Humberside Breast Screening Service is appealing to women to be their friend’s ‘best pal’ by encouraging them to keep breast screening appointments.

Around 1,300 lives are saved every year because those women take up the invitation to attend breast screening appointments.

Lesley Peacock, Programme Manager for Humberside Breast Screening Service, said: “The women with poorer outcomes are those women who don’t come along for their screening appointment. Picking up problems at an early stage can mean the difference between life and death.

“So, we’re hoping women unite to attend their own appointments and encourage their friends, their workmates and their family members to come along for screening.”

Although breast cancer is the second highest cause of cancer deaths in women, screening reveals problems early, with 98pc of woman diagnosed with breast cancer at this stage surviving five years and beyond.

Yet, uptake by women aged 50 to 53 is as low as six per cent at some GP practices in our area. Women from Black, South Asian and Eastern European communities are also less likely to attend their appointments so the team are sharing exactly what happens during screening to remove all uncertainty.

You’ll receive your letter to attend your first breast screening sometime around your 50^th birthday. You’ll then be recalled every three years until your 71^st birthday

Screening takes place in mobile screening vans, similar in size to portable cabins. The mobile vans move from location to location across the East Riding, Hull and North and North East Lincolnshire bringing screening to community venues. It’s currently at locations including Bridlington Hospital and Lakeside shopping Centre in Scunthorpe and will be moving to Holme on Spalding Moore Village Hall, Hull Royal Infirmary and St Hugh’s Hospital, Grimsby shortly.

Here’s what happens during your screening appointment

1. Once inside, your details will be checked by the screening team and you’ll be shown to a cubicle to remove clothes from your top half, including your bra. A female mammographer will then take you to the x-ray room.
2. The mammographer will then position you in the machine and ask you to hold still while the image is being taken

1. Two pictures of each breast are taken. You may feel slight discomfort as the plate does hold the breast tight but this is to ensure a clear image is produced.
2. This takes only a few minutes and then results are sent in the post within two weeks.

Months spent as a young volunteer helped Mortuary Support Worker, Emma, land her dream role – before she’d even finished her degree

Hospital scrubs weren’t quite the career uniform that 24-year-old Emma Hooker originally had in mind.

Starting her BSc (Hons) Forensic Sciences degree in 2022, she had her sights set on the joining the police to specialise in crime scene investigation.

But a second year module and a chat with her lecturer set Emma off on a different path which has now landed her a job before her degree’s even done, as she explains:

Volunteering opened the door for Emma

“I’m currently in the final year of my degree in Forensic Sciences at the University of Hull; I started my course three years ago because I had my heart set on becoming a CSI. I thought my character traits would be perfect for it; I’ve a curious nature and I’m rarely able to rest until a problem is solved.

“Then in my second year, I sat the Human Anatomy module and my whole outlook changed; I found my passion. I spoke to my lecturer, Sean Frost, who had worked in biomedicine at Hull Royal Infirmary, and he told me all about the careers within the mortuary team, and I was inspired. I just knew it was what I wanted to do.”

Emma reached out to her local hospitals for further advice and to enquire about ways of gaining experience in this somewhat unusual line of work.

“In June 2024, within just a few weeks of enquiring, I began volunteering as a Young Health Champion within Mortuary and Bereavement Services,” she continues.

“I gained experience in everything imaginable; I got to learn more about the processes and legal practices involved with a death, I was able to help with the admission and release of deceased patients, and I helped arrange viewings for families who wanted to come and say goodbye to a loved one for the last time.

“Then a job came up as a Mortuary Support Worker at the end of last year and I felt I just had to go for it. I feel lucky that I’ve been able to take up the role and carry on studying at the same time, but volunteering definitely set me on the right path. I felt more confident applying, and then stepping into the role, because I’d already gained experience in this area and I’d learned lots about the various processes and systems.

“It was really reassuring that I knew lots of the staff too, so when I started as an official employee, I could hit the ground running. My first day in post felt bizarre as I had technically already been there for seven months!

Emma (right) and her colleague Katie Pratt at HRI

“Although I’d never really considered a mortuary-type career before, I feel this is actually where I was meant to be. I now get to work in a role which is interesting, fulfilling, and no two days are ever the same. It’s a privilege to able to look after people on their final journey and to try and make the experience of families and loved ones that little bit easier.”

Emma’s advice to anyone who’s thinking of volunteering to supplement their academic studies is to go for it.

“Studying is always beneficial, but seeing a role in action and getting hands-on is completely different to learning about it in a classroom or from a textbook.

“Being a volunteer helped put all my learning into perspective, as I was seeing real-life examples of what I was learning at university and I was able to apply the knowledge that I had gained. It also helped me gain experience of dealing with people and families at one of the most difficult times of their lives and, to some extent, that’s something you can only learn on the job as you go.

“Understanding and being able to implement knowledge is very different; my volunteer role definitely helped me achieve this.”

Emma is due to conclude her degree course and graduate in July 2025.

Rachael Hardcastle-Pearce, Group Head of Voluntary Services for NHS Humber Health Partnership says:

“Emma was an amazing Young Health Champion, always dedicated to her volunteering which then enabled her to follow her dream; she’s a great alumni for the now Humber Health Champions.

Rachael Hardcastle-Pearce, Group Head of Voluntary Services

“The Humber Health Champions Scheme gives young people aged 16 to 25 who are looking for a career in health the kind of insights and experience you just wouldn’t get in a classroom.

“Young people come to us for many reasons; sometimes they have a clear career path in mind and want experience in a certain type of work, while others have a rough idea of what they want but need to try different things and find out what really makes them tick before making any decisions.

“Volunteering as a Humber Health Champion really serves as a passport around the NHS, enabling young people to learn more about different health roles and work in different areas to see which interests them most. At the same time, the scheme is helping us inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals and shoring up hospital services for the future by growing our own staff locally.”

A total of 642 people currently volunteer across hospitals in Hull, Cottingham, Grimsby, Goole and Scunthorpe, and almost half of those (289) are young people aged 16 to 25.

Almost 3,000 young people have given their time through the hospitals’ youth volunteer scheme since it was established 10 years ago.

If you or someone you know would be interested in becoming a Humber Health Champion, please contact the Voluntary Service Team on 07443 187097 or email  hyp-tr.huth.volunteers@nhs.net

Some of the team from Queen’s Centre Acute Assessment Unit

Patients with oncology or haematology conditions in Northern Lincolnshire are to benefit from a new emergency service aiming to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

NHS Humber Health Partnership is expanding its triage service at the Queen’s Centre Acute Assessment Unit (QCAAU) for patients experiencing acute problems relating to their oncology or haematology conditions.

The service, currently helping patients in Hull and the East Riding, will now be expanded to help patients living south of the Humber, who will be given contact details once they begin treatment.

Sister Kirsty McDonagh, who manages the QCAAU, said a Senior Nurse Co-ordinator and Triage Assistant will staff the triage service 24/7 from April to help patients avoid unnecessary hospital admissions or visits to Emergency Departments in Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Hull.

Sister Kirsty McDonagh

“We triage patients undergoing oncology and haematology treatment to determine whether they need to come to us, need direct admissions into wards or other services, if they require pharmacy or if they need to contact their GP for ongoing issues,” she said.

“This expansion means we can create a single point of access triage for patients from both Hull University Teaching Hospitals and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals.

“Very often, these patients are keen to avoid stays in hospital so they can remain at home with their families so it’s essential that we try to meet their wishes while ensuring they get the right care in the right place at the right time.”

Mum-of-three Amy Richards has used the Acute Assessment Unit at the Queen’s Centre for the past three years.

Amy, 39, was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago and was diagnosed with a recurrence during her remission. Since the chemotherapy for her second diagnosis ended, Amy, who lives in East Hull with her husband and three children, now aged 10, 11 and 16, has used QCAAU regularly for a complication linked to chemotherapy.

“It’s an absolutely amazing place,” she says. “I have every confidence in their expertise and professionalism and everyone is so welcoming and pleasant.

“Instead of going to a GP who doesn’t know my history and might feel they have to start from the basics to get to an appropriate outcome, the staff in the unit know me, know my history and are the experts in cancer treatment and care and I have always been treated quickly in relation to issues linked to cancer related treatment.”

Now cancer free, Amy says “There’s continuity of care here and I have so much confidence in the unit. I’ve been incredibly well looked after throughout my treatment and ongoing care by my Oncology Consultant, all staff in the Queen’s Centre and linked specialities.

“My appreciation and thanks for the services at the QCAAU, to Dr Mansoori and all of the staff here is immeasurable, as is the dedication and passion of the team of staff and volunteers.”

Dr Ilyas Mansoori and Patient Placement Co-ordinator Elisha Jones

A new carbon-saving electric bike is being trialled by the porter team at Castle Hill Hospital thanks to a partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

NHS Humber Health Partnership is continuing its award-winning collaboration with the council’s sustainable transport team at the Castle Hill site in Cottingham.

The latest joint project is the introduction of an electric-powered quadracycle eCargo Bike, which will be tested by the portering team.

Quadracycles operate in a similar way to an electric cycle, whereby the user must pedal in order to gain assistance for the electric motor.

Castle Hill Hospital will be one of the first NHS sites in the country to use one in a drive to increase sustainability and promote workforce wellbeing.

The bike will be in use for a trial period of 12 months, carrying linen, gas cylinders, other medical equipment and essentials around the 168-acre hospital site.

If successful, it will replace one of the site’s vans, reducing both carbon emissions and operational costs as well as increasing levels of physical activity in the workforce.

Jeroen Beumer, commercial director at Cargo Cycling, the firm which supplied the eCargo Bike, came all the way from his base in Netherlands to see the vehicle on site.

Marc Beaumont, head of sustainability at the trust, said: “The eCargo bike is a fantastic addition to our fleet and will help to contribute to our net zero ambitions.

“With its own solar field, Castle Hill is already leading the way when it comes to hospital sustainability, and we hope to use the electricity we generate ourselves to recharge the new eCargo bike batteries.”

Steve Wigley, principal officer with the council’s sustainable transport team, said: “We have been working with the team at NHS Humber Health Partnership since 2021.

“This is a truly exciting next phase, building on our award-winning active travel initiatives and strengthening partnership.

“This specific project has been funded by Active Travel England’s Capability Fund secured by the council’s asset strategy team.”

Since working in partnership with the council, Castle Hill Hospital has achieved national recognition by being awarded Modeshift National Sustainable Travel Award, Team of the Year, whilst achieving a 13.5% modal shift away from driving in a single year.

The site’s independently-accredited travel plan – a package of measures aiming to reduce car use – is rated as ‘very good’ by Modeshift STARS, an organisation backed by the Department for Transport/Active Travel England.

Andrew Bradley, sustainable travel lead, net zero travel and transport for NHS England, said: “This is another exciting partnership between local authorities and an NHS Trust at the forefront of innovation.

“We hope this project will be the first of many, showcasing what is possible.”

Help us shine a light on your Healthcare Heroes!

We need your nominations for a special award to celebrate the amazing efforts of local NHS staff.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are working together as NHS Humber Health Partnership (NHSHHP).

Our teams work across Hull, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Castle Hill and Goole hospitals, and out in the community.

Our annual staff awards ceremony, Golden Stars 2025 will be held in October and we want to hear from you!

As part of those celebrations, we’re seeking nominations for the Healthcare Heroes Award. If you’ve recently been a patient at one of our five hospitals or under our community services, and want to highlight a staff member or team that made a difference to your experience, we want to hear from you!

Whether it’s a compassionate individual or a whole team of dedicated professionals you’d like thank, put them forward for this award as a mark of recognition.

Chairman for NHS HHP, Sean Lyons, said: “This is your opportunity to shine a light on some of our amazing local NHS heroes who support well over a million patients each year. Help us celebrate their remarkable efforts and outstanding achievements by putting forward a nomination today.”

Amanda Stanford, Acting Group Chief Executive for NHS HHP, added: “Our team of over 17,000 staff strive to deliver the highest quality care for our patients. If a member of our team has provided you, or a loved one, with exceptional service, I can think of no better way to express your gratitude than by nominating them for this award.”

The winner of the Healthcare Heroes award will be revealed, alongside 14 other awards, at the Golden Stars 2025 ceremony at the Baths Hall in Scunthorpe on Friday 10 October.

If you have been a patient or visitor at one of our hospitals or in our community health services, you can nominate a staff member, clinical or non-clinical, by visiting the awards website at: https://www.nlg.nhs.uk/about/trust/awards/

Nominations will be accepted up until midnight on Friday 13 June.

Water-based wellbeing programme also helps to improve patient flow

The benefits of water-based therapy have been well known for centuries to the Greeks, the Romans, and later the Ottomans, but you don’t have to step back in time to discover just how helpful this can be.

The rehabilitation medicine team at Castle Hill Hospital has been working with East Riding Leisure to offer access to tailored health and wellbeing programmes to aid patients’ physical mobility, balance, strength and confidence as they recovery from brain injury.

But the potential these programmes offer for other patients with ongoing health conditions or for those on elective surgery waiting lists is also huge.

Dr Yomi Salawu, consultant in rehabilitation medicine

Dr Yomi Salawu, consultant in rehabilitation medicine (pictured), tells us more:

“One of the most successful ways to help patients on their journey to recovery, or indeed to better health and wellbeing more generally, is to provide personalised care.

“Our team has been referring suitable patients to Good Boost since it launched late last year, and previously to the HealthiER exercise on prescription programme, as a means of supporting their ongoing recovery once they leave hospital.

“Good Boost comprises a range of pool and studio-based activity from leisure centres in Beverley and Driffield which can be tailored to individual needs and goals, plus there’s an option for people to take part in virtual programmes too.

“There is increasing clinical evidence of the beneficial effects of water-based activity in promoting recovery which is the hallmark of rehabilitation. The buoyancy of the water helps to support the weight of the body and reduce lower limb loading for people who need to practice walking, for example, while at the same time, the water provides resistance to help strengthen muscles.

“Other advantages of water-based activity include faster recovery and increased range of movement, and let’s not forget that hydrotherapy is also known to help with stress reduction, relaxation, and mental well-being too. It really is a holistic approach to health and recovery.”

Good Boost is available to patients with many different types of health condition or to people who would simply benefit from increased physical activity or improved mobility. As well as helping after an issue or illness has occurred, it can also be a vital tool in preparing people for elective surgery, helping patients to lose weight and lower their blood pressure, for example, to give them the best possible chance of successful surgery.

Clinicians can refer any patients they believe would benefit, at any stage of their care, or individuals can also self-refer. There is a small charge of £36.50 for access over 10 weeks, but this also includes access to virtual classes and to leisure centre facilities beyond the Good Boost organised sessions.

Good Boost can be used to aid prevention, treatment and recovery from most conditions, although not all patients will be suitable for referral; some common contraindications would include open wounds that are yet to heal (e.g. following surgery), active infections, tracheostomy, severe epilepsy, UTIs and illness such as a common cold or fever.

As well as the many benefits community-based exercise programmes like these bring for the individuals, there are also knock-on benefits for others too.

Dr Salawu continues:

“As health professionals, we know the importance of patients being fit for surgery, so use of Good Boost or similar exercise on prescription programmes can help to keep those who are waiting for an operation in good health, and help others who may not be in the best shape right now to improve the chances of their surgery being successful.

“If patients are fit, well and prepared for surgery, it reduces the number of cancellations or postponed operations, helps us maximise use of our theatres and surgical staff, and helps maintain timely access to surgery for other patients.

“From the perspective of my team working in rehabilitation, the delivery of programmes like these has really helped to reduce pressure on the community rehabilitation team and enabled them to see those with the most pressing needs more quickly.

“We started to see this during the COVID pandemic when leisure centres supported the physical aspects of Long Covid rehab and recovery programmes. Over time, this type of programme has continued and been extended out to more patients and conditions beyond just Long Covid, and we have continued to see benefits in both our team capacity and our patient services.

“As waiting lists for Good Boost are short, suitable patients can now access physical activity sessions earlier than they could be seen by the community therapists, which is better for them, but it also allows the community therapists to focus on the higher risk and more disabled patients for whom the leisure centre sessions would not be suitable.

“What’s also really important is that this type of programme gives people the chance to have a say in and take responsibility for their own health. Many of our patients leaving hospital are keen to continue their recovery and regain their independence, they want structure and they’re highly motivated, so this type of programme can be really empowering for those who just want to keep going without having to wait for community services either.”

Good Boost is suitable for a wide range of people, from those who are pregnant or post-partum through to people with back pain, arthritis, those on elective waiting lists and those looking to improve mobility and coordination.

An informal drop-in session for both referrers and potential participants will be held this coming Monday 7th April at 1pm at Beverley Leisure Centre. More details about the programme will be available, plus there will be the opportunity for hands-on demonstrations of the tablets used by participants, and suitable referrals can be taken on the day.

If you’re unable to attend, you can find out more from the Good Boost website or from Caroline Duke, Healthy Lifestyle Development Officer /call 07800 783593.

Thousands of women in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire could be suffering in silence with incontinence or bladder weakness, a hospital nurse specialist says.

Laura Rimmer, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Urogynaecology at Humber Health Partnership, says more than six in 10 women will experience some form of incontinence during their lives.

However, despite its prevalence, many will not seek help because of embarrassment.

Urogynaecological specialist nurse Laura Rimmer

Laura, who works for the NHS group running Hull Royal Infirmary, Castle Hill Hospital, Scunthorpe General Hospital, Goole Hospital and Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, is encouraging women to seek medical support.

“Too many women feel too embarrassed or worried to ask for help but taking that first step can make all the difference to their quality of life,” says Laura.

“You don’t have to suffer in silence – there are many ways we can help which don’t involve surgical intervention and can be done by yourself in the comfort of your own home.”

Urinary incontinence and bladder problems can be caused by factors including childbirth, menopause, diabetes and neurological conditions including MS. It can also be linked to bowel problems such as constipation because of the proximity of organs in female bodies.

Symptoms include a sudden urge to urinate, needing to urinate more often than usual, waking up frequently at night to urinate and involuntary loss of urine, especially during physical activities such as laughing, sneezing or exercising.

One in four women over 40 will experience incontinence during their lifetime and it’s linking to ageing, affecting 43pc of women aged 50 to 64 and more than half of women aged 65 to 80.

Those affected say it leaves them feeling isolated or depressed and it can stop them enjoying activities like dancing, running or going to the gym.

Women from both banks of the River Humber are referred to the Urogynaecology Service, based at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, by their GP, midwife, a multi-disciplinary team or following treatment for gynaecological or bowel conditions.

They are triaged by the consultants, with Laura seeing about 25 women a week – or around 1,000 a year – for her nurse-led service.

Treatment can include pelvic floor exercises and education, conservation management using specially designed devices to prevent leaking or intermittent self-catheterisation, where women can take charge of their own bladder control without having to come for hospital or GP appointments.

Laura says: “Some women find that stopping caffeine, fizzy drinks and drinking at least two litres of water a day can help reduce symptoms while others can be helped by taking anticholinergic medication, pessaries, conservation management, pelvic floor exercise techniques or self-catheterisation.

“Whatever your problem, just remember it’s nothing we haven’t seen before and there’s no need to be embarrassed. Instead, it can make all the difference to your quality of life and help you take charge of your own health once more.”

A hospital screening service is appealing to people in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire to overcome their embarrassment so they can be checked for bowel cancer.

Everyone aged 50 to 74 is eligible for bowel screening every two years.

However, although bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, figure show only 69 per cent of people send back their tests, meaning those with cancer are missing out on early treatment which could save their lives.

With Tuesday, April 1, marking the start of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Paula Brown, Programme Manager for Humber and Yorkshire Coast Bowel Cancer Screening Centre, urged people to do their tests at home.

She said: “We understand people feel embarrassed to talk about poo or think about toilet matters but we would urge you to overcome this and do this painless and easy test.

“You can do it in the privacy of your own toilet – no one is watching or judging you – and taking a few minutes to complete the test can give you peace of mind – or allow us to help you if you need further tests.”

The faecal immunochemical test (FIT) examines a sample of your poo for blood, one of the signs of bowel cancer. Here’s an easy, step-by-step guide from the NHS, showing you how to complete the test at home.

Humber and Yorkshire Coast Bowel Cancer Screening Centre supports people in Hull, East Yorkshire, Northern Lincolnshire and North-East Lincolnshire who require further screening for bowel cancer following the results of their initial home FIT test.

Based at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham and Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, the team of specialist nurses known as Specialist Screening Practitioners (SSPs), doctors and admin staff help people whose home tests show abnormal levels of blood in their poo..

You’ll have a chat with one of the specialist nurses who’ll discuss your results and explain the medical procedure known as a colonoscopy where a thin, flexible tube with a camera checks for abnormalities such as polyps, inflammation or cancer.

Paula said the highly skilled hospital-based team will be able to allay any concerns or fears you may have if you’re called for further tests.

She said: ““Of those who did the test in 2021/22, just under two per cent required further testing so the chances are high that you will not need to do anything until you get your next FIT test in another two years.

“But it’s important that you do the home test in the first place, confident in the knowledge that our team will be here to help and support you if you require further examination.”

Patients across the region with endometriosis are benefiting from a specialist service which has been recognised nationally.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLaG) and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) – part of the NHS Humber Health Partnership group – have yet again had their endometriosis centres accredited by the British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE).

This puts our gynaecology services on the map and gives patients the confidence that they’ll receive high-quality care. It’s also timely as March is Endometriosis Action Month.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb is found in other parts of the body, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, inside the tummy, and in or around the bladder or bowel. It can cause severe pelvic pain, painful intercourse and periods, bowel pain and urinary problems. Surgery for deep endometriosis is deemed complex and hence, as per National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, these treatments should be provided in accredited centres.

Heidi Boldock was a patient at the Endometriosis Centre at Scunthorpe hospital. She said: “I was in excruciating pain for two years before I had my hysterectomy. It was a life-changing operation for me – I went from being a ‘10’ on the pain chart to being a zero. You feel like you’re in good hands because they’re experts. It also usually takes many years to get a diagnosis for endometriosis. There will be lots of people out there who won’t know how to go about getting a diagnosis. My advice is go see your GP immediately if you think there’s a problem, as early diagnosis is key.”

Heidi was so pleased with the treatment she received that she even wrote some poetry about her experience and to thank the staff who saw her.

She added: “All of the staff were excellent and I couldn’t have asked for better treatment. I am now able to live a normal life.”

Victoria Puckering was a patient at the Endometriosis Centre at Hull. She said: “I had my surgery and I was really impressed with the treatment I received. I think knowing the centre has the BSGE accreditation gives you more confidence in the service – you know they’re specialists in what they do.”

Victoria also works for the charity – Endo Buddies – which creates care packages for people undergoing surgery for endometriosis.

She added: “Although there is more awareness of endometriosis than there used to be, I definitely think there still needs to be more.”

The NLaG endometriosis team. Left to right: Dr Nauman Akhtar, Mrs Tracy Duell, Mr Ramana Kallam, Miss Preeti Gandhi, Mrs Jane Palmer and Miss Sonia Abishek

Miss Preeti Gandhi, lead consultant gynaecologist for endometriosis and advance laparoscopy services at NLaG, said: This marks our fifth consecutive year of accreditation – a testament to the dedication, expertise, and collaborative working of the specialist team delivering care to patients with complex endometriosis. For endometriosis centres, the two most important things are for the surgeons to have advance laparoscopic surgical skills and to have a team which is passionate to deliver a high-quality service to the patients suffering in pain due to endometriosis. I’d like to express my gratitude to our team and all of the supporting services for this fantastic achievement.”

Mrs Jane Allen, who is one of two consultants in the Endometriosis Centre at HUTH along with Mr Keith Cunningham, said: “We’re delighted to be awarded this accreditation. This means we’ve been recognised for providing the highest quality treatment to patients with complex and deep endometriosis. This is a great news for our patients suffering from endometriosis, as they will benefit from a specialist service at the Trust. I want to say a big thank you to the team for all their help and support.”