Hull is set to play a key role in training surgeons of the future.

The Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (RCOG) has approved applications from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and its partner, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, to become a urogynaecology subspecialty training centre.

Together, the two trusts represent one of just 15 centres across the country to deliver this particular course.

This means surgeons from both Trusts are now able to deliver a two-year training programme to equip aspiring surgeons with the skills they need to perform both routine and complex procedures.

Miss Pooja Balchandra, consultant surgeon (urogynaecology) and obstetrician for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (pictured, top left) says:

“There are only a handful of training centres able to deliver this course around the country, so to be approved as one of them is a matter of great pride and huge responsibility.

“It is also reflective of the high calibre of staff we employ that we are considered suitable to deliver the course, and really demonstrates our commitment to teaching excellence and to training surgeons of the future.”

Urogynaecology is a sub-specialty of Gynaecology. It covers services that provide assessment, investigations and treatment for women with urinary incontinence, vaginal prolapse, recurrent urinary tract infections, bladder pain and pelvic floor injury after childbirth.

Trainees will normally spend a year working in Leeds and a year in Hull, working alongside various teams and specialties including urology, colorectal services and physiotherapy to ensure a full understanding of surgical procedures and aftercare.

While in Hull, trainees will complete their primary training within the theatres and clinics of Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, but as their learning progresses, they will go on to train and learn within other areas of the trust such as urology and colorectal clinics and theatres.

Now that the application to become a urogynaecology subspecialty training centre has been approved, the team is working towards accreditation from the British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG). It is hoped that such accreditation will help to reinforce Hull’s reputation for expertise in this area, generating further national interest and helping with recruitment.

Photo (L-R): Miss Pooja Balchandra, consultant surgeon (urogynaecology) and obstetrician; Laura Rimmer, urogynaecology specialist nurse; Mr Jagdish Gandhi, consultant urogynaecologist; and subspecialty trainee Dr Kamala.

Wards at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital will be among the first in the country to use patient safety equipment made from recycled materials as part of our mission to reduce our impact on the environment.

The new eco-friendly ‘slide sheet’ will be used to move patients safely in their beds and protect their skin from tissue damage caused by friction and shear.  The ‘slide sheets’ also reduce effort required to move the patients, decreasing the risk of injuries to staff.

The new sheet, made from recycled plastic and wrapped in biodegradable packaging, will help staff move people with mobility problems including bariatric patients, those recovering from surgery and patients with frail or fragile skin.

Chris Richards, Manual Handling Lead at the trust, said: “We’ve been using various types of ‘slide sheets’ for decades but want to standardise with something that will help protect our patients, staff and the environment.

“‘Slide sheets’ are disposed of when the patient leaves the hospital for infection prevention and control reasons but they will end up in landfill or incinerated if required for infection control purposes.

“We’ve been working with the company for some time and they’ve informed us they have developed this new product which is far more eco-friendly.

“Although the product is not totally biodegradable , it is made from recycled materials with biodegradable packaging so it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”

Hospital bosses have unveiled plans to create a solar panel field to power Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham and reinvest savings in health care for future generations.

Known as a “ground mounted solar photovoltaic array”, the solar panels will be created on fields owned by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, south of Castle Road.

All energy generated by the solar panels will be used to power the hospital as part of the trust’s commitment to reduce its impact on the environment, minimise carbon emissions and enhance the sustainability of trust land, buildings and properties.

Savings in energy costs will then be reinvested in hospital services to tackle waiting lists hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chief Executive Chris Long said: “We have begun a major programme to reduce our impact on the environment, benefiting the health and wellbeing of everyone working or living near our hospitals as well as those who need our services.

“Using trust land to generate power for our hospitals is a major achievement that represents a huge leap forward in securing our future energy needs in a responsible and sustainable way.

“We know, better than most, how climate change has an adverse effect on people’s health and future generations will pay the price if we fail to act now.

“Doing nothing is no longer an option. We must lead by example and take action now to tackle the climate emergency we all face.”

The trust, which runs Castle Hill Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary, declared a climate emergency recently. It wants to balance the amount of greenhouse gas it produces and the amount it removes from the atmosphere, known as carbon net zero, before 2040, ahead of the target set by the wider NHS.

As well as improving the environment, the entire environmental programme will also help the trust achieve its long-term goals of exceptional health care and clinical services, high standards of research and innovation and financial sustainability to ensure we can provide health services over the next decades.

A planning application for the ground-mounted solar photovoltaic array will be submitted to East Riding of Yorkshire Council shortly. The trust is also writing to residents living near the hospital to inform them and invite their comments about the plans.

Marc Beaumont, Head of Sustainability and Social Value at the trust, said: “We hope residents and the wider community will see the benefit of our plans and help us achieve our aim of improving health care and our services while minimising our impact on the world around us.”

WISHH, the official charity of Hull Hospitals, is inviting people across Hull and East Yorkshire to join the nation’s biggest tea break on the 5^th July to raise funds for the incredible people in our NHS who’ve done so much to help everyone get through the pandemic.

Following a year like no other, the WISHH Charity wants as many people as possible to get involved in a national outpouring of love and thanks for NHS staff and volunteers on the NHS 73^rd birthday by hosting or taking part in a NHS Big Tea Party on the 5^th July.

Each event can be in person or virtual, with the community, friends, family or at work, and is a chance to reflect and say thank you for everything that NHS staff and volunteers have done and continue to do, by taking part in the nation’s biggest tea break to raise funds for the WISHH Charity.

People can host their own event or they can show their support by taking 5 minutes to enjoy a tea break, and making a donation of £5 to support the work of WISHH  https://rebrand.ly/bigtea21

Lisa Whitton, Charity Manager of the WISHH Charity said, “We’ve been proud to support staff and patients across Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital throughout the pandemic in one of the most challenging years in the history of the NHS. Funds raised from NHS Big Tea will enable us to enhance staff, volunteer and patient facilities across Hull Hospitals making a difference to staff, patients and their loved ones to enhance the overall patient experience.”

Join the NHS Big Tea on 5 July

Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together, which is behind the NHS Big Tea said, “Many of us have a lot to be grateful to NHS staff and volunteers for following the year we have had. They have been at the forefront of the response to one of the biggest challenges our country has ever faced. NHS Big Tea is chance to show our support for them by joining a national outpouring of thanks this July. For many, this will be an outpouring of joy, celebrating the vaccine and all that it is allowing us to do again. For others, it will be an outpouring of thanks, for everything that our NHS champions have done for us. For some, sadly, it will be a moment of reflection for the loss of loved ones. Whatever the emotion, please join the nation’s biggest tea break to raise money for the incredible people in our NHS.”

Thanks to the support and generosity of the public over the last year, WISHH and NHS Charities have been able to be there for NHS staff, to ensure they can continue with their vital life-saving work, whether through funding counselling and mental health support, or support with practical needs, including access to drinks, snacks and a place to rest.

The WISHH Charity has used funds received from NHS Charities Together and local supporters to create a health and wellbeing facility for staff at Castle Hill Hospital and are urging the public to take part in the NHS Big Tea and enable the charity to continue supporting NHS staff, volunteers and patients.

A NHS Big Tea party pack has been produced to help plan and support your Big Tea event.  To take part and get your pack, register your interest by emailing HelloWISHH@hey.nhs.uk

For further information of the work of WISHH and to find out more about how you can get involved and support Hull Hospitals, helping make a difference, please get in touch with Lisa Whitton, WISHH Charity Manager on 01482 622299/07827 881766 or email HelloWISHH@hey.nhs.uk

Follow WISHH on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @WISHHcharity for the latest news and updates.

Hospital workers will come together this week to celebrate race diversity across the local health service.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network will hold its annual conference this Friday, 21 May.

Of the Trust’s 10,500-strong workforce, there are some 1,410 BAME members of staff, more than half of whom hold positions within medical and dental services (714 people).

Keynote speakers at the conference, which will be held online for the first time this year, include workforce race equality standard (WRES) expert, Bo Escritt, lead pharmacist with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Usha Kaushal, and Steve Russell, chief executive of NHS Nightingale (Yorkshire and the Humber) and of Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust.

The trust’s own Chief Executive, Chris Long, will also be providing his input into the conference, director of workforce Simon Nearney will be talking about the hospitals’ race equality programme, and delegates will be able to explore issues such as unconscious bias and equality of opportunity for career progression through a series of breakout sessions.

Mr Dumbor Ngaage, cardiothoracic surgeon and Chair of the BAME Staff Network says:

“The BAME Staff Network was originally set up as a forum for discussion, to highlight issues and unseen barriers for BAME staff within the trust and to support change and understanding going forward.

“In recent months and years, we have made good progress but there is always more we can do.

“This week’s conference is designed to celebrate our achievements of the past 12 months, but will also enable us to discuss issues and develop ideas to help us further instill the principles of equality and inclusion throughout our trust.”

A multi-million pound Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is to open at Hull Royal Infirmary this summer for critically ill and injured patients from all over Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is a Major Trauma Centre for the region and the ICU at Hull Royal Infirmary will provide patients with some of the best critical care facilities in England.

The three-storey building, close to the hospital’s Emergency Department, will also feature modern isolation facilities to “future proof” the trust against a further wave of Covid-19 or another pandemic.

Chief Executive Chris Long said: “It is testament to the hard work and dedication of our critical care teams that we will be able to take our place at the forefront of critical care in the country and to our Estates team for driving this project in these challenging times.

“This new unit will be a very welcome addition to the outstanding care we can provide people in critical need of emergency treatment, not just here in East Yorkshire but across our wider region.

“It will enable us to save more lives, provide patients and their families with better facilities and ensure we are in the best possible position to deal with any future waves of the virus or, indeed, any other pandemic in the future.”

The foundations for the new 24-bedded ICU were poured in the first week in January with critical care teams expected to move into the new building ahead of the arrival of the first patients in August. The final cost of the unit is expected to be in the region of £8m.

The new ICU is being constructed in line with the trust’s Green Plan and will be as energy efficient as possible with its own heat pumps, air conditioning, chillers and heat recovery systems. This means the unit will remain cool enough for patients and staff in the summer but warm enough in the cooler months.

Patients will undergo life-saving treatment in glass-front cubicles, double the size of the cubicles in the two existing ICUs in the tower block, on the first two floors. Each floor will be split into two identical halves, with a staff observation area in the centre.

Cubicles will be fitted with negative air extraction systems to assist infection prevention and control, with six cubicles on each floor being fitted with donning and doffing anterooms to enable staff to care for patients with Covid-19 or any other infectious disease.

Every cubicle will be fitted with a Draegar ceiling pendant for essential services including medical gases to maximize the floor space to allow doctors, nurses and other health professionals to perform their tasks. Electric hoists will also be in place to allow staff to lift patients safely, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal problems in the future.

A dedicated bed lift will connect the ICU to the theatre complex in the main Hull Royal Infirmary tower block via a link bridge over Lansdowne Road. This will also be used to take patients from the ICU for MRIs or scans, preventing the need for them to be wheeled outside to the MRI suite.

A staff-only link staircase will also be created to ensure teams can access the tower block without having to leave the building.

While plans are still awaiting final approval, the top floor of the unit is likely to include two new trauma theatres, with six to eight recovery beds to monitor patients in those critical first few hours after surgery.

As well as increasing theatre capacity at the trust, the new theatre floor will also act as a decant space to allow ongoing maintenance of the existing ICUs throughout the year. The additional space will also enable the trust’s Estates team to begin the work to upgrade the 60-year-old operating theatres in the tower block.

A separate extension is being built next to the ICU to provide support accommodation for staff including rest rooms, offices and support services including Medical Physics.

Duncan Taylor, Director of Estates, Facilities and Development at the trust, said: “This is a fantastic facility which will help us provide the best possible care for our most seriously ill and injured patients well into the future.

“We undertook months of careful planning and design, working hand-in-hand with our clinical colleagues, to design the unit, using our wealth of experience of the pandemic to provide the cutting-edge facilities our teams will need.

“We are confident our new Intensive Care Unit will serve our staff, our services and our patients well for decades to come.”

National ODP Day highlights the incredible work of some of the NHS’s true unsung heroes

They’re some of the true unsung heroes of the Covid pandemic, but ask the average person on the street what an Operating Department Practictioner (ODP) is and most people wouldn’t even know.

Highly trained to assist in all aspects of surgical theatre, many ODPs were taken away from their normal duties in 2020 and the early months of 2021 to swell the Covid workforce.

They left roles they knew like the back of their hand to work on unfamiliar wards, to help nurse the sick and dying, and to share the load with their fellow colleagues.

But today, Friday 14^th May, is National ODP Day, an opportunity for us to shine a light on the scores of ODPs working across Hull Royal Infirmary (HRI) and Castle Hill Hospital and show what an amazing, multi-skilled bunch they are.

“For many people, the route to becoming an ODP isn’t always a direct or straightforward one”, says Gill MacLeod, Charge Nurse for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

“We have ODPs in our trust who have come to the role having started out in very different careers; a porter, for example, a chef, and even someone who studied zoology at university!

Operating Department Practitioner, Matt Appleyard

“As they are most usually found supporting in surgical theatres, ODPs can often go ‘unseen’ and so it’s not always the most obvious of NHS career choices, but ODPs are a vital part of the clinical team, providing valuable, professional expertise during a patient’s stay in hospital.”

ODP duties are split into three main areas;

• Anaesthetics, which involves assessing the patient before surgery, safely preparing drugs and other anaesthetic equipment, and monitoring the patient throughout their operation
• Scrub, which sees them preparing the theatre, supporting the surgeon during operations and acting as the patient’s advocate
• Recovery, which involves monitoring the patient after surgery to ensure they are stable and progressing well

Although ODPs are employed within operating theatres first and foremost, thanks to the Covid pandemic, they are increasingly being recognised for their skills in other areas, such as intensive care and emergency care.

Normally seen working across HRI’s main theatres, Matt Appleyard (pictured, right) is one ODP who was redeployed last year as the number of planned operations fell and the need for help was felt more acutely on the trust’s Covid wards.

“My role completely changed during the pandemic,” he says.

“I was redeployed to the Covid high dependency ward for six months, which was emotionally and mentally challenging. This work involved looking after extremely ill patients who needed ventilation and high flow oxygen.

“As an ODP, we don’t normally get ward experience so I had to use transferable skills, working alongside my ward colleagues, to observe their practice and ensure patients continued to be well supported. While it was outside my comfort zone to start, I feel this has definitely made me a better practitioner; it’s improved my emotional intelligence, enabled me to better understand different parts of the hospital, and ultimately it’s helped me to improve the direct care I provide to patients.

“The learning opportunities and the sheer variety of work involved in the ODP role are really what make it so interesting and so rewarding; one day I could find myself in a team helping to remove a brain tumour, the next could be on labour ward for a Caesarean section!”

Alex Macleod, ODP at Castle Hill Hospital

Originally a hospital porter who went on to qualify as an ODP (then known as an Operating Department Assistant) in 1993, Alex MacLeod (left) works in Breast, ENT and Plastics theatres at Castle Hill. He too was among those who stepped up to support Covid patients in their hour of need:

“During the first wave, I was responsible for preparing six extra ICU bays which could be used for patients needing ventilation.

“Then during the second wave I was redeployed to Ward 100 at Hull Royal, which was being used as a Covid ward. It was difficult because it was so different to my usual scope of practice, but I appreciated the unprecedented situation everybody was in and did my best to embrace the challenge, transferring my existing skill set to help however I could.

“While it was obviously a terrible time for everybody, I tried to view it was a positive experience and I was just really glad we could help.”

For more information about the work of Operating Department Practitioners and to find out if this is the career for you, visit the NHS Careers website.

Hospital nurses are reshaping a specialist service to keep hundreds of patients most at risk from Covid-19 safe during the pandemic.

The Home Ventilation team, based at Castle Hill Hospital, supports more than 300 people with severe health conditions affecting their breathing such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Motor Neuron Disease, Muscular Dystrophy or spinal injuries. People with very high BMIs who experience breathing difficulties are also part of the group.

Every single person helped by the team is classed as “Extremely Clinical Vulnerable” because Covid-19 poses such a danger to their life and most have been shielding for a year to ensure they do not catch the virus.

Our Home Ventilation Team: (from left) Sarah Constable, Halina Voss-Palmer, Diane Murray and Olivia Hardwick

Diane Murray, who leads the team of three nurses, said the service has introduced virtual clinics and socially distanced face-to-face sessions as well as increasing home visits to patients throughout East and North Yorkshire as well as Lincolnshire to keep them safe and as well as possible.

She said: “They are a very vulnerable group of people and dealing with their conditions during Covid-19 has been very challenging.

“Life has got a lot more complicated for us and our patients, most of whom already on ventilators.

“Our workload has changed significantly and we’ve introduced new ways of working to make sure everyone is as safe as possible.”

Virtual clinics have been introduced so patients don’t have to come to hospital as often for check-ups. However, some patients still have to be seen in person to check their readings or their blood gases and collect data from their equipment.

Patients who have to come to Castle Hill Hospital are seen in a socially distanced environments with full infection prevention and control measures in place, with them and staff wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep everyone safe.

However, the team still have to carry out home visits for some patients to carry out what is known as “aerosol generating procedures” such as home mechanical ventilation or cough-assist.

These procedures can be dangerous if the patient has the virus because they can produce infected droplets in the air so the team must wear enhanced PPE including special respirator masks, gowns, gloves and visors to keep them safe.

Diane said: “There’s a lot of “doffing and donning” of PPE on people’s doorsteps these days but it’s what we need to do to keep us and our patients safe. This is particularly challenging in the wind and rain. Patients and families need some clear explanations of why we are wearing the level of PPE that they see on the television in ICUs and Covid Wards when we are in their homes.

“They have all been supportive and appear reassured by the measures we are taking to keep them and us safe.

“We’ve received our vaccine now so we’ll have that added layer of protection and our patients have also started receiving the vaccine too because of their clinical vulnerability. We still have to take the precautions with wearing PPE and distance where possible due to the high risk nature of some of the procedures we are performing.

“Sometimes, when we go into the homes of these patients and sit on their sofas, we are the first people they have seen in a very long time because they’ve been shielding at home.”

Diane said patients shouldn’t be worried about coming to hospital for their face-to-face check-ups because of the measures put in place to keep them safe.

“If anyone is worried, I’d ask them to contact the team so we can talk them through the process. It’s really important people keep their appointments and we can always make alternative arrangements for those who aren’t able to come to hospital.

“We also advise our patients to try and wear a mask or face shield if they do have to go out of their homes- they shouldn’t assume because they have a condition that affects their breathing that they cannot wear a mask. Many of our patients are still able to wear masks for short periods and this will help keep them safe.

“Covid-19 is changing how we work and it’s going to be with us for some time yet. The numbers are still higher than the national rate in the areas our patients come from but we are making these changes to keep everyone as safe as possible.”

The Home Ventilation Service can be contacted by calling 01482 624130. You can also email hyp-tr.huth.hmvs@nhs.net to get in touch with the team.

Patients are to be discharged home or to a community facility as soon as they are well enough to stop them spending too long in hospital.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is introducing the new “Discharge to Assess” system so people can leave Hull Royal Infirmary as soon as they are well enough instead of spending longer than necessary in a hospital bed while their future needs are assessed.

Trust staff are working with Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and City Health Care Partnership (CHCP) to introduce the new scheme, initially for elderly patients treated in hospital for medical conditions.

Emma Smith, Head of Discharge Liaison Services at the trust, said: “This new system means patients will get the very best care in the most appropriate place for them because they will no longer be kept in hospital once they are well enough to leave.

“Research proves people, particularly the elderly, can suffer muscle wastage causing problems with mobility and leading to future hospital admissions, all of which affect their ability to live independently, if they spend too long in a hospital bed.

“Now, they will be moved into temporary facilities in the community or back home as soon as they are well enough so full assessments are carried out by social workers and therapists to make sure they get exactly what they need.”

Christy Francis, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at CHCP, said: “The local health and care system has worked collaboratively with all agencies to ensure that everyone who leaves hospital after an illness or injury is provided with the right level of support.

“This will ensure good recovery after discharge and help regain independence and remain at home. Together, we will work to ensure that everyone who has been admitted to a hospital bed has the opportunity to return back to their own bed at home.”

Between 180 and 200 patients are discharged from Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital every day. Around 15 per cent of those require additional support, such as social care packages to help them stay at home or round-the-clock care in a nursing or care home.

Previously, patients had to stay in hospital – even when they were no longer in need of care from medical and nursing staff – while assessments were carried out on what support they may require to continue to live independently.

They also had to remain in hospital, often for weeks, while families worked with social services to find suitable residential places in care or nursing homes if they were no longer able to remain in their own homes.

New guidance and funding has been introduced by the Government to speed up the process and remove some of the barriers involved in discharging patients efficiently from hospital.

Not only will the new system prevent people spending too long in hospital, it will also benefit those forced to wait for surgery because of the pandemic as more beds will be available to care for more patients with staff free to look after those with serious conditions.

Patients will be encouraged to talk to nursing staff about the opportunity to have assessments carried out in the familiar surroundings of their own home rather than wait longer in hospital for it to be carried out.

Over the next few months, patients admitted to some wards at Hull Royal Infirmary will be treated, monitored and assessed by doctors on daily ward rounds throughout their stay until they are well enough to be discharged. Once they are ready to be discharged, they will be referred to a new team.

This team will aim to help 95pc of patients return to their own home to benefit from assessments carried out in familiar surroundings, with therapists and social workers able to assess how they manage and what additional support they may require to continue to live independently.

The remaining 5pc may move into a community facility such as a care home for a short period until their needs are assessed by specialist staff.

Additional care and support such as help with shopping, meals or washing and dressing will be free for up to four to six weeks after a person is discharged from hospital. This will allow patients and their families time, free from financial constraints, to work with social services and therapists to select a more permanent care facility for their loved one or longer-term support at home.

Patients admitted to the  Department of Elderly Medicine at Hull Royal will be the first to take part in the scheme but may be rolled out to other areas over the coming months.