A new support group has been set up to help parents and carers after their babies have been discharged from Hull’s neonatal intensive care and special care baby units.

“NeoFriends” has been set up by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support families once their babies are well enough to leave the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and Transitional Care Unit.

Four groups have been set up in west Hull, Beverley, Longhill and at Hull Royal Infirmary so parents can spend time with other families who shared similar experiences following the birth of their babies at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.

Sarah Sharp set up the groups with Hannah Hoff from the Special Care Baby Unit after speaking to parents and carers as part of her work with the NICU outreach team.

“A similar theme kept cropping up when we were visiting people in their home,” said Sarah. “They got support from the unit and the outreach team but, after that, they felt a bit on their own.

“They said they weren’t comfortable with attending traditional baby groups because they’d had such a different experience to those families.

“We thought creating these special groups would help them make friends and get support from others who understood what they had gone through in those early weeks and months of their babies’ lives.”

The support groups are held on Thursdays, all from 10 to 11.30am. The session at Longhill is on the first Thursday in the month and it’s held at Home from Hospital in Anlaby Road on the second Thursday in the month.

Beverley Children’s Centre hosts its NeoFriends session on the third Thursday in the month and there’s a session at the Haven, the new spiritual and pastoral centre on the first floor of the new entrance of Hull Royal Infirmary, on the fourth Thursday in the month.

Jo Milns, chaplain for Hull Women and Children’s Hospital and a familiar face to parents on the units, attends the sessions along with Sarah, who can help families with any questions they might have as their babies grow older.

Sarah said: “It’s a really informal get-together where people can meet others who understand what they’ve been through. They can also get signposted to other services and I’m there to help if they have any medical issues or questions.”

Families are welcome to bring their other children to the sessions as well as their babies.

Email sarah.sharp20@nhs.net if you’d like to find out more.

Ambulance service workers will be taking part in industrial action on Monday 20^th February 2023.

Ambulance workers will continue to prioritise and respond to the most urgent, life threatening calls throughout the forthcoming period of strike action.

Our hospitals will be preparing by providing extra support to the Emergency Department to ensure prompt ambulance handovers, and discharging as many patients as possible who are medically fit to leave in advance of the action.

Routine hospital services will continue as normal on 20^th February, so anyone who has a hospital appointment or who is booked for a procedure that day should still attend as planned. Should there be a need to change your appointment or any arrangements linked to it, such as any hospital transport you may have booked, we will be in touch with you directly.

Patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency, i.e. when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. As there will be fewer ambulances on the roads during the industrial action, patients calling 999 for conditions which are not life-threatening are unlikely to receive an ambulance on strike days.

There are also likely to be fewer 999 and NHS111 call handlers available on the day, so anyone contacting these services should expect longer call response times. Where it is given, patients should take advice from 111 or 999 call handlers on circumstances where it is suitable for them to make their own way to hospital.

Please take extra care at this time and look out for vulnerable family members, friends or neighbours.

Anyone with non-urgent care needs should first seek help from NHS 111 online.

If you are unwell and need assistance, you should also consider alternatives such as:

• Local pharmacies
• Your GP practice
• Story Street walk-in centre, Hull
• Local Urgent Treatment Centres (Bransholme, Beverley, Goole and Bridlington), all of which are open into the evening with the exception of Bransholme which remains open 24hrs/day.

Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.

Hospital staff are celebrating their achievements in helping hundreds of people into training and employment as National Apprenticeship Week* kicks off again this week.

2023 marks 10 years since Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, began offering apprenticeships as a route into healthcare careers.

In that time, over 850 people have embarked on apprenticeship programmes, which comprise both on-the-job training and study toward formal qualifications.

Anne Burdis, Assistant Learning and Development Manager for the Trust says:

“Over the last 10 years, we’re proud to say we’ve supported more than 850 people onto apprenticeship training and development in our hospitals; that’s 850 people who have been given genuine opportunities to learn, earn and progress.

“We often find people still stereotype apprenticeships, thinking that they’re just for school leavers, that they’re mainly admin jobs or manual trades, but apprenticeships have come a long way in recent years.

“Our hospital managers and senior clinicians see the value that apprenticeships bring, so we’ve gradually seen the number of teams and departments wanting to take on apprentices grow. We now offer apprenticeships across the majority of our teams and services, from pharmacy to finance, communications to cardiac physiology, occupational therapy to estates.

Former apprentice turned finance manager, Robert Dyer

“Many of those starting out as apprentices are still with us, having gained qualifications, secured permanent roles or promotions, and in many cases, they are now carving out careers for themselves within their chosen department or clinical speciality.”

One of those people is Robert Dyer, who has progressed from apprentice to finance manager and gained his formal accountancy qualifications all within the space of seven years. He says:

“The experience gained during my apprenticeship continues to pay dividends. For anyone with a quiver of interest, I would wholeheartedly recommend the apprenticeship route and the Trust’s finance team; it not only grows you professionally but personally too, and the value in that is immeasurable.”

Apprentice health care support worker, Rachael Simpson

Rachael Simpson initially volunteered with the Trust as a Young Health Champion while she was still in high school, and is now working as an apprentice Health Care Support Worker on the elective orthopaedics ward at Castle Hill Hospital. She says:

“I got into nursing because I saw how happy the career made my mum. I love people and want to make a difference to people’s lives.

“I love being able to help patients, to listen to their stories and make them feel comfortable on our ward.  My aim is to become a registered nurse by 2026, which I’ll achieve by doing the three-year nurse degree apprenticeship after completing my current course.”

Paula Thompson worked as an Occupational Therapist Assistant in Neurosurgery before starting her degree apprenticeship in 2019. Since completing her studies and becoming a fully qualified Occupational Therapist, Paula has been promoted again within her department and now has role with more leadership responsibilities. She says:

Paula Thompson completed a degree-level apprenticeship

“Having prior experience as a member of support staff meant I was able to bring practical knowledge and skills into the academic environment. Most of those I studied alongside either went straight into senior therapist roles after graduating or, like myself, they’ve attained senior roles within a shorter timescale than most traditional degree graduates might be expected to.”

Anne continues: “Recruitment challenges for the health service are no secret, so this is one really valuable and successful way in which we’re working to grow our own remarkable people.

“As we celebrate 10 years of apprenticeships at Hull Hospitals this National Apprenticeship Week, we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s supported our healthcare professionals of the future. Supporting apprenticeships doesn’t just represent an investment in the people, it’s an investment in our community and the future of our health services too.”

If you or someone you know would be interested in a healthcare apprenticeship with Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, visit www.hull.nhs.uk/medshed/apprenticeships to find out more about a career in the NHS.

* The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2023 is ‘Skills for Life’, reflecting how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for rewarding careers and business development. For more information on National Apprenticeship Week, visit https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/influencers/national-apprenticeship-week#

They’re more used to taking care of others, but now it’s local hospital porters’ turn to be the centre of attention after being shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s 116-strong team of porters, working across both Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, have reached the finals of the MyPorter Awards in the ‘Portering Team of the Year’ category.

Brendon Bielby has been shortlisted for ‘Porter of the Year’

Great news on its own, but one team member who’s shown outstanding dedication to his role throughout a sustained period of ill-health, Brendon Bielby, has also been shortlisted for ‘Porter of the Year’.

In recent times, Brendon, who works at Castle Hill, has experienced not one but two life-changing health problems which have forced him to take time off work. Yet throughout his periods of illness, Brendon has remained passionate about his role and he maintained his commitment to returning to work to make a difference as soon as he could.

“Being able to put a smile on someone’s face makes me happy and proud to be a porter,” he says.

The judging panel said Brendon’s nomination really stood out, and was ‘a true testament to his great character and dedication to portering’.

Brendon’s manager, Interim Portering, Postal & Switchboard Service Manager David Houghton, says:

“Despite all the personal health issues and concerns he has gone through, and considering the extreme pressures frontline NHS workers like our porters are currently facing, Brendon remains passionate, dedicated, and his love for his work is clear to see.

Members of the portering team at Hull Royal Infirmary

“His caring attitude and the willingness to do anything to help our patients is second-to-none, so I didn’t hesitate to nominate him for the award; he would make a really deserving winner.”

David May, Deputy Head of Facilities (Logistics) for the Trust says:

“The portering team is key to the smooth running of our hospitals and services; not only do they make sure patients get where they need to be, when they need to be there, but they make sure our wards, departments and restaurants are well stocked with the equipment and supplies they need on a daily basis. Crucially, for many of our patients who may be feeling anxious or vulnerable, they also offer a friendly smile, words of support and some welcome reassurance in their time of need.

“The portering team work so hard, round the clock, 365 days a year, and I’m so pleased to see that their work and their dedication to supporting our hospitals to deliver great care has been recognised at a such a high level.”

The My Porter awards ceremony will take place in London on Friday 21 February. Follow @myporter_ on twitter for the results.

Ambulance service workers will be taking part in industrial action on Monday 6 February and Friday 10 February 2023.

As has been the case during previous periods of strike action, ambulance workers will continue to prioritise and respond to the most urgent, life threatening calls.

Our hospitals will be preparing by putting extra support into the Emergency Department to ensure prompt ambulance handovers on strike days, and discharging as many patients as possible who are medically fit to leave in advance of the action.

Routine hospital services on strike days will continue, and so anyone who has a hospital appointment or who is booked for a procedure on one of the strike dates mentioned above should still attend as planned. Should there be a need to change your appointment or any arrangements linked to it, such as any hospital transport you may have booked, we will be in touch with you directly.

On both Monday 6^th and Friday 10^th February, patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency, i.e. when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. As there will be fewer ambulances on the roads during the industrial action, patients calling 999 for conditions which are not life-threatening are unlikely to receive an ambulance on strike days.

There are also likely to be fewer 999 and NHS111 call handlers available on the day, so anyone contacting these services should expect longer call response times. Where it is given, patients should take advice from 111 or 999 call handlers on circumstances where it is suitable for them to make their own way to hospital.

Please take extra care at this time and look out for vulnerable family members, friends or neighbours.

Anyone with non-urgent care needs should first seek help from NHS 111 online.

If you are unwell and need assistance, you should also consider alternatives such as:

• Local pharmacies
• Your GP practice
• Story Street walk-in centre, Hull
• Local Urgent Treatment Centres (Bransholme, Beverley, Goole and Bridlington), all of which are open into the evening with the exception of Bransholme which remains open 24hrs/day.

Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.

High levels of microplastics have been found in surgical environments in a landmark study.

A team at the University of Hull analysed microplastic levels in both the operating theatre and anaesthetic room, in cardiothoracic surgeries.

The study is the latest in a series of ground-breaking microplastics research from the University of Hull, Hull York Medical School and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Researchers discovered an average of 5,000 microplastics per metre squared when the theatre was in use, almost three times the amount found in our homes.

In addition, the anaesthetic room showed average levels of microplastics to be 500 per metre squared when in use.

Both settings had no microplastics settling out from the air when not in use.

Professor Jeanette Rotchell, Professor of Environmental Toxicology at the University of Hull, said: “You can imagine that during a cardiothoracic operation, which may last as long as eight hours, there will be a lot of people, utensils and consumable items. These items are all wrapped in plastic and this is contributing to all those particles in the operating room.

“It is a very dense environment for plastic particles to be introduced into the surrounding air. “

“The types of microplastic particles identified relate to common plastic wrapping materials.”

The majority of microplastic is PET – which would co-incide with blister packs, and polypropylene which may come from surgical gowns, hairnets and drapes for patients.

This study is the latest by the team in Hull which has already reported microplastics in abundance in outdoor and indoor environments and also in human lungs.

Other studies have also detected microplastics in the colon and blood, but until now, no studies have quantified microplastic levels in a hospital environment.

The study in surgical environments captured atmospheric microplastics for 12 hours per day in both operating theatres and anaesthetic rooms for seven days, on both working and non-working days; findings which will be replicated in surgical theatres throughout the country.

Professor Rotchell, said: “Although we know microplastics are in the air in a variety of settings, we can’t yet say what the consequences are or whether microplastics are harmful to health. Researchers have yet to establish this. “

“We do know that microplastics cause immune response type reactions such as inflammation in cell or tissue-based experiments. This study also highlights another route of exposure that differs from either inhalation or ingestion via our diet. In knowing the numbers and characteristics of the microplastics found in this study, we can now conduct more realistic cell type experiments to establish possible health impacts.”

Dr Daniel Field, lead investigator, said: “The invention of plastics was revolutionary for the surgical environment. “The fact you can vacuum pack equipment provides minimal risk to the patient and as doctors, our sole duty is to protect patients.”

“The amount of plastic used in operating theatres across Europe is astoundingly high – you can’t ignore it. We are producing a lot of plastic – much of it sterile, single use plastic and you can use 10-20 of these in a single operation just to take out a section of the lung, for example.

“While we do not yet know the actual health impacts of microplastics, if any, single use plastic is essential for the NHS that we see today. But that isn’t to say the NHS isn’t moving forward with goals and schemes in order to limit single use plastics elsewhere.”

Professor Mahmoud Loubani, co-author and a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust involved in the study, found the results particularly interesting:  “The environments in which we undertook our research are typical of most NHS operating theatres and anaesthetic rooms across the country, so we are confident in saying our findings will also be applicable to most if not all other clinical settings, locally and nationally, where major surgery is carried out.

“The NHS has moved to use a lot of single use instruments and equipment in surgery in the last 20 years which have improved our technical capabilities however this happened at the cost of increasing microplastics in the theatre environment.

“We have to consider ways of packaging the instruments as well as ways to open them that reduces the release of microplastics in the theatre environment.”

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has a growing reputation as a pioneer of innovative environmental healthcare practices and is one of the leading organisations in the NHS in the drive to reduce carbon emissions. The Trust has significantly reduced its use of carbon polluting anaesthetic gases in recent years and Castle Hill Hospital is the only facility of its size in Europe to be powered by solar energy.

The microplastics in surgical environments study was published in the Journal Environment International:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107630

Hull’s hospitals has achieved a UK first by launching a major educational project for schools and academies to create its own workforce for the future.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) is unveiling Med Shed – its online and immersive digital programme to introduce young people aged 11 to 16 to around 350 potential careers.

Med Shed showcases NHS careers throughout the Humber and North Yorkshire region, including engineering, catering, painting and decorating and administration alongside more traditional frontline roles such as doctors, nurses and physiotherapists.

The website, designed in a bright and bold style with animation, films and an NHS careers’ spinning wheel, gives young people the chance to explore various roles to see what appeals to them.

It also offers practical advice and “next steps” to help students in Key Stages 2 and 3 progress to careers in their local NHS through work experience and apprenticeships.

(left to right) Rania Ali Venia Issa Anna Lis Alistair Van Der Kroon Nicole Macasaet and Prince Mwungere

Simon Nearney, Director of Workforce and Organisational Development at HUTH, said: “It’s no secret that the entire NHS struggles with recruitment and, in recent times, has had to rely on overseas recruitment or attracting people from other parts of the country.

“A strategic priority for HUTH is to ‘grow our own’ workforce so we have the best local talent being educated locally and gaining local jobs and careers that are rewarding.

“’Med Shed’ raises aspirations in our next generation so our young people understand they can stay local, get on and do well in great jobs without having to move away to other cities.”

HUTH already has strong links with St Mary’s Sixth Form Academy and Winifred Holtby School, both health and social care academies in Hull, and will roll out Med Shed, supported by the University of Hull, Humber and North Yorkshire Health Care Partnership and Health Education England, to all schools in Hull and the East Riding.

Staff from apprentice engineers to consultant eye surgeons feature in the “Med Shed TV” section, giving young people insights into the people already working in these roles so they can envisage themselves in similar careers.

All schools across East Yorkshire will be invited to Med Shed events in 2023 and school leaders will also be able to book “Med Shed On Tour” where HUTH staff will visit individual year groups to talk about their work at Hull’s hospitals.

Craig Lazenby, Head of Marketing, Recruitment and Retention at HUTH, said: “Med Shed has been years in development from the initial concept to delivery because we knew we had to get this right.

“We are confident it will play a crucial part in securing our workforce for the future, enabling young people in East Yorkshire to land great jobs here instead of leaving their homes in search of decent careers.

“It’s helping us to quash pre-conceived notions that only certain kinds of people can do a certain kinds of jobs and it’s raising the collective aspirations of an entire city, showing just what can be possible.”

Cicely Alsbury, Partnership Director of the Medical, Health and Social Care Academy at St Mary’s College said: “HUTH provides a fantastic resource which will really help students to consider their different career pathways and the different opportunities available to them, particularly in our local community.

Sixth form students at the MHSC Academy who are considering careers in the NHS also welcomed the Med Shed initiative.

Alister Van Der Kroon said: “Meeting the people doing these jobs at the events and being able to arrange visits to our school means our students can see themselves doing the roles in the future.”

Prince Mwungere said: “Working with local medical teams is a massive benefit to us as students as it allows us to get a more enhanced experience, as opposed to just working in a classroom environment. Being able to work with Hull University Teaching Hospitals gives us excellent opportunities to learn real life experiences and skills straight from local front-line professionals. It gives us the chance to take part in workshops and other inspiring events.”

Venia Issa said: “Being partnered with the NHS and local professionals provides us with instant access to the realities of a career in medicine. As part of the MHSC Academy, we can experience placements and gain access to information and situations that we may not have the opportunity to encounter otherwise, allowing us to develop key skills that will match to many multidisciplinary roles.

Rania Ali said: “To be in a direct partnership with the NHS is an amazing experience which allows me to learn new skills and gain experience to work in a medical career in the future. I’ve always been intrigued by NHS workers and how they work so professionally and MedShed is a great way to find out more.”

Nicole Macasaet said: “This experience offered by the SM6 Medical, Health and Social Care Academy gives every student the opportunity to gain a deeper experience about the medical field and it gives a clearer picture of what it’s really like working in the NHS.”

Anna Lis said: “It is an incredible honour for the SM6 Medical Health and Social Care Academy to be partnered with Hull University Teaching Hospitals and nearby practices as it allows us to enhance our understanding of the direct and soft skills necessary for the types of health care roles we will fill in the future.”

Global experts in headache and migraine are heading to Hull this week to discuss pioneering treatments and advances in clinical care.

The UK’s biggest meeting on headache is being organised by the neurology team at Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust in conjunction with The Migraine Trust, The British Association for the Study of Headache (BASH), the International Headache Society (IHS), and Spire Hospital, Hull and East Riding.

Professor Fayyaz Ahmed

More than 300 delegates from across the UK will convene at Lazaat Hotel in Cottingham from 25^th to 28^th January. Here, they will receive the very first ‘Vicky Quarshie Memorial Lecture’ from Professor Cristina Tassorelli, President of the International Headache Society, who will fly in especially from the University of Pavia in Italy. Vicky Quarshie served the community of Hull as a specialist headache nurse for 15 years before she passed away following an illness at the age of just 48.

Delegates will also hear from no fewer than 50 experts in headache and migraine from various UK centres of excellence, including King’s College, London, and Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

Professor Fayyaz Ahmed, consultant neurologist at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (pictured, right) is also a treasurer of the IHS and has held various board-level positions within BASH since 2005. He will be among those speaking at the event, which concludes with a half-day session for the public.

Professor Ahmed says:

“For some time, Hull has been leading the way in the care of people with headache, migraine and other associated neurological disorders. We have a reputation as a major centre for headache research and clinical services, built over the last 20 years, and we are proud to have been organising the biennial Hull BASH Headache Meeting since 2005.

“Headache and migraine are surprisingly common. Estimates by the Migraine Trust suggest some 10 million people experience migraine regularly in the UK, and there are thought to be around 190,000 migraine attacks in the UK every day.

Migraine and cluster headache can be debilitating

“Almost all of us will have experienced headache to some extent, but for those living with more severe forms such as migraine or cluster headache, the impact can be debilitating and have a significant impact on a person’s ability to work or lead a normal family life. That’s why events like ours, to share best practice and research among clinicians and advice with the public, are so very important.”

Among the topics for discussion across this week’s event are preventative treatments; sleep and headache disorder; women, hormones and migraine; and access to support through primary care.

The event is free to attend for healthcare professionals, Wednesday to Friday, and is open to the public to attend on Saturday morning – public places should be reserved in advance via the Migraine Trust website.

Appeal to knitters as supplies of twiddlemuffs start to dwindle

A senior nurse is appealing to local knitters, craft and community groups to support hospital patients living with dementia.

For a number of years, hospital staff have been giving out knitted twiddlemuffs to patients with dementia to help ease anxiety while spending time in hospital.

These brightly coloured items consist of a simple knitted tube which can be worn over the hands, but which are also adorned with bows, buttons, beads, bells, and other ornate items which the wearer can ‘twiddle’.  More recently, the Trust has received similar donations of fidget bears and blankets too.

Twiddlemuffs help to keep the hands occupied

But now supplies are waning, as Karen Harrison, lead matron for dementia and delirium at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust explains:

“Spending time in hospital can be difficult at any stage of life, but for older people in particular it can be quite confusing and upsetting. It can also be the cause of anxiety as people find themselves outside of their comfort zone, away from familiar people and surroundings.

“Twiddlemuffs are a really simple idea but can really help to calm people with dementia in particular who don’t always understand how or why they’ve come to be in hospital. They also provide stimulation for the hands and mind, and can be a great conversation starter for those who may otherwise tend to be quite withdrawn. They can even help us promote better safety on the wards, as patients who have little to do may be tempted to get up and wander or start to fiddle with their drip or cannula, and in turn this could lead to falls or other risks to patients’ clinical care and recovery.

“We’ve been using twiddlemuffs for a number of years, but following the Covid pandemic, we’ve seen a drop off in donations. Now we’re keen to receive a fresh supply so we can share these between our emergency department, wards and services at both HRI and Castle Hill and help make people’s time with us that bit more enjoyable.

Fidget bears also prove popular with people with dementia

“We’d be so grateful to anyone who has a bit of spare time, a bit of spare wool and a few bits and bobs in their sewing box who can help us with this request.”

Twiddlemuffs are required for both older men and women, and each person gets to keep their own. There’s no right or wrong way to design a twiddlemuff – some people go all out on the decorations, while others add texture or make the colours as bright as they can. Unsurprisingly, the black and amber of Hull City are always popular colours! The most important thing, however, is that the adornments – beads, bows, zips or other items – are firmly sewn on.

A basic twiddlemuff pattern can be found on the hospital’s website.

Anyone wishing to try making a fidget bear or fidget blanket can also find instructions online too.

Donations can be made by post/parcel to:

Karen Harrison
Corporate Nursing Services
Brocklehurst Building
Anlaby Road
Hull
HU3 2RW

For larger donations or to drop off in-person, contact the Dementia Care Team on 01482 315548 or email hyp-tr.dementiasupport@nhs.net

Unison members working for Yorkshire Ambulance Service will be taking part in industrial action on Monday 23 January 2023.

Members of the union will take action for 12 hours between 10am and 10pm and, in line with previous action taken, ambulance staff will be prioritising those with life-threatening needs.

Hospital staff will be discharging as many patients as possible in advance of the strike where they are medically fit to leave, and focusing efforts on timely ambulance handovers on the day.

Anyone with a routine hospital appointment or procedure scheduled for 23 January should attend as planned. Should there be a need to change your arrangements, including the use of patient transport services, you will be contacted directly to explain what this means for you in more detail and to reschedule if necessary.

Patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency, i.e. when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. As there will be fewer ambulances on the roads during the industrial action, patients calling 999 for conditions which are not life-threatening are unlikely to receive an ambulance on strike days.

There are also likely to be fewer 999 and NHS111 call handlers available on the day, so anyone contacting these services should expect longer call response times. Where it is given, patients should take advice from 111 or 999 call handlers on circumstances where it is suitable for them to make their own way to hospital.

Please take extra care at this time and look out for vulnerable family members, friends or neighbours.

Anyone with non-urgent care needs should first seek help from NHS 111 online.

If you are unwell and need assistance, you should also consider alternatives such as:

• Local pharmacies
• Your GP practice
• Story Street walk-in centre, Hull
• Local Urgent Treatment Centres (Bransholme, Beverley, Goole and Bridlington), all of which are open into the evening with the exception of Bransholme which remains open 24hrs/day.

Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.