Paediatric emergency consultant Dr Liz Herrieven has told how her teenage daughter’s dual diagnosis of Down’s syndrome and autism has had a positive impact on her life.

Dr Herrieven has taken part in the Shifting Perspectives Podcast to talk about life with 13-year-old daughter Amy.

She explained how life-threatening illnesses when Amy was younger has helped her role as a consultant in emergency medicine at Hull Royal Infirmary, given her great insight into what it’s like to be the parent of a seriously ill child.

In a message to parents of children with Down’s syndrome, Dr Herrieven said:  “Take one step at a time, particularly in the early days. Be kind to yourself. It’s ok to feel things are awful, it’s ok to be sad and it’s ok to have that grieving process.

“You will get through the other end. There will be good days and there will be bad days but, in the end, you will have far more good days than bad.

“Your family may not look like the wonderful family on the front of all the parenting magazines but, actually, your family is your family – unique and special to you.

“Don’t worry what anyone else is doing.”

The podcasts have been produced by the Down’s Syndrome Association and hosted by photographer Richard Bailey to share stories of people with Down’s syndrome as well as of their families and carers.

Amy was born 10 weeks early and spent her first few months in neonatal intensive care. In her early years, she spent weeks in high dependency and intensive care units with life-threatening illnesses including severe chest infections, pneumonia and sepsis.

Dr Herrieven said: “I was so used to being on the other side, being the one that makes the decisions.

“Suddenly, I had lost control and it was my small child lying there. That taught me a massive amount of what it’s like to be on the receiving end of challenging news.”

Amy was diagnosed with autism at the age of eight, enabling her family to make adjustments to make life easier by reducing her levels of anxiety.

While looking after Amy’s needs, Dr Herrieven and her husband ensure Amy’s eight-year-old brother Toby has time for fun and the family sticks to familiar routines to help Amy such as going to the same place on holiday every year.

“Amy is Amy and Down’s syndrome is part of her,” Dr Herrieven said.

“Although we have changed our expectations, we still manage to have a really good family life.”

Dr Herrieven realised being Amy’s mum could help other medical professionals in the treatment of people with Down’s syndrome.

Together with Linda Dykes, an emergency medicine consultant and GP in Bangor, she has produced an infographic for other clinicians with top tips on triaging and treating children with Down’s syndrome.

The infographic has received 100,000 hits and has led to Dr Herrieven blogging for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine as well as speaking at a conference of paramedics.

Dr Herrieven is also working hard to challenge “diagnostic overshadowing” when the judgement of medical professionals is clouded by a person’s condition.

She said: “As medical professionals, we tend to use scoring systems and lists of signs and symptoms to see how sick a person is but sometimes, these things don’t work and that’s particularly true of people with Down’s syndrome.”

Dr Herrieven called on doctors to consider “soft signs” where a person’s behaviour has changed, such as they are not interested in something which normally engages or distracts them.

She said: “Families are probably better than medical professionals at recognising these things and it will be different for every person.

“We need to start listening to these things families are telling us about when someone’s behaviour is different.”

You can hear Dr Herrieven’s podcast through the Down’s Syndrome Association website.

The driving force behind the transformation of maternity services is coming to Hull to see changes attracting national attention.

Baroness Julia Cumberlege CBE chaired the major NHS review of maternity services which led to the publication of the “Better Births” report in 2016.

Now, the Conservative peer is coming to Hull Women and Children’s Hospital this week to meet the midwives introducing sweeping changes to the way they look after pregnant women.

Baroness Julia Cumberlege

Janet Cairns, Head of Midwifery at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “It is a great honour for us to welcome Baroness Cumberlege to see our new practices.

“Our team has responded really well to the recommendations in the “Better Births” report and we have received very positive feedback on the work we have undertaken so far. New ways of working are now embedded across our service to help women make the best choices for them and their babies.”

NHS England commissioned a national maternity review called “Better Births – Improving outcomes of maternity services in England” and the report in 2016 produced seven key recommendations.

More personalised care, better postnatal and perinatal mental health care and “continuity of carer”, where every woman has the same midwife through pregnancy, were among those key recommendations.

The trust has introduced four Continuity of Carer teams in the past 14 months, with another four about to be introduced.

The Ivy Team looks after mothers in Beverley , the Primrose Team (above) cares for women with additional needs in East Hull, Willow supports women planning to give birth at the midwifery-led Fatima Allam Birth Centre and Linnea helps women expecting more than one baby.

Four new teams will be introduced in the coming weeks – Rainbow, for mothers expecting a baby after a miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a child shortly after birth; Lavender for women who require additional emotional support; Fern for women with diabetes and the Fetal Medicine team for women whose babies require support in the womb.

Baroness Cumberlege was junior health minister and the Government‘s spokeswoman in the House of Lords and will visit the trust on Thursday.

She will be taken on the tour of the hospital by Janet Cairns and Lead Midwife Lorraine Cooper, meeting staff at Rowan and Maple Wards, the Antenatal Day Unit and the Labour Ward as well as the Fatima Allam Birth Centre.

She will also be introduced to some of the midwives working in the Continuity of Carer teams to find out more about their work and meet some of the families they have helped.

Lorraine Cooper said: “We have thought hard about how best to support the women of Hull and our teams reflect the population we look after so our Continuity of Carer teams are different to many other cities.

“Feedback from women supported by the new teams tells us they feel more able to build good relationships with their midwife, which benefits both the woman and the baby.

“We are looking forward to showing Baroness Cumberlege the work we have undertaken and meeting the midwives who are providing such an important service.”

 Families are being asked to bring their own bottles and formula milk into hospital to reduce the risk of infection among newborn babies.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is advising parents-to-be that it will no longer be providing bottles or teats if they opt to bottle-feed their babies.

The change is being introduced to follow infection control guidance and to protect all infants on the wards at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.

Janet Cairns, Head of Midwifery, said: “If parents opt to bottle feed their babies, we’re asking them to bring in small, prepared single-use feeds as we will no longer hold a stock of bottles, teats or formula milk in the hospital.

“Previously, we allowed families to decant milk into bottles but spilt milk was not being cleared up. This was causing contamination of the cupboards below and introducing the risk of potential infection issues.”

As well as ending the contamination of ward cupboard, the new rules will help new families by protecting privacy and dignity of everyone on the ward.

Janet Cairns said: “Having their own bottles of formula milk will stop mums and their birth partners having to move away from their babies to make up feeds, especially at night.

“It also means other families won’t be disturbed, improving the privacy and dignity for everyone on our wards.”

A new social care unit, the first of its kind in the country to help patients regain independence after stays in hospital, has been set up at Castle Hill Hospital

The 14-bed facility, set up by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, will help people who are well enough to ‘step down’ from the intensive support provided by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust but can’t go home until out-of-hospital support is in place.

The East Riding Social Care Suite aims to reduce pressure on both Hull Royal infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital by providing additional capacity for people who need a little more support.

Teresa Cope, Chief Operating Officer at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We know now that ‘winter pressures’ are no longer confined to the colder months as we have seen sustained pressure on beds and staff all year long.

“However, it intensifies even further in December, January and February as seasonal illnesses take hold and the colder weather affects our most vulnerable.

“Having this facility at Castle Hill means there is somewhere to care for people who no longer require the intensive support and treatment provided by the hospital and its staff. We can then free up beds for the very sick patients who need to be admitted to our wards.

“This is a really positive development, testament to the work going on between the trust, East Riding Clinical Commissioning Group and East Riding of Yorkshire Council.”

People invited to spend time in the suite will have short-term care and support, able to take part in a range of activities to show them what is available close to their homes. They’ll also be given advice on how to live healthily and independently for longer.

John Skidmore, director for adults, health and customer services at the council, said: “We are aiming to provide engaging and interesting activities from a range of services that will enhance the emotional and physical wellbeing of users while strengthening social networks in the community

“This means people will be more confident and better connected once leaving hospital.”

More than 400 people regularly arrive at Hull’s Emergency Department every day, and around 100 of those patients could have received their treatment in other services such as at the Urgent Treatment Centres at Bransholme, Beverley, Bridlington and Goole or at the GP Walk-In Service at Wilberforce Health Centre, or via their own GP Practice.

“Patient streaming” is being introduced at Hull’s Emergency Department to redirect people who come to the hospital with less serious and minor illnesses and injuries which could be treated by alternative services in the community.

However, among those coming to A&E, many are seriously unwell and require admission to hospital, highlighted by an eight per cent rise in the demand for ambulances in the past few months.

Other patients with existing health conditions are also being admitted directly to wards in the departments where they are already undergoing treatment, such as oncology or cardiology wards.

In addition to the new Social Care Suite, the trust has also opened a new 22-bed general medicine ward at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Additional capacity is also being commissioned in the community through further community capacity is also commissioned for Winter 19/20 to enable the system wide Delayed Transfer of Care (DTOC) targets to be consistently achieved.

Tis the season of coughs, snuffles and viruses so Hull’s emergency team have produced a handy guide if your child develops a high temperature over the next few weeks.

The 10 facts guide will be posted on Facebook and Twitter by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust over the coming days to help parents determine the best course of action when their children become ill.

Dr Liz Herrieven, Emergency Consultant at Children’s A&E at Hull Royal, said: “It can be frightening when your child becomes ill and we understand you want to make sure they get the best possible treatment.

“But sometimes, keeping them at home and making sure they’re drinking plenty of fluid is the best course of action as most infections don’t require antibiotics.

“By producing this guide, we hope to help parents understand a bit more about fevers in children and to know when they need to seek urgent medical treatment.”

Ophthalmology Outpatients  named most festive hospital department of 2019

A passing comment made by a patient with sight difficulties has led to Ophthalmology Outpatients being named as the trust’s most festive ward or department of 2019.

Last December, an elderly lady told a staff member from the department how she had a tin of rice pudding for Christmas dinner and didn’t see or speak to anyone all day.

This led Sister Katy Rutter and her 115-strong team to ensure this lady and many more like her had a much more positive festive experience this year.

Ophthalmology Outpatients have been delivering a festive treat every day this December for patients young and old, from visits from Father Christmas and lindy hop dancers to school choir performances and knitting group sessions.

The team has made decorations inspired by The Polar Express, turning the reception desk into a ticket office where younger travellers are each given a golden train ticket inviting them to ‘Believe’. A huge cardboard steam engine stands in the outpatients waiting area and there’s a 6ft sign for the North Pole. Add in free mince pies bought by staff and offered daily to patients, sensory gifts bought by staff for visually impaired children and a Christmas tree decorated with glasses at patients’ request, and it becomes clear to see why the team took this year’s crown.

Chief Nurse Beverley Geary took time out of her busy schedule yesterday for judging visits across HRI, Hull Women and Children’s Hospital and Castle Hill Hospital, and to see and hear how staff have been creating festive cheer for patients, co-workers and visitors. She says:

“It’s been a real privilege to judge the competition and to see and hear from staff across the trust about how they’ve really pulled together and delivered a positive difference in the well-being and the recovery of their patients.

“While the entries were outstanding again this year, the Ophthalmology Outpatients team have clearly put so much thought into making a positive difference for patients who may be only with them for a few minutes per visit, and they have seen a massive benefit within their team too.”

As the winning department for 2019, the Ophthalmology Outpatients team has been presented with a luxury hamper to share and awarded temporary custody of the Dr Hermon Cup. The cup dates back to 1938, when the then-famous radiologist presented the shiny silver trophy to the best decorated ward in the old Anlaby Road Hospital.

Katy Rutter, Sister with the Ophthalmology Outpatients team has remarked how much of a difference the competition has made to her patients and staff:

“I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of my team. I have always felt lucky to manage them, however this project of ours has really shown me they are very special. Staff have made such an effort, morale has had a big boost and relationships between team members are stronger than I have ever known. It really has had such a beneficial effect on all of us.

“We are already planning what we can continue into the New Year for patients and staff. It has shown to have had such a positive impact on people’s mental health that we want to continue this into the darker months of winter which follow Christmas.”

Neuro rehabilitation Ward 29 and the Radiotherapy Team, both based at the Queen’s Centre, Castle Hill Hospital, were chosen as this year’s runners up.

Occupational Therapy and nursing staff on Ward 29 have seen first-hand how crafting Christmas decorations has led to improvements in manual dexterity and cognitive rehabilitation among patients recovering from brain injury . At the end of each craft group, their patients have regularly been clamouring to continue making decorations, further enhancing their recovery.

The Radiotherapy Team, who won the competition last year, themed their efforts around the “Twelve Days of Christmas Kindness”, delivering something different for patients in each of the 12 days leading up to December 25^th, including home baking, positivity notes and a Christmas card for all patients.

Beverley adds:

“Every single team I visited yesterday really impressed me with the amount of effort they put in, the amount of time they gave and their overall thoughtfulness for patients and colleagues. I loved seeing the difference our competing teams have made, and I’m incredibly proud of all of them.”

 Eighteen East Yorkshire firms have helped hospital staff transform a children’s ward in time for Christmas.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been given a £10,000 Christmas present by local companies to provide a new nursing base and medical treatment room on Ward 130 at Hull Royal Infirmary, which cares for the city’s sickest children.

Construction teams have worked hard to ensure the new areas are completed in time for Christmas. As well as managing the project, members of the Capital Development team also collected presents to hand out to children who were on the work while the work was taking place.

Andrew Lockyer with son George, one of the patients on the ward who received a present from the Capital Development team

Julia Harrison-Mizon, Operations Director for family and women’s services, said: “Thanks to our Capital Development team,  we have excellent relationships with the companies in the city and they did not hesitate to offer their help when they heard about our plans.

“We are extremely grateful to them for stepping in to offer their services for free.

“Thanks to them, we have been able to complete this work in two weeks, just in time for Christmas, minimising the disruption to our patients, visitors and staff.”

Staff on the children’s ward on the 13th floor of the tower block were keen to create a new nursing station for writing up confidential notes or having confidential conversations about patient care as well as a new medical treatment room.

Senior Project Manager Lee Appleton and Senior Project Support Officer Amy Lockyer of the trust’s Capital Development team entitled the venture “Project Christmas” and approached local contractors to see if they could help.

Lee said: “We received an overwhelming response from contractors who agreed to devote their time and expertise, as well as resources, for free.

“Some companies donated painting supplies while others installed new pipework, a new sink and flooring, new LED lighting, new worktops and cupboards and telephone, IT and office equipment to help nursing staff on the ward.”

“We now have an area where staff can have sensitive conversations about patient care in private areas and we’ll be able to keep noise to a minimum to benefit patients.

“The new area has been designed to mirror our adult wards which helps nurses and doctors who move between wards because they will know where everything is kept.”

Trust staff would like to thank

*Bonus Electrical

*Fairburns Group

*Sondia Lighting

*Complete Diamond Drilling

*Grade 3

*Vic Couplands

*Leisure Technique

*D&D Decorators

*CFI Flooring

*PH Joinery

*Zenith Development

*Plexus

*Brian Fells (Leven) Ltd

*Hybrid Cabling

*Readwell Signs

*We are the Office

*Hobson & Porter

*Johnson Construction

People who turn up at Hull A&E with minor conditions are to be redirected to other services this winter to ease the pressure on emergency services.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is introducing “patient streaming” at the front door of its Emergency Department to ensure people in need of emergency care are prioritised.

Every person attending the department will be met by a senior nurse known as a “nurse navigator” within 15 minutes who will determine the most appropriate place for them to be treated. That could include services away from the Emergency Department, such as another service based at the hospital or in the community.

Anyone using the Emergency Department for minor illnesses and injuries because they cannot get an appointment with their GP will be re-directed to an appropriate alternative service in the community.

People will be given information on where to get mental health support or help with addictions while others will be given future appointments to see their own GPs if their conditions are not serious.

6 July 2015: Humber NHS Foundation Trust board members.
Picture: Sean Spencer/Hull News & Pictures Ltd
01482 772651/07976 433960
www.hullnews.co.uk sean@hullnews.co.uk

Chief Operating Officer Teresa Cope said: “We’ve been asking people for years to keep our Emergency Department for ‘serious stuff’. However, around 46 per cent of people who come to our Emergency Department could have gone to other services.

“If people come to the Emergency Department with minor illnesses or injuries, they will now be re-directed into a appropriate services able to meet their clinical needs.   We also continue to ask patients to consider using alternative services in the first instance.

“Winter is here and we need to take these steps to ensure our staff and services are protected for the people who need us most.”

The new patient streaming service is part of the trust’s plan to improve urgent and emergency care as well as supporting the winter plan when hospital admissions increase because of seasonal illnesses such as flu and respiratory conditions or major trauma linked to accidents caused by bad weather.

An additional 22 bed ward opened at the end of October and 12 extra assessment beds will also be introduced at Hull Royal Infirmary to help cope with the additional demand over  winter.

Staff known as “progress checkers” will also be based in the Emergency Department to work with other hospital teams to gather results or book tests to ensure patients can be discharged home or admitted onto a ward sooner.

Teresa Cope said: “There has been significant planning and work undertaken by the hospital and by wider Health and Care partners to plan for winter.

“A number of schemes are now coming to fruition which will help the hospital to manage through this busy period and ensure patients receive appropriate and timely care.”

A £1.5m transformation of Hull Royal Infirmary’s ground floor to ensure patients are seen by the right health professional in the shortest possible time will be completed this week.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has undertaken a major project to expand its assessment and diagnostic area and introduce a new patient streaming area to ensure people are directed to the correct service as soon as they arrive at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Construction work of the ground floor projects will be completed today, with the transformation opening for patients on Monday.

A new front entrance allowing people to come straight to the Emergency Care area with minor illnesses and injuries will also be opened by February.

Duncan Taylor, Director of Estates, Facilities and Development, said the construction was the conclusion of Phase 7 of a nine-year project to transform the trust’s Emergency Department, covering 30,000 square feet or equivalent to the floor space of 30 houses.

He said: “The vision has always been to improve patient flow through the Emergency Department by improving diagnostics, introduce additional assessment beds and increase capacity within ED.

“We have seen a massive increase in people coming to ED recently with illnesses and injuries which could not be classed as genuine emergencies so we needed to ensure we have a way of assessing people as soon as they arrive to stop diverting frontline teams from the seriously ill and injured people who need them most.

“This new lay-out in emergency care will mean we can direct patients to the appropriate clinical department for further assessment.”

The work has been possible after the trust was successful in securing funding from the Department of Health and Social Care as part of its winter planning.

A new Surgical Ambulatory Care Unit has been built on the side of the existing Ambulatory Care Unit with two consulting rooms and two treatment rooms where minor surgical procedures, formerly carried out in the Fracture Clinic or A&E, can be carried out.

The Acute Medical Unit has also been extended to include two additional six-bay units to give additional assessment capacity.

In addition, a new MRI centre, built on the site of the former chapel, will be opened on the ground floor to reduce the number of in-patients being taken outside to the existing MRI building at Hull Royal. Another CT scan room will also be created on the ground floor to extend the current Emergency Department CT facility and that will be opened by March.