We’re inviting local residents to join in the conversation on future plans for King George and Queen’s hospitals at a series of public listening events, taking place in Ilford, Romford and Barking in January.

Lisa and Dave Bennett, whose son Micky, 12, died of leukemia in April this year, visited Queen’s Hospital this week (Friday 20 December) to deliver presents in his memory.

Our charity hosted the third annual Reindeer Run in the run-up to Christmas with 15 local schools taking part.

It’s a very special festive edition of In Conversation With this week, after we sat down with our Trust’s very own ‘Mrs Christmas’. Christine Pethers, admin support for our ophthalmology team, lives and breathes Christmas for the whole of December, from coaxing her colleagues to help create a Christmas chimney, to having a festive outfit for every day of the month!

Mandarin A ward at Queen’s Hospital are the latest winners of our You Made a Difference Award, a monthly prize that celebrates those who go above and beyond to give outstanding patient care.

Our ophthalmology (eye department) secretaries at Queen’s Hospital have got into the festive spirit, by constructing their own chimney and fireplace scene, complete with Santa’s feet stuck at the top!

Ahead of our next death Café, which will be held at King George Hospital next Tuesday (10 December) from 11.30am to 12.30pm, we spoke to Bridget D'Aliessio, a palliative care clinical nurse specialist (CNS) at our Trust.  Death Cafes, which are held monthly at our Trust, led by Gemma Norburn from our Mortuary team, are an open forum for people to discuss death while enjoying a cup of tea and a slice of cake. They aim to help people become more comfortable talking about dying. Anyone is welcome to come along.

National Clinical Audit Week ran from Monday 25 to Friday 29 November, so we thought it was be the perfect time to get our Clinical Audit and Effectiveness Manager, Jonathan Sharman, in the hot seat for an In Conversation With interview!

Bridget D’Aliessio, a palliative care nurse at our Trust, has encouraged local people to join our next Death Cafe, which will be held at King George Hospital on Tuesday 10 December from 11.30am to 12.30pm, in the Cedar Centre.