A husband and wife have thanked hospital staff for saving their son after he was born with a potentially life-threatening condition affecting newborn babies.

Stacey Smith, 30, and her husband, Martin, also 30, are planning to raise funds for Hull’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after son Noah was born with haemolytic disease of the newborn.

Noah spent 22 days of the first month of his life in hospital after the couple endured the death of their daughter Darcie, born stillborn at almost 35 weeks in 2014.

Stacey said: “It was a really difficult time but staff understood how difficult it was and helped us so much.

“We just wanted to do something for NICU to thank them and to help other families who are going through similar problems.”

Haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDNB), also known as Rhesus Disease, happens when antibodies in the mother’s blood attack her baby’s blood cells. While it is not harmful to the mother, it can cause anaemia and jaundice in a baby.

Although rare, severe cases of haemolytic disease of the newborn can cause stillbirth, brain damage, learning difficulties, deafness and blindness if untreated.

It usually occurs when the mother has rhesus negative blood (RhD negative) and her baby has rhesus positive blood (RhD positive) and if she has been previously exposed to RhD positive blood. However, it can also be caused by antibodies to a variety of other blood group system antigens.

All pregnant women are now offered blood tests to determine if their blood group.  If RhD negative, the mother will be offered injections during her pregnancy.

The couple, who live in Kingswood and have an older daughter Summer, now seven, discovered Stacey, although blood type O+, had somehow developed a rare combination of antibodies before she became pregnant with Noah.

Understandably anxious following Darcie’s death, Stacey was already being monitored and, at 35 weeks, the levels of antibodies were found to be rising and she was booked in the following week to be induced.

Noah was born weighing 6lbz 2.5 oz but, hours later, following blood tests, his bilirubin levels were extremely high and he was taken into the Red Room at NICU for intensive light therapy and treatment.

He was allowed back onto the ward beside Stacey after eight days and they went home after 12.

However, the bilirubin levels rose again and his haemoglobin levels plummeted and he was rushed back into hospital.

Noah underwent two life-saving blood transfusions after doctors found only one match for him in the whole country.

“He’s absolutely fine now and you’d never know what he went through in the first month of his life,” said Stacey. “He’s 100 per cent well with no lasting effects.”

Stacey, who works in accounts, and Martin, who works in CAD design, now plan to run the Hull 10k on Sunday and the Great North Run and have set up a Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stacey-smith34  to raise funds for NICU.

Hospital wards in East Yorkshire have been boosted by a further intake of qualified nurses.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been working with international recruitment firm, Resource Finder, to attract nurses working in the Philippines to live and work in the UK.

Like many others across the country, the Trust which runs Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham is struggling to recruit qualified nurses in the UK, so is now looking further afield in order to boost its staffing complement.

Simon Nearney, Director of Human Resources for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“The shortage of qualified nurses is something which Trusts up and down the country are experiencing, so increasingly we’re all competing to attract the same, limited number of people.

“As well as our ongoing work with the University of Hull, which is regularly helping us to recruit more than 140 newly qualified nurses each year, we have also been looking to international recruitment as a means of bringing more qualified and experienced nursing staff onto our wards.

“Previous attempts to recruit from the Philippines have been successful and we now have a very skilled and well established Filipino nursing community here in Hull, so it made perfect sense to look at this as an option again.”

A total of 23 nurses have so far arrived in the UK, of which 21 have successfully passed the practical, language and knowledge-based examinations required to practice to UK standards, known as Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OCSEs). They are now working in areas such as intensive care, surgical theatres and the acute medical unit.  The remaining two are already working in clinical support roles at HRI and Castle Hill to gain experience of local hospitals, pending successful completion of their OSCEs.

One of the new arrivals is Rain Otic (below, left), who is now nursing on the Intensive Care Unit at Castle Hill Hospital. He says:

“I was a nurse for five years at Chong Hua Hospital in the Philippines before coming to Hull. I didn’t feel like I was going anywhere and so when I was given the opportunity, I came here as a way of progressing my career.

“My son, Calix, was born in January and I have not seen him or held him yet. It’s been difficult but it’s something I have to do for my family. I want to get myself established in Hull, so I will be returning home to meet Calix and to see my family in November.

“When I arrived in England, I found London very fast paced but Hull is much more relaxed. There is still a lot to learn here, but it’s great to have my colleagues around me and the trainers have been a great support.”

Robert Fuller, Managing Director of Resource Finder Recruitment understands how important it is for local hospitals to not only recruit but to retain qualified nursing staff. He says:

“We have worked closely with Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for a prolonged period to identify and vet the most suitable nurses from the Philippines. As an organisation, we have invested heavily to ensure we offer a safe and trusted pathway into the NHS for these outstanding nurses and the Trust.

“Not only is our process of bringing nurses here effective, our efforts always continue beyond their arrival to ensure the transition into the UK is comfortable. Our team support from a professional and personal perspective with assistance towards clinical examinations such as the OSCE to finding properties to live.  

“The nurses’ commitment to this opportunity from the moment we come into contact with them is second to none, they are a credit to the profession of nursing and we are delighted to see them here complementing the workforce of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.”

Karen Mechen, Clinical Nurse Educator Team Manager at the Trust says;

“The Filipino nurses joining us have quite varied backgrounds; some have been working as personal carers, while one worked in intensive care and another worked as an occupational health nurse, for example.

“As nursing practice and expectations can differ between countries, the NMC assessments which nurses coming into the UK have to pass are very stringent. The OSCE covers all aspects of care from dressing changes and infection control to care planning and administering medication, so in passing this examination, we can be confident that our newest recruits are able to work to the required standard.

“The new recruits are all so positive and enthusiastic about coming to work in Hull, it’s really fantastic and refreshing to see.

“In many cases they are leaving family and friends behind to come and work here and help us care for local people, so it’s important that we make them feel genuinely welcome and valued in return.”

Hull’s Coroner will talk to medical and nursing staff about his role in allowing patients’ families to proceed with organ donations to save lives this week.

As Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Hull and the East Riding, Professor Paul Marks has to give his permission for some organ donations to go ahead.

Now, Professor Marks has now been invited to outline his role in the procedure when Hull hosts the Organ Donation Conference on Friday.

Alex Wray, specialist nurse in organ donation, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness and give information to staff who look after the patients who may go on to become organ donors.”

Hull’s organ donation team had a record-breaking year in 2017/18 after 35 families gave permission for their loved ones’ organs to be used to save a life compared to 13 in 2016/17.

As a result of their bravery, 54 life-saving transplants could be carried out.

Staff at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital also referred more patients to the organ donation team than other hospitals in the country, achieving a referral rate of 94 per cent compared to a national rate of 90 per cent.

Hospital staff have to seek permission from Professor Marks and his team in certain cases including if the patient has been in hospital for less than 24 hours, recently underwent surgery or if there are any special circumstances surrounding the person’s death.

Professor Marks, who presides over inquests into sudden and suspicious deaths, will explain the procedure and answer any questions staff may have about the procedure.

Although the talk is not open to the public, staff working in hospitals across Yorkshire will be invited to attend the conference at the Medical Education Centre at Hull Royal Infirmary to understand more about organ donation.

A donor family will talk to staff about their experience while the family of a person who received organs will explain the difference organ donation has made to all their lives.

Consultant neurosurgeon Mr Anuj Bahl will talk about brain injuries in patients, Consultant nephrologist Dr Matt Edey will talk about looking after a post renal transplant patient in intensive care while the renal transplant nursing team in Hull will discuss their work.

Mr Vipin Mehta, a senior transplant fellow and consultant cardiac surgeon, will also discuss his work during the morning session.

Shahid Farid, a locum consultant liver transplant surgeon, will explain the role of a liver transplant surgeon before Dr Dale Gardiner of NHS Blood and Transplant gives the final talk on “diagnosis of death”.

A couple have raised thousands of pounds to thank hospital staff for saving the life of their baby son.

Caroline Latus, 35, developed severe pre-eclampsia when she was 32 weeks’ pregnant and had to undergo an emergency caesarean section to save her life and the life of her baby son Zach.

Now, family and friends have helped Caroline and husband Will raise more than £6,500 for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust after Will completed his first triathlon Ironman in Majorca with Zach’s uncle Sam.

Caroline, of Hessle, said: “We are just so grateful to the hospital. They did such a fantastic job for us and we can’t thank them enough.

“This was our way of giving something back and it was very emotional to watch Will and Sam after all we’ve gone through.”

Caroline with Zach, shortly after he was born, and Zach, home with his parents

Born eight weeks early weighing just 2lb 7oz on July 15, 2017, Zach was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) while staff at Hull Royal Infirmary’s intensive care unit battled to save Caroline.

It was 34 hours before Caroline was well enough to be wheeled across the footbridge joining both hospitals to meet her son.

Zach spent almost six weeks in NICU before he was well enough to go home, weighing 4lbs. He is now 10 months old, is just under one stone in weight and has been given the all-clear by hospital teams, with no lasting health effects despite coming into the world two months early.

Caroline, who owns a web design business, and Will, who runs a gym in Chanterlands Avenue with his brothers, decided to raise funds for Hull Women and Children’s Hospital to thank the NHS for saving both mother and baby.

Will and Sam trained for months to take part in the 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.1km run in the searing Majorcan heat, cheered over the finish line by Sam’s girlfriend, Zach’s grandparents and Caroline and Zach.

Caroline said: “It’s been a roller coaster of a year but Zach’s doing great. He’s developing his own personality and we’re so proud of him after all he’s been through.”

Will Latus (left) with Sam and Zach

NHS staff, patients and the public are being invited to get active and celebrate the NHS’s 70^th birthday on Saturday 9^th June.

Health workers, their families and those they care for are being encouraged to walk, run, or volunteer at one of three local 5km parkruns, either Peter Pan Park (next to Costello Stadium), Hull (East Park), off Holderness Road, or Humber Bridge next week.

This event is designed to encourage people to take part in gentle, enjoyable exercise while serving as an opportunity to say thank you to the thousands of NHS workers who, like Kerry (pictured right, from Castle Hill Hospital), dedicate their lives to caring for others.

Dame Kelly Holmes is leading the call nationally for communities to get involved with their local NHS70 parkrun.

Hundreds of parkruns take place in parks and open spaces across the UK every Saturday morning, staffed entirely by volunteers. These community-led events are designed for people of all ages and abilities. While some run as fast as they can, others prefer to walk or jog the course. Those with children, dogs or buggies are also welcome.

How you can get involved

There are two ways to get involved:

1. Take part in your local parkrun by walking, running or jogging the 5km course, at your own pace, either on your own or with friends and family; or
2. Volunteer an hour or two of your time to help with jobs like marshalling, scanning barcodes, or timekeeping (no experience necessary!)

If you would like to take part, please read our list of parkrun pointers below, or if you would prefer to volunteer, please email either:

Peter Pan: peterpanhelpers@parkrun.com
Hull (East Park): hullhelpers@parkrun.com
Humber Bridge: humberbridgehelpers@parkrun.com

The full list of participating NHS70 parkrun locations can be found on the NHS England website.

NHS70 parkrun pointers

• Parkrun starts at 9am. Please arrive in plenty of time to warm up. A new runners briefing is given at 8:50am for first timers.
• While it is not essential to register to take part, if you would like your finishing time to be recorded, please sign up at parkrun.org.uk/register then just print a copy of your barcode and bring it with you on the day. This also helps the parkrun volunteers when it comes to processing the results.
• Participants are being encouraged to wear blue and/or white on 9^th June to reflect the colours of the NHS logo. (N.B Trust staff are regrettably unable to wear their uniform, in line with the Trust Uniform Policy).
• Children are welcome to take part but under 11s must be accompanied by, and remain in arm’s reach of, a parent or guardian at all times.
• Please be aware that photographs are taken at all three local parkrun events and are posted to their respective facebook pages shortly afterwards.

For more information on parkrun, visit www.parkrun.org.uk

Midwives are offering antenatal classes to couples from Hull’s Polish community who are expecting a baby to ensure their children get the best start in life.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will offer the free class to Polish couples at its next Carousel event at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital on Wednesday night.

Held on the last Wednesday of every month, the HEY Baby Carousel offers advice, support and information to help women and their partners throughout their pregnancies.

An interpreter will be present to help midwives and child care experts talk to 22 Polish mums-to-be and their partners, answering their questions and providing them with information about the trust’s maternity services.

Child birth educator Melanie Lee

Child birth educator midwife Melanie Lee said: “We are here for every woman in the city so they can access the best support and advice as they prepare for their babies.

“Hull has a growing Polish community and it is right that maternity services in the city adapt and evolve to ensure every woman and their partners can benefit from the help our midwives can provide.”

The trust has produced posters in Polish to promote the new service, with details posted on its social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Members of the HEY Baby team have also been touring Polish shops and community venues around the city to put up their posters and inform people of the special service.

The class will take place on May 30, between 5pm and 8pm, at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital. Women are welcome to bring along a partner, family member or friend and an interpreter will be on hand if required.

Any woman who wishes to take part in the class should book her place by emailing hyp-tr.hey.baby@nhs.net or by calling 07769 671449.  

Hull Royal Infirmary staff have created a boutique on a hospital ward to help patients out of their pyjamas and into their clothes.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is taking part in #EndPJParalysis to get patients wearing everyday clothes after studies showed keeping patients in pyjamas can reduce mobility and independence, increase the risk of falls and lengthen hospital stays.

Now, Senior Sister Stephanie Hazell has created “Steph’s Boutique” on Ward 70 for patients with diabetes, endocrinology and general medical conditions at Hull Royal Infirmary.

She said: “When I managed Ward 1, staff used to bring in unwanted old clothes so patients could go home in clothes rather than nightwear to allow them to maintain their dignity when they were discharged.

“We used to get quite a few homeless people and we were able to give them new clothes when they left and I’ve just extended that idea.

“Staff have been bringing in old clothes belonging to them or members of their family so patients can wear comfortable clothes once they’re feeling better and able to get out of bed.

“We know it makes a massive difference to their wellbeing and makes them feel less vulnerable.”

The 70-day initiative will run until June 26 as part of the NHS’s 70^th anniversary celebrations.

Staff at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital are using an app to record how many patients are wearing their own clothes in an attempt to reach a national target of one million patient bed days.

On Ward 70, staff have been bringing in comfortable clothes such as jogging and tracksuit bottoms, sweatshirts, jumpers and long-sleeved tops for patients as part of their recovery.

Families and care homes are being asked to take the clothes home for washing before returning with the patient’s own clothes.

Stephanie Hazell said the ward would be grateful for donations of comfortable clothes suitable for older people.

She said: “Older people tend to feel the cold so we use jumpers, cardigans and long-sleeved tops and comfortable trousers and skirts rather than jeans or blouses with lots of buttons.”

Pub-goers are being urged to use our NHS wisely over the bank holiday as Hull’s emergency staff cope with increasing numbers of sick and injured people.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is stepping up its #SeriousStuff campaign to encourage people to use alternative services for less serious problems.

The hospital trust is working with pubs in Hull to spread the word about alternatives to A&E in case drinkers require medical attention.

Posters, beer mats and leaflets are being distributed to bars and pubs across the city to remind people about the many other health services available away from Hull Royal Infirmary.

Landlord Mark Hall, who runs The Welly, Fruit and Polar Bear, said: “We are always advising people not to go to A&E or call an ambulance unless it’s really needed so we are 100 per cent behind this campaign.

“Lots of people end up in A&E who really need to be there and yet they can’t be seen because of people turning up with minor problems.

“We’re happy to support the message that people should be going elsewhere for medical attention unless it’s a genuine emergency.”

Out-of-hospital services have improved dramatically in the last few years with a range of alternatives available closer to people’s homes to reduce waiting times.

Three Urgent Treatment Centres in Beverley, Bridlington and Goole are open from 7am to 11pm every day to help people with illnesses and injuries which are not considered emergencies. A 24-hour Urgent Care Centre is available at Bransholme Health Centre.

Many GPs are now using eConsult where patients can submit symptoms online, preventing the need to visit the GP, saving time, money and effort. All you need to do is visit your own GP’s website to see if they take part in the scheme.

People can also visit any pharmacist for help and the NHS 111 telephone helpline can offer you advice, arrange a call-back by a clinician or direct you to the best possible service.

The GP walk-in centre at Wilberforce Health Centre in Story Street, Hull, will be open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, including the bank holiday. You don’t have to be registered with the practice and you don’t need an appointment. Just walk in.

Chief operating officer Teresa Cope said: “People often think their only option is A&E but we need people to change their mind set.

“Our emergency staff must be there for people who need them most. That means the seriously ill, injured and dying. It does not mean people who can’t get an appointment with their GP, those who have had too much to drink or those with hangovers.”

“We need to take responsibility for our own actions and blocking up our emergency department with minor problems which could be treated elsewhere is not a good use of our NHS.”

A new £1.63m ward will open at Castle Hill Hospital tomorrow to assess and treat patients with complex infectious diseases.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the UK’s designated centres for treating patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) and for the assessment of possible haemorrhagic illnesses such as Ebola, dengue and yellow fever.

Ward 7 will open today with 12 specialist rooms treating patients with these highly contagious viruses and drug-resistant infections.

Infectious diseases consultants, senior nursing and ward staff have worked with a dedicated team from the trust’s Estates and Infrastructure department to design the new unit enhancing Hull’s reputation as a regional centre for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Dr Hiten Thaker, one of the trust’s infectious diseases consultants, said: “We have already become a regional hub for the treatment of HIV and hepatitis and have the authority to prescribe specialist antibiotics for drug-resistant TB.

“We already had the status because of the expertise of our personnel. Now, we have the facilities to match.

“This is an inspiring environment for our staff and it is really exciting for all of us, from the housekeepers to the auxiliary nurses, the staff nurses and the consultants.

“People now feel there is recognition for the work they have been doing and all we have achieved in the last 25 years or more.”

Five rooms are “negative pressure” isolation facilities with lobbies and en-suite showers, including one designed to care for vulnerable adults. Special ventilation systems prevent contaminated air escaping to other parts of the ward.

One room is patients with Ebola or similar conditions who are awaiting transfer to specialist treatment centres in London or Newcastle.

The first room of its kind in the Humber region, the high-level isolation room has a dirty/clean route where staff are able to take personal protection equipment on and off – known as “donning” and “doffing”.

Six other high-specification rooms will also help patients with drug-resistant TB or other infections resistant to more than one form of antibiotic.

The trust has also created a family room on the ward where relatives can stay close to seriously ill loved ones.

Hull has been treating patients with infectious diseases since the 14^th century, when sailors with syphilis, the first known cases in the world, were nursed at an Augustinian friary in the city.

Garrison Hospital opened at Sammy’s Point in 1866 and a ship’s bell used to ring in the docks to signal the arrival of a ship carrying sailors with fever. The bell now hangs outside Nightingales Restaurant at Castle Hill Hospital.

Despite having more than 200 beds treating patients with infectious diseases at one point, just one 15-bed ward remained at Castle Hill before the opening of the new ward.

Since 2012, 1,956 patients with infectious diseases have been admitted to the ward and more than 40 people with meningitis and 43 people with tuberculosis have also been treated on the ward since 2012.

Kim Pennington, pathology divisional general manager, has worked with the consultants and the estates team to ensure the smooth transfer of services from the former ward to Ward 7.

Dr Thaker said the new ward would help the trust to attract the best staff working in infectious diseases.

He said: “It provides us with the opportunity to highlight ourselves as a training centre which has all those facilities to train junior doctors to a very high level of specialist training in this area.

“It will encourage junior doctors to come and work with us and this will be very good for recruitment.”

Parents-to-be are to be given a virtual tour of Hull Women and Children’s Hospital to explain the care they can expect before, during and after the birth of their babies.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has produced a video providing an insight into maternity services provided by more than 280 midwives, midwifery assistants and clerical staff.

With around 5,000 babies born each year, the video takes viewers through the pregnancy journey from the moment women walk through the front entrance of the hospital.

Hull and East Yorkshire Women and Children’s Hospital from HEY Hospitals NHS Trust on Vimeo.

Janet Cairns, the trust’s Head of Midwifery, said: “Pregnant women and their birth partners were once able to come to hospital so they would be familiar with their surroundings when the time came for their babies to be born.

“However, these days, we can no longer offer that service to protect the dignity of the women using our service, to respect their privacy and to ensure good infection control procedures.

“But we appreciate there is still a need for women to be familiar with their surroundings and what they can expect.

“This video gives women a fantastic insight into the care they will receive from our amazing team throughout pregnancy, birth and after their babies are born.”

The video features the scanning department, where women find out when their babies are due, and the Antenatal Day Unit and Clinic, where midwives and doctors provide routine and urgent services for women before their babies are born.

It highlights the work of the community midwifery team, which supports women with antenatal and postnatal care and those choosing to give birth at home, and the antenatal and newborn screening teams, ensuring women  are empowered to make the best choices for themselves and their babies.

The work of the trust’s parent education service is showcased as the team supports antenatal classes and post natal classes across Hull and the East Riding. The HEY Baby Carousel, held on the last Wednesday of every month, has also been filmed with staff providing practical demonstrations of bathing, changing and helping babies to fall asleep safely.

The video, filmed by trust communications officer Chris Turner, also shows Maple Ward, the antenatal inpatient ward for women requiring more specialised inpatient care and where women can recover after their babies are born by caesarean section.

The Labour Ward, with teams of midwives, midwifery assistants and medical staff providing specialist care during labour and birth, also features in the video, with a pregnant woman filmed resting against a birthing pool in one of the ensuite labour rooms.

Viewers also get a virtual tour of the Fatima Allam Birth Centre, the midwifery-led unit where women with healthy pregnancies can have their babies in surroundings likened to a home from home environment rather than a hospital.

Specialist staff working in the obstetrics theatres helping women who need extra care and where babies are born by caesarean section are also shown during the seven-minute film.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, looking after the sickest babies in the region, is also part of the video to show how the trust is able to care for those infants most in need of medical attention after birth.

Filming also took place on Rowan Ward, where women are taken after they have their babies in either a two-bed or single ensuite rooms.

The trust’s healthy lifestyle midwife, hearing screening team and infant feeding co-ordinators are also introduced to the public as well as the specially trained staff helping women with their emotional wellbeing at any stage of their journey to becoming a mum.

Midwife Melanie Lee, who leads the parent education team, said: “This is a fantastic video which shows women what wonderful services we have available.

“We hope it will help reduce anxiety and prepare them by showing them what is inside the doors of our amazing hospital.

“From our antenatal services right through to birth, whether that’s in the labour ward or the Fatima Allam Birth Centre, our staff are here to help parents throughout pregnancies and in those first few days after having their babies.”