Radiotherapy team pulls out all the stops to ensure cancer treatments continue

As many hospitals look to re-start some elements of cancer treatment this week, radiotherapy staff in Hull have revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic has barely slowed them down.

From the outset, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust made a commitment to ensuring critical services such and cardiology, stroke services and cancer care would not be adversely affected by the organisation’s coronavirus response.

Now, as trusts up and down the country look to pick up where they left off, therapeutic radiographers at Castle Hill Hospital are keen to explain how their cancer patients have been able to continue their treatments throughout.

Barbara Whitaker, Deputy Radiotherapy Manager says:

“Being told you have cancer and having to start treatment can be worrying enough on their own.

PPE is now part of all pre-treatment preparation

“In early March, the coronavirus outbreak created an added level of anxiety for our patients due to the complications which COVID-19 can cause for vulnerable people and those with low immune systems. Knowing of the Trust commitment to keeping things going, we made it our mission to ensure access to radiotherapy treatment was one less thing for our patients to worry about.”

Armed with personal protective equipment, Castle Hill’s 62-strong team of radiotherapy staff pulled out all the stops to ensure their patients could continue their treatments with the minimum risk.

“The team is really enthusiastic and keen to make things happen, so with some careful planning and using the different skill sets within the wider team, we devised new ways of working. This has meant the service has continued uninterrupted throughout the recent pandemic, and ensured our patients have been able to continue coming to us for their potentially life-saving treatments.”

First up was how to deal with those patients who were particularly immuno-suppressed, so even more susceptible to complications from COVID-19.

“We have opted to see the patients whose cancer is making them particularly unwell at the beginning of the day. The department is always deep cleaned every evening, so this was deemed to be the safest approach for the people at highest risk.

Patients can now wait 2m apart

“For our routine patients, we’ve taken precautionary measures such as spacing our main waiting area out to ensure those waiting for treatment can remain the recommended 2 metres apart, and we have reduced footfall in the department by temporarily relocating the cancer assessment unit which previously shared our space.

”Radiotherapy, nurses and clinical support workers  are conducting as much pre-treatment screening as they can over the phone, and patients are then screened again in the department on arrival.”

As for those patients who are symptomatic?

“Members of the team have given up their staff rooms and offices in order to convert them into isolation rooms for patients coming in who are suspected or confirmed as COVID-19 positive,” Barbara continues.

“Being symptomatic doesn’t mean you need your radiotherapy treatment any less, so where it’s still safe for each patient to do so, we’ve been able to continue to deliver their radiotherapy. For everyone’s protection, we use one specific treatment room and we ask those patients to come in towards the end of the day, again to minimise the potential for symptomatic and positive patients to mix with people who aren’t. We then we deep clean the machine and the treatment room after every use.”

Barbara is also quick to commend the flexibility of the team:

“The team has been fantastic over the course of the coronavirus pandemic. Admin and clerical staff have been helping to organise the deep clean of the treatment rooms and organise transfers of patients up from the wards, while many part time staff have offered to work extra hours to cover staffing shortfalls due to colleagues self-isolating. We’re also grateful for the support of the family and women’s health group, who have released three former therapeutic radiographers from the mammography service to refresh their skills and boost our staff numbers again should we need them.

Therapeutic radiographers have worked hard to maintain their service for cancer patients

“Patients needing radiotherapy can come in every day for a period of weeks, so the team get to know their patients and build up really good relationships with them. Wearing the PPE can sometimes feel like the care we provide is a little less personal, but we want our patients to know that we are still smiling behind the masks and we will continue to do all we can to ensure their care continues uninterrupted.”

Clare Hutton, Radiotherapy Manager says:

“Although it might feel to many people like COVID-19 is the sole focus of healthcare right now, life in radiotherapy is still very much business as usual. We’ve obviously had to make some adjustments to ensure the service can run safely through this pandemic and reduce the risk to patients and staff, but ultimately we’ve been able to ensure patients can still make their daily visits to the department and receive the same high quality service as they did before.

“The department may feel a little different as you enter; social distancing has been implemented and face to face contact has reduced, for example, but the vast majority of treatments have remained the same. None of this would be possible without the full support of the team who, as always, take things in their stride and make things work.

“It really has been all hands to the pump to make the transition to our ‘new normal’ work effectively and we’re pleased to say that our patients are continuing to see the benefit of this.”

A new nursing team has been created at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital to support families unable to visit their loved ones in Intensive Care during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) has set up the special nursing team, working seven days a week, to act as the link between families and clinical staff working in its five Intensive Care Units.

Members of the team update families following doctors’ rounds every day and act as a liaison for families, on hand to answer any questions relatives may have while their loved one is being cared for by the critical care team.

Senior Matron Rebecca Smith said: “We understand how hard it is for families during this time because they can’t come and visit their loved ones in hospital.

“Families of all patients admitted to Intensive Care, not just those with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, are being supported by this new team and we hope it is making a difference.”

Intensive Care nurses Alex Wray, Sarah Hill, April Ablitt, Jade Courtney, Sarah Gibbins, Jade Marson, Jodie McBride, Hannah North, Emily Rooke, Jennifer Smith, Melissa Smith, Amy Tomlinson, Jasmine Barraclough and Elizabeth Wright with Rachael Melia providing administrative support ­have been redeployed to support families of the sickest patients throughout COVID-19.

Families receive a photograph of the nurse who will act as their main point of contact while their relative is in Intensive Care.

The nurses provide them with a telephone number and an email address so they can get in touch if they have any questions. They then contact them by telephone every day after ward rounds to update them on the condition of their loved ones. They will also pass on additional information from the clinical team.

As well as providing regular updates, the nurses also find out about the patients in Intensive Care so they can pass on the information to their colleagues.

Alex Wray, who is leading the team with Sarah Hill, said: “In normal times, staff would get an insight into the patient from their loved ones when they come to visit them or stay with them in the unit.

“Sadly, that’s not possible just now because we can’t have visitors on the units to protect our most seriously ill patients from the risk of infection.

“Asking their families about their loved ones allows us to get to know the person we are nursing and ensures relatives are still  involved in their care.”

Hospital bosses are appealing to people with serious health concerns to seek urgent medical attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) has seen a dramatic fall in urgent referrals from GPs and emergency admissions since the Government introduced a national lockdown four weeks ago.

Now, fears are growing that people with serious illnesses are placing their lives in further danger by not coming to Hull Royal Infirmary or Castle Hill Hospital soon enough for help.

Professor Russell Patmore, Consultant in Haematology and one of the trust’s Medical Directors, said: “We understand people may be worried about coming to hospital right now, either because they fear they’ll catch the virus or they think they’ll be a burden to us.

“We want to reassure everyone that we are there to help you and your loved ones, whether you’ve got a problem with your heart, you think you’re having a stroke, you’ve found a lump or anything else that’s causing concern.”

In a direct appeal to the public, Chief Operating Officer Teresa Cope said: “We are here when you need us.

“If you need to come to hospital, please be assured that we are taking every precaution  against COVID-19. Our staff are well-versed in infection control measures to keep you safe.

“Please do not stay away because you’re worried about catching the virus or are concerned you will be putting us under pressure.

“But, as always, use our emergency service wisely. Please do not come here with anything that could be treated by your GP or the Urgent Treatment Centres. You will be redirected if you come here with anything other than emergencies so call NHS 111 if you’re not sure where to go for help before turning up at Hull Royal.”

Like other NHS organisations around the country, HUTH cancelled non-urgent operations and outpatient appointments in March as part of national preparations to prevent the health service being overwhelmed.

However, patients requiring life-saving surgery and urgent treatment, such as those with cancer, have continued to attend both East Yorkshire hospitals.

Over the next few weeks, it is anticipated that some services including planned operations and other procedures will be reintroduced as latest analysis suggests the region may not experience the major surge in cases which had been originally forecast.

With social distancing working to lower the rate of infection, the trust will “step down” the number of wards on standby to accept COVID-19 patients and lower its critical care capacity from around 130 beds to just under 100.

However, staff will continue to be redeployed, recruited and retrained to support frontline services in the expectation that staff will care for patients co with COVID-19 for months rather than weeks.

Teresa Cope, leading the trust’s Gold Command in response to the outbreak, expressed sympathy to the families of the 79 patients who have died from COVID-19 since March 19.

She said: “They will never be just a number to us and their deaths drive us to help everyone affected by this terrible disease.

“Our strength has been our flexibility in reconfiguring resources coupled with the dedication and commitment of our fantastic staff. But we must respond to an ever-changing environment where no one can predict what the next few months will bring.

“Senior teams from every part of the trust are constantly reassessing and readjusting our response which means we are yet to go over 60pc bed capacity despite the rise in admissions.

“We know we may not have faced the peak yet. We know we may face more than one peak. And we know our staff could be dealing with COVID-19 for months.

“But we are now looking to the future and a ‘new normal’ where we can provide excellent hospital services alongside the care of patients with COVID-19.”

Test results suggest only a small proportion of people in Hull and the East Riding have become affected with COVID-19 because so many are following the rules to remain at home.

However, if people start to ignore Government guidance, there is real danger both hospitals will be put under severe strain by a large outbreak spreading through the local population.

Mrs Cope renewed her appeal for people to continue to stay at home, only making essential journeys and always remaining two metres apart from others outside your household to give the NHS a chance of coping with the virus.

“While so many uncertainties exist, we know social distancing measures are an effective way of halting the spread of infection,” she said.

“Please continue to stay at home to protect your NHS and save lives.”

Hospital staff in Hull have received a thank you message with a difference this morning.

Night staff finishing their shifts, hospital transport drivers starting their rounds, and health workers getting set for another day’s work on the Hull Royal Infirmary site were greeted with a giant ‘Thank you NHS’ message painted on the road.

The ‘thank you NHS’ message at the entrance to Argyle Street car park

Hull City Council arranged for the message, which appears once on Lansdowne Street just near to the HRI tower block and again at the entrance to the hospital’s Argyle Street car park, to be painted overnight.

Matt Jukes, Chief Executive of Hull City Council says:

“This is just a small recognition of the incredible work our NHS colleagues are doing during the current crisis.

“The message is one of thanks on behalf of all of the people of Kingston upon Hull to NHS staff working in these challenging times.

“It is a very small gesture, but we believe it’s a wonderful way to show NHS staff that they are all in the hearts and minds of a very grateful city.”

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

“In recent weeks, we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of thanks of appreciation for NHS staff, and this is a fantastic show of support from one of our closest partners.

“Hull City Council’s special message which appeared this morning will no doubt have been a lovely surprise for hospital workers going home after a long night shift or staff just arriving for another day at work.

“We’re really grateful to colleagues at the local authority for thinking of us and bolstering our spirits in this way.”

A hospital doctor in Hull is asking people to look out for older friends and relatives as they spend more time indoors.

As older people continue to self isolate to protect themselves from coronavirus, Dr Yoghini Nagandran, Consultant Physician in Elderly Care and Dementia Lead for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, says loved ones can still show they care from afar in a number of ways:

Dr Yoghini Nagandran (Photo: Marketing Humber)

“This is understandably a difficult time for all of us. Social isolation breaks up our routine, limits our physical freedoms, and means the social contact that people regularly enjoy – meeting friends, seeing family and so on – is severely restricted.

“For older people, and particularly for those who live alone or who are not particularly tech savvy, this can be incredibly isolating. And as the relative or loved one of an older person, it’s easy to worry or to feel bad about not being able to see or support someone who may be quite vulnerable.

“There are, however, plenty of things we can do to look out for older friends and relatives, even if we can’t physically spend time with them.”

Dr Nagandran continues:

“Regardless of age, it’s easy to underestimate the impact that social isolation can have from a mental and emotional point of view. People with dementia in particular can find the current situation confusing and frightening, so a daily phone call or message to say hello and ask how someone is doing shows that you care, and is a great boost for a person’s wellbeing.

A quick phone call can make a world of difference

“For older people who use technology more, social networking is a great way of connecting with the outside world, and options such as Facetime, Skype, and Whatsapp video calling are good for being able to see people as well as hear them, which can be particularly reassuring if you haven’t seen someone for a number of weeks now.

From a clinical perspective, social isolation and the restriction of normal daily activities do present a risk of physical deconditioning for older people in particular. It can almost be as simple as ‘use it or lose it’. Many older people enjoy playing with the grandchildren or spending time at the allotment, for example, but if they are no longer able to do these things, there is a real risk of their physical mobility and flexibility deteriorating, and in later life this can be very difficult to get back.

Food parcels can be a lifeline for older people

“In this case, it’s important to find ways of staying active while also staying safe. Exercise can help boost a person’s mood and general wellbeing, as well as keeping their muscles strong. Friends and family members could make suggestions based on their loved one’s interests, such as a bit of light gardening, gentle stretching or even baking; just something to keep people moving and maintain their dexterity and their cognitive skills.

“Friends and family can also look out for older people by identifying any risks in the home. While we want people to stay active, they are also spending more time within the same four walls, so it’s important that their home environment is as safe as it can be. Think about potential trip hazards such as rugs or uneven paths, whether certain jobs around the home can wait such as those which involve working at height, and even look at whether their slippers are past their best.

“Even if you physically can’t be with older friends or relatives, knowing that you’re looking out for them and playing a part in keeping them safe while the lockdown period continues can be incredibly comforting at this very difficult time.

“It’s important to remind our loved ones and our older people in society that they are not alone, and that we are all in this together.”

More top tips from Dr Nagandran:

• Good nutrition and hydration are important for both physical and mental well-being. Encourage your older loved ones to eat well, including plenty of fruit and vegetables, and consider delivering food parcels if your loved one is unable to leave the house
• Exercise is important. Workouts which can be performed within the home, such as the 10 Today audio workout from the BBC (https://10today.co.uk/tune-in/), are designed to help people move and stretch, and as it can be performed standing up or sitting down, this is suitable for all abilities
• Regular sleep patterns are also essential for health and wellbeing, so make sure the older people you care about are getting enough rest
• Frequent handwashing – wash hands regularly and for a minimum of 20 seconds each time to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading. Even if your loved one doesn’t leave the home, there are still possible transmission risks such as when they have groceries delivered or their bins collected. Wash hands and clean surfaces with antibacterial wipes or sprays regularly.
• Keep your distance. Anyone can get coronavirus, anyone can spread it, and you may not even be experiencing symptoms. Whether it’s a chat over the garden fence or delivering groceries to the doorstep, practice social distancing and stay 2 metres apart.

• If you are supporting an older person in isolation, have a back-up plan ready just in case there’s an emergency and you are no longer able to support that person. It would be reassuring to you and the person you are taking care of to know that a trusted neighbour, friend or another family member could quickly step in should the need arise. Your plan could include the details of the person(s) you look after, any medication they are taking and where it is stored, GP/pharmacy contacts and details of any ongoing treatment they need, plus any mobility aids (e.g. walking frame or hoist) and anything else they need, such as glasses, hearing aids or dentures.

• Use the support available to you. Most local authorities have now set up initiatives and dedicated phone lines to support their most vulnerable residents, so if you are having difficulty supporting your loved ones or live a long way away, explore the sources of help you can tap into. Don’t forget many charities such as Age UK, Dementia UK and the Alzheimer’s Society also operate helplines and can provide advice or signpost to local sources of support.

The first laboratory samples in the country to test positive for COVID-19 went through their hands, but the specialist team of biomedical scientists at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust say it’s all in a day’s work.

Hull made the national headlines back in January when Castle Hill Hospital received the first two patients in the UK who went on to test positive for coronavirus.

Members of the Virology Team

Ordinarily, scientists and support workers in the trust’s virology (left) and microbiology (above) services spend their days testing hospital and GP surgery samples for anything from simple urinary infections through to meningitis.

But they’re no strangers to testing for respiratory diseases either, so as the potentially COVID-19 positive samples passed through the laboratories, it was just second nature for this team of scientists – for whom PPE is everyday attire – to perform their high risk procedures, safeguarding themselves and those around them.

Eleven weeks later, with coronavirus continuing to sweep the country, this 60-strong team of unsung heroes is now making direct contributions to prompt patient care and to ensuring critical services across the local health community can continue.

Alison Eyre, Acting Head of Pathology Services for the trust explains:

“It’s probably fair to say we were apprehensive but also a bit excited at the time those first swabs were processed through our labs. The call came in in the early hours of the morning, and while the actual results were formally confirmed by a laboratory outside Hull, the coronavirus outbreak was something we’d all seen escalating in previous weeks so we were fully aware of what it could be and how to respond accordingly.”

Within just a few weeks of the first cases passing through the labs, the team was able to start their own in-house testing, meaning the time it now takes to deliver a result has reduced to a matter of hours rather than days.

“Staff working in virology and microbiology have really pulled together to meet the expectations placed upon them,” Alison continues.

“Many of our scientists, associate practitioners and support workers have willingly extended their hours or changed their place of work, and some have changed the immediate teams they work within so that we can deliver a more extensive, seven-day service.

Biomedical scientist, Melanie Dawes, at work in the lab

“With national guidance changing regularly and new scientific information coming through all the time, the team has done so well to not only keep up with the latest directives, but we’ve managed to continue extending what we are able to do.

“Being able to test for COVID-19 in-house means patients can receive their results and begin treatment more quickly than before; this is also really important for our nurses, doctors and other frontline staff because it then enables them to make informed choices about how and where they care for those patients and how best to protect the people around them.

“As well as testing patients believed to have coronavirus, we also began testing symptomatic staff and those of neighbouring NHS organisations such as Humber NHS Foundation Trust and Yorkshire Ambulance Service just under two weeks ago. We’re using as much of our testing capacity as we have available for this purpose, meaning virology and microbiology staff are playing a direct role in keeping critical services running by determining which members of staff are able to return to work safely and who needs to stay away.”

Katie Kitchman was the biomedical scientist on call who processed the first COVID-19 positive samples

As part of a regional network of pathology services, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is even helping others outside the immediate area. Scientists  have been using their expertise and any spare capacity to support other hospitals across Yorkshire, such as Doncaster and Sheffield with staff and patient testing, reflecting the ethos that we are all truly ‘in it together’.

“They’ve been at the forefront of the local COVID-19 response from day one,” Alison continues.

“Because the testing processes are largely done behind the scenes, our scientists can often fail to get the recognition they deserve, but there’s no better time than right now to shine a light on just how big a role this amazing team is playing in caring for both our patients and our staff, and will continue to play in the days and weeks to come.

“Everyone is sharing the load, and they’re doing it with a smile on their faces; I’m incredibly proud of all the team.”

Touching letter from 8-year-old Lyla to hospital pharmacy workers

Sage advice and heartfelt thanks, all bundled up in a handwritten thank you letter to hospital staff in Cottingham.

Lyla shows her support for the NHS

Senior Pharmacy Technician, Liam Kirby, and his colleagues received the letter from eight-year-old Thoresby Street Primary School pupil, Lyla Robinson, this week.

Liam works in Castle Hill Hospital’s Aseptic Unit, an essential behind-the-scenes service which prepares chemotherapy drugs for cancer patients and provides complete nutritional solutions (“Total Parenteral Nutrition”) for patients who are unable to eat.

Lyla’s letter reads:

Lyla pens her letter to staff

“I am writing to say thank you for helping us…. Everybody is very thankful for all the work you are doing for us in this hard time.

“We are staying at home these days because we want to stop the coronavirus spreading. We are social distancing. If we do this, the virus wouldn’t spread. It is also very important that we wash our hands.

“We appreciate all the hard work you do, and we are thinking about you. Thank you again!”

Lyla’s words of support come at a crucial time for staff across Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, as they brace themselves for a further rise in the number of patients being admitted with coronavirus.

And while the Aseptic Team is not always considered a front line service, their role is invaluable in ensuring scores of critically ill patients, some of whom will be COVID-19 positive, receive the daily medication and nutritional support they need.

Liam says:

“We have seen a lot of appreciation for health and care workers in recent weeks, and it’s great to know that the public are behind us at what is a worrying time for everyone.

Members of the Aseptic Team prepare a patient’s chemotherapy

“Lyla’s letter was so lovely to read. It was fantastic to read her words of support for us and to know that she understands and appreciates the role that the Aseptic Team and the pharmacy staff, who aren’t always visible to the public, still play in supporting patients’ health and recovery.

“We’re a small team who provide a big service. Our work, and the safety of the patients receiving the packs we prepare, are reliant on us operating in a sterile environment, so it was music to our ears to see that she understood the importance of handwashing too!”

Sharon Tummons, the Aseptic Unit’s Principal Pharmacy Technician says:

“I am extremely proud of my team; they have always had a strong work ethic but that’s even more evident in these uncertain times.

“The Aseptic Unit plays a major role when it comes to patient care. Each member of my staff shows such professionalism, dedication and immense pride, knowing that each product they manufacture contributes to successful patient outcomes.

“Receiving the letter from Lyla has boosted staff morale and even though it’s such a scary time for children, I’m so pleased she is aware just how crucial good handwashing is for infection control. We are all grateful that she has recognised the importance of what we do and the contribution of all NHS staff.”

Members of the Aseptic Unit Team (photo taken prior to social distancing rules being introduced)

And as the Bank Holiday weekend begins, Lyla’s words of advice are also echoed by trust Chief Operating Officer, Teresa Cope:

“Coronavirus has created an unprecedented challenge for our hospitals, and while we have plans in place and we are ready to act, we need every person to play their part so we can all get through this.

“Quite simply, the message is “stay at home”. No matter how nice the weather is this weekend or how tempting it may be to meet up with friends, please follow the Government’s advice. Practice social distancing, only go outside for essential travel or for short exercise, and together we will beat this.”

Hospitals urge public to seek medical advice elsewhere as coronavirus effort intensifies

A local doctor is asking for the public’s help as hospitals across East Yorkshire intensify their efforts to tackle coronavirus.

Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Dr Alastair Pickering, says nursing staff are being taken away from caring for the sick by members of the public calling for advice or to ask about loved ones.

Dr Pickering explains:

Dr Alastair Pickering

“We understand it is incredibly difficult for patients and their loved ones right now, at a time when social distancing rules mean we have all but stopped hospital visiting altogether.

“The decision to restrict visiting wasn’t taken lightly, but it was taken to help limit the spread of coronavirus within our community and, crucially, to protect vulnerable patients and the invaluable frontline health workers whom we need to care for them.

“What we have seen in recent days and weeks is a growing number of calls coming in to the hospital, either asking for patient updates because of the visiting restrictions, or simply asking for general medical advice.

“While coronavirus is a worry for all of us, we would really ask for the public’s help in keeping these kinds of calls to a minimum. This will enable our healthcare staff to focus on the patients in our immediate care who really need us the most right now.”

The call comes as Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, has outlined its plans to respond to the expected increase in COVID-19 positive patients requiring hospital care.

Among other things, the trust’s surge plan will see specialist wards created, critical care capacity tripled and staff retrained and redeployed to bolster areas in need of support, such as critical care and respiratory medicine.

Simon Nearney, Director of Workforce and Organisational Development at the trust, said:

Those seeking medical advice should contact NHS111

“We understand that people need clinical advice about symptoms and how to treat them but members of the public should contact NHS111.  Our frontline staff do not have the time at present to deal with general medical queries or multiple requests about the same patient in our care.

“Our receptionists and switchboard staff are also experiencing high levels of calls but can only redirect people seeking medical advice to the most appropriate service which is NHS111.

“Please help our staff to do what they do best, and that’s care for the sick and vulnerable. If you are concerned about coronavirus or any other medical condition, please use the NHS 111 online service or telephone 111 direct, or contact your GP surgery. Please do not call the hospital.”

Here’s how you can help:

• If you have a loved one in hospital, agree between all of that person’s family and friends on one named individual who will be the single point of contact. It will then be for that person to contact the hospital to request updates, and then share this information among the patient’s friends and family.
• If you believe you have symptoms of coronavirus, visit the NHS 111 online service to check your symptoms and for advice on what to do next. If you do not have internet access, you should call 111. Do not visit the hospital, your GP surgery, pharmacy or other healthcare facility.
• If you would like the most up to date clinical information about coronavirus, visit the NHS.UK website: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus Other information such as confirmed numbers of cases in the UK and advice on employment, travel and educational issues can be found at www.gov.uk

A dedicated entrance has been opened at Hull Royal Infirmary for patients requiring urgent care or treatment.

Work has been ongoing to create the new entrance, located to the right of the main tower block doors, since December, during which time visitors to the site will have seen contractors working behind metal fencing.

Now complete, the entrance comprises a glass canopy and entranceway, surrounded by bright red directional signage, and will enable patients to go straight through to the right person for triage.

Duncan Taylor, Director of Estates, Facilities and Development for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“The new entrance provides a clear and direct way for patients to access urgent healthcare and treatment.

“By using this entrance, there is no longer any need to find your way to the Emergency Department through the main hospital. This means patients can save time by going directly into the urgent care streaming area, but also in light of current coronavirus concerns, it enables us to reduce footfall through Hull Royal Infirmary and further reduce the risk of the virus circulating through the hospital.”

Anyone arriving with urgent healthcare needs, i.e. those who would normally be seen within the A&E ‘Minors’ department, should use this new entrance. All ‘blue light’ patients coming into the hospital by ambulance will still arrive at the back of the building, under the dedicated ambulance canopy.

And while the new entrance makes access to urgent care more direct, Duncan is still keen to stress how important it is for hospital services to be used appropriately:

“Our hospitals are under significant pressure right now, so patients should only attend the Emergency Department if they have an urgent health need which requires immediate attention.

“For the protection of our patients and our front line staff delivering their care, it is especially important for anyone displaying symptoms of coronavirus to stay at home. Patients should not come to hospital or visit their GP surgery, but should check their symptoms and seek advice using the NHS111 online symptom checker first for their own safety and the protection of those around them.”

As clinics close due to coronavirus, our hearing specialists are making every effort to keep patients in the loop

Hospital hearing specialists have been pulling out the stops to ensure their patients do not miss out on vital services during the current coronavirus outbreak.

In recent weeks, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been forced to cancel face-to-face appointments and outpatients clinics across many of its specialties, to try and halt the spread of the virus.

But while many services have been able to stay in touch with patients through telephone consultations, the trust’s audiology team have had to be a little more inventive when it comes to meeting their patient group’s needs.

Audiologist, Ziomarie Diaz

Audiologist, Ziomarie Diaz explains:

“Since March 23^rd, on the Government’s advice, we began cancelling our clinics in order to protect our staff and our patients from the spread of coronavirus.

“In total, we have cancelled around 20 audiology clinics per week which, ordinarily, would run at Hull Royal Infirmary, Castle Hill Hospital and in other community locations such as Bransholme, Beverley and Hornsea¹.

“Some hospital services are now carrying out telephone consultations, but the problems experienced by our patient group can make it difficult to conduct appointments over the phone. Instead, we’ve decided to make use of both old and new forms of communication to ensure our service continues running as normally as possible.

“For example, it’s helpful for people with hearing difficulties to be able to access written information which they can read and digest, so we have set up a text messaging service for patients to be able to send through any queries and receive a reply. Many patients will wait to ask questions at their appointment, but as we’re not physically seeing our patients right now, we don’t want people to feel that they have to wait if there’s something worrying them which we can help with.”

The audiology team has also launched a facebook page to keep in touch with its patients and parents of children who use the audiology service called Audiology Department HUTH. The page, www.facebook.com/audiologyhuth will be used to provide updates and generic advice, and accept direct messages from patients.

Crucially, the online medium will also allow audiology staff to upload pictures and video.

“We often rely on pictures and being able to show things to our patients in clinic because of their hearing difficulties, so being able to make and upload a video, or signpost to short clips of a hearing aid being fitted or general hearing aid maintenance, for example, will be invaluable for ourselves and our patients,” Ziomarie continues.

The audiology team will be keeping Royal Mail staff busy, as the team is operating a postal service for hearing aid batteries and repairs. Those living out of town can drop hearing aids which require repair or maintenance into one of ten community drop off points such as Alfred Bean Hospital and Hessle Town Hall², while replacement batteries can be requested via post, addressed to the team at Castle Hill. Around 70 repairs were sent through to the team in the first week of operation. Meanwhile, for residents living in the Cottingham area, the team is operating a ‘doorstep to doorstep’ collection and delivery service for hearing aid repairs, in order to avoid the need for patients to leave their homes to drop off their devices at Castle Hill Hospital.

Patients suffering with debilitating tinnitus are being offered their consultations and treatment advice remotely either by telephone or Skype by the tinnitus counsellor, based at East Riding Community Hospital.

The screening of newborns for hearing loss is continuing

And where direct contact remains essential, namely screening of newborn babies, the team – wearing appropriate PPE – is still making sure that babies identified with hearing loss are fitted with hearing aids promptly and can access speech and language services to aid normal speech and development.

Ziomarie continues:

“We know we’re not running our normal level of service at the moment, but these are unusual times and we fully appreciate the need for social distancing to protect our patients and frontline staff.

“We hope our patients will see that we’re trying to maintain continuity of care for them as far as possible, and that until normal service can resume, we’re only a message or a post away if they need us.”

Philip Vokes, Head of Audiology for the trust, says:

“I’m very proud of the whole team; they have come up with so many innovative solutions to help ensure hearing aid users in the community stay safe and have access to the speech and language services they need to support them during this period of social isolation.

“With the help of our IT Team, we’ve even continued with recruitment to the team by carrying out interviews for audiologists and an apprentice on Skype; this is so important at a time when we need as many hospital staff as possible at work to support the coronavirus effort.”

For regular updates on the audiology service, visit and either ‘like’ or ‘follow’ the trust’s audiology facebook page – www.facebook.com/audiologyHUTH

Notes

¹ Community clinics have been temporarily cancelled in the following locations: Bransholme, Withernsea, Marfleet, Driffield, Beverley and Hornsea.

² Hearing aid repair drop off points are currently located at:

• Alfred Bean Hospital, Driffield (reception)
• Hessle Town Hall
• Wilberforce Health Centre (entrance lobby)
• Bransholme Health Centre (reception, second floor)
• East Riding Community Hospital (outpatient entrance, between sliding doors)
• Hornsea Cottage Hospital – outpatient reception
• Longhill Health Centre (community services reception)
• Morrill Street Health Centre (community services reception)
• Withernsea Community Hospital (reception)
• Hull Royal Infirmary – admissions desk (ground floor)

Contact details for the Audiology Department:

Phone: 01482 468356
Text (SMS): 07799 895033
Email: huth.audiology@nhs.net