Moving times
It’s said that moving house is one of life’s most stressful events.
But when you compare that to a CQC (Care Quality Commission) inspection I’m not so sure. We have another CQC visit coming soon so I can tell you in next month’s blog which experience I prefer!
Like most married men, I now go home to my wife and children at the end of a working day, instead of just the weekends.
I’d like to think we value work-life balance here at St George’s so it’s good to put those words into action and to start enjoying a bigger slice of family life.
I’m not sure my wife/children/son/daughter would agree!!
And, although the move from Yorkshire to area/London has gone well, as anyone who moves will know, it’s the unpacking that takes the time.
It’s always amazing – and a little depressing – to see how much stuff one can accumulate.
Here at the trust we’re blessed with ‘dump the junk’ days. They help us keep our wards clutter free and get rid of the things we no longer need or can’t be fixed. If only the same discipline could be applied at home!
But there are other aspects of my NHS life I’m quite happy to leave at work – noisy construction for one! At St George’s a board room is being transformed for patients’ use and the roof of St James Wing is being strengthened to create a helipad.
This is a very exciting project and a great sign of confidence in our Major Trauma Centre and the trust as a whole.
Work will continue until the end of the year. This is not great news for our current patients in that wing but it is great news for seriously ill patients of the future who will arrive sooner by air for life-saving medical treatment. We just wish we could progress without any disruption.
I began this blog by talking about stressful life events. We were delighted to invite Shereen Sadiq back to St George’s Hospital recently. Shereen’s story puts my moans and groans, in fact anyone’s, into perspective. She was viciously attacked during a burglary and suffered severe head and face injuries.
Fast forward five years and Shereen is enjoying life again. A number of neurosurgical operations saved Shereen and intensive therapy and neurorehabilitation have got her back on her feet.
She was so grateful for the work of maxillofacial surgeon Mr Mehmet Manisali that she nominated him for an NHS Hero award which he was delighted to receive.
It’s as much a testament to the skill of Mehmet and his team as it is to the courage and generosity of Shereen.
Now that’s what you call moving.
Feedback
If you would like to comment on the topic you can email me at communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk.
