Plans to install Wi-Fi at the Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology in Cottingham have been brought forward thanks to the campaigning efforts of one local man.

Terry Garnett tragically lost his wife, Beverley, to pancreatic cancer in February after she was diagnosed with the disease last August. Whilst receiving treatment in the centre, which forms part of the Castle Hill Hospital site, Beverley found it difficult to stay in touch with loved ones due to a lack of mobile phone reception and data signals.

Beverley’s dying wish was to enable more people in receipt of cancer treatment to keep in touch with family and friends whilst in hospital; a mantle which Terry took up with Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust shortly after her death.

Terry explains:

“Beverley was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in August and, shortly afterwards, she was admitted to Ward 32 for treatment. Beverley spent two weeks in the Queen’s Centre, and largely had to rely on visitors to the ward to be able to speak with family and friends; there was no other way for her to be able to talk to or stay in touch with loved ones.

“At such a difficult, stressful and upsetting time, it’s so important to be able to keep in touch. My wife felt frightened, upset and isolated, and we, her family, were missing out on precious time with her.

“On numerous occasions when I was visiting the ward, I noticed other patients having to move to communal areas to try and get a mobile signal in order to have very personal and moving telephone conversations with their loved ones. This is something that patients undergoing going cancer treatment simply shouldn’t have to worry about.”

Terry took it upon himself to begin to raise money in Beverley’s name, and through the efforts of his friends and family, and with the generous support of the local community touched by his campaign, Terry has now raised well over £10,000.

“I wish to thank the local people for their generosity which highlighted the support for this campaign and equally the media support given to my campaign by David Burns of BBC Radio Humberside. I am pleased that Chris Long was so understanding and receptive to implementing the Wi-Fi installation. It is of some comfort knowing that I have now fulfilled the promise to my dying wife to have Wi-Fi installed at the Queen’s Centre within Castle Hill.

Terry recently met with Chris Long, Chief Executive of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to discuss Beverley’s experience, and Chris has since moved to bring forward plans for free public Wi-Fi in the Queen’s Centre. Originally scheduled for 2018, work to install free Wi-Fi within public and clinical areas of the building is now expected to be complete by October.

Chris says:

“It was incredibly moving to hear Terry’s story and I’d like to thank him for bringing this matter to my attention.

“Patients receiving treatment for cancer have enough to worry about without having to think about when they’ll next speak to their partner or children, and I fully appreciate just how difficult and upsetting this can be for both patients and their families.

“There is already a secure Wi-Fi system in the Queen’s Centre which is used exclusively for internal clinical systems, and we do have to prioritise this to ensure patient information, such as scans and test results, can be shared quickly and securely between clinical teams.

“Plans to install public Wi-Fi at the hospital were already in the pipeline, as part of a two-year IM&T strategy, however following discussions with Terry and our IT team, we will be looking to bring this work forward with a view to patients and visitors being able to log on from the autumn.

“I can see just how much potential there is for Wi-Fi installation to benefit patients and improve the overall experience of people in our care, so it seems only right to expedite this work.”

The start of the works will be subject to a successful procurement process by the Trust. As the Wi-Fi installation was scheduled to be carried out by the organisation, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will pay for this work, while funds raised by Terry will be used to purchase portable devices and equipment, such as iPads and tablets, for use by patients while in hospital.

A number of NHS organisations have been subject to disruption today due to computer malware.

Locally, we can confirm that we have detected malware on our system, however, at present, it has not had a significant impact on our organisation.

Our IT team responded rapidly and we have blocked all incoming email and all web mail for the time being.

No patient systems are affected.

 “If you want to have a positive impact on people’s lives, nursing is the way to go”

They make up almost half of the entire workforce at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, providing round the clock care, compassion and a listening ear to people, often at the most vulnerable times of their lives.

International Nurses Day, Friday 12^th May, coincides with the birthday of one of the world’s most famous nurses, Florence Nightingale, and serves as the perfect opportunity to celebrate the huge contribution which nurses make to our lives, from beginning to end.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust employs over 2500 qualified nurses and a further 1000 nursing auxiliaries, who assist with patients’ basic care needs such as washing, dressing, and feeding. Nurses are based at both Castle Hill Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary, as well as in community teams working across Hull and East Yorkshire, and specialise in areas ranging from organ donation to diabetes, epilepsy and end of life care.

Louise Beedle, Clinical Lead for Patient Experience at the Trust has been a qualified nurse for over 20 years. She is a former Ward Sister at the Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology and was involved in the first stem cell transplant to be carried out in Hull. She says:

“Nursing has changed a lot over the years, but the basic principles of care don’t change. A nurse always needs to be compassionate, needs to be calm under pressure, but also needs to be able to listen to their patients and act in their best interests, as many of the people we care for are frail, frightened or vulnerable.

“Nurses share in some of people’s most intimate moments, which can be upsetting, uplifting, or anywhere in between. In those situations, patients or relatives look to you for support and guidance, and it’s rewarding just to know you’ve been able to give someone comfort or hope at a difficult time.

“To be a nurse, you really have to work hard but there is a definite feel-good factor involved, and there is almost limitless scope to specialise in a particular area of care or work with different patients groups. Nursing isn’t for the faint-hearted, but if you want to have a career which has a positive impact on people’s lives, nursing is definitely the way to go.”

Locally, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is using its own nursing staff to spearhead an award-winning recruitment campaign called ‘Remarkable People, Extraordinary Place.’ The campaign led to jobs for more than 74 nurses in 2016, and a further 132 job offers have been made this year to nursing students wo are due to graduate from the University of Hull this summer.

In the last two weeks, the Trust has also become one of 24 second wave pilot sites for the new Nursing Associate role, a role which will bridge the gap between nursing auxiliaries and registered nurses and deliver hands-on care to patients. Twenty Nursing Associates have taken up posts in departments such as paediatrics, emergency care and neuro rehabilitation, and are now studying towards a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care at the University of Hull.

Mike Wright, Chief Nurse at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“I am extremely proud of all of our nurses, midwives, nursing associates and assistants for the fantastic jobs they do every day for our patients and the Trust.

“I have been privileged to be a nurse for over 35 years and, whilst it can be really hard work at times, it is also an extremely rewarding career. I believe that nurses and midwives are the life blood of the NHS. The great thing about nursing and midwifery is that there are so many different opportunities and areas in which to specialise, there really is something for everyone.

“As the Trust’s Chief Nurse, I meet some truly amazing nurses, midwives and care assistant staff on a regular basis who have devoted their lives to the care of others, and it’s an absolute pleasure to be part of that team. I see this not just on Nurses Day, but every time I visit our wards, clinics, and community facilities, and it makes me incredibly proud of them and of my profession.

“I would like to thank personally every nurse, midwife and care assistant for their hard work, commitment, dedication, and for the fantastic care that they deliver to our patients and service users. Happy Nurses Day!”
(Ends)

The pitter patter of tiny feet brings joy to any home, but imagine having the pleasure of helping new life into the world, day in, day out?

More than 260 hospital and community-based midwives working for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust call this pleasure their vocation, and it’s their work which is to be celebrated this Friday 5^th May, International Day of the Midwife. With their help, and the support of some 54 midwifery assistants, a total of 5502 babies were born across Hull and East Yorkshire in 2016.

And with the growth of documentaries like ‘One born every minute’, it’s no wonder the prospect of a career in midwifery is increasing in popularity, but the role of a midwife is changing too, as Lorraine Cooper, Lead Midwife herself for 21 years (pictured, far left), explains:

“Being a midwife has changed a lot over the years. Women’s health needs are changing, as are their thoughts and preferences around how and where they give birth, so we have to be sensitive to those needs and guide people where they may not know what they want.

“There’s also a role in supporting the partner or family too, as many partners can feel quite vulnerable or unsure what to do when the focus is on the woman in labour.

“What’s really lovely though is that, for those women who are low risk and have a straight forward pregnancy, the midwife can be the single person who provides all of that woman’s care, and that’s such a privilege. On a personal level, I wanted to work in a job which made me and others happy, and sharing in people’s magical moments in time has given me so much.

“People never forget you either; I can be walking around town and people will stop me and say ‘I remember you: you delivered my baby!’ It’s so lovely to know that you’ve had such a positive impact on people’s lives, and to see their little ones doing so well.”

Gemma Butterworth was inspired by her family to join the profession, and has been working as a rotational midwife caring for women and their families in the antenatal , postnatal and intrapartum period  for 10 years. She says:

“I have always found pregnancy and childbirth fascinating from a young age and supported my cousin through a home birth before I became a midwife. My auntie also had a premature baby when I was young and from this stage, I always knew that I wanted to a midwife.

“I enjoy supporting women and their families through the stages of labour and feel incredibly lucky to share such incredible moments.”

Locally, the profile of midwifery has soared recently thanks to the opening of the new midwife-led Fatima Allam Birth Centre, and the ‘Born into a City of Culture’ project, instigated by Community Midwifery Sister, Sallie Ward, which will see footprints of every baby born in 2017 made into a giant piece of artwork.

Nicola Foster, Labour Ward Matron at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and a midwife for 22 years, says there’s no typical route to becoming a midwife:

“Some people come to midwifery later in life; often they decide on a different path or become more interested in midwifery once they’ve had a family of their own.

“Others may have worked as a nurse previously in a different health specialty, or come straight through college and university, while others work as midwifery assistants first and then love the job so much they go on to study to become midwives themselves.

“Whatever the route in, a midwife needs to be enthusiastic, passionate, good with people, and have the determination to work hard and change people’s lives for the better.

“For me, being a midwife is a forever job; it’s so exciting, there are always new things to learn, and it makes me want to stay in that role. Being able to look after someone from the beginning to the end of their care is pretty unique and not something you get in many other jobs.”

For more information on becoming a midwife, visit www.nhscareers.nhs.uk

A special, two-stage event is being held next week to help employers and members of the public to better handle bereavement.

According to the bereavement charity, Cruse, one in ten people in the UK is thought to be affected by bereavement at any given time. Whilst most bereaved people will cope reasonably well at work, others struggle to deal with their loss, and this can impact on both productivity and relationships with co-workers.  And what of co-workers and managers – how do you approach a colleague who’s dealing with grief? What do you say, and what should you do?

To help local employers support all of their staff with this most difficult and delicate of subjects, the Bereavement Team at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, joining with ‘Cruse Bereavement Care’ and Dove House Hospice, will host a dedicated breakfast seminar for businesses on Friday 12^th May.

Sponsored by Macmillan, the event is free to attend and will take place from 7:30am to 9.30am at the Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby.  Delegates will be able to hear first-hand experiences of managing bereavement from employers and employees, put questions to the expert panel, and receive a bereavement resource pack to take away and use in the workplace. Speakers include John Creasey from Dove House Hospice, who will help delegates to better understand bereavement, and Fred Sims-Williams from Cruse Bereavement Care, who will talk specifically about supporting the bereaved in the workplace.

Dr Barbara Payman, Bereavement Counsellor for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“Everyone will be affected by bereavement at some stage. Loss and grief can be difficult enough for people to speak about with their loved ones, but for employers, who understandably have to have one eye on their needs of their business, staff bereavement can pose extra challenges.

“Our special breakfast seminar will offer local employers the chance to hear from experts and ask questions which they may previously have been worried about asking. From compassionate leave and sources of bereavement support, right through to helping an employee return to work, our experts will give an insight into how best to deal with bereavement in the interests of the employee, co-workers, and the business as a whole.”

The breakfast seminar will be followed by a drop-in event for professionals, members of the public and anyone else who has in interest in, or would like assistance with, bereavement issues. Running from 9:30am – 12noon, the event is open to all and will feature guest speakers, short films, discussion and information on issues related to loss and bereavement.

Dr Payman continues:

“Loss and bereavement can be devastating, and people can find it very awkward just knowing what to say to someone who has lost a loved one, so many people avoid talking about these issues until they need to.

“This Dying Matters Week, we’re urging people to make time to talk about bereavement and offer support to those who may be struggling. A loss is something we will all go through, but there are many sources of support out there and strategies we can use to help. Please come to this event to chat to us and learn more about bereavement and what we can do to help.”

The “Understanding and Supporting the Bereaved: What else can employers do?” breakfast seminar will take place from 7:30 – 9:30am, at the Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby. It is free to attend but places must be reserved – tel 01482 461318.

It will be followed by “Understanding and Supporting the Bereaved: What can you do?”, a drop-in morning for all members of the public and professionals to discuss and receive advice/information on issues of bereavement and grief. The event is free, and there is no need to book.

Patients, visitors and staff are being advised to plan ahead when visiting Hull Royal Infirmary from next week.

As Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust continues to improve its facilities and services, resurfacing and improvement works are set to take place at the main entrance to the Hull Royal Infirmary site, also known as Lansdowne Street.

From Tuesday 2^nd May 2017, Lansdowne Street will have a full road closure in place, meaning patients and visitors will only be able to access the hospital site via Fountain Street and Arlington Street. Disabled parking will continue to be available in the car park immediately in front of the HRI tower block, with access via Arlington Street.

The works are expected to take around eight weeks in total.

Duncan Taylor, Director of Estates Development for the Trust says:

“The works set to be carried out will ultimately improve access for all patients and visitors, and enable a smooth passage of emergency vehicles to the site.

“We have taken the decision to put in place a temporary road closure on Lansdowne Street to ensure these works are carried out as quickly as possible, resulting in minimal disruption.

“Diversions will be put in place and emergency services have been advised of the forthcoming closure. For the duration of the works, parking will be prohibited on both Arlington and Fountain Street, to ensure access is maintained for emergency vehicles.”

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience that these works may cause, and we would like to reiterate that we are committed to improving the facilities in and around our hospital sites for the people of Hull and the East Riding.”

A 50-strong hospital team will hit the streets of Hull in June in support of the patients they care for.

Staff from Castle Hill Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary will be running the Jane Tomlinson Hull 10K on Sunday 18^th June to raise money for WISHH, the independent charity working to enhance facilities and equipment at both hospitals.

People with dementia will be amongst the first to benefit from the fundraising of the hospital team, which includes midwives, radiographers, eye specialists, scientists and theatres staff, to name a few.

The idea to set up the hospitals team came from Chief Medical Officer, Consultant Gynaecologist and keen runner, Mr Kevin Phillips. He says:

“With over 8,000 staff working for us across our sites, we knew we’d have people running the 10K so it seemed a good idea to bring us all together with a shared goal in mind. As hospital staff, we all want to do the very best we can for the patients we see and treat, so fundraising for WISHH seemed like the perfect idea, because we will be able to see first-hand how our efforts, and the money we raise, are making a difference.

“Not only that, but it’s a great way of bringing staff who work in different departments and different sites together to meet each other and offer mutual encouragement for what is set to be another fantastic event.”

The team is made up of regular runners and running club members, right through to people who have barely laced up a pair of trainers before, but are now preparing to take on their first ever race. And whilst their experience may differ, they are all united in the aim of enhancing the hospital care received by local people in our area.

Cerys Brennan, a Staff Nurse on HRI’s Post Anaesthetic Care Unit says:

“I am running the Hull 10K for WISHH because, as a local charity, I will be able to see the positive changes they are making to the hospitals.

“Their first project is focusing on support for patients in our hospitals with dementia. I have seen family members struggle to come to terms with this condition, so anything I can do to help the charity make hospital stays better for people with dementia is worth doing.”

Audiologist, Paul Catlow (pictured above centre, with Kevin and Cerys), says:

“It’s great that we’ll be running this race together for a local good cause. One of the most important things for me is being able to encourage my team mates and get encouragement from them, and to know we’ll be doing something which is going to directly benefit the people of Hull and the East Riding makes it even better.

“The Hull 10K has a great atmosphere; I ran it for the first time last year and there were crowds all along the route. Sometimes all you need is somebody cheering your name and it can make a huge difference.”

Sue Lockwood Chairperson of Trustees for the WISHH (Working independently to Support HEY Hospitals) charity says:

“It is an impressive response and we are delighted that so many hospital staff are giving their support in this way to the WISHH charity. The runners are giving their own time and, not least, considerable energy to help us.

“We hope that the team has a great day and that their personal dedication raising funds to benefit our local hospitals and patients in their care will be rewarded through sponsorship. Large or small, every donation will go to benefit patient care.”

To support the team, you can donate online by visiting www.justgiving.com/heynhs10k

It’s the project that has captured imaginations across the region, and now new parents, proud grandparents and art lovers alike can recreate their own ‘Born into a City of Culture’ artwork at home.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has launched a series of six, limited edition postcards which will be produced over the course of this year. One postcard will be produced every two months, featuring scaled down versions of midwives’ handprints and baby footprints taken in the preceding two months. Once complete, the six postcards will together form an exact replica of the artwork, depicting trees throughout the seasons, which is currently taking shape in the Women and Children’s Hospital.

Sallie Ward, Community Midwifery Sister, came up with the idea for the ‘Born into a City of Culture’ project. She says:

“We’ve had a really positive response to this project, and we often see parents and visitors stopping to look at or discuss the artwork which is already there. It seems to be something which has really captured imaginations and people seem genuinely proud to be involved.

“Because of this, we decided to create a series of six, limited edition postcards which people can collect over the coming months, and once it’s complete, the set of six will provide an exact copy of the artwork which we’re creating in the hospital foyer now.”

Postcard 1, featuring baby footprints taken in January and February, goes on sale tomorrow (Thursday 20 April) between 10am and 2pm, priced at just £1. Postcards can henceforth be bought for £1 each from within the main foyer at the Women and Children’s Hospital, Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm. Proceeds will be reinvested within the ‘Born into a City of Culture’ project.

Sallie adds:

“Whether it’s just a single postcard or the complete set of six, these cards will make a lovely gift or keepsake for new parents and relatives, and help us to celebrate all of those babies born in our special City of Culture year.”

The ‘Born into a City of Culture’ project has been supported with a Hull City of Culture Creative Communities grant.

The sixth and final postcard will be available in January 2018, after all of the footprints have been collected from December babies.

A new facility for mums-to-be seeking a natural birth experience has opened within the Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.

Design and construction of the midwife-led, Fatima Allam Birth Centre began in November 2016 and was completed towards the end of March. Following a short handover period, the centre will welcome its first new arrivals today.

The birth centre comprises three individual rooms, each featuring a birthing bed, birthing pool, en suite bathroom and additional equipment, should it be needed, cleverly contained within hidden wall panelling. The Lotus, Jasmine and Persea rooms are all individually designed with feature walls to provide a homely and relaxed feel.

The development of the centre was made possible through the generosity of Mrs Fatima Allam, who has donated £370,000 towards the overall £470,000 cost.

Around 1,400 women give birth in Hull and East Yorkshire each year with the support of midwives, and without the need for medical intervention. The birth centre will help to meet the needs of those women who wish to birth their babies naturally whilst also being close to the main labour and delivery suite, meaning medical support is on hand should the need arise.

Nicola Foster, Labour Ward Matron for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“The new birth centre looks fantastic, and each room is designed to provide women with a comfortable, non-medical environment within which to birth their babies.

“Midwives always discuss choice of place of birth with women at an early stage in their pregnancy, and whilst a natural birth won’t be suitable for every woman, it’s great that we can now offer this choice locally.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Mrs Allam for helping us to make this possible. I’m sure local women will really appreciate the effort that’s gone into creating the centre, and I know that midwives are very much looking forward to working there.”

Mrs Allam says:

“I feel privileged to be involved in the provision of this new centre and I am sure that it will provide a relaxed and comfortable facility in which mothers-to-be can give birth. In addition to providing funds to make this centre a reality, I, together with members of my family, have had the opportunity to input into the overall interior design process.”

In creating the new birth centre, the Trust’s maternity service has worked closely with Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups to ensure the recommendations within the National Maternity Review are met.  The findings of the review recommend local women are able to choose where they would prefer to give birth; whether at home, in a midwife-led or obstetric-led unit, following discussion around the benefits and risks associated with each option.

Pupils from four local primary schools will take the first steps towards penning ‘A Song for Hull’ today when they receive a visit from two special guests.

Students from eight schools across the city have been invited to take part in the Song for Hull project; one of 60 projects to be supported this year with a City of Culture Creative Communities grant.

Jonathan Ansell, who featured on ITV’s X Factor as part of operatic group, G4, will be joined by local rapper and former teacher, Nineties Boy, in visiting Year 6 pupils at Ings, Woodlands, Priory and Chiltern Primary Schools.

Pupils will talk about what Hull means to them, how the City of Culture is inspiring them, and then get their thoughts down on paper in the form of a poem. Using these poems and the work of other pupils in participating schools, Nineties Boy will then create lyrics for the Song for Hull.

The song will be performed by around 240 school pupils at Hull City Hall in October, supported by members of Hey Let’s Sing; the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust staff choir, along with Jonathan, Nineties Boy, and Britain’s Got Talent starts, the Garnett Family.

The aim is to instill pride in young people, raise their aspirations, and give them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity during the 2017 City of Culture year which they will never forget.

Martin Green, CEO and Director of Hull 2017, says:

“This is exactly what Creative Communities is all about – showcasing local talent while giving young people an opportunity to develop that talent by working with national artists. Not only will the children be sharing the stage with a multi-platinum selling artist in October, but they will be performing a song specially written for them based on their own words.”

A Song for Hull is a collaborative project between Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull Children’s University, and HPSS Events.