Current projects Charity bursaries We know that investing in staff is vital for ensuring that Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals remain world pioneers in heart and lung disease research, diagnosis and treatment. This is why the Charity allocates £35,000 each year to help all Trust staff, apart from doctors who have separate funding, attend relevant conferences or study tours to help improve their skills and knowledge. It is also a great opportunity for individuals to share details on their work, often for the first time outside the Trust. In 2013, 66 staff benefited from the Charity’s bursary scheme. This is what some of them had to say about their opportunity: Carlos Morais, Advanced Practitioner Infection Prevention/ Surveillance, Infection Control Department “My bursary enabled me to attend the UK Infection Prevention Conference, renowned for being the largest event of its kind in the country. It was an opportunity to hear from expert international speakers and to keep up to date with the latest guidance on infection control. The accompanying exhibition allowed me to view the latest product innovations and share best practice with people doing similar roles to myself. I found it hugely beneficial.” Dr Isabel Skypala, Director of Rehabilitation & Therapies currently on secondment as the Clinical Lead for Food Allergy, Rehabilitation & Therapies Department “Through the bursary I was able to attend the annual American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology conference in San Antonio, Texas. Attending this conference made a huge difference to my work as I was able to meet other dietitians that have led to my involvement in the establishment and development of an international network for food allergy. “ Nisha Bhudia, Senior Pharmacist Critical Care, Pharmacy Department “I applied for the bursary so that I could attend the 33rd International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (ISICEM), in Brussels. Attending this symposium enabled me to learn about new drug therapies, and develop my understanding of novel therapies for emergency medicine with a specific focus on critical care medicine.” Joao Bastos da Fonseca, Staff Nurse, Adult Intensive Care Unit Department “The bursary allowed me to attend the British Cardiovascular Society Annual Conference, which enriched my knowledge in many different areas: For instance, a session on electrocardiography encouraged me to develop a clinical audit on how to perform an electrocardiogram. I learnt a lot from the conference which I hope to now put into effect to further enhance patient care.” Melissa Rochon, CNS in Surveillance, Quality and Safety Department “As a result of receiving the bursary I was able to attend the Patient Safety Conference in Birmingham. One idea that I came back with from the conference was the surgical site infection (SSI) prevention app, which is now being developed in association with Imperial College and Public Health England. This will eventually provide us with the potential to gather information on diabetes and patient reported outcomes.” If you are an employee of the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and would like to be considered for a bursary yourself, please get in touch at fundraising@rbht.nhs.uk.