Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

07/10/2026

Think you know the facts about the flu vaccine in pregnancy? Blanca, one of our fantastic midwives, debunks some common myths.

"I'm strong and healthy and I never get the flu, so I do not need to get the vaccine" – this statement is false.

Your immune system (the body's natural defence) is weaker than usual while you're pregnant. So, it's important to get vaccinated even if you do not get sick often.

"If I have a flu vaccine while pregnant, I'll pass some protection onto my baby" – this statement is true.

Protection lasts for the first few months after your baby is born, when they're at a higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

"If I'm pregnant, I'm at a higher risk of developing complications from the flu" – this statement is true.

If you're pregnant, you're more likely to be admitted to hospital from flu complications than someone who is not pregnant. If you have the flu while you're pregnant, it could cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birthweight.

"Having the flu vaccine while pregnant may lead to a higher chance of my baby having autism" – this statement is false.

Studies have found no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism.

"The flu vaccine is just a way for pharmaceutical companies to make money" – this statement is false.

While pharmaceutical companies create and sell the flu vaccine, you can get it for free from the NHS. Having the vaccine is the best way to protect you and your baby from getting seriously ill from the flu.

Speak to your midwife about making an appointment to get vaccinated, or if your maternity care is with us, drop into our vaccination clinics:
• 8th floor, North Wing, St Thomas' Hospital, 9am to 4:30pm
• Artesian Health Centre, SE1 3GF, first Monday of every month, 10am to 4pm
• Clapham Manor Health Centre, SW4 6EB, first Wednesday of every month, 10am to 4pm
• Gracefield Gardens Health Centre, SW16 2ST, first Friday of every month, 10am to 4pm

07/10/2026

It's never too late to quit smoking.

Find out what happens when you quit for good. 👇

06/10/2026

A lot of our staff have interesting jobs.

But most of us don't spend our time preparing for all of the things that can go wrong at 5 different hospitals and our community sites. That's exactly what our emergency preparedness, response and resilience (EPRR) manager, Hari, does with her team every day.

Working across all sites and with our almost 24,000 members of staff, Hari ensures that Guy's and St Thomas' is prepared for anything.

"Our job is to keep the Trust prepared for any eventuality. We have to think and plan for situations that have never happened before, so there's no typical day."

While it's a busy and challenging role, Hari says the amazing team she works with makes it a joy, as well as the wide range of work which takes her to all parts of the Trust.

06/10/2026

Have you seen this beautiful mural celebrating the contribution of African women in British healthcare?

The artwork, near Guy's Hospital, features six pioneering women from different eras, including our colleague Metian Parsanka.

Which Black healthcare pioneer, colleague or leader has inspired you, and why?



[Video description: Metian, wearing orange, is standing looking up at a large brightly coloured, hand painted mural along a wall of a building. She is looking at a painting of herself alongside 5 Black women, each has a short biography in handwriting style text. The background of the mural is made up of colourful healing plants and flowers.]

05/10/2026

The Evelina London pharmacy team has welcomed a new member, Sir Dispense-a-lot 🤖

The pharmacy has re-opened after a major refurbishment, with a robotic helping hand supporting the team to dispense medicine safely and efficiently.

Alongside the robot, a new controlled medicine cabinet, the first of its kind at the Trust, manages stock electronically and removes the need for pharmacy staff to keep manual, written records.

For young patients and their families, this means a pharmacy service that is better equipped to meet the needs of a busy children's hospital.

02/10/2026

What better way to mark Guy's Cancer Centre's 10th anniversary than a BBC London story of a new prostate cancer therapy?

Last week a team from BBC London came down to film a surgery that's only been done on a handful of people in Europe so far, and all of them by Dr Rick Popert as part of a pilot at Guy's Hospital.

The surgery involves tiny metal rods tipped with lasers that use heat to treat the cancerous areas of the prostate while leaving the gland itself untouched. The ProFocal machine used for the therapy has only been available in Australia until now, and was purchased thanks to a large donation administered by Guy's Cancer Charity.

Chris Bearfoot was treated by the machine last week and told the BBC that the therapy was "fantastic" and "the side effects seem so far reduced compared to what it would have been if I'd had more traditional surgery".

8 of the first 10 patients to be treated have seen their cancer completely eradicated, while the other 2 will only require a minimal amount of follow up treatment. The pilot is funded to treat 30 patients, and Dr Popert hopes that the strong results could lead to wider availability of the therapy in the future.

Dr Popert said "Long-term testing is needed to understand how durable these early results are, but it's very possible this technology could become an important new option for some patients with localised prostate cancer."

02/10/2026

Checking your breasts regularly helps you get to know what's normal for you.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, take some time to learn the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and when to get advice if something doesn't feel right. 👇

01/10/2026

This say hello to our friendly staff from the To***co Dependence Treatment Service. 👋 Whether you are ready to quit, looking to cut down or simply interested in learning more about the support available, our specialist advisors are here to help.

Research shows that people are 3 times more likely to give up with NHS support.

Robert Loton, a to***co dependence specialist with our Lambeth Stop Smoking Service, said: “Some people may have tried buying over the counter patches and other things. But what seems to work best is having medication and someone to talk to. Someone to guide you, listen to you and be supportive.

“What we find when people stop smoking is it unlocks other things in their lives. They become healthier, they eat better. They surprise themselves. It can be the key to lot of healthy positive changes, physically and mentally for some people. “If you’re thinking about stopping smoking, get educated and take your first steps to a life without to***co!”

Our team provide clinics close to where people live and work, for example on construction sites, and have begun supporting specific groups of people including the LGBTQ+ community and homeless people. There is also support through pregnancy and beyond.

Find out more at https://ow.ly/E2kZ50ZSNny or visit our information stall in Birdsong Corridor at St Thomas’ Hospital on Friday 2 October, 10.30am to 3pm.

30/09/2026

Did you know you can see your appointments, letters and results all in one place?

Our MyChart app lets you securely access parts of your health record with us, giving you more control over your care.

If you've used the NHS App, it's quick and easy to create a MyChart account. Or you can sign in on your smartphone or computer using the same details.

Learn more about MyChart 👉https://ow.ly/JIjk50ZT3QO+

[GIF description: A laptop is shown, with the app on display. Once the 'your health record' button is clicked, a smiling clinician holding a clipboard is shown in the middle of the screen, popping out of the laptop. A patient smiles up at the clinician in the corner.]

30/09/2026

We love this touching story by Chloe, one of our intensive care nurses, about how she gained a new appreciation for MediCinema after being admitted to hospital for a week. 💙

Meet Chloe. An Intensive Care Nurse at St Thomas' Hospital and, for the past four years, a MediCinema nurse at the Pop-Up MediCinema inside the hospital.

When Chloe suddenly became unwell, she saw MediCinema from a new perspective:

"I didn’t imagine that one day, I’d attend the MediCinema as a patient, rather than a nurse – but in retrospect, I’m so glad that I did."

Read Chloe's full story: www.medicinema.org.uk/news/from-nurse-to-patient-chloes-medicinema-story/