QEHB Charity works to provide ‘added extras’ for patients and staff across the hospital, from high-tech pieces of cancer-fighting equipment, to patient comforts to increase wellbeing on the wards, or the amazing Fisher House that provides a home away from home for military patients and their families.

The Charity is also delighted to support the incredible research that is taking place across the hospital, and there are many members of staff working across the hospital whose salaries are funded by QEHB Charity. We went along to catch up with a member of staff whose position at QEHB has been made possible thanks to your donations.

Katherine Ahlquist is a Research Sister and works as part of the Stroke team that is conducting wide-ranging research into strokes. Katherine said: “At the moment, we’re looking at hyper-acute stroke trials, so when patients come into A&E who have had a stroke, they could potentially be eligible to get involved in our study that is testing a new clot-busting medication that might be better than the current treatment.”

This research has the potential to improve patient care in the immediate aftermath of a stroke, which could help to reduce the impact that a stroke has on the brain, as well as the impact on speech and cognition.

Katherine’s presence at the hospital is enabling these trials to take place. Her colleague, fellow Research Sister Michelle Bates, said: “This is the first time that we’ve had a stroke research nurse who is clinically trained, Katherine’s presence at the hospital means we can do the background work for trials, where there wasn’t previously anyone to do that, meaning we have the ability to set up multiple new trials.”

Alongside their work on hyper-acute strokes, the team is also working on a long-term study into rehabilitation after a stroke, looking at speech, cognitive and memory impairments. Both of these trials are incredibly important, and Katherine said: “The trials are happening over a very long time. We’re trying to create a big database looking at patients from all over the UK, looking at how their language has been impaired and trying to find out how to improve rehabilitation and ultimately improve the quality of stroke care.”

When asked about a day in the life of a Research Sister, Katherine said that the work was varied, and often dictated by the arrival of new stroke patients in A&E. She said: “The medication has to be given within four and a half hours of the onset of their symptoms; it’s a very time-critical medication. We go down and screen the patients to see if they’re suitable and then we have to follow up with them on the ward, making sure that they’re recovering well.

“Aside from this, there’s always a lot of data to be collected and inputted, and of course lots of paperwork and research development behind the scenes!”

The stroke team are already incredibly busy with the trials that are underway, but they hope to set up a further six or seven trials that are currently in the setup phase. Michelle said that Katherine’s presence in the hospital makes setting up a trial a quicker and easier process: “When we hear about a trial, it will be discussed in our monthly research team meeting, and if the consultants agree to a trial then we’ll get the ball rolling then by doing the paperwork and sending it off!”

Between them, Katherine and Michelle work incredibly hard around the clock, reflecting the 24 hour service of the stroke care team at the hospital. Katherine said: “Unlike other specialities, we don’t have set clinic times; we don’t know who is going to come into A&E so we have to be ready at any time!”

Katherine’s role goes beyond the data and clinical work associated with the trial, as she helps explain the trials to the patient, and is their contact throughout the trial. “We are the patient contact for the rehab patients, we take the time to talk to them and answer their questions about the trials. We make sure they’ve got our contact information cards, so if they have any questions they can reach out to us.”

Michelle reflected on the attitudes of the patients that are part of the trial, saying: “Many patients, especially those who are from the older generation, want to help future generations through participating in the trial. They know that they can help people in the future by having treatment, so are very willing to take part.”

The hyper-acute trial has been taking place since April, so it is too early to draw any conclusions from the research, but Katherine and Michelle are happy with how it is progressing, with Michelle saying: “We’ve recruited well in a short space of time. It’s great to have the consultants on board; we have a good team who all want to do research as well!”

Stroke care has changed a lot in recent years, with Michelle saying: “When I first started nursing we just used to give aspirin. Now we give other drugs, clot-busting drugs, and we also have the ability to retrieve the clot from the brain using a procedure called thrombectomy.”

The stroke team hope to broaden their research in the future, and hope to conduct trials that will assess whether there are genetic causes of strokes, looking into potential preventative measures that could be taken. Katherine’s position at the hospital makes all of this more possible.

Speaking of the funding that the Charity awarded for her post, Katherine was thankful to the generous donors who have made this possible: “The job that I do will help to improve patient services and outcomes, making more facilities available to the patients and hopefully will help to improve patient care.”

The Charity puts on a number of events throughout the year that are popular amongst staff at QEHB, from skydives to mountain treks and bake sales, and although Katherine said that she’s not brave enough to take on a skydive, she will put her baking talents to good use and help to raise some money for the hospital charity that has supported her.

Chief Executive of QEHB Charity, Mike Hammond, said: “The Charity is proud to support the world-class research that takes place at QEHB. It is wonderful to be able to fund the salaries of amazing people like Katherine, who are helping to conduct research that would not be possible without the support of the Charity.

“QEHB Charity is immensely grateful to all of its supporters, and I hope that they will all be pleased to hear about the wonderful research that their donations have helped to support.”

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