Hull Royal Infirmary’s main entrance has been re-opened to staff and visitors this morning after a glass panel cracked on the tower block.

One of the 7,000 glass panels on the 13-storey tower block was damaged by high winds on Sunday.

Although no-one was injured, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust took the precaution of cordoning off the main entrance and cash machine, directing staff and visitors to the back entrance until safety checks were carried out.

Now, after members of the trust’s estates team oversaw a safety inspection of the affected panel, the main entrance has been re-opened, with people able to use the cash machine once more.

Duncan Taylor, the trust’s Director of Estates, Facilities and Development, said: “One of the panels on the fourth floor cracked like a car windscreen in the strong winds and broke into pieces about one centimetre in size.

“We’re investigating what caused the panel to crack. However, just four of the 7,000 glass panels in place in the tower block have cracked since they were installed four years ago.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the closure of the main entrance but the safety of our staff, patients and visitors will always come first.”

Nursing staff caring for people with cancer have raised almost £3.000 to help people spend their final days and hours with their loved ones.

Ward 30 at the Queen’s Centre at Castle Hill Hospital provides recliner chairs so relatives can stay next to their family member as they approach the end of their lives.

However, staff held a Disco Fever night this month to raise £2,800 to pay for camp beds so relatives can rest properly next to the people they love.

Health care assistant Julie Simpson and clinical support worker Sue Hemsworth worked together to arrange the fundraising event at the Good Fellowship in Cottingham Road, Hull, collecting raffle prizes and gathering donations to reach their target.

Ward sister Hayley Butler said: “I’m really proud of the team. The overnight equipment will make such a difference to patients and their relatives on the ward.”

Although the ward has a hospitality suite, staff realised families were reluctant to leave the bedsides of their loved ones but were exhausted without sleep.

Staff, who raised more than £1,000 last year to pay for an ECG machine to help patients, hope to be able to buy at least eight camp beds. They have also received two beds from Hull and East Yorkshire (HER) Breast Friends, a proactive charity helping people whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.

Hospital managers are asking people to avoid using A&E unless their problem is urgent or life threatening following a seasonal rise in admissions.

Doctors and nurses working in the Emergency Department at Hull Royal Infirmary are seeing an increase in the number of older people being admitted in particular who are dehydrated or whose conditions are likely to have been made worse by the recent spell of warm weather.

In the last two weeks, daily attendance at Hull Royal Infirmary peaked at 464, a figure which, only a few years ago, would have been more likely to be seen in the depths of winter. Bed capacity has also been variable due to sporadic outbreaks of Nororvirus, the diarrhoea and vomiting bug which is also more commonly associated with winter.

Staff are now appealing to those with minor conditions, whose problems could be potentially be cared for by another health professional, to seek treatment elsewhere or call NHS 111 for advice, to allow specialist staff to concentrate on the most seriously ill.

Dr Kirsten Richards, Consultant Physician in Elderly Medicine for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“It’s easy to assume that everyone has been enjoying the recent spell of warm weather, but prolonged heat can be quite problematic for older people or those with chronic health conditions.

“Over recent days, we’ve seen more people being admitted on to our wards with symptoms linked to the heat, including dehydration, falls and breathing difficulties.

“We have been doing our utmost to care for these patients but it can take some time for them to become well enough again to be discharged. At a time when bed capacity is also somewhat reduced due to outbreaks of D&V, this places extra strain on both our Emergency Department and our wider hospitals.

“As the summer holidays are here and many people are now off work with children or on holiday, we would encourage use of urgent treatment centres, pharmacies and other community walk-in services for less serious health problems wherever possible. This will allow emergency care staff and those working with older people in particular to focus their efforts on those in the most urgent need of attention.

“We would also urge people to check in on elderly friends, family or neighbours regularly while the warm weather continues to ensure they stay well hydrated and they have food available in the house to save them a potential trip out in the heat.”

Details of urgent care centres and other nearby community-based walk-in facilities can be found by calling 111 or visiting www.nhs.uk

Top tips for staying well during the hot weather include:

1. Stay out of the sun, especially between the hours of 11am and 3pm.
2. When you are outside, spend as much time as you can in the shade.
3. Avoid alcohol and caffeine but drink plenty to stay hydrated. Water and fruit or vegetable juices are best
4. Wear a sunscreen with a high protection factor of at least 30 as older skin can be more sensitive to damaging UV rays from the sun.

People are risking cancer by failing to realise the damage they can cause to their skin while Britain basks in the current heat wave, a hospital specialist is warning.

Professor Shernaz Walton, Consultant Dermatologist at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said people who pack sunscreen for holidays abroad fail to take similar precautions at home.

Professor Walton said: “I tell people that even if they are crossing the road to go to the shop, they should apply sunscreen before they go outside.

“They know when they go abroad that they need to take sun cream but they think, wrongly, that a little bit of sun we get at home is ok when it’s not’.

“In fact, what you should do at home and abroad is avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm and  wear  sunscreen.

“Even getting sunburnt once is enough to damage your skin. Sunburn is a clear sign that the DNA in your skin cells has been damaged by too much UV radiation.

“Getting sunburnt, just once every two years, can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer. Too much UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds can damage the genetic material (DNA) in your skin cells.

“If enough DNA damage builds up over time, it can cause cells to start growing out of control, which can lead to skin cancer.”

With the heat wave expected to continue for the next few weeks, Prof Walton, who is also an Honorary Professor at Hull York Medical School, has shared her knowledge and tips for keeping safe in the sun.

Tell me about skin cancer

There are three types – malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Malignant melanoma is cancer of the pigment cells of the skin. If treated early, the outlook is good. However, if untreated, the disease can spread to the lungs, liver and lymph nodes.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a non-melanoma skin cancer which can be found on any area of the body although it’s more common on areas exposed to the sun such as head, neck, lips, ears and back of hands. It can be treated if detected early but has the potential to spread to other areas, causing pain and serious illness.

Another non-melanoma skin cancer, BCC is the most common type of skin cancer and is often called “rodent ulcer”.

It often appear as a scab that bleeds and does not heal completely. It can also look like a scaly red flat mark or with a pearl like rim around a central crater which can cause an ulcer if untreated.

It can be treated in almost every case although it’s harder if left untreated for a long time or if located  in a difficult place such as near the eye, nose or ear. It rarely spread to other parts of the body.

Now I know what it is, what are my chances of getting it?

Cancer Research UK says one in 54 people will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer during their lifetime.

Skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK.

The British Skin Foundation says at least 100,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year, with more than 2,500 people losing their lives. That’s seven people each day.

In 2016, 2,285 people lost their lives to melanoma skin cancer.

There are slightly more cases of melanoma skin cancer in men compared to women, 51 per cent compared to 49 per cent.

There has been a 128 per cent increase in the number of people diagnosed with skin cancer since the 1990s.

Most cases are diagnosed early, with 91 per cent diagnosed at stage 1 or 2, increasing a person’s risk of survival. However, people living in more deprived areas are less likely to be diagnosed at an early stage.

How does the sun damage my skin?

Sunlight contains ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, both of which can harm skin causing sunburn, pigmentation, ageing and skin cancer.

UVA rays are known as the “ageing rays” and are up to 50 times more prevalent than UVB rays. These rays penetrate skin layers, damaging collagen and DNA, causing wrinkles, loss of elasticity and pigmentation.

UVB rays are known as the “burning rays” are mostly affect the skin’s outer layer. These rays cause sunburn or tanning, both of which increase the risk of skin cancer.

While radiation is higher during the summer and at midday, it has the potential to burn and cause damage all year.

Am I at risk of developing skin cancer?

Although it’s less common in children, skin cancer can affect you at any age.

You’re at greater risk if you have pale skin which is prone to burning, with light or red hair and freckles.

If you’ve had severe sunburn, especially which caused blistering particularly in childhood, you’re at a greater risk along with people who have more than 50 ordinary moles.

Those with unusual moles, larger than ordinary moles, present in large numbers and with irregular shapes or colour patterns, are also at a higher risk of developing skin cancer.

People who have already developed skin cancer or have a relative with the disease and people with suppressed immune systems also face a greater risk.

Other risk factors include working outdoors or spending a lot of time outdoors and using sunbeds or sunbathing regularly.

What can I do to protect myself from skin cancer?

Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm, when it’s at its most powerful between March and October.

Wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears.

Long-sleeved tops, loose trousers and long skirts in close-weave fabrics do not allow sunlight through and opt for sunglasses with wraparound lenses or wide arms with the CE Mark and European Standard EN 1836.

Don’t forget your sunscreen. Choose one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 to protect against UVB or the “burning rays”, although experts recommend one with a minimum SPF of 30 in addition to shade and clothing. Pick one with “UVA” in a circle logo with at least four-star UVA protection.

Apply sunscreen at least 20 to 30 minutes before heading outside and reapply at least every two hours.

Stay away from sunbeds and sunlamps.

Keep babies and children out of direct sunlight.

Tell your doctor is you spot any changes to a mole. Changes of concern are illustrated on the Cancer Research UK website. If your GP shares your concerns, make sure you’re referred to a consultant dermatologist on the GMC’s register of specialists.

Midwifery assistants have received extra training to become Birth Educators in a new programme designed to help Hull couples prepare for parenthood.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has introduced an extensive training programme so midwifery assistants can work alongside recently retired midwives and current midwives to support families in the run-up, during and after their babies’ births.

Members of the team will be at the HEY Baby Carousel tomorrow night, giving practical demonstrations on bathing your newborn, changing nappies and how to keep them safe while they sleep.

Head of midwifery Janet Cairns said: “Our team can give prospective parents advice and guidance on what to expect during labour and birth.

“They can also educate them on everything from safer sleeping, feeding and how to change a nappy so people have the skills they need in those first few days and weeks.”

Midwives at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital have been delivering birth education and parenting sessions to prospective parents since last year.

Midwifery assistants have now joined the team of Birth Educators, employed by the trust’s HEY Baby team, after graduating from the training course.

Working for HEY Baby on bank contract hours, the midwifery assistants will work alongside recently retired midwives and those still in clinical practice.

Women registered with a Hull GP who have had their 20-week scan can visit www.hey.nhs.uk/heybaby/hull-antenatal-classes to book their free birth education classes. The service is not yet available to women with an East Riding GP, who can book their classes through their local Sure Start Children’s Centre.

You can find out more information by coming along to the Carousel. No appointment is necessary and you can just drop in between 6pm and 8pm to visit our range of stalls and speak to our midwives and childcare experts.

Don’t forget to bring your handheld notes if you would like to take advantage of our on-the-spot whooping cough vaccination service or have your MATB1 form signed.

As the mercury rises, it’s important that we take as much care of older relatives as we do when we experience bad weather, storms and snowfall.

While hypothermia is a risk to older people during winter, hyperthermia is a umbrella term used for a range of heat-related illnesses like heat cramps, heat syncope when you experience sudden dizziness after an activity such as walking or gardening and heat exhaustion.

Older people are at greater risk as the body becomes less efficient with age at dealing with extremes in temperature.

Dr Dan Harman, consultant in elderly medicine at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “While many of us are enjoying the current heat wave, it is important that older people are safe in these extreme temperatures.

“Being out in the sun too long can result in heat stroke in an older person as their body is unable to deal with heat in the same way as a younger person.

“Heat stroke is an extremely dangerous condition for an older person so we’d advise people to take some simple steps to ensure  people do not have to be rushed to hospital or seek emergency medical help.”

The trust is issuing tips on keeping yourself well or helping an older person stay healthy during the heat by taking a few simple precautions.

1. Stay out of the sun, especially between the hours of 11am and 3pm.
2. When you are outside, spend as much time as you can in the shade.
3. Avoid alcohol and caffeine but drink plenty to stay hydrated. Water and fruit or vegetable juices are best
4. Wear a sunscreen with a high protection factor of at least 30 as older skin can be more sensitive to damaging UV rays from the sun

Heat stroke is very dangerous in an older person. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, muscle spasms, fatigue and fainting. A person suffering from heat stroke may also appear confused or have bizarre behaviour, If you suspect heat stroke, seek emergency treatment.

Older people are more at risk of heat-related illnesses if they have poor circulation or have heart, lung and kidney diseases. Those on more than one drug for ailments and people who cannot sweat because of medication including diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and certain heart and blood pressure drugs are also at risk.

If you suspect you or your elderly relative has a heat-related illness, get them out of the sun and into a cool place, preferably with air conditioning. If there is no air conditioning, fan them to keep them cooler. Give them drinks of water or fruit juice and encourage them to shower, bathe or sponge down with cool water. It’s best if they lie down and rest in a cool place.

Midwives are producing guidance to help new dads and partners stay overnight in hospital to enable them to support  mothers and bond with their babies.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust launched a new initiative earlier this year to give fathers and birth partners the chance to stay with their new families on Rowan Ward in the first few hours of their babies’ lives.

However, the trust is reminding fathers of expectations after other hospitals shared concerns that fathers were wandering around in their underwear and expecting a bed, food and access to shower facilities designed for the sole use of women on the ward.

Janet Cairns, head of midwifery

Smokers were also disturbing new mothers and babies by pressing buzzers to gain access to wards throughout the night.

Janet Cairns, the trust’s Head of Midwifery, said: “We have introduced this initiative because mothers tell us consistently they want partners with them in those first few hours.

“While we haven’t experienced the problems seen in other parts of the country, we would like to take this opportunity to remind fathers and birth partners of their obligations to ensure we can continue to offer this service.

“It would be a shame if the actions of a few spoiled what many new mothers have told us makes all the difference to them in their first few hours of parenthood.

“We are very keen for this to work but we need to be certain their presence will not disturb other families or interfere with the smooth running of the wards.”

The guidance will be issued to fathers and birth partners by the midwifery team ahead of their babies’ births so they are aware of their responsibilities in advance of hospital admission.

The trust has used some of the funds from last year’s hugely successful Hull 2017 Baby Footprints project to purchase comfortable chairs for partners who wish to stay overnight.

Janet Cairns said: “We cannot have airbeds or provide beds, due to space on the ward. As a publicly-funded service dedicated to patients, we cannot be expected to use much-needed funds to provide food for extended families.

“People are welcome to bring pack-ups and even takeaways onto the ward if they want hot food but we respectfully ask that rubbish is cleared away so it is not left to staff to tidy up.

“And we are also reminding people that anyone leaving after 11pm for a cigarette or any other reason will not be allowed back onto the ward.”

The trust is also trialling extended visiting hours so fathers and birth partners they can stay on the ward from 9am to 11pm, even if they are unable to stay overnight.

Other relatives and friends will also be able to visit between 1pm and 8pm.

Janet Cairns said: “We’ve had a fantastic response from people who welcome our extended visiting hours. We just ask that everyone abides by our common sense guidance to ensure we can meet the needs of all the families in our care.”

People will be able to look back through 70 years of Hull history next week when an NHS organisation hosts its annual general meeting.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will hold its AGM in the lecture theatre at the Medical Education Centre at Hull Royal Infirmary on Tuesday.

A timeline celebrating 70 years of the NHS in the city will be on display at the event alongside three nurses’ uniforms from the 1970s, antique medical equipment, photographs and original plans and documents relating to the establishment of health services over the past 100 years.

Trust archivist Mike Pearson said: “People will be able to travel through the decades to see how health services have evolved before, during and after the creation of the NHS.

“We took the display to the Health Expo where we got a phenomenal response from the public and we’re offering people the chance to see if again if they missed it first time round.”

Members of the public will be able to view the display in the Medical Society Room, next to the lecture theatre, when they come to the AGM, held between noon and 1pm.

Staff working for the trust will also be able to visit the display from 10am to 4pm on the day of the AGM.

Trust Chief Executive, Chris Long, will give a presentation on the Trust’s performance, key issues and events during 2017/2018, after which Lee Bond, Chief Finance Officer, will review the Trust’s financial performance during the year.

The annual report will be available at www.hey.nhs.uk from 24^th July.

By the time you reach Week 28, you’re in the home straight of your pregnancy. Known as the third trimester, this is when your body starts preparing for the arrival of your baby.

Here, Hull’s team of midwives at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital give you advice and tips as you get ready to meet your baby for the first time.

Keeping an eye on you

You’ll see your midwife much more often now as you enter the last stage of your pregnancy.

You’ll probably be aware of a pattern developing in your baby’s movements. Your baby’s movements shouldn’t change at all and it is NOT true that babies move less at the end of pregnancy.

If you think your baby’s movements have changed, call the Antenatal Day Unit (ADU) on 01482 382729 straight away. No matter how many times this happens, you should be asked in for assessment.

Women having their first baby and those requiring increased surveillance will see the midwife at 31 to 32 weeks and then again at 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks.

Women who have previously had children and need less monitoring will see the midwives at 32, 36, 38 and 40 weeks.

If your baby still hasn’t arrived by 40 weeks, you’ll see the midwife every week until the birth, who will then offer you a membrane “sweep” in an attempt to start labour.

When you reach 13 days overdue, it may be necessary to start your labour, known as induction. You may be offered a cervical ripening balloon or hormones depending on your individualised plan of care.

Rest when you can but keep active

Your baby is continuing to grow and you could feel really tired. When you sleep, sleep on your side because it’s safer for your baby. Pop pillows behind your back as it will encourage you to sleep on your side.

Despite feeling tired, it’s still good to keep active. Walking is a good form of exercise while pilates and yoga designed especially for pregnant women and aqua aerobics are all good ways of staying active.

Now’s the time to…

If you haven’t already, finalise your birth plan. Think carefully about what you want, chat it over with your midwife and keep an open mind as your wishes can change, even in labour.

You can claim your Maternity Allowance from 26 weeks’ pregnant, although some women prefer to work for as long as they can to save their maternity leave for after the baby is born.

It’s important to use these last few weeks to find time for yourself, so make sure to take people up on their offers of help.

What’s normal and when to seek help

While you might feel excited at the prospect of seeing your baby soon, it’s also natural to feel anxious about the birth. But in months seven, eight and nine, you’ll see your midwife more often as she checks on both you and your baby’s health so tell her how you feel.

You might have indigestion or heartburn as your baby grows and takes up more space. You could also have swelling in your face, hands or feet caused by water retention. You should mention swelling to your midwife or GP to ensure it is not linked to a potentially dangerous condition called pre-eclampsia.

Along with swelling, other signs of pre-eclampsia include high blood pressure, headaches, visual disturbances and protein in the urine. Contact your midwife as you may need to be checked over.

While itching is common in pregnancy, severe itching can be a sign of a rare liver disorder known as obstetric cholestasis. It affects 1 in 140 pregnant women and requires medical attention.

You might start to feel Braxton Hicks as you enter this late stage of pregnancy. This is when your uterus tightens, getting ready for contractions of labour. If they become more painful, longer lasting or more frequent, that’s when you need to call the hospital.

If you think your waters may have broken, it’s always worth ringing the Antenatal Day Unit on 01482 382729 for advice.

Only five per cent of babies arrive on their due date so best get your bag ready if you’re coming into Hull Women and Children’s Hospital to have your baby. Make sure you’ve got all the phone numbers of anyone you’ll need to contact programmed into your phone so you can call them when you think you’re in labour.

What about my baby?

Remember, if you notice any changes in your baby’s movements or have any concerns, contact the Antenatal Day Unit (ADU) on 01482 382729.

Your midwife will start measuring your womb and check on the position of your baby from 28 weeks. Don’t worry if your baby is not in the head down position yet – there’s still plenty of time for them to turn!

Nesting

You’ll be keen to get your home ready for the new arrival and have probably spent time picking out wallpaper, looking at cots and getting everything shipshape. Or perhaps you’re worried about the cost, wondering how you’ll manage to afford everything the glossy magazines tell you you’ll need.

Keep these tips in mind to keep your finances on track. All a baby needs is to be clean and warm. They grow really quickly so there’s no need to have dozens of outfits. In the early days, all you’ll need are six stretchy romper suits, two cardigans, four vests, a shawl or blanket, a sun hat if it’s hot or hat, gloves and socks if it’s cold.

Your baby will need somewhere safe to sleep but avoid cot bumpers, pillows or soft furnishings inside a crib, Moses basket or cot which could be a hazard. Remember it’s best to have your baby sleeping in your room for the first six months.

You can get lots of great bargains at nearly new baby fairs or NCT events. Check noticeboards or community venue websites and Facebook pages for details of sales near you.

You can also pick up some great bargains at car boot sales or from eBay. Baby equipment and clothes are rarely used long enough to get worn out so you can save yourself a fortune if money is tight.

If you’re planning to drive home from hospital or go home in a taxi, don’t forget you’ll need a suitable car seat. But don’t buy second-hand car seats as you don’t know if they’re already been damaged in an accident.

Where can I get more information?

Come along to our HEY Baby Carousel events, held on the last Wednesday of every month between 6pm and 8pm. The next event will be held on Wednesday, July 25.

You’ll get to meet our team of midwives and child care experts, find out how to stay healthy throughout pregnancy, what to expect before, during and after you give birth to your baby and how to take care of your new born in those first few weeks.

Partners are welcome to come along to find out more about the crucial role they will play and how they can look after themselves, physically and mentally, as you both adapt to life as new parents.

Women with Hull GPs can book parenting classes and get more information by visiting our new website www.hey.nhs.uk/heybaby

She holds his hand, telling him about mushrooms fried in garlic while the patient tells her about the great meals he’s had traveling the world with his job for an oil firm.

Clinical support worker Julie Williams cracks a joke but he tells her “Don’t make me laugh.”

It’s easy to understand why laughing might not be a good idea. He’s lying on an examination couch while a team in radiology carries out an ultrasound on his prostate.

Within 10 minutes, it’s all over. Sonographer Trevor Parker, working alongside advance practitioner radiographer Andy Hunter, has taken around 10 slivers of the patient’s prostate gland to test for signs of cancer.

Staff nurse Aleisha Kerry puts the samples into pots, ready to be sent to the pathology team.

Back up and dressed, the man returns to the waiting room, his smile allaying the fears of other men waiting to be called who’ve all heard horror stories about giant needles.

“It’s fine,” he tells them. “A bit of clicking and that’s it. Only one was a bit ‘ouch’ but nothing like you imagine.”

What is the prostate and what problems can develop?

The prostate is the size of a walnut and grows larger with age. It sits underneath the bladder and its main job is to make semen. However, men can experience enlarged prostate, prostatitis or prostate cancer.

Enlarged prostate is common in men over 50 and can slow down or stop the flow of urine, cause dribbling or the need to urinate more often, usually at night. Blood in urine can also be a symptom.

Younger and middle aged men aged between 30 and 50 can experience prostatitis, caused by an infection or inflammation of the prostate gland. Symptoms include problems passing urine and pain and discomfort around testicles, back passage or lower abdomen.

Prostate cancer can develop when cells start to grow in an uncontrolled way and it affects around one in eight men in the UK. The most common cancer in men, more than 47,000 new cases are diagnosed in the UK each year and it claims the lives of 11,000 men a year. However, 84 per cent of men survive cancer for 10 or more years.

Most men don’t have any symptoms at the early stage. However, changes in urination, hip, pelvis or back pain, blood in urine or semen and problems getting or keeping an erection can all be signs of prostate cancer.

My GP’s referred me for tests. Tell me about the procedures

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has two pathways for patients referred for prostate screening – standard biopsies and fusion biopsies.

In a standard biopsy, an ultrasound probe in inserted into the man’s rectum using high-frequency sound waves to create images of the prostate gland. The images guide the sonographer to areas in the gland which can be sampled and analysed for the presence of prostate cancer.

However, the images can’t distinguish between healthy and cancerous tissues and taking slithers from 10 to 12 different parts of the gland mean cancerous cells can still be missed. Some studies suggest up to 40 per cent of cancers can be misdiagnosed.

So, in 2015, the trust became one of the first in the country to introduce “fusion biopsies”. This is a far more precise way to biopsy the prostate as it fuses the ultrasound image with a previously taken MRI scan. Tumours show up as dark spots so suspicious areas can be targeted by the sonographer, healthy tissue unscathed

Results are better too. Significant and high-grade cancers are more likely to be picked up by fusion biopsies.

Pam Parker, left, and Andy Hunter

Pam Parker, ultrasound specialty manager, says fusion biopsies have been used for 280 men since the service was introduced in 2015.

“These chaps have gone to their doctors for whatever reason and have been referred to the trust with a prostate issue,” she said. “They’ve been referred to urology and will have already seen a specialty nurse or a urology consultant. And then they come to us.”

Fusion biopsies are usually reserved for men under 70 who have a better chance of surviving prostate cancer and are unlikely to have other health conditions.

“On the fusion biopsy pathway, we are more likely to pick up on significant cancers so, in younger men, it give them a better long-term outlook as appropriate treatment can be started earlier,” Andy Hunter says. “It is selected for patients with a projected life expectancy or 10 years or more.”

This means up to one third of men seen by the clinic will undergo fusion biopsies.

What will happen when I turn up at the hospital?

Although the men spend around four hours in the clinic, the actual biopsy takes around 20 minutes.

Arriving in the radiology department at Castle Hill Hospital just after 8am today, the men are seen by staff nurse Aleisha Kerry, who answers all their questions and tries hard to put their minds at ease. Some have come in with their wives, some are on their own.

They are then shown into a treatment room with clinical support worker Julie Williams and staff nurse Roslyn Fairbank. Julie has received additional training which means she can insert the cannula as Roslyn prepares the antibiotics.

With the probe going up the patient’s back passage, there’s a risk of bacterial infection so the patients receive prophylactic antibiotics to reduce the risk of septicaemia.

They know that if they experience flu-like symptoms over the next few days, they need to alert urology staff on Ward 15 immediately before heading straight in, bypassing A&E.

Roslyn checks the patient’s blood pressure once more before he is shown to the ultrasound room. The machine carrying out the ultrasound cost £18,000 and was paid for by the family of Mike Clifford, a former urology cancer patient who died in 2014.

Julie Williams, left, and Aleisha Kerry

Trevor Parker once again explains what’s going to happen and the patient signs his consent form before changing into a hospital gown. Julie Williams sits by his side, holding his hand and chatting to him all the time to take his mind off the procedure.

Andy says this vital part of the team work has a tag – “Vocal anaesthetic”.

While Trevor and Andy get on with identifying which areas require slicing, Julie and the patient chat away. Trevor tells the patient he’ll hear a loud clicking sound as the sample is taken so “don’t be alarmed”.

The patient’s voice shows no sign of worry or alarm. Instead, he keeps the conversation going with Julie and, within minutes, it’s all over.

What happens next?

Now, it’s over to pathology, where staff will test the sample and report back to the urology consultant. The aim is for the patient to get his results within two to three weeks.

You can see the relief in the patient’s face that a difficult morning is over. But he was never concerned about the standard of care he’d receive.

“I’ve worked all over,” he says. “I’ve been in hospitals or know people who have been in hospitals in Africa, America, Russia and even Korea. I know the NHS is the best in the world.”

Even better, two weeks later, he received his results. No cancer has been detected.

“It’s great news to have such a short time after having a PSA blood test,” he said. “I just need a daily pill to reduce my enlarged prostate followed by regular PSA blood tests. It makes me think more men should have PSA blood tests over 55 on a regular basis.”