After taking up the offer of a routine eye check with his optician, Mark Stutely didn’t expect to need a hospital referral. But when a problem was identified with an optic nerve just before Christmas, Mark found himself in the care of staff at Hull and East Yorkshire Eye Hospital.

All too aware of the pressures which Covid-19 has been placing on staff, Mark didn’t want to be a burden, and he understandably had his own concerns around the risks of catching the virus too.

His fears on both scores proved unfounded, as he recently explained:

“Late last year, I went to my optician for a routine eye examination and a healthcare scan. As a result of the scan, the optician detected an anomaly with the optic nerve in my left eye. Unsure of the cause, I was referred to the Eye Hospital.

“I did have second thoughts about attending, not just because of the current risk of Covid-19, but also because I didn’t want to be a burden on the NHS when their priorities are trying to manage the impact of Covid-19.

“But I did attend, and I needn’t have worried. In fact, I attended two outpatient appointments which included scans and a lengthy consultation, and the systems in place to minimise contact and protect patients were brilliant.

“My first contact was with a nurse ensuring I was fit and healthy to come in to the hospital, then the cheerful reception team put me immediately at ease and reassured me that I was entering a safe and well-run environment.

“In fact, the professionalism of all the staff including the technicians meant that my experience was really quite pleasant.

“I felt well informed during the whole process, from start to finish. Mr Madhu, with whom I had my consultation, was clear, empathetic , incredibly thorough, and at all times reassuringly professional.

“While I was waiting in the hospital to have my images taken, I had time to observe my surroundings and what was clear to me was that the level of patient care was outstanding, and staff seemed to be very happy in their work.”

The Eye Hospital reception team immediately put Mark at ease

Even during these difficult times, Mark says he would encourage anyone who has a hospital appointment to ensure they attend.

“We all know how difficult the current conditions are for the NHS functioning in a world dominated by Covid-19. It is impacting all of our lives but my experience of the brilliant team at the Eye Hospital was that they continued to work well in extreme circumstances.

“I am glad I attended my appointments, and not just because the hospital has the necessary safety processes in place.

“It’s also important to understand that by not attending you could be impacting your own long-term health. If you do have underlying health issues, there is still a need for you to get treatment and by keeping your appointments, you can be reassured that you are in safe hands.”

Laura tells what it was like to have a C-section after testing positive for Covid-19, and how she ‘never felt anything other than safe and cared for’

Laura was Covid positive when she came into Hull Women and Children’s Hospital for a Caesarean section just before Christmas. When she got in touch a few days ago to tell us of baby Harry’s safe arrival and how positive her experience had been despite the obvious Covid challenges, this really was music to our ears.

If you’re due to have a baby in the coming days, weeks or months, we hope Laura’s story below will offer you some much needed reassurance in these difficult times.

“I opted to have Harry by elective C section. Monday 14th was the day, and it’s a good job it was because my contractions actually started at 4:30am that morning; he was ready to come that day no matter what!

“I’d been isolating at home since Josh [Laura’s partner] had a positive Covid test around five weeks earlier. We did our standard isolation period, though I had no symptoms and so I never got tested. On the advice of the health care visitor, I decided I would just carry on staying at home until the 14th, apart from attending medical appointments.

“Two days before my C section, I went to hospital for routine tests, one of which was a Covid test. I was a bit apprehensive but was quite sure I wouldn’t have it, based on the fact I’d not left the house for weeks and I had zero symptoms.

“However, the next day the phone rang, with a sympathetic sounding midwife on the phone. She told me I’d tested positive and that meant there was a high chance that my birth partner would not be able to attend the birth.

“Phone down, anxiety through the roof, crying on the phone to Josh in the vegetable aisle of Morrisons and then to mum who I’m sure could barely understand me through the blubbering mess.

“It took me a while to calm down, rationalise, and get a grip. I was lucky to actually feel well still with this virus, and lucky that I could still go to hospital at all and receive medical care. I was determined to see the positives (literally)…

“The next day was “C Day”. Josh and I sat in the car in the hospital car park, waiting to see if the lead midwife and surgeon that day would agree to let Josh in, or would this be it? Then just come back to pick us up tomorrow?

“It was an anxious 50 minute wait as they were dealing with an emergency inside. Then the phone rang: “I’m coming to get you both Laura, your husband is allowed in…”

(Here ensued more crying, obviously…)

“From that moment on, the care I received from all the NHS staff at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital was absolutely amazing. At no point was I made to feel anything other than safe and cared for despite the obvious risks to themselves from dealing with a Covid positive mother.

“The midwife that I had that day was so wonderful and reassuring. She was keeping an eye on us all, answering questions, talking us through the procedure. The surgeon came in and talked us through the surgery, and then the anaesthetist (who had the biggest impact on my day) came to explain the epidural.

“We only waited a few hours in our own separate ‘Covid room’ and then we were wheeled down to a special Covid theatre for our special Covid baby. The main concern from all of the staff was not that they were putting themselves at risk to take care of me and the baby, but that I could understand and hear them through their masks and glasses and that I felt happy and understood what was going on.

“They all wore full respiratory masks for the surgery itself; it was like being operated on in a space ship, and during every step of the surgery each member of staff through their many layers of facial PPE got close enough to look me in the eye and tell me what was about to happen.

“Harry was born at 11:50am, but in another 2020 jab to the ribs, he had problems breathing for the first 20 minutes. They whisked him into a room next door for him to be checked over and apart from a few intermittent cries, we couldn’t hear much from him.

“Here the anaesthetist played his major role; when he could see the anxiety on my face, he continually looked me in the eyes and reassured me. He kept popping his head into the room next door and coming back to say Harry was doing okay. Through my streaming tears, the kindness I could see in this man’s eyes through three layers of facial protection is something I won’t ever forget. He kept talking to Josh and I until Harry finally got his act together and was given the ‘OK’ by the paediatrician.

“Another 40 minutes later with Harry now lying happily on my chest, we were congratulated by all the surgery staff and wheeled back to our room. Josh was allowed to stay for another six hours, the midwife brought me tea and toast, and a bite to eat for Josh as he wasn’t allowed to the canteen; an angel in blue scrubs.

“It was then time for Josh to leave and Harry and I to go to the ward alone. I was given my own room at the end of the corridor with my own private bathroom. The aftercare here from the three shift midwives and postnatal team was warm, comforting and despite having to fully PPE up before even opening my door, was attentive beyond belief.

“Living in Greece for the last ten years without an NHS and without any real need for medical care, it’s something that – even throughout all this year’s media – hasn’t really been at the forefront of my mind. But now back in the UK and after that week’s events, then all the aftercare phone calls we’ve received from midwives and consultants, I’ve never been more grateful for the NHS.

“I wish I could thank them all again for making sure our newest member of the family arrived safely. Harry is currently breastfeeding like a champ, hopefully being pumped full of my Covid-19 antibodies and I’ll take that as a victory!”

Harry is pictured  above with mum, Laura, and at the top of the page with his big brother, Jack.

Hull’s hospital heroes will be back on our screens in the New Year as A&E After Dark returns for a second series.

The Channel 5 docu-series, produced by Crackit Productions, first broadcast in June this year and follows the night shift at Hull Royal Infirmary with a specific focus on the emergency department and staff working in urgent care.

Series two was filmed over a two month period in the autumn of this year, and the first episode of the new series will be broadcast on Channel 5 at 9.00pm on Monday 4^th January 2021.

A&E After Dark will once again accompany Hull’s team of dedicated doctors, nurses and other healthcare specialists as they respond to out-of-hours falls and fractures, assaults and overdoses, car accidents and cardiac arrests. What will be unique about this series is the insight it gives into caring for patients in the context of Covid-19, including the additional stresses and strains it not only places on health services but on the people working within them.

Chief Executive of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Chris Long, says:

“A&E After Dark provides a very realistic look at the clinical challenges, the emotional dilemmas and the often difficult decisions our staff have to make on a nightly basis. Being able to respond to the unknown, day in, day out, and have lives depending on you takes a special type of person, but when you consider all the extra challenges presented by Covid-19 over the last nine or ten months, the team has been nothing short of amazing.

“We felt it was important for the public to see and to understand not only the operational impact that coronavirus is having on emergency care, but how it has affected staff on a personal level too. Staff have to try and put their own fears aside about the virus when they come to work, but through A&E After Dark, we still see some of the difficulties Covid-19 causes for staff; their ability to connect with patients and communicate with each other through layers of PPE, the abuse they receive from people who don’t want to follow infection control rules, and in some cases, the crucial extra seconds Covid safety preparations add when getting ready to receive critically ill patients in the hospital.

“ED staff have been incredibly open and brave in accepting cameras in to document what is a really important point in history. I have nothing but admiration for our incredible emergency care staff and those they work with to keep people safe; the radiology staff, the security team, the orthopaedics, plastics and critical care outreach staff to name a few. As a city and as a region, we should be incredibly proud of the people we have here caring for us and I hope series two of A&E After Dark shines a light once again on the fantastic work they do.”

Dr Chris Srinivasan, consultant in emergency medicine at the trust (pictured, right) says:

“Our emergency department really is the front door to the hospital; you never know what is going to come in but our staff have to be ready for the unexpected at all times.

“While we have seen a fair amount of Covid-related activity this year, we have still continued to see many of the other injuries, illnesses and major trauma cases which are typical for the A&E night shift and these are reflected throughout the series.

“For me, the challenge and the sheer variety of cases are what make working in emergency care so exciting and I think many of the team would say the same. Much of this work goes unseen by the general public though, so this is our opportunity to explain how and why some of our urgent work can lead to longer waits for other patients, for example, as well as to showcase the first-class facilities and the outstanding team of health professionals we have here in Hull.

“In watching the second series, I hope viewers will not only gain a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes at the hospital, but will also develop a new respect and appreciation for the amazing people who are here to care for them should the worst happen.”

A beaming smile on her face, Sheila Page declared it “one of the best Christmas presents in my life.”

Sheila Page, 84, became the first person in Humber, Coast and Vale region to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

Sheila, who has seven grandchildren and eight great-children, said: “I couldn’t wait. People who don’t want it are silly. I was absolutely chuffed when they rang me to offer me it.

“I think it’s marvellous. I feel on top of the world, and it’s one of the best Christmas presents I’ve had.”

Sister Kristy Costa, who delivered the first vaccine

Hospital sister Kristy Costa, who normally works in the cardiology department at Castle Hill Hospital but is one of the team of trained vaccinators at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, delivered the first vaccine to Sheila.

Kristy said: “I was really excited but a bit nervous today. It’s not your average day at work with all the television cameras around.

“But it’s a great day. I’ll definitely be getting the vaccine when it’s my turn because it’s the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Sheila was one of the first of the priority groups including the over 80s, care home workers and clinically extremely vulnerable members of NHS staff to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

These priority groups have been determined by the Joint Committee of Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) because they are at greatest risk from Covid-19.

As more supplies of the vaccine are received, the programme will be rolled out to other groups, including frontline NHS staff, using that national framework.

Chief Nurse Beverley Geary, Senior Responsible Officer for the programme in the Humber, Coast and Vale region, said: “We are proud to be playing our part in the national effort to protect people from this virus.

“We will start vaccinating people over 80 who are coming to our hospital for outpatient appointments from today and we are working with local authorities to identify care home staff who can receive the vaccine and protect residents in their care.

“But it is important to say that while we are moving fast, this will be a marathon, not a sprint. The Pfizer vaccine is complex to move, store and prepare – that’s why initially it will be given in hospitals.

“We are working as quickly as possible with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and others to agree ways of expanding the programme and deliver it in more ways over the coming days and weeks, like through local vaccination services delivered by GPs, pharmacists and practice nurses and in people’s homes and care homes if they can’t come to us.”

Our team, delivering the vaccines to patients

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust today joins the national effort to protect people most at risk from Covid-19.

The trust, running Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, is one of 50 Hospital Hubs in the country and will be lead provider for the vaccination of people living in East and North Yorkshire and parts of Lincolnshire.

Over 80s, those working in care homes and NHS staff identified as clinically extremely vulnerable including people with specific cancers, severe respiratory conditions and those who have received solid organ transplants will be among the first to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

These priority groups have been determined by the Joint Committee of Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) because they are at greatest risk from Covid-19.

As more supplies of the vaccine are received, the programme will be rolled out to other groups, including frontline NHS staff, using that national framework.

Chief Nurse Beverley Geary, Senior Responsible Officer for the programme in the Humber, Coast and Vale region, said: “We are proud to be playing our part in the national effort to protect people from this virus.

“We will start vaccinating people over 80 who are coming to our hospital for outpatient appointments from today and we are working with local authorities to identify care home staff who can receive the vaccine and protect residents in their care.

“But it is important to say that while we are moving fast, this will be a marathon, not a sprint. The Pfizer vaccine is complex to move, store and prepare – that’s why initially it will be given in hospitals.

“But we are working as quickly as possible with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and others to agree ways of expanding the programme and deliver it in more ways over the coming days and weeks, like through local vaccination services delivered by GPs, pharmacists and practice nurses and in people’s homes and care homes if they can’t come to us.”

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which is responsible for Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital have to look at Christmas a little differently this year.

Traditionally, generous members of our community, businesses and sporting teams deliver an astonishing amount of Christmas gifts for the areas sickest children the hospitals care for.  To keep patients safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, the highest infection control procedures and restrictions on visiting loved ones are in place across the hospitals to prevent the spread of the virus.  Hull Hospitals in association with WISHH Charity are enabling our community to still help make a difference across our hospitals in a safe way by supporting our Christmas appeal.

Members of our communities who would like to help spread the festive cheer to patients Hull Hospitals care for over the festive period and beyond, are being encouraged this Christmas to “Help the NHS with the WISHH National Elf Service!” Appeal.

The WISHH Charity, has created a festive fundraising pack, bursting with creative ideas to get our community involved in, but at the same time observing Covid guidance, by taking part in socially distanced fundraising and at home fundraising ideas from sewing to baking, donning festive attire, to adopting one of our Christmas WISHHes, to spread the festive spirit safely in work places and schools by supporting the appeal.

Donations and fundraisers can be set up online via the dedicated Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/happyxmas One-off online donations can also be made this way.  Donations to the appeal can also be made by sending a cheque made payable to “WISHH Charity”, and posted to WISHH Charity – National Elf Service Appeal, First Floor Administration Block, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham, HU16 5JQ. Writing on the back “National Elf Service”.

Funds raised from the appeal will enable the hospitals to purchase ‘Covid safe gifts’ for children of all ages from babies, toddlers, primary and secondary aged young people who will be staying on our wards over the Christmas period. Such support will also make a difference to patients being looked after in Children’s Emergency Department, Eye Hospital, Anlaby Suite and other specialist areas.  Any additional funds will be used to support patients across our hospitals throughout the year.

We will also be supporting our medical elderly patients, providing patients with reminiscence items for dementia patients and other items to make their stay in hospital more comfortable.

This is how your donations could help make a difference:

• £10 will provide a patient with a toy or reminiscence gift
• £15 will provide a patient with a mindfulness colouring book and pencil crayons
• £20 will fund an Art/Crafts Bag – A take-home gift to encourage activities post discharge
• £25 will provide a teddy bear for a vulnerable child who undergoes medical examination within the hospital
• £100 – £500 will provide sensory items for our Eye Hospital for example bubble tubes and sensory boards
• £250+ will provide a Santa sack of games and gifts for children on wards and for those patients with dementia
• £1,000+ will enhance playroom learning toys and reminiscence areas on our wards for patients now and in future years.

Businesses which would like to support this appeal, please get in touch with Lisa Whitton on 01482 622299 or 07827881766 or email HelloWISHH@hey.nhs.uk

Beverley Geary, chief nurse for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said:

“Members of our local community always go the extra mile at Christmastime to support patients, young and old, who find themselves in hospital; it’s one of the things that’s so great about Hull and the East Riding.

“We are always overwhelmed by the many offers of Christmas gifts and donations we receive, but this year, for the protection of our patients and to enable staff to focus on their care, we are having to do things a little differently.

“While we know people love to collect toys and gifts, we hope people will also understand that safety has to be our number one priority. That’s why, this year, we are asking people to make monetary donations to our hospital charity rather than donating physical gifts, so that we can coordinate Christmas surprises for our patients in a Covid-safe way ourselves.

“The WISHH Charity ‘National Elf Service Appeal’ provides plenty of ideas for ways in which individuals and community groups can still get involved and help us bring some festive cheer for patients spending time in hospital. We’d really encourage anyone who wants to do so to get involved in this way, and help us to keep our hospitals Covid-safe this Christmas.”

Lisa Whitton, WISHH Charity Manager said:

“Covid-19 has dramatically impacted on everyone’s lives.  Our top priority as Hull Hospitals’ official charity, is to keep patients safe, and also to enable members of our community to help us spread the festive cheer to our paediatric and medical elderly patients through our “Help the NHS with the National Elf Service Appeal”.  We have already received calls from businesses and individuals asking about how they can support patients we care for at Hull Hospitals, by enabling members of our community to either make a donation or to become involved to raise funds to the appeal.  We look forward to sharing our festive ideas to inspire our community to brighten the lives of patients at Hull Hospitals.”

For further information call us 01482 622299 or HelloWISHH@hey.nhs.uk

You can also follow the charity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @WISHHcharity

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Chief Executive, Chris Long, said:

“It is with the deepest regret that I have to announce the death of Nicola Diles. Nicola was diagnosed with Covid-19 and died in our Intensive Care Unit at Hull Royal Infirmary on 15 November 2020.

“We send heartfelt condolences to Nicola’s family, friends, workmates and everyone who loved her.

“Nicola became a part of the Hull University Teaching Hospitals family when she permanently joined the trust in 2016 and she worked as an admin assistant supporting the dietetic team based at Castle Hill Hospital. Prior to that she worked in a variety of agency administration roles across the trust, hence many more staff and patients will have had the honour of knowing her. Nicola was a highly valued member of the team and we are very grateful for her years of service to the people of Hull and East Yorkshire.

“Nicola’s death is a terrible reminder that Covid-19 continues to devastate our staff and our wider community. She is the third member of our team to die following the deaths of Adrian Cruttenden and Rich Albufera in the past few months and we feel the pain of the loss of all three.

“A Book of Condolence for colleagues to pay tribute to Nicola will shortly be shared among our staff.

“We will continue to support Nicola’s family and ask the media to respect their privacy as they come to terms with their terrible loss. We would ask that the privacy of Nicola’s friends and workmates is also respected.”