives his account of the very serious accident that he had in Hammersmith, which resulted in him suffering a sub-duralhaematoma (bleed on the brain), while Sally tells us what it was like to treat Rob and how she and her team helped him to talk, swallow and walk again. 

Director of Communications and Patient Experience, Lisa Thomson, said: “Our Trust is committed to showing members of the public what really happens in our hospitals – people’s lives are being saved and changed for the better every single day in our hospitals, but sometimes those stories go unheard. This podcast aims to get these unheard stories out and available to a worldwide audience. This is a pioneering project within the NHS – we can’t wait to have more people come on and share their stories with us – and we are very excited about its potential”. 

“While the focus of the podcast will be NHS services, staff and the patients we care for, the conversations – as with any good podcast – can be slightly unpredictable. So, while in this first episode you might learn a little about what it’s like to suffer a brain injury and how NHS experts can help, you’ll also hear why we think helmets are so important and why Lewis Hamilton is the best Formula One driver of the moment. 

Raynes Park Bereavement Service

The Raynes Park Bereavement Service was launched on Monday 24 November 2014.   

The service provides free and confidential one to one support to people who have had a bereavement, recently or in the past.  

This service is provided by volunteers who have been vetted, trainedand are supported by professional counsellors.  It is being provided primarily for people living in the Raynes Park area, but it is open to requests from elsewhere.  The service is managed by Christ Church, Raynes Park, and is open to people of all faiths and none.   

The service is accessed by calling 07914 263420 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..   The volunteer will then arrange a meeting at Lambton Road Medical Practice for as many times as needed.  (If someone is housebound arrangements will be made to see them in their own home.) 

Crossrail 2 - Update December 2018

The Independent Affordability Review has reported to the Government. However, uncertainty continues ...

Various lobby groups are now trying to influence the outcome (businesses, LAs), but one should take the various recent statements in the press with a pinch of salt. 

Against this background, Crossrail (The Elizabeth Line) has run into a 9 month delay, has needed a £350 Million bail out and the CEO has resigned. 

Some say the three objective of Crossrail 2, 

o    Inter-connections at Euston for HS2

o    Alleviate pressure on Waterloo

o    Meeting the anticipated growth in demand for transport, caused by population growth in the London suburbs 

can be met more cost-effectively in other ways. It may be that the central London section is completed first, with later phases being deferred almost indefinitely. 

Some say that the cost of CR2 could be met by increasing local domestic and business rates of, say 1%, a bit like the Olympic Games levy. Another suggestion is for a rates surcharge on properties likely to benefit from being close to the line. 

After the Brexit deadline in 2019, it may be that the Government refocuses on infrastructure projects, perhaps with a new “Spending Review”. 

TfL is currently struggling with a fall in passenger numbers and is expecting a £1bn deficit this year. 

At the same time, the controversy over the cost of rail fares rumble on. 

Also Network rail continues to struggle with delivering the electrification of the national rail network, with massive cost overruns and whole swathes of its original plans cancelled. 

The rationale behind HS2 also continues to be questioned, despite the promises made for the Northern Power House. 

Jerry Cuthbert

Postal Collections in Raynes Park

Whilst most of us use the post less than in the past, it may just be worth remembering where there is a later postal collection locally, should we need it at any time.Latest Postal Collections in London SW20 and Surrounding Area

 

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