A couple will celebrate their first Christmas with their baby boy tomorrow after he was delivered by the midwife who helped them when their daughter was stillborn.

Tanya Antcliff, 30, and Luke Sellers, 31, were devastated when their daughter Imogen died in the womb hours before she was born at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.

Specialist Bereavement Midwife Sue Cooper supported them through the agony of Imogen’s death, keeping in touch and visiting them at their home in East Hull before Tanya discovered she was pregnant again.

Sue helped them throughout Tanya’s pregnancy and then came into hospital in the middle of the night to deliver their son Ronnie in June this year.

Sue Cooper

Tanya said: “Sue was absolutely brilliant. She told us we could contact her at any time and the really nice thing was that she came into hospital about 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning to be with us and deliver Ronnie.

“She’s more like a friend than anything else.”

Tanya had a normal pregnancy and all checks at her 40-week appointment were normal.

She went into labour two days later but midwives couldn’t find Imogen’s heartbeat and the couple discovered their daughter had died.

Tanya is thought to have suffered severe placental abruption at the end of her pregnancy which halted the flow of oxygen to Imogen, causing her baby to die.

“It was just the worst thing,” said Tanya. “It was the worst time of our lives.”

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was one of the first 11 trusts selected to pilot the National Bereavement Care Pathway in 2017 to support families through the deaths of babies during pregnancy, labour or shortly after birth.

Sue met Tanya, a sales assistant, and Luke, a joiner, within hours of them losing Imogen on March 8, 2017.

“It was a bit of a blur at the time but Sue introduced herself while we were in hospital and then kept in touch with us,” said Tanya.

“I got really bad anxiety afterwards and she was great, coming round to see me and Luke. We wouldn’t have got through it without her.”

The couple were overcome with joy and anxiety when they discovered Tanya was pregnant for the second time six months after Imogen’s death.

“Sue had already told me she’d be there for us if we decided to have another baby and she was,” said Tanya. “I felt really safe with her.

“I didn’t enjoy my pregnancy and I don’t think I ever will, even if I get pregnant again, because I had gone full-term and still lost her.

“People forget that men go through this too and Sue was there for Luke too because he was just as scared as I was.”

Sue was constantly at the end of the phone if either Luke or Tanya had any concerns and she was able to reassure Tanya by letting her hear her baby’s heartbeak whenever she wanted.

Tanya was on medication throughout her pregnancy to prevent a repeat of any problems with her placenta and was due to be induced at 37 weeks. However, her anxiety grew as her due date approached and she was induced at 36 weeks.

Ronnie arrived in the world on June 1, delivered by Sue and weighing 7lb, the same as Imogen.

Now almost seven months old, Ronnie is a healthy baby boy and the couple will toast their friendship with Sue over Christmas.

Tanya said: “Of course we’ll be thinking of Imogen but we’ve got Ronnie and it’s all turned out good in the end.

“We still keep in touch with Sue, sending pictures and letting her know what Ronnie’s doing now.

“I think we will always keep in touch with her.”

Sue was joined by second Specialist Bereavement Midwife Sarah Green, expanding the service to 45 hours a week. All trust midwives are also undergoing specialist training in helping families who lose their babies.

Sue said: “Losing a baby is a terrible experience for any parent and something no one should ever have to go through. But it’s important that we have support in place to help when the worst does happen.

“As Specialist Bereavement Midwives, you meet couples at the worst times of their lives. It was an honour to be with Tanya and Luke after Imogen’s death and to be with them when Ronnie was born.

“I would like to wish them all a very Happy Christmas.”

Major pub chain JD Wetherspoon’s is supporting a hospital campaign to keep Hull’s A&E for medical emergencies as the city prepares for Frantic Friday.

Wetherspoon’s, which owns the Admiral of the Humber in Anlaby Road and Three John Scotts, Lowgate, both in Hull, and The Cross Keys in Lairgate, Beverley, is supporting the #SeriousStuff campaign by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Emergency services are bracing themselves for an onslaught of calls on Friday as workers from offices, factories and firms start their festive break and overindulge in alcohol at Christmas parties.

The three Wetherspoon pubs will display posters urging customers to use Urgent Treatment Centres at Bransholme, Beverley, Goole and Bridlington, the GP Walk-In Centre at Wilberforce Health Centre in Hull City Centre and their pharmacists instead of turning up at A&E.

Beermats on tables and vinyl stickers on floors and windows will display details of alternatives to A&E and staff will direct customers to other services if they need medical attention.

Joe Sanderson, Area Manager of JD Wetherspoon’s, said: “When we were asked by the trust to support their Serious Stuff campaign, we didn’t hesitate.

“We are well aware that the NHS has to be protected for those who need it most. This winter, our staff will be encouraging our customers to ensure they keep Hull’s A&E for genuine life-threatening emergencies.

“There are plenty of alternatives to A&E all over the city and across East Yorkshire. We’re making sure our staff will know where the Urgent Treatment Centres, the GP walk-in centres and the nearest pharmacists are so they can direct people if they require medical attention.

“By all pulling together this Christmas, we can make a real difference to the NHS so frontline staff can focus on saving lives.”

Hull Royal Infirmary’s own staff will be on the streets on Friday appealing to party-goers to use its Emergency Department wisely.

Dr Biju Cherian, a Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Lead at Hull’s Emergency Department, said: “Every year, during this season, we see increasing numbers of people coming to A&E after drinking too much, ending up hurt in drunken fights or injuring themselves after they’ve drunk too much.

“All of this places even more pressure on our staff at a time when we’re already dealing with an influx of seriously injured or seriously ill patients with winter viruses and infections.

“The public can help us by drinking in moderation and responsibly and by using alternatives to A&E like the Urgent Treatment Centre at Bransholme or the GP Walk-In Centre at Wilberforce Health Centre in the city centre if they need medical attention.

“We’re not trying to spoil anyone’s fun but people need to think very carefully before choosing to come here.

“We’re always open but it’s crucial that the hospital’s Emergency Department is here for the people who need us to save their lives.”

A mum has praised staff at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital after the birth of her second baby turned into a life-threatening emergency.

Louise Sample, 33, had to undergo emergency surgery following the birth of her son Robbie by caesarean section.

Baby Robbie then faced his own battle after developing a serious infection which doctors feared could have been meningitis.

Louise and husband Kevin, 38, were finally able to take Robbie home to Sutton Park after almost a week in the care of staff at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.

Louise Sample and son Robbie

Today, as they prepare to spend their first Christmas as a family of four, Louise and Kevin have thanked the medical, theatre and midwifery team for looking after them.

Louise said: “It wasn’t quite the start we had expected but the staff just couldn’t do enough for us.

“They did everything they could to help us and it made such a difference.”

Louise had the couple’s first child Annabelle by emergency caesarean section five years earlier and required a second emergency section when Robbie was born in August. Complications during surgery meant that Louise had to spend longer in hospital than either of them had anticipated.

Kevin was able to stay by Louise’s bedside to help his wife look after Robbie after Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust introduced a new initiative earlier this year to enable partners to stay overnight.

“I ended up being there for almost a week and I was lucky because Kevin could stay with me,” Louise said.

“Staff on the ward was all so good, anyway, but it made a difference being able to have him with me because I couldn’t move out of the bed.”

As she began her own recovery, staff realised Robbie had an infection and he needed a lumber puncture when he was just two days old. He was then put on a course of intravenous antibiotics while tests for meningitis were carried out.

Although the tests came back negative, Robbie had to stay in hospital until the course was complete.

Louise said: “It was difficult for Annabelle because we were in the hospital for so long and we were keen to get home. Staff made sure we were able to be discharged as soon as Robbie had finished his final antibiotics.

“They were just brilliant.”

Although Louise had to return to hospital for further treatment to help the healing process, she had since made a full recovery and is looking forward to Christmas with her family.

“We are so grateful to all the staff that looked after us in the hospital,” she said. “It didn’t go how we’d imagined it would but it all worked out and Robbie is just perfect.”

Angi Rymer, midwifery sister in charge of Rowan and Maple Wards, said: “We’re really pleased we could help Louise and Kev.

“We will always do what we can to accommodate families who come into our care and, on behalf of all the team here at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, we’d like to wish them all a very happy Christmas.”

The family of an East Yorkshire farmer have thanked hospital staff for caring for him at the end of his life as they prepare for their first Christmas without him.

Geoff Broumpton, 86, died on Ward 9 at Hull Royal Infirmary from heart failure, leaving his devoted family to mourn a man they say “led from the front.”

Today, his son-in-law Jeremy Smith said: “I don’t have a high enough accolade to describe the professionalism and care we were shown by everyone on Ward 9.

“The whole team were instrumental in making Geoff’s last few weeks as comfortable as possible, despite him being very poorly.

“No job was too much for them and I can’t begin to tell you how that has helped us cope with Geoff’s death.”

Geoff Broumpton

Mr Broumpton’s family were so touched by the care he was given on Ward 9, they returned to the hospital in the run-up to Christmas to thank staff personally, and to give a donation of more than £400, raised from the funeral collection.

Chief Nurse Mike Wright thanked Mr Broumpton’s relatives for taking the time to come back to Hull Royal Infirmary to express their gratitude.

He said: “Our staff are often thanked for the work they do to save people’s lives. But it is of equal importance to us that we care for people with the same dignity, compassion and respect when they are coming to the end of their lives.

“We know Mr Broumpton was loved by his family and that they have gone to the trouble of thanking staff on Ward 9 means the world to them, especially at this time of year when we’re all thinking about our own loved ones.”

Mr Broumpton was married to Joyce and they had three children – Maria, Ian, and Carole, who died of cancer.

He was well-known in East Yorkshire’s farming community, heading Stansted Grange Farm in Brandesburton which he built with support from his son Ian into a hugely successful business

Mr Smith said: “Geoff was a gentleman and a gentle person to the core, with valued family intentions and principles.

Sadly, Mr Broumpton suffered ill health in recent years, undergoing back and hip replacement operations and developing severe arthritis over the last decade as son Ian took over the farm business.

He developed sepsis and was brought into Hull Royal Infirmary, moving onto the Progression to Discharge Unit on Ward 9. However, he developed pneumonia before his kidneys and heart began to fail.

With members of the family trying to fit in visits around working commitments, ward staff ensured the family was able to visit Mr Broumpton outside normal visiting hours with catering teams ensuring they were always welcomed with a hot drink and a biscuit as they sat by his bedside.

“As a family, we were made incredibly welcome at all times,” Mr Smith said. “From the lovely tea ladies to the nurses that cared for Geoff, the whole team is a real asset to the HRI.

“We as a family will be eternally grateful for everything you all did.”

Mr Broumpton lost his battle for life on September 3.

Mr Smith said: “The dignity shown when Geoff passed away was professional and extremely caring, especially to Joyce and Maria who were with him at the end.”

The Progression to Discharge Unit has now been moved to Ward 80 on the eighth floor as part of a reshuffle of services in the Department of Medical Elderly at Hull Royal.

In a direct message to staff working on the unit, Mr Smith said: “Thanks to you all, good luck in Ward 80 in the future and you will be an asset to all the patients you look after in the months to come.

“You will never be forgotten in our thoughts as we continue to mourn Geoff who without doubt led from the front, managing the farm, to ensuring his family were safe and well.”

Sister Kirsty Norris says “Caring for Geoff and his family in his final weeks was a privilege.

“For his family to come back to the ward and not only thank us but to donate money to improve the ward environment for other patients, has left me touched.

“I am very proud of everyone in my team, who I know all work hard to deliver quality care.”

A new animation will be launched this week to urge people to use Urgent Treatment Centres as preparations get under way for “Frantic Friday”.

More than 400 people have been attending Hull’s A&E department every day this winter, often causing long delays to treatment for people who are more seriously ill and injured.

With Friday traditionally the busiest night of the year for pubs and clubs, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is urging people to use alternatives to A&E if they need treatment for alcohol-induced accidents and injuries.

The new animation will be launched by the trust on Facebook and Twitter to encourage patients to seek treatment alternatives, signposting them to the four local urgent care centres in Bransholme, Bridlington, Beverley and Goole.

Narrated by local children, the video highlights some of “conditions” people have turned up at A&E with, including hangovers and stuck false nails.

The animation is part of a wider campaign of engaging schools in the trust campaign “A&E – It’s Serious Stuff” to change habits and behaviours of people who continue to come to A&E with minor conditions and illnesses.

Emergency Department consultant, Biju Cherian said:

“Winter is an incredibly busy period for all of us working in A&E. This Friday will be a particularly frantic evening as so many people take to the streets to celebrate the last weekend before Christmas.

“Our new campaign seeks to get the message out that, although we are always open, A&E is for the seriously ill, injured and dying. Bumps and bruises, twisted ankles or even the hangovers people will inevitably have the next day can be treated elsewhere.

“We need to get this message out over the long-term so that we change the existing culture where people come to A&E with any condition or illness. That’s why we’re seeking to partner with schools and colleges to educate people at an early age and help them to understand the issues, so that they can help us.

“The animation asks people to consider using one of the Urgent Treatment Centres we have on our doorstep and having children narrating the poem gives the message a little more impact. Hopefully people will share it on social media so that we can reach as many of the local population as possible. Have a safe and lovely Christmas.”

Sixty-five health workers will perform at Hull Minster this week to celebrate the festive season and give thanks for 70 years of the NHS.

Staff from local health organisations including Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Humber NHS Foundation Trust and City Health Care Partnership will lead a special Christmas Concert on the evening of Wednesday 19^th December.

Midwives, doctors, nurses, mental health workers and administrative staff will be among those singing songs linked to the nature of their work, including ‘People, Help the People’ to mark the 70^th anniversary of the National Health Service.

There will also be a number of readings from health staff and traditional carols for the congregation to join in with.

Lucy Vere, Head of Organisational Development at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was one of the original founders of the NHS choir and will be among those performing at the Minster. She says:

“This will be the Hull NHS Choir’s biggest performance so far, and that seems only fitting at the end of what has been a very special year for the NHS.

“Working in health can be very demanding and stressful at times, so singing is a great way of bringing staff and colleagues together and it can be incredibly therapeutic.

“At this time of year, it’s important to reflect and give thanks for what we have. The NHS does amazing things, and we all consider ourselves very lucky to be able to play a part in improving the lives of others.

“We hope people will join us in our special festive celebration and show their appreciation for hard-working healthcare staff, many of whom will be sacrificing some of their own time with family this Christmas to care for patients and their families.”

The Christmas Concert at Hull Minster is open to all and is free to attend, no tickets required. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:15pm start on Wednesday 19 December.

For more details, visit www.facebook.com/hullnhschoir or email hyp-tr.choir@nhs.net

Photo: Victor de Jesus, York Minster, 5 July 2018.

Nurses and health workers caring for Hull’s youngest hospital patients are launching a Christmas t-shirt campaign this week to help raise funds to brighten up their hospital paediatric department.

Staff on Ward 130 West and the Paediatric High Dependency Unit at Hull Royal Infirmary and on Acorn Ward at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital will pay to wear Christmas t-shirts from Christmas Eve until night shift on Boxing Day to raise funds to refurbish the wards.

The Christmas T-shirt campaign is the latest fundraising effort by the team to brighten up the wards where some of the city’s sickest children are cared for all year round.

Junior sister Helen Lyon with some of the staff from Ward 130

Junior sister Helen Lyon said: “We know lots of workplaces allow staff to wear Christmas jumpers to raise funds for charity at this time of year but we can’t wear anything with long sleeves as we need to remain bare below the elbow for infection control.

“We thought we could get t-shirts so we could still join in the fun and raise money ourselves by paying for the privilege of wearing a t-shirt to work over the next week.

“The public have been so generous to us and we want to show everyone we’re doing our bit too, not just asking everyone else to dig deep to help us.”

The paediatric department has received some funding as part of the trust’s newly developed Arts Strategy.

Woodwork has been painted in calming blue and pastel colours and cubicles decorated with artwork including dolphins and penguin transfers to reflect the city’s fishing history and the success of The Deep. Those cubicles used by older children will also have sunflowers and trees incorporated into the design.

Cubicles used to look after children with cancer and long-term conditions will also be fitted with entertainment systems featuring TVs, DVDs and games consoles after the ward received funding from children’s charity Candle-lighters.

The playroom is also being decorated and the clinical room where children undergo procedures is also going to be refurbished over the coming months.

A carol concert by Church Lads and Girls Band at St Mary’s Church in Beverley played Christmas carols outside Hull Royal Infirmary last week and raised more than £200. Staff are asking the public to support their fundraising instead of bringing toys and selection boxes onto the wards this year. A £5 donation could help buy a wall sticker to decorating cubicles, corridors, bays and the Ward 130 playroom in sea themes.

Anyone who would like to help us can send cheques, made out to the WISHH Charity and send them to Helen Lyon, Junior Sister, Ward 130, Hull Royal Infirmary, Anlaby Road, Hull, HU3 1JZ. They can also make a donation to the WISHH Charity through www.justgiving.com/wishh, marking your donation WALLSTICKERS.

Looking to start 2019 with a career change?

A three-minute video has been produced by the organisation running Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital showcasing the opportunities available to people who decide the new year is the time to land their dream job.

Part of its “Remarkable People, Extraordinary Place” recruitment campaign, the video will also be shown at university job fairs all over the north of England.

The video features renowned Paediatric Surgeon Sanya Besarovic along with nurses, physiotherapists and consultants explaining how teamwork helps our teams produce the best possible care for patients.

They also speak of their love for the city they call home.

Simon Nearney, Director of Workforce and OD at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Our trust has outstanding opportunities to offer people, whether they’re looking for their first job, considering a career change for 2019 or looking to progress their careers.

“We want to show people what a fantastic city Hull is and why they should come and work for us.

“We can offer people their dream jobs, whether that’s in clinical roles with our doctors, nursing staff and allied health professionals like physios and operating department practitioners right through to support services with finance, IT, HR and estates jobs.”

Anyone interested in working for the trust should visit www.joinhey.co.uk or visit the HEY NHS Jobs page on Facebook.

Parents are being encouraged to recognise the symptoms of a viral infection after an increase of cases affecting babies and children under two in Hull.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has seen an increase in the number of children admitted to Hull Royal Infirmary this month with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The virus can be breathed in when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Younger children can also pick up RSV from a toy infected with the virus, which can survive on a surface for 24 hours, and then rubbing their eyes, mouth or nose.

Senior Matron Vanessa Brown said: “We start seeing more and more cases of RSV at this time of the year and we are already seeing an increase in admissions of very young children.

“While the vast majority of children will only experience unpleasant symptoms for a few days, RSV can be more serious for those with existing health conditions, the very young or those who were born prematurely.

“Parents can help prevent their child catching RSV in the first place by taking a few simple steps and recognising the symptoms can help you cope with what can be an anxious time.

“While antibiotics won’t help your child, there are steps you can take to make them more comfortable and help them recover well within days.”

What is RSV?

It’s a common virus which almost all children will have caught by the time they reach the age of two. It can lead to bronchiolitis in babies and younger children although it normally only causes a cough or cold in older children and adults. Outbreaks are seasonal, usually occurring between November and January and peaking just before Christmas, although sporadic cases are seen year-round.

How can my baby catch RSV?

When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets of the virus are released into the air, affecting those who breathe in the droplets. Those droplets can also land on surfaces such as toys and survive for 24 hours, meaning they can be passed onto a child’s hand. If they rub their eyes, nose or touch their mouth, they can be infected.

A child with RSV can remain infectious and so infect other children for three weeks, even if symptoms have disappeared.

How does it make you ill?

RSV is a respiratory infection which enters the system through the windpipe. It then works its way into the lungs and causes the smallest airways in the lungs, known as the bronchioles, to become swollen. More mucus is produced which can lead to the airways becoming blocked, making breathing difficult for children who already have smaller airways.

Does anything increase my child’s chances of bronchiolitis?

Yes. Children who are bottlefed or have been breastfed for less than two months are more likely to develop bronchiolitis if they catch RSV. They’re also more likely to develop it if their parents smoke or they have been exposed to smoke, if they attend nursery or have older brothers or sisters who attend nursery and so have more chance of coming into contact with the virus.

Children who are under eight weeks old, have congenital heart disease, were premature or have chronic lung disease of prematurity are at increased risk of developing more severe bronchiolitis.

Looking after your child at home

As it’s a virus, antibiotics won’t help your child. However, you can help ease milder symptoms and avoid spreading the virus to other children by keeping them at home and away from nursery or day care

Check on them regularly throughout the night and keep them upright to make their breathing easier. Give them smaller feeds more regularly.

Don’t make your home too hot as it can dry out the air and use a dehumidifier if you have one to keep the air moist.

Ensure your child is kept away from cigarette smoke and, if they are old enough, give them paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce high temperatures.

How do I know if it’s serious?

Most children only have mild symptoms and recover within two to three weeks. However, some signs such as breathing difficulties can indicate more serious problems.

Early signs of bronchiolitis are similar to a cold, such as a blocked or runny nose, a cough and a slight fever. However, they can develop over the next few days to include a rasping or persistent dry cough, rapid breathing or wheezing, brief pauses in breathing, reduced feeding and fewer wet nappies, vomiting after feeds and irritability.

Symptoms peak between day three and five before improving although the cough can last for three weeks.

When should I seek help?

See your GP if your child has taken less than half of their normal feed during the last two to three feeds, hasn’t had a wet nappy for 12 hours or more and is breathing very fast. If they seem very tired or irritable and have a persistent high temperature of 38 degrees or above, contact your GP.

You need to call 999 if your child has difficulty breathing or suffers exhaustion from the efforts of trying to breathe. You’ll recognise this if the muscles under their rubs are sucking in with each breath, they grunt from the effort or they become pale and sweaty. You also need an ambulance if you can’t wake your child or they can’t stay awake, their breathing stops for a long time or their skin turns very pale or blue or the inside of their lips and tongue are blue.