Castle Hill won’t let the grass grow as 51 sheep are welcomed onto solar field

There’s a lot to think about when you set out to build a multi-million pound solar farm; how best to capture the sun? How much power will it generate? Are all the permissions in place?  But one question that may not immediately spring to mind is how to cut the grass.

Sheep among the solar panels, opposite Castle Hill Hospital

This was the dilemma facing the team at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and its 11,000 panel ‘field of dreams’ opposite Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham.

Now thanks to a local shepherding family, they’ve come up with the ultimate, sustainable green solution; a flock of 51 hungry sheep.

“The idea came about by chance, after we started looking at ways of cutting the grass between the rows of solar panels,” says Alex Best, Head of Capital for the Trust.

“We approached a number of landscapers for ideas on how we could manage the grass cutting, both mechanically and sustainably, and this felt like the perfect solution; keeping the grass down naturally and reducing our carbon footprint. It ties in perfectly with our ethos of sustainability and supporting our local community, and the costs involved are extremely competitive at just one sixth of what it would cost us to cut the grass mechanically.

“We intended the field to become an area of natural biodiversity, and the natural approach to maintaining the land we’re now taking only enhances this.”

A total of 51 sheep of varying breeds including Beltex and Blue Texel are now happily munching away in Field A, which lies adjacent to Castle Road and the A164. The flock is helping to control the growth of grasses and other wildflowers sown on the field when construction finished in February this year.

Grant Bailey and his brother Ollie, both from Cottingham (pictured below), helped to bring the family’s sheep up to their new stomping ground. Grant, who runs GMB Mini Tool Hire, also maintains the lower field (Field B) on behalf of the Trust.

Grant Bailey (right) and his brother Ollie in the solar field with their sheep

Grant says:

“We needed somewhere for our sheep to go and within a couple of days of chatting to Alex, we were talking about how we could make it work.

“We knew of the solar field but hadn’t actually thought about it as an option. Now the sheep are here, they seem really happy and it’s great to have found a solution to both our needs without having to have looked outside the village.”

Grant and Ollie check on the sheep twice a day to make sure they’re all okay.

The sheep are secured within the field with plenty of space to roam, while 21 rows of solar panels and the surrounding trees provide plenty of shade to cool down when the weather gets hot.

And there’s no risk of supply cables being nibbled either; the panels are mounted high enough to be out of reach of curious faces and the cables are protected in hard plastic as they reach the ground to keep both the solar farm and its occupants safe.

A local artist whose work rocketed to fame during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations has donated one of her works to hospital staff.

Eleanor Tomlinson, from Broomfleet, painted the now instantly recognisable ‘Jubilee Ma’amalade Tea’ which features Her Majesty the Queen, Paddington Bear, a trusty corgi and of course, a marmalade sandwich.

Eleanor posted the picture on social media after being inspired to paint by the Platinum Pageant in early June. Since then, she has received literally thousands of requests from people looking to secure a copy.

Charge nurse, Paul Johnson, with ‘Jubilee Ma’amalade Tea’

But Eleanor has a special reason for donating a signed copy of the work to staff on Neurosurgical Ward 4 at Hull Royal Infirmary, and that’s her dad, Nick.

Paul Johnson, charge nurse on Ward 4 (pictured, left) explains:

“Nick came to us a few years ago for care following a head injury. He made a strong recovery, and since his discharge from hospital, he’s stayed in touch like many of our patients do after a potentially life changing event.

“While we just saw it as doing our job, Nick, Eleanor and the rest of the family were really grateful for the care he received. He’s never forgotten us, in fact Nick even did some fundraising a little while ago to get us some equipment for our staff room, but this latest donation that Nick and Eleanor have made to us is really unique.”

This special print of ‘Jubilee Ma’amalade Tea’ is dedicated to the nurses, doctors, and all the support staff who helped Nick and his family through his time in hospital. It has been framed, personally signed by the artist, and has a heartfelt address ‘To Paul and the team’.

Paul continues:

The piece has been personally dedicated to the team on ward 4, HRI

“I’m really proud of my team for the care they deliver every day, but to be recognised in this way is something really special, and we all feel really privileged to have been chosen to receive a signed copy as a thank you.

“Knowing so many people wanted them, and knowing Her Majesty the Queen also has the same picture, makes us feel very honoured!”

Eleanor says:

“I’m delighted it’s gone down well and hopefully will bring some smiles to the team and patients. I’m very grateful to all the team for everything they did when my dad was with them.”

More information on Eleanor Tomlinson and her work can be found at www.eleanortomlinsonart.co.uk

A high-tech mobile screening unit, which is helping to save lives through earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and other conditions, has moved to East Hull.

The NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme invites past and current smokers aged between 55 and 74 who live in Hull and are registered with a Hull GP to a free lung health check, to identify potential lung problems early so effective and early treatment can be provided.

The unit’s relocation from North Hull to Morrisons supermarket on Holderness Road will see approximately 10,000 people in East Hull invited for a lung health check within their local community.

The NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme supports the NHS Long Term Plan ambition of detecting more cancers at an earlier stage when they are easier to treat.

Thousands of people have been invited for a lung health check since the programme launched in Hull in January 2020, with around 10,500 assessments and 7,000 scans carried out during this time. In the small percentage where cancer is detected, many have been found at an earlier stage, which is likely to result in better outcomes for the patient.

CT scanner on board the mobile screening unit

The lung health check takes place in two stages. The first is an initial phone assessment with a specially trained respiratory nurse. If the assessment finds the person to be at high risk, they will be offered a low dose CT scan of the lungs for further investigation at the mobile unit.

Those eligible for a lung health check in East Hull will receive an invite from their GP over the coming weeks and are strongly urged to take up the offer.

Dr Stuart Baugh, Clinical Director for the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme in Hull, said: “There are often no signs or symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage and as a result seven in 10 patients are diagnosed too late.

“Early intervention can make a huge difference with a CT scan three times more likely to support a diagnosis of cancer at an early stage, often before symptoms occur. It can also spot other lung and chest conditions, meaning that people can get help and support for conditions they may not even have realised they have.”

Dr Kanwal Tariq, Consultant in Chest Medicine at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Since the screening programme started, people across Hull have shown a real interest in and enthusiasm for lung health checks, and we hope this will be repeated as the mobile unit moves to the east of the city.

“Many participants won’t need to have a scan, just a chat with a friendly lung specialist respiratory nurse which involves discussing any potential risk factors, any current chest problems and then some useful advice on keeping the lungs healthy. If a CT scan is needed, the team will make that as quick and straight forward as possible.”

The first GP practices in East Hull to invite patients to attend screening are East Hull Family Practice, East Park Practice, Laurbel Surgery and Dr Weir – based at Marfleet Primary Healthcare Centre.

Dr Masood Balouch, an East Hull GP, said: “It is very encouraging to see hundreds of people attending for their lung health checks every month. As a local GP, working in the East Hull area for many years, I urge all eligible patients to take up the offer of a lung health check straight away. Please call to book your lung health check when you get your invitation letter through from your practice.

“Early detection of cancer not only allows earlier treatment and support for people, it also helps to improve their long-term health outcomes.”

If you are registered with a GP practice in East Hull and receive a lung health check invite, don’t ignore it – book your appointment today. Contact your GP if you if you think you are experiencing symptoms of lung cancer.

The NHS Lung Health Check Programme will be launching in North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire during early 2023. Find out more about lung health checks in Hull at www.lunghealthcheck.org.uk.

Patients from Hull who are waiting to be treated for heart problems are being offered access to a unique service to support their wellbeing while they wait.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has teamed up with Forum to offer the ‘Waiting Well’ programme to almost 80 people waiting for cardiology appointments.

The programme will invite patients to take part in activities such as walking or gentle games of football to help maintain their physical health.

Some well-known names  in the East Yorkshire health community, such as Tigers Trust, Fitmums and Friends, Hull KR and Hull FC, will be working to deliver group exercise and social activity sessions as part of the Waiting Well project.

But acknowledging that wellbeing is about more than just a person’s physical health, those taking part will be able to access other forms of support too, such as mental health advice, if it’s needed.

Jason Stamp, Chief Officer for Forum says:

“We at Forum are excited by our new partnership with Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust and our innovative new approach to supporting patients on the cardiology waiting list.

“Through this new service, we will be offering patients advice and guidance while they wait and providing access to a range of free activities within their local communities. This will not only help people to start improving their physical health but also support and encourage them to become more active in their local communities.

“This new project is a great example of how we can work together in partnership to improve health outcomes for local people.”

Eileen Henderson, Head of Outpatient Services for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“We know it can be frustrating waiting for an appointment, so this is a great way of keeping in touch with patients and encouraging them to take part in activities which will help keep them well while they wait.

“While it won’t necessarily cure their problem, taking part in the activities we have lined up will get people out of the house, keep them active, help them make new friends and foster a more general sense of wellbeing until such a time as we can schedule their hospital appointment.”

Funded by Hull City Council, the Waiting Well programme is open to all eligible patients living within Hull. The nature of the activities have been designed with the specific needs of cardiology patients in mind and will be provided entirely free of charge.

There will be general group sessions on offer including football, walking and exercise classes, plus a number of activities aimed at particular groups such as the over 50s and women only, some with childcare included.

A total of 77 eligible patients will begin receiving letters inviting them to take part in the ‘Waiting Well – Cardiology’ pilot this week.

Staff working at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham have teamed up to support disabled children evacuated from the conflict in Ukraine.

Dr Andrzej Frygier, a specialty trainee in haematology, and Lee Ellerker, an engineer who sub-contracts with Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, have been working together to raise money and send aid to support over 60 children at a Polish orphanage since April this year.

No stranger to humanitarian aid, ex-military veteran and former UN worker Lee began taking goods and supplies out to refugees at the Polish border at the start of this year as part of the Hull 4 Ukraine effort. Andrzej has also been volunteering his medical skills on regular trips back to his native Poland since the war began.

But after a chance meeting between the pair in the gym, both Lee and Andrzej, who has family living near to the Polish-Ukrainian border, realised they could achieve much more by working together.

Enlisting even more support from Lee’s friend Shaun Willox to get the charity appeal off the ground, the team is now raising money to send food, supplies and sensory equipment over to Poland. The aid will support 62 children, some as young as 8 and many with severe disabilities, who are struggling to cope with the mental and physical effects of the conflict. A further 30 children are expected to join them soon.

Andrzej says:

“Since the war began, I have stayed in touch with my professional network in Poland who are offering their time and skills to help refugees, and when I make the trip over, I volunteer with them too. This direct involvement has given me a clearer picture of the real scale of problems and what people fleeing the war are going through.

Dr Andrzej Frygier, specialty trainee in haematology

“M​y colleague Wojciech, a haematology consultant in Poland, told me about group of disabled children who had been evacuated from the war zone to Biskupin, a small town in Kuyavian Pomeranian district of Poland. The children had been bussed out of Ukraine amid nearby shelling to a hotel where the owner had generously offered to accommodate the children for free.

Wojciech told me how, when they arrived, most of the children needed urgent medical attention, and he was there on the spot, triaging and volunteering his medical care.

“At the beginning, there was no funding to provide even the basics for them, like food, medical supplies or equipment, or to pay for utilities; everything was purely based on the generosity of nearby volunteers.

“With the help of the local authorities, the children have since been found more suitable accommodation on an old hospital wing in Torun, but their health needs are many and complex and they still very much need our help.”

Andrzej has supported the children’s medical care from his own monies and with support from colleagues at the Queen’s Centre for Oncology & Haematology at Castle Hill Hospital, who have helped him and Lee raise over £2,000 so far to pay for blood tests, personal care and nutrition.

Lee says:

“It’s humanity that has been shaken by this war; the innocents who have no place on the battlefields have had their homes and lives torn apart.

“Having witnessed conflicts myself, I knew I had to help the people of Ukraine in their struggle for freedom. Freedom is something we take for granted, and only when it is threatened do we rise. So I choose to rise and help the humanitarian effort in Poland and the Ukraine.

Shaun Willox

“Up to now I have raised £13,000 for humanitarian aid and we will keep going until they need help no more.”

Shaun says:

“Seeing the appalling destruction in Ukraine and knowing there are so many suffering and needing help, I knew I just had to get involved. I am currently hosting a Ukrainian family and have been meeting other Ukrainians, and it feels so personal.

“I have seen so much kindness and support by our country and I know so many wish to help. I’m pleased to be working alongside Lee and Andrzej, I know we can do really good things together.”

Andrzej adds:

“I used to talk a lot with my grandparents about their Second World War memories, and now it’s all happening again and very close to Poland.

“There’s an overwhelming spirit of solidarity with Ukrainians across the whole of Poland and the whole world. I simply asked myself, what can I do to help? It’s a question I think everybody should ask themselves. Everybody will have a different answer, but it’s important to do something. Even if it’s only very small, every single sign of solidarity counts.”

How you can help:

The team is seeking donations to purchase supplies and specialist equipment which can be transported to Poland and further into Ukraine, as well as to pay for adaptations to the building/children’s care environment – please consider donating via their GoFundMe page and watch the video to find out more.

Food, medical supplies, personal care items, toys and equipment are also welcome – please email contact@helpforukraineappealfund.org.uk to discuss in more detail.

It seems like summer is finally here; temperatures have soared in the last few days and forecasts suggest they could reach the 30s again in parts of our region by the weekend.

But while those at home can take steps to keep their cool, hospital inpatients don’t have quite as many options.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s Interim Deputy Chief Nurse, Wendy Page, is now offering some advice for patients in hospital during periods of hot weather and those who care for them:

Hospital wards can become very warm

“As nurses ourselves, we know how warm some of our wards and departments can be at times. Due to the very nature of our estate, particularly the design of the Hull Royal Infirmary tower block, it’s not easy to keep them cool at any time of year.

“We regularly offer wellbeing advice to our staff and suggest how to keep cool, but we appreciate our patients who are sharing the ward environment are also experiencing the same heat.

“Staff will of course do whatever they can to create a comfortable environment, making sure cold water is available and ventilating the wards, for example, but there are some other small things which patients themselves can do, or which loved ones can help with, which could make a difference too.”

Where possible, Wendy advises patients to think about the food on offer:

“People don’t always want hot or heavy meals when it’s warm, so perhaps think about choosing a lighter meal from our ward menus, perhaps a salad, yogurt for breakfast or something with fruit, as the extra water content will help to keep hydration levels up.

“Staff should make water regularly available to patients on our wards, especially when temperatures are high, but if you can’t see or don’t have any, don’t be afraid to ask.

“Something as simple as laying on top of the bed sheets, rather than under them, can also make a big difference, so patients should also ask for help to do this if it’s needed or if it would help you to stay cooler.”

Wendy says there are several ways in which relatives and loved ones can help too:

There are outdoor spaces to enjoy at the Queen’s Centre

“It’s worth having a chat with nursing staff when you visit, as depending on the nature of your loved one’s illness, they may be able to safely leave the ward with you and spend some time outside in the shade or enjoying the breeze. Castle Hill has lots of green and outdoor space to enjoy, but there are some really lovely, self contained garden areas at Hull Royal Infirmary too.

“It might also be that, if your loved one struggles to drink a lot of water or finds it boring, that you can bring fruit cordials to encourage them to drink more fluids, but again check with the nursing team that this is okay first.

“Bringing in cooler clothing for them, such as a short sleeved nightgown, pyjamas or T-shirt and shorts, maybe made of a cooler fabric such as cotton, could also help, and if your loved one’s mobility is limited; sponging their head, face, neck and arms with cool water could make a real difference.”

In line with Government requirements, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has its own Heatwave Plan which describes the actions it will take to maintain safe levels of service in the event of a heatwave.

For more tips on staying safe at home in hot weather, visit the GOV.UK website.

Carbon emissions, waiting lists and the latest capital developments will be just some of the items up for discussion when Hull University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) next week.

On Monday 11 July, patients and the public will be invited to hear how Hull Hospitals are leading the way on greener healthcare and discover just how much progress has been made towards becoming a net zero Trust by 2030.

Alex Best, Head of Capital, will provide the ‘Zero30’ update after Chief Executive, Chris Long, has delivered his review of the hospitals’ challenges and achievements over the last 12 months. Chief Finance Officer, Lee Bond, will also present the Trust’s financial accounts for 2021/22.

Sean Lyons, Trust Chairman

Sean Lyons, Chairman of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“This is a really interesting time to work in health as there is no end of challenges. While we cautiously emerge from the Covid pandemic and try to reduce waiting lists for planned surgery, we have to keep one eye on the future in the form of rising demand, changes to local commissioning structures and our longer term contribution to a sustainable NHS.

“Since joining the Trust in February, one thing I’m particularly proud of is the bold stance we’ve taken in respect of carbon reduction and how we’re striving to provide greener healthcare. Our Zero30 Strategy and Green Plan was launched just eight months ago, and in that time we’ve made huge inroads; reducing our carbon emissions, generating our own electricity and saving thousands of pounds of valuable NHS funding.

“We know the public support the idea of greener healthcare providing quality can be maintained, so I’d really urge anyone with an interest in this area to join us on 11^th July to find out more about the work we’re doing in this field, and to hear about the other achievements and challenges we’ve faced over the past year.”

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will hold its Annual General Meeting on Monday 11 July, from 12-2pm. The meeting will be held online by Webex and access is via a joining link:

https://tinyurl.com/2xf3v4jv

Delegates will be automatically muted on entry to the meeting but there will be plenty of opportunity for those in attendance to ask questions during the event.

For more information on the Trust’s AGM, please email Rebecca Thompson, Corporate Affairs Manager – rebecca.thompson71@nhs.net 

A broader approach to supporting patients through chemotherapy treatment is being introduced at the Queen’s Centre, Castle Hill Hospital.

Patients receiving treatment for colorectal, upper GI and gynaecological cancers are already receiving consultations with different health professionals, and this approach will be rolled out to other cancer specialties over the course of the year.

This means that, at appropriate stages of their treatment, patients could meet with a specialist nurse or a pharmacist for example, rather than a consultant, and benefit from their additional knowledge and technical expertise.

Jan Hunter, Humber Lead Chemotherapy Nurse for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (pictured, right) says:

“Patients in receipt of chemotherapy have always been cared for by a range of health professionals,  but they may not always have known this or had separate face to face appointments with them all.

“Our multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach now means that, where it’s safe and appropriate to do so, patients could have their appointment with someone other than a doctor, such as a pharmacist or a clinical nurse specialist.

“As well as enabling patients to receive their appointments more quickly, in some cases it will actually be more appropriate for patients to meet with a different health professional. While the team is small, it’s made up of a number of highly skilled staff, many of whom have years if not decades of experience, and it can be really beneficial for patients to be able to tap directly into that.”

Like many others in the healthcare sector, the team has experienced its share of workforce issues but staff are confident that their high standard of care can be maintained. The new ‘consultant led, team delivered’ approach will be more holistic and will help to improve efficiency as health services continue to recover post-pandemic.

Consultant oncologists will continue to see patients at all key stages of their treatment, including first appointments, delivering test or scan results, before changing their treatment or starting a new round of chemotherapy. While some appointments need to be conducted in person, due to Covid precautions and the clinically vulnerable nature of the patient group, telephone clinics will continue for others.

Jan adds:

“We know some patients may be worried about not seeing a doctor every time, or perhaps feel that if the doctor isn’t seeing them, then there’s no one looking after them, but that’s not the case at all.

“Patients remain under the care of a consultant at all times, and the wider team will make best use of their knowledge and skills to deliver that care and support patients through their chemotherapy journey.”

Around 1,900 patients from across the Humber and parts of North Yorkshire receive either intravenous or oral chemotherapy treatment through the Queen’s Centre at Castle Hill Hospital every month.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has begun contacting patients this week in an attempt to speed up care for thousands of people on hospital waiting lists.

From Thursday 30 June, we will start contacting 31,000 people who are waiting for either an outpatient appointment or routine procedure at Hull Royal Infirmary or Castle Hill Hospital.  Patients will be contacted in batches of 500 to 1,000 people at a time, and they will be asked whether they wish to continue waiting, whether they no longer need to be seen, if they have had their treatment elsewhere, or if they wish to delay treatment.

The work is being carried out in an attempt to combat lengthy hospital waiting lists by ensuring the information held is up to date, and only those who need to be seen remain on the list.

Patients will receive either:

• A text message inviting them to complete a short online survey to indicate their current position, or
• A letter by post inviting them to contact the Trust by phone to indicate their current position (letters will be sent where a patient has no mobile number on file).

Julia Mizon, Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“The Covid-19 pandemic has caused further delays for people awaiting outpatient appointments and routine procedures across the country, and the situation is the same here in Hull.

“We are working hard to reduce the number of patients waiting, and one important part of this is to ensure that our waiting lists are accurate and up to date. For some patients, a significant amount of time may have passed since they were last reviewed, for example, and so their situation may now have changed.

“This week, the Trust has begun to contact elective patients who have waited more than 18 weeks from the decision to treat but still have no confirmed appointment date, starting with those on our gynaecology waiting lists. Patients will be asked whether they still need their appointment, whether they wish to delay treatment or whether they wish to remove themselves from the list. Patients will usually be contacted via text message and asked to follow a link to complete a short online survey, but letters will be sent in the post to those patients with no mobile phone number on their record.

“This exercise is designed to give us the most up to date position on our patients’ needs, and to speed up care for those who do still need to see us by removing those who don’t from our list.  We expect to complete this work within eight weeks.

“We are mindful of the impact which any delay can have on a patient’s wellbeing and quality of life, and so we would like to thank those who are still waiting for their ongoing patience and understanding.

“We remain committed to working through all of our lists as quickly and as safely as possible.”