A new video game has been designed to help recruit the next generation of pharmacists to work in our hospitals.

Players have to do their best to look after four virtual patients, getting them the medication that they have been prescribed by the virtual doctor, so that they can go home – and it’s all against the clock, just like a real hospital!

A screenshot from Pharmacy Rush

The idea was the brainchild of Rachel Craven, Pharmacy Business, Service and Performance Manager at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, who wanted to find a way of inspiring more people to join the team.

After speaking to The Grimsby Institute, students on the BA Game Design course set about making Rachel’s concept a reality. They worked for free over the course of 12 months and came up with the finished product – Pharmacy Rush.

Not only is it great fun to play (not to mention strangely addictive) but it also helps to show potential future pharmacists how the team operates within a hospital at ward level, alongside other colleagues providing direct patient care. It can also be played on a computer, mobile phone or tablet, making it ideal to take out to careers events at local schools and colleges.

Rachel said: “Pharmacists are in short supply, which appears to be a national issue, compounded by our geographical location. As a hospital pharmacy service, we’re focusing on our future supply pipeline and growing local talent. We regularly attend local careers events to talk about our hospital pharmacy careers, as we have a variety of different roles which are quite different to how a community pharmacy operates. Engaging students at careers events can be challenging when competing against other career stands.

“I was trying to think of ways we could promote a career in pharmacy, which were outside the box, and came up with the idea of a video game. I approached The Grimsby Institute and they were delighted to help us with this. The game they’ve designed is absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait for people to play it.”

Simon Priestley, Chief Pharmacist at NLaG, said: “What these students have created has exceeded our expectations. It’s been a really positive collaboration. Hospital pharmacy is not always understood and this will help us promote a range of careers. We do a lot of work going into schools and attending careers fairs, and this will help us attract more people for these roles.”

Fin Rohrbasser, a student on the year 2 BA Game Design course, worked as the project manager on the game.

He said: “We had to arrange everything into specific roles, so I ended up being project manager. We created a plan and assigned tasks to the team. I am very happy with the finished product, as I’ve never been involved in something like this before.”

Harmony Wolfe, a student on the year 3 BA Game Design course, worked as the art director on the game.

She said: “We all had input from the beginning. I was heavily influenced by the artwork for a video game called Overcooked and KENJI, which sells products inspired by Asian-inspired culture. I have never worked on something on this scale before. I’m going to study a master’s degree in indie game development, so this is great experience.”

Maxwell Stringer, programme leader for the course, said: “Rachel approached me regarding making an education game related to pharmacy, in the hope of helping recruitment to that sector within the NHS. Seeing an opportunity here for our university students to create a live industry brief and have a real impact within the community and NHS, this was a no brainer, and so we accepted the challenge and brief.

“Over the space of a year, my students tirelessly developed Pharmacy Rush, while also still working on achieving their degree. This was a huge collaborative effort for the students involved, and we have now created something that they can all be very proud of.”

The game can be used by both NLaG and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. You can play it via this link.

Patients with serious blood conditions are avoiding invasive surgery and additional overnight stays in hospital after an innovative procedure was offered to more people in East Yorkshire.

Intravenous lines for patients requiring stem cell transplant following intensive chemotherapy are now being offered to haematology patients at Ward 33 and the Teenage and Young Adults Unit after its successful use in oncology patients at the Queen’s Centre.

In the past 12 months, 32 haematology patients have undergone the procedure – known as PowerPICC Solo – avoiding the more invasive treatment performed in operating theatres while saving the NHS almost £50,000.

Ward Manager Jenni Downs said: “When we asked patients for their feedback, they told us they faced such a long stay in hospital when they came in for stem cell transplant and had to be transferred for a chest line insertion, resulting in extra overnight stays.

“Now, we can offer them this procedure which is far less invasive, can be done here on the ward and reduces their length of stay in hospital by two nights so they can go home much sooner. It is also reducing infection rates, meaning patients are able to recover far more quickly from their treatment.

“I’m very glad that as a nurse, I am encouraged to think about changes like this which could benefit our patients while also saving resources including money and theatre time, and can make them a reality.”

Patients with certain forms of lymphoma, myeloma and blood cancers undergo stem cell transplants to help them recover from the very high doses of chemotherapy they receive as part of their treatment.

Previously, these patients faced an additional two-day stay in hospital while they underwent the procedure known as Skin Tunnelled-Cuffed Catheter, inserted by the Interventional Radiology team at HRI, before undergoing stem cell transplant.

Now, however, those suitable for Power PICC Solo only have to visit the ward at the Queen’s Centre as an outpatient first before undergoing stem cell transplant two days later. The line can then be removed by senior nursing staff, without the need to go to theatre and enabling patients to return home more quickly.

Since Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, part of NHS Humber Health Partnership, introduced the procedure in its haematology service last year, infection rates, once experienced by around a quarter of patients who had catheters inserted, have plummeted to a handful of cases. Staff have also performed the procedure on three patients from hospitals in Leeds who come to the Queen’s Centre in Cottingham as part of their shared care.

James Bailey, Chief of Staff for Specialist Cancer and Support Services at NHS Humber Health Partnership, said: “We’ve offered this service to oncology patients for some time but we’ve now been able to extend it to haematology patients, with great success.

“This is a service inspired and developed at the ward level with real benefit to complex haematology patients as it reduces their length of stay of hospital and means they can avoid additional invasive surgical procedures at a time when they are already undergoing intensive chemotherapy.”

Junior doctors across the Humber region will begin their latest round of industrial action next week as part of their long-running pay dispute with the Government.

Members of the BMA will take industrial action in the form of a full walkout for five days – from 7am on Thursday 27 June until 6.59am on Tuesday 2 July.

Staff at Castle Hill, Hull, Grimsby, Goole and Scunthorpe hospitals have put plans in place to prepare for the strike, which does mean some patients will have their appointments/procedures postponed. Staff will be contacting affected patients. Anyone with an appointment/procedure scheduled between 27 June and 2 July should attend the hospital as planned if you haven’t heard from our team

Dr Kate Wood, Group Chief Medical Officer for NHS Humber Health Partnership, said:

“We appreciate that there will be some patients who are seeing their appointments with us postponed, perhaps not for the first time. We know just how frustrating this is and we’d like to extend our apologies to anyone affected. Stepping down some routine care is regrettable but necessary as it allows us to focus on the most seriously ill/injured of our patients, allowing us to keep urgent, emergency care and cancer care services running.

“This is the eleventh junior doctors strike that we’ve seen so our staff are well rehearsed at putting plans in place to prepare, however we know that five days of industrial action will place further pressure on our already busy services.  As with previous strikes we’d really appreciate the support of our local communities.

“GP surgeries and pharmacies will remain open during the strike. NHS 111 staff are on hand to offer advice if you’re unwell and unsure where to turn. If you do need to come into one of our emergency departments please be mindful that we have fewer doctors on shift so be prepared to wait to be seen and please respect our staff who are in work who are doing their best to see and treat people as quickly as possible.”

Patients can also help themselves and others by:

• Ordering repeat prescriptions in plenty of time so they don’t run out of medication or other essential items
• Avoiding hospital if suffering Norovirus-type symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting, or with cold or flu-like symptoms
• Keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home including painkillers, indigestion remedies and diarrhoea tablets
• Using the NHS Emergency Prescription Service if a regular medication runs out completely
• Taking up the offer of Covid and flu vaccinations where eligible; and
• Familiarising themselves with nearby NHS services which can offer help both in and out-of-hours; these include all Walk-In and Urgent Treatment Centres and a number of local pharmacies. NHS111 remains available 24hrs/day, 365 day a year for medical advice and signposting, online or over the phone.

Full details of alternative local healthcare services can be found at www.letsgetbetter.co.uk

Information boards have been placed in Hull Women and Children’s Hospital in time for the start of Euro 2024 to support people experiencing domestic abuse.

Researchers at Warwick Business School discovered abuse and violence by partners increase by 47 per cent on days when the men’s England side win a World Cup or European Championship match.

Clinical support worker Tracey Walker

Now, Clinical Support Worker Tracey Walker has updated information boards in the Gynaecology Outpatients Department and the Early Pregnancy Unit with information about the link between domestic violence and football along with notices on the back of toilet doors to help staff, patients and visitors facing abuse and violence at home.

Tracey, who has supported patients experiencing domestic violence in the last three years as part of her role, said: “We want to offer our patients the best possible care and we know that domestic violence can increase when patients are pregnant and when we have major football events.

“We’ve introduced these boards in the departments and given information in time for the Euros starting on Friday so our patients know we can help them. We’ve also put the information on the back of toilet doors to help those who might not feel comfortable reading the board but still want to access the information.

Tracey Walker with one of the leaflets

“Our hospitals are a safe space for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, somewhere where they can feel safe to speak to us, talk about what’s been happening or get help from community services.”

Tracey and her colleague, Colposcopy Support Nurse Vickie Carter, were among hospital staff to undergo specialist training to support staff, patients, relatives or carers at a Domestic Abuse Champions study day organised by the trust and Hull Domestic Abuse Partnership (DAP) last month.

Tracey said: “We’re been trained to recognise the signs of domestic abuse and respond to anyone who open up to us about what is happening in their home lives. We want them to know we are here to help and will be happy to listen to them and refer them to services which are there to help them.”

Patients with major injuries and illnesses, including brain injuries and serious heart conditions, can now be given lung ultrasounds without leaving their hospital beds.

Physiotherapists Emily Cockshutt and Aaron Hales have become the first at Hull University Teaching Hospitals, part of NHS Humber Health Partnership, to qualify in a new technique to perform lung ultrasounds by patients’ bedsides, helping people with serious breathing problems.

Physio Emily Cockshutt

The technique, endorsed by the Intensive Care Society, allows physiotherapists to assess lung conditions more accurately, enabling them to design effective treatment plans to help patients recover more quickly.

Emily said: “Lung ultrasound is a form of imaging and it’s a non-invasive diagnostic tool that can be used right at patients’ bedsides.

“It is thought to be superior to chest x-ray and auscultation in diagnostic accuracy and has the added benefit of not using radiation and being more portable than chest x-ray.

“We can use it to assess lung conditions and, along with our other clinical findings, enables us provide more effective treatment and interventions. “

Physio Aaron Hales

Emily and Aaron attended a course at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals and had to complete 30 ultrasound scans, 10 under supervision and 20 without, before completing a triggered assessment as part of their training while they worked towards qualification.

Emily will be using the new technique to deliver tailored and more effective treatment to patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICU), Neurosurgery and Major Trauma at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Aaron will use the technique with patients who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery as they recover in wards and ICU at Castle Hill.

He said: “The patients will benefit as they should access specific treatment plans based on the ultrasound findings, allowing quicker treatment of their problems and therefore quicker recovery – so, hopefully, they will spend less time in hospital.”

They come in every age, shape, and size, and from many different backgrounds. Some aim to develop their skills, while some come to share their talents. Some seek friendship, while others simply want to give back to their community.

What unites all of the 650 volunteers working across NHS Humber Health Partnership’s five different hospitals* is the desire to help others.

This week, 3 to 9 June, is Volunteers Week and there can be no better time to say thank you to those who help keep our hospitals in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire ticking over.

Volunteers are not just a support to patients and visitors, however, they’re a support to hospital staff too, with many ward staff describing their volunteers as ‘priceless’.

But if you think you know volunteering, think again, as those seen giving their time around our hospital wards and departments may just surprise you.

Did you know there are more than 200 young volunteers, known as Young Health Champions, working in local hospitals, many of whom are giving their time to learn essential skills on route to a healthcare career?

Others come to share their skills, whether it’s playing piano to lift the mood, helping people relax through complementary therapies, or providing advice on wigs to patients with cancer who have lost their hair during treatment.

Some of those walking the wards even come in a four-legged variety, with therapy dogs regularly visiting staff and patients on the intensive care units, stroke wards, paediatric wards, the Queen’s Centre for oncology and Castle Hill’s complex rehabilitation unit, and our neuro rehabilitation centre at Goole, to help people relax and act as a conversation-starter.

Rachael Hardcastle-Pearce is the Voluntary Services Manager for Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital. She said: “Volunteering today is much more varied, with plenty of opportunities for people to share their skills and experience but also for people to gain experience which could help them in other areas of their own life or career.

“One of the things we’re really proud of right now is the links we’re forging with local partners, schools and colleges to give young people an insight into healthcare through voluntary placements. Not only will this help to build confidence at a young age and give school or college-leavers experience to put on their CVs, but as a potential employer, it gives us the opportunity to showcase the many and varied healthcare careers available and hopefully inspire the next generation of clinicians, scientists, and support staff.”

Julie Dobbs, Voluntary Services Manager, looks after those giving their time to volunteer across hospitals in Goole, Scunthorpe, and Grimsby. She said: “Our volunteers are an important part of our teams and complement the work of our paid staff to enhance the experience for our patients, carers, visitors, and staff. They bring a wealth of skills, experience, and energy to the roles they undertake, and we are so grateful for the time they give.

“Volunteers have a huge impact on our patient services, supporting staff by doing the little things that make a difference. We think they are amazing!”

Amanda Stanford, Group Chief Nurse for NHS Humber Health Partnership, said: “Volunteers donate thousands of hours each year to help support our patients, visitors and hospital staff. They each bring different skills and life experience, but the real gift they all bring to the team is the gift of time; the fact that our volunteers are able to chat with patients while nursing staff are busy or help direct a lost visitor while reception staff are helping others. These small things all add up to help deliver a much better experience for people across our hospitals.

“We’re proud to have so many volunteers on our team, and while we’re grateful for their support year-round, there’s no better time than the present, Volunteers Week, to say a public thank you on behalf of the whole Group to those who give their time to others.”

The hospitals’ voluntary service teams will be treating volunteers to a number of different activities to say thank you this week, including a walking tour of the city of Hull followed by coffee and cake, and a specially organised quiz night.

If you would like to know more about volunteering opportunities across our local hospitals, contact:

• Voluntary Service Team – Hull Hospitals
  Tel: 01482 623089 / 07775 546434 or email r.hardcastle-pearce@nhs.net
• Voluntary Service Team – Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals

Tel: 03033 305577 or email nlg-tr.twvolunteering@nhs.net

Ends

Note to Editors

The five main hospital sites covered by NHS Humber Health Partnership are:

• Castle Hill Hospital Cottingham
• Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby
• Goole and District Hospital
• Hull Royal Infirmary
• Scunthorpe General Hospital

A woman who became a mother, lost her partner and discovered she had HIV within 18 months is to appear at a conference in Hull to explain the impact of bereavement.

International speaker and award-winning social entrepreneur Lizzie Jordan will attend “At A Loss For Words”, a conference aiming to help company bosses and employers support staff returning to work following the death of a loved one.

The event, at the MKM Stadium in Hull, will feature presentations, discussions and workshops to empower employers to communicate well with bereaved employees, ensuring a supportive environment as they navigate their way through grief.

Lizzie is CEO of Think2Speak, a social enterprise company she set up to support people to have conversations about difficult topics, will deliver “Rising from the Ashes”, her personal account of returning to work following the death of her partner.

Alex Wray, Matron for End of Life in Specialist Cancer and Support Services Care Group, said: “Lizzie will be able to share her own experiences to help people feel more confident speaking to a member of their team coming back to work after experiencing the death of someone they love.

“When someone loses a loved one, people around them often don’t know what to say or worry that what they say will make that person feel worse.

“Attending this event means employers will have the confidence to support any member of their staff experiencing bereavement, knowing they have the right tools to offer the right support.”

Other speakers will include Janis Hostad, a lecturer and staff development matron at the Queen’s Centre in Cottingham, Bereavement Consultant John Creasey and Lucy Vere, Director of Learning and Organisational Development, who will discuss the benefits of providing benefit support in the workplace.

The free event will run from 7.30am to 1pm on Friday, 14 June and delegates will also have the chance to learn about and meet representatives from bereavement services.

To register, email sandra.kelly12@nhs.net or call 01482 461260.