Hello,
my name is Kim Fligelstone.
Firstly I will tell you a little about
my history of working in
the
Scleroderma
Unit and bring you
up
to date with my
present role.
I have worked in the
Rheumatology
Department at the Royal
Free Hospital
since May 1992. I started as a
volunteer working 1 day a week doing
clerical jobs, initially I would file and
photocopy whatever was required by the then fairly small team. After some time
I felt well enough to work for 2 days a week and now am on the payroll for 1 of these days. Gradually I found myself booking patients with Connective Tissue Disease clinic appointments and trying to co-ordinate the many tests that some people required. The reason behind this was that many patients travel great distances to see Prof. Black or a member of the team, and naturally if the tests can be booked on the same day is saves patients time and additional expense. Sometimes with the best will in the world this is not always possible but we try.
As Professor Black and Professor Denton's reputation and vast experience and knowledge continues to grow so are the number of patients growing accordingly and I'm pleased to say that Lynda is working full time. So if anyone has any clinic appointment or test queries there should always be someone on hand to help. They can be contacted on the direct telephone No: 020 7830 2151 or via the Hospital switchboard No: 020 794 0500 ext. 35098.
This means that I'm now free to work on specific projects that are being implemented in the department at the moment I'm assisting on the research side, my next job could be on the clinical side. It's totally flexible!
In addition to administrative work I'm also a patient so if anyone wishes to talk to me on a patient to patient basis please call Telephone No: 020 7794 0500 ext. 35131 at present I'm working Tuesday's and Wednesday's from 10.30 am onwards. I would like to stress that I'm not a counsellor/therapist and have no training as such. I am a patient with my own experience which will be unlike anyone else's as we all have such different symptoms. However although I've had Scleroderma for 18 years I still remember the isolation and fearfulness that I felt which some people might experience at some time or other, so if it helps to pick up the phone and just talk then please do so.
Also if anyone is staying at the Royal Free in any of the wards and would like a visit then ask one of the Ward Staff to phone my extension and if I'm in I'll gladly pop up.
Whilst you are on the ward - if you are an interested in a massage - Keith Hunt has a team of volunteers who will come to the ward and give you a massage, just ask a member of staff on the ward to refer you to Keith's team.