Maternity hospitals in Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe have appointed their first midwife to help anyone experiencing pelvic health problems after pregnancy.

One in three experience urinary incontinence three months after pregnancy and one in 12 report symptoms of pelvic prolapse after giving birth.

Now, NHS Humber Health Partnership has appointed Laura Caldicott as its first Pelvic Health Midwife in line with national guidance and, with 8,700 babies born every year in Hull, Goole, Grimsby and Scunthorpe, is here to help anyone affected by pelvic floor issues.

Laura said: “This wasn’t a service that could be accessed easily in the past and it was seen as a taboo subject. People have been too embarrassed to talk about it and we want to change that. We know these symptoms aren’t normal but they are common and people can get help and support, rather than suffering alone.”

Laura will be raising awareness of the problem at monthly HEY Baby Carousel events held at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital and at public events held by maternity services at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, Goole Hospital and Scunthorpe General Hospital.

She will also educate maternity staff on the prevalence of the problem and how to refer those who may be experiencing pelvic floor issues to the service.

Another key part of her role will be working alongside the Women’s Health Physio Teams at Hull University Teaching Hospitals and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals, who triage and treat those experiencing pelvic health problems or anyone who had major tears during the birth of their babies referred to the service.

Our End-of-Life teams are encouraging people to get talking about death, dying and grief in whatever way, shape or form works for them for Dying Matters Awareness Week.

The national campaign, which runs from 5 to 11 May, aims to open up conversations around death and dying. This year’s theme focuses on the culture of dying matters. Our teams working across NHS Humber Health Partnership are holding various events as part of the national campaign.

Alex Wray, Matron for End-of-Life Care at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Dying is something which affects us all, but how we talk about it—and how we experience it—can be deeply shaped by our culture, beliefs, and personal values.

“I am passionate about making sure everyone, no matter their background, feels listened to and supported when facing the end of life. By opening up honest, compassionate conversations and respecting cultural differences, we can all play a part in ensuring dying well is something everyone has the chance to do – with dignity, comfort, and choice.”

Chair of the local Dying Matters group in North Lincolnshire, Alison Redhead, who also works as an End-of-Life Lead Nurse at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Honest, timely discussions about death and dying are so important, as this can aid in ensuring the person’s dying wishes are respected and carried out to meet their individual needs at the end of their life. We hope that speaking honestly about death means people get the information and support they need, when they need it.”

Pictured are Lauren Latimer and Catriona Cameron who work in the specialist palliative care team at NLaG at one of last year’s events

The North Lincolnshire Dying Matters group – which is made up of representatives from across the hospital, as well as hospices, charities, carers support services, funeral directors, and solicitors – will be out and about on the following days:

• Tuesday 6 May, 11am to1.30pm, at Grimsby hospital, main restaurant
• Wednesday 7 May, 10.30am to 12pm, at Living Later Life Well project, coffee morning, Barton-upon-Humber
• Wednesday 7 May, 9am to 3pm, Health Bus, Brigg Garden Centre
• Thursday 8 May, 8.30am to 2pm, Brigg Market
• Friday 9 May, 9am to 3pm, Scunthorpe Market
• Friday 16 May, 9am to 3pm, Freeman Street market, Grimsby.

Make sure you pop along and have a chat. It could be about how to start a conversation on how to record your wishes for your funeral, considering registering as an organ donor or speaking to your loved ones.

In Hull, end-of-life care professionals and local organisations who support patients and families during some of life’s most challenging times are inviting staff, patients, carers, and visitors to stop by and have a chat. Alex said: “Please do pop down and learn more about the support available and join in meaningful conversations about end-of-life care. Let’s continue working together to make dying matter.”

The events are being held on:

• Tuesday 6 May, 10am to 2pm, main foyer of Hull Royal Infirmary
• Wednesday 7 May, 10am to 2pm, Queens Centre, Castle Hill Hospital.

Pregnant women should be on their guard for a potentially serious condition putting them and their babies at risk, hospital midwives in Hull, Grimsby, Goole and Scunthorpe say.

Up to five in every 100 women will develop pre-eclampsia, usually more than 20 weeks into pregnancy, in labour or shortly after giving birth.

With World Pre-Eclampsia Day taking place on Thursday, public health midwives at NHS Humber Health Partnership said attending every appointment ensures pre-eclampsia is picked up quickly, reducing the risk to you and your baby.

Joanna Melia, Public Health Midwife at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, said: “Early signs of pre-eclampsia include high blood pressure and protein in your urine but you may not recognise you are developing these symptoms.

“That’s why it’s important you attend all your antenatal checks as these problems can be picked up by your midwife.

“The sooner we diagnose pre-eclampsia, the better the outcome for both of you.”

Leanne Ellis, Consultant Midwife at Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole Hospitals, said although the exact cause is not known, pre-eclampsia may be linked to a problem with the placenta.

Further symptoms can develop including

• severe headache
• vision problems, such as blurring or flashing
• pain just below the ribs
• vomiting
• sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet

Leanne says: “If pre-eclampsia goes undiagnosed, there’s a chance of the mother developing fits called “eclampsia”, a condition that, while extremely rare, can endanger the life of the mother and baby.”

Sarah Wise, Consultant Midwife at Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole Hospitals, says some factors can increase your chances of developing pre-eclampsia.

“These include having diabetes, an autoimmune condition such as lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome, high blood pressure or kidney disease before you were pregnant or having high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy,” Sarah says.

“You may also be at a greater risk of developing pre-eclampsia if you have a family history of pre-eclampsia, you’re 40 or older, it’s more than 10 years since your last pregnancy, you’re having twins or triplet or you have a BMI of 35 or above.”

If you’re diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, you’ll be assessed by a hospital specialist and monitored closely to see if you are required to stay in hospital.

As the only way to cure pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby, you could be advised to have your baby earlier, following induction or caesarean section, normally around 37 to 38 weeks of pregnancy.

If you notice any symptoms of pre-eclampsia, call your midwife, GP surgery or NHS 111 as soon as possible.

Hospital staff are using the power of animation to better support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.

Working with animation company, Get Animated Medical, paediatric staff at Hull Royal Infirmary and their colleagues in neurophysiology have created a video to explain what’s involved in an Electroencephalogram, or EEG for short. This test is frequently carried out in paediatrics, but as it involves attaching sensors to the scalp to measure brain activity, it’s also a test which can cause a great deal of anxiety.

The video is the first in what’s hoped will be a series of animations to help guide young people with additional needs and their families through their healthcare journey.

Episode 1 explains the process of going for an EEG

Dr Sandhya Jose, consultant in paediatric medicine for NHS Humber Health Partnership explains:

“For some time, we have been looking at ways of improving the quality and suitability of information provided to children with additional needs and their families. Video, and animation in particular, offers us the opportunity to get important health information across in a way which is both engaging and easy to understand.

“Coming into hospital can be unsettling for anyone, and we often find anxieties are heightened among children with additional needs or disabilities as they can find it more difficult to understand what’s happening. Being able to provide them with clear information which they can take in in their own time, in their own way, can really help to calm and reassure children, and enable us as health professionals to get the best out of their time in clinic with us.”

The first episode of Unseen Buddies is called “Going for an EEG” and uses a friendly character called Sparky to explain what’s involved from start to finish. The animation uses comforting narration, comic strip style animation and bright colours to illustrate the procedure, making it perfect for visual learners.

“Unseen Buddies Episode 1 – Going for an EEG” has been sponsored by Ethypharm and the content endorsed by national charity, Epilepsy Action.  Going forward, the paediatric team in Hull is looking to add to the portfolio with animations covering MRI scans, blood tests, coming to hospital and more.

“One thing that was really important to us was making sure the families who use our services had some input into the content, so we’ve been listening to their feedback and suggestions along the way,” Dr Jose continues.

The hospital is looking to make a series of short Unseen Buddies films

“While we had the needs of our own local families in mind initially, we have made the animation freely available online so that anyone can use it. The content is educational but not specific to Hull, so any child or indeed any adult with additional needs may watch it and hopefully find it helpful too.”

Chris Kennedy, CEO of Get Animated Medical says:

“The Unseen Buddies project highlights the power of compelling storytelling and animation as a medium to break down barriers and ease anxiety. For children with additional needs, clear and comforting communication can make all the difference. Unseen Buddies brings together creativity, clinical insight and compassion to support families in a way that’s accessible, memorable, and reassuring—and we’re incredibly proud to have been part of it.”

Tom Shillito, Health Improvement and Research Manager for Epilepsy Action says:

“It is so important that everyone receiving healthcare understands their condition, tests and treatments, and this is especially important for young people with additional needs. This is why Epilepsy Action is so proud to have been part of Unseen Buddies. This project gives young people with epilepsy and additional needs the information they need to understand an EEG, in a format that is both fun and reassuring.”

“Unseen Buddies Episode 1 – Going for an EEG” can be found on the Unseen Buddies YouTube Channel and the NHS Humber Health Partnership’s Vimeo channel.

Unseen Buddies has been produced by NHS Humber Health Partnership working with Get Animated Medical (www.getanimated.uk.com) and the project has been made possible through the kind support of Ethypharm (www.ethypharm.co.uk)

Epilepsy Action is a working name of British Epilepsy Association. British Epilepsy Association is a registered charity (registered in England No. 234343) and a company limited by guarantee (registered in England No. 797997).

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.