Patients are being urged to make better use of community health care services as works to improve Hull Royal Infirmary‘s emergency department get underway next week.

From Monday, construction work will begin in the ‘Minors’ area of the Emergency Department, where patients with less serious injuries and illnesses are attended to.

Due for completion by the end of the year, the work will deliver a bigger and much improved waiting environment to help hospital staff manage the growing demands on urgent care services.

This will complement other planned work on the hospital’s ground floor to help Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust respond to an increasing volume of patients. Work will continue in 2020 and include creating space for 12 extra assessment beds in the acute medical unit, a new MRI scanner and an extra CT scanner.

But with attendance figures for the city’s Emergency Department now averaging around 400 per day, health bosses want more people to seek help closer to home and enable their emergency care clinicians to focus on the most seriously injured and critically ill.

Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) such as those in Bransholme, Beverley, Goole and Bridlington are often closer to home for many people living in Hull and East Yorkshire, and offer the opportunity to be seen more quickly. Operating until 11pm at night (open  round-the-clock at Bransholme) and with some housing x-ray facilities, UTCs can often be the best port of call for sprains, strains, suspected breaks, bites, stings, cuts, burns and minor head injuries out of hours.

Other services which can offer treatment, advice and signposting include your local pharmacy and GP practice. Hull residents can access evening and weekend GP appointments through the Access Plus service, and if you don’t know where to start, call NHS 111 to discuss the problem and receive advice on which service will best suit your needs.

On Monday of this week, hospital bosses called for patients to use these very alternatives as the number of attendances rose, and with disruption expected from next week and waiting space set to be halved in the ED ‘Minors’ area, this message is now being repeated.

Teresa Cope, Chief Operating Officer at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“It’s no secret that the number of people attending for emergency care is gradually increasing and we’re seeing high levels of demand all year round now. This is a situation that is replicated all over the country, not just in Hull.

“When the department is so busy, there is no good time to carry out works of this nature. However, the works are necessary to give us additional space to more comfortably accommodate staff and patients, and to house the facilities we need to respond to rising demand.

“We all have a responsibility to use our local health services considerately, and with disruption expected in ED from next week, now  really is the time for people to start thinking a bit more carefully and taking advantage of the services closer to home which could, in many cases, serve their needs just as well.”

Duncan Taylor, Director of Estates, Facilities & Development for the trust says:

“The improvement work which begins next week will cause disruption in the ‘Minors’ area of our Emergency Department and in the immediate vicinity. There will be noise associated with the construction work, and physical space will be reduced as hoardings go up, so the waiting area within Minors will be temporarily reduced to around half its current size.

“Patients attending ED Minors will still be cared for, but the experience may be less than ideal and waits of several hours may be compounded by lack of physical space to sit and wait.”

Teresa adds:

“We have also been working with City Health Care Partnership to temporarily extend the x-ray service at Bransholme Urgent Treatment Centre. From the beginning of November, x-ray services will be available until 8pm on Monday and Tuesday evenings which are routinely the busiest days for our Emergency Department, and we hope that that this will relieve some pressure on x-ray facilities at HRI.

“We would again urge people to use alternative community-based health services wherever possible, and if anyone feels they have to visit the Emergency Department, we would ask them to be patient and understanding over the coming weeks while improvement works are ongoing.”

A full list of alternative treatment options, including out of hours and x-ray services across Hull and the East Riding can be found at:

Hull – https://www.hullccg.nhs.uk/other-services-2/local-services-and-your-health/find-local-services/

East Riding of Yorkshire – https://www.eastridingofyorkshireccg.nhs.uk/choose-well/

A Hull midwife helping families through the agony of the death of their child has won a prestigious national award.

Specialist Bereavement Midwife Sue Cooper won the award from the Charlies-Angels-Centre Foundation after she was nominated by some of the families she has cared for when their babies have died.

Sue was appointed by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in 2017 following support from SANDS charity and funding from Abbie’s Fund.

As well as her hard work and dedication in helping families whose children have died, Sue has also developed the bereavement service to ensure families in Hull and the East Riding get the best possible support.

At a regional and national level, she has developed links with the Yorkshire Clinical Network and has played a major role after the trust was chosen as a pilot site for the development of a National Bereavement Care pathway.

Lead Midwife Lorraine Cooper said: “The impact of bereavement of a woman’s emotional, physical and psychological wellbeing cannot be underestimated so having a bereavement midwife as a single point of access to women is crucial.

“Sue and the team ensure families who have lost a child have their needs met in a caring and compassionate and supports them right through to a follow-up appointment where they can discuss any concerns or questions they may have before they see the consultant.

“Sue has also worked closely with SANDS to train our staff to ensure they have the skills they need and her work in developing the bereavement service ensures a holistic and collaborative approach between various departments including gynaecology, neonatal intensive care, early pregnancy and pathology.

“On a more personal note Sue has provided individual care to women in labour and the postnatal period which has taken her long over her shifts on a regular basis. She has embraced the role and has such passion to ensure bereaved families receive the highest standard in care. “

A celebrity football match featuring stars from Hollyoaks and a fundraising dinner dance have helped to raise £7,000 for people undergoing cancer treatment at the Queen’s Centre in memory of a mother-of-two.

Costello FC raised the cash through fundraising events including a Jet All Star Football Match after Helen Winfield died on Ward 32 at the Queen’s Centre at Castle Hill Hospital last October, shortly after her 50^th birthday, after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Her husband Andy and sons Billy, 24, and Charlie, 22, are affiliated to Costello FC and arranged the charity match in June and the fundraising dinner dance.

Sarah Guest of the Living With and Beyond Cancer team said: “We’re so grateful to Andy and his sons for raising this huge amount of money as Helen was much loved by our staff and we were so saddened by her death.

“The money raised will be shared between Ward 32, the Outpatients Department and the Living With and Beyond Cancer Team, as we were all involved in Helen’s care.

“We shall ensure the £2,300 we each receive will be spent on helping other patients receive the best possible care through their cancer journeys and in their recovery.”

Pictured (left to right) – Margaret Wetherell, Alan Brookes, Billy Winfield (Helen’s son), Julie Hepburn, Claire Robson, Kim Burns, Kerry Johnson, Glynis Brookes, Deborah Simpson, Sister at the Outpatients Department, Claire Walker (Living With and Beyond Cancer), Paul Robson, Angie Barstow of Ward 32), Sarah Guest (Living With and Beyond Cancer) and Andy Winfield (Helen’s husband).

Costello FC are planning a further All Stars match next year and goalkeepers from the club’s 28 teams will now play in pink kits in honour of Helen.

Hull’s first Chief Registrar has been appointed to empower the city’s junior doctors to improve patient safety at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has created the role of Chief Registrar to provide a link between its senior leadership team, managers and its doctors in training.

Dr Alexander McNeil, a paediatrician entering his eighth year of training as a junior doctor, said: “We are aiming to transform the culture of how we approach patient safety.

“In the past, junior doctors felt that they receive very little feedback when they report near misses or patient safety incidents at hospitals. They fill in forms but it can be some time before they receive any feedback.

“We will be changing our approach so our staff feel more engaged and are confident that they will have real input into any lessons we need to learn.”

The Chief Registrar role was one of the recommendations in the Future Hospital Commission report, established by the Royal College of Physicians in 2012 to ensure patients receive safe, high-quality care.

Dr McNeil, who studied medicine at Hull York Medical School and has worked at the trust since 2012, is one of 71 registrars working for 43 NHS organisations in the country.

He will spend two days a week in the role supported by Chief Medical Officer Dr Makani Purva. The rest of his working week will be devoted to clinical duties at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital and in the children’s ward and High Dependency Unit on the 13^th floor of Hull Royal Infirmary.

Dr Alex McNeil

One of his first tasks since taking up the role in August has been to look at how the trust records patient safety data and delivers feedback to staff when patients have been at risk of harm.

Dr McNeil said: “We know staff are trying to help patients but we know mistakes and near misses happen. The fact remains that around one in 10 patients come to harm in the NHS.

“One of our initial findings is that people find it difficult to complete the forms but how can we improve patient safety if we don’t know it’s happening in the first place?

“I will be looking to change how we approach patient safety so staff  feel more engaged and that they are able to see valuable changes in practice based on their participation.”

Dr McNeil, who has been touring the trust to introduce himself to the junior doctors on the wards, clinics and departments, also aims to improve feedback following patient safety issues.

He said: “If an error happens or we prevent a near miss, we need to give immediate feedback to the whole team in a way that allows lessons to be learned. We want staff to feel like they have ownership and can learn from it.

“It is my aim to ensure staff have the resources, energy and enthusiasm to become part of the learning process.”

Local NHS organisations are once again working together to showcase some of the innovations and amazing healthcare teams there are across the region, as the Hull and East Riding Health Expo returns to the DoubleTree by Hilton, Hull on Thursday 10 October, from 10am until 3:30pm.

Now in its fourth year, the Hull and East Riding Health Expo is an annual exhibition and celebration organised by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Hull CCG, City Health Care Partnership CIC and Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust.

One in four people will be affected by mental health problems at some point in their life, as World Mental Health Day coincides with the Health Expo, advice, information and practical help with all manner of mental health issues will be on hand. In 2018, over 6,500 people took their own lives, in a bid to raise awareness of death by suicide the Health Expo will pause at 11am to dim the lights and ‘shine a light’ during a minute’s silence. Free 20 minute suicide training will be on offer to help people understand how they can make all the difference to someone experiencing suicidal thoughts.

There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK right now, and that number is expected to rise to 1 million people by 2025. The Health Expo will have experts on hand to reassure and guide people on what to do if they are worried about a friend or loved one, or they can step back in time and reminisce in a 50s-style kitchen. Avid knitters will also be able to pick up free knitting patterns for Twiddlemuffs and Twiddle Bears, which can help to calm people with dementia if they become anxious or upset.

Whilst this year will have a theme on mental health, there will be a wide range of other exhibitions offering advice and guidance. Many people who have been invited for cancer screening may be worried or anxious about this, at the Health Expo there will be experts to chat to about what is involved. Simple tests or scans are straight forward and can save lives. Over 60,000 people across Hull and East Riding have high blood pressure, the Health Expo will offer people the opportunity to come along and get their blood pressure measured. Advice and expertise will also be on hand on how to manage your blood pressure.

One of the most popular sections of the Health Expo in previous years has been the careers fair, and this year will be no different. Organised in partnership with the University of Hull and Hull York Medical School, those who are looking to embark on a career in the NHS, find out about the diverse range of careers available in the NHS or want information on returning to work after a career break will want to make sure they pop along for a visit.

This year’s Health Expo will also see something new brought to the event; an attempt to help local families tackle fuel and food poverty in partnership with EMS. Organisers are encouraging everyone who attends the Expo to bring an item with them which can be placed in a drop box available at the Hilton hotel and then passed through to the Hull Community Shop to help families in need  Suitable items include tinned food, toiletries and household cleaning products.

The Hull and East Riding Health Expo will take place from 10am to 3:30pm on Thursday 10 October at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Hull. Admission is free, and the event is open to both the public and professionals.

Eleven families have agreed to donate the organs of their loved ones in the past five months at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Nursing teams have referred 70 patients to the organ donation team at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust since April.

Of those, 11 families consented to organ donation with five proceeding to organ donation.

The figures were unveiled by the team at the board meeting of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust after the trust took part in Organ Donation Awareness Week, when the walkway through the gardens of Hull Royal was lit up with pink fairy lights and staff wore bright pink t-shirts to spread the word.

Specialist nurse Fay Turner said 14 families consented to organ donation for the whole of 2018/19 so having the consent of 11 so far this year was a great achievement.

She said: “We are so grateful to the families of donors for thinking of others and improving someone else’s quality of life when they are facing the most difficult times in their lives.

“It is through their selflessness that other people can get the chance to live a full and happy life and there is no better thing you could do for another person.”

More than 160 people attending Humber Street Sesh agreed to sign the organ donor register and the team has continues to increase the numbers on the register ahead of a change in legislation where consent will be presumed unless a person “opts out” of organ donation.

They will be attending student events at the University of Hull as part of their work to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.

Special clinics will be set up at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital next week to help pregnant women protect their baby from serious illness this winter.

Midwives trained to administer the flu vaccine will run the clinics every Tuesday to ensure women are protected against the flu virus which has been linked to miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth.

Women will also be able to receive the vaccine at the HEY Baby Carousel on the last Wednesday of every month throughout the flu season, which begins on October 1.

Healthy Lifestyle Midwife Caroline Clark said: “Becoming a mother means protecting your baby and getting the flu vaccine in pregnancy is as essential part of that role.

“Catching flu in pregnancy can be severe not just for the mum but for the baby too. We’ve made it as easy as possible for women to receive the vaccine so they can be assured of doing the best for their child.”

Around 5,500 babies born in Hull every year and studies have shown pregnant women are particularly susceptible to flu which can cause miscarriage in the early stage or stillbirth in the later stages of pregnancy.

As women’s immune systems are more suppressed in pregnancy, they are more susceptible to flu and it can have serious consequences for women and their babies.

Women will be able to receive the flu vaccine at one of the Tuesday clinics or at the Carousel providing they bring their green, hand-held pregnancy notes. You will not be able to receive the vaccine if you do not bring your notes.

Pregnant women are also able to get the flu vaccine from their GP or local pharmacy.

The next Carousel event will be held on October 30 at the Clinical Skills building near the Eye Hospital in Fountain Street between 6pm and 8pm.

As well as giving women the flu vaccine, Hull’s team of midwives, midwifery assistants and birth educators will also be on hand to give out hints and tips on having a healthy pregnancy.

Parents-to-be will be shown how to fit nappies, bath their baby and gain safer sleeping advice during practical demonstrations in a safe, non-judgemental learning environment.

Women living in the East Riding will now be able to book antenatal classes through Hull Women and Children’s Hospital from next month.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will take bookings from women for antenatal classes at Children’s Centres in the East Riding via their HeyBaby page on the trust website from October 1.

The online booking is just one of the many services now offered by the trust’s HeyBaby team.

Around 200 prospective parents attend the Hey Baby Carousel events, held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Clinical Skills building next to the Eye Hospital in Fountain Street between 6pm and 8pm. The next Carousel takes place on September 25.

Melanie Lee

Women can learn about services to support them and their partners through pregnancy, can discuss their birth plans with our midwives and learn how to care for their newborn by watching demonstrations by our team of birth educators.

They can also find out about their options for birth, such as delivering their babies at either the labour ward or the Fatima Allam Birth Centre at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, have their babies at home supported by the trust’s community midwives or use our new hypnobirthing service.

The Hey Baby team are also offering mums to be the chance to book breastfeeding classes or antenatal classes in Hull through the website.

Janet Cairns, Head of Midwifery, said: “We are now offering women a whole range of services that will see them through their pregnancies and birth into the first few weeks of becoming parents.

“Our midwives and birth educators can support women through every step of their pregnancy and we would encourage women and their partners to come along to our Carousel events to find out what is available to help them at this exciting time in their lives.”