30 November 2016

For immediate release

Compassion and care in abundance at CNWL staff conference

NHS Patient Champion Ashley Brooks gave an inspirational speech during a CNWL divisional conference at St Pancras Hospital on the themes of learning, quality, innovation and wellbeing.

A total of 105 CNWL staff heard Brooks speak about the importance of showing compassion and the human touch not just to patients but also to members of staff.

He spoke movingly about how various NHS staff, from a different trust, were there for him when he contracted leukaemia.

"Thank you to the NHS for being there for me when I needed you most. It was world-class care.Compassion was the important element in that. Without you, my family would be lost.

"We also need to care about you - the staff - more," he said.

The conference was aimed at sharing achievements and networking across the division.

It involved showcase presentations of excellence from a variety of services. These included CNWL's mental health service in Milton Keynes; its Sexual Behaviour Service based at Secure Training Centre Medway and YOI Cookham Wood; its sexual health service CLASH, which is based at Mortimer Market in Camden; its offender health service at HMP Winchester about preparing for an inspection of services by the CQC; and from its addictions service about service user engagement.

There were staff and team awards to recognise the stars of the division - well done to you all; plus workshops and stands representing a variety of clinical services and support services.

Staff were also treated to free pamper taster sessions courtesy of Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College Students.

Divisional Director Lorna Payne said: "It was great to see so many people at the event and to acknowledge all the great work people are doing across our Division and to showcase that work. I also thought it was really important to say thank you to all our staff for the fantastic work they do all year round - front-line and back office staff.

"This was a thoroughly inspirational and enjoyable event for our staff to learn from each other and to take time out from their busy schedules to reflect on their practice and to feed back where they thought improvements could be made."
 
Editors' notes 
 
Ashley 1 shows Ashley Brooks; Sexual Health Services Directors Award 2 shows some of the staff from one of the award winners - Sexual Health Services; the third shows three members of staff from our mental health inpatient unit in Milton Keynes 

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL
Tel: 020 3214 5756 e-mail:communications.cnwl@nhs.net