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.”

She had always wanted to join the police force but her hopes were dashed when she was 16 because she reached just five foot three tall and had poor eyesight.

Instead, Liz Hembrough concentrated on finding a career that involved working with people so opted to join the NHS.

Now, 35 years after she began her training at Hull School of Nursing, Liz has just retired from the paediatric high dependency unit on the 13^th floor of Hull Royal Infirmary.

She said: “As the time came closer and closer, I started to think about how hard it would be for me to leave.

“I’ve loved my career and we have such a fantastic team here. I’ll be very sad to leave them.”

From left: Remy Toko, Tracy Butkus, Liz Hembrough, Danielle Fenty

Liz started her training on December 7, 1981, alongside Mike Wright, now the trust’s Executive Chief Nurse.

Qualifying in March 1985, Liz worked on Intensive Care for 18 months but decided she wanted to get some ward management experience and went to Ward 6, then general surgery.

She originally planned to stay just six months but ended up spending three years on the ward. However, she missed critical care nursing so joined the A&E team in November 1989.

She was there for almost 10 years until she moved into children’s A&E and it was here that she discovered a love of working with children.

She did her paediatric training in 2000, going on to complete her Registered Sick Children’s Nurse training in 2001. She remained in the paediatric emergency department until 2001 before moving up to the 13^th floor.

“It’s the things the kids say,” she said. “They just don’t get that with adults. With children, they say it how it is and I like that.

“It can be heart-breaking too but it’s just such a rewarding area to work in.”

Although Liz is moving to Scarborough, she plans to continue to work for the nursing bank for paediatrics in the seaside town, ensuring her skills remain within the NHS for some time.

However, after 35 years in the NHS, she is hoping to find more time to pursue her hobbies of salsa dancing and photography.

Members of the PHDU team held a farewell event for Liz in the school room on the 13^th floor of Hull Royal Infirmary, attended by her colleagues past and present.

Sister Anne Dalby said: “I’ve worked with Liz for 13 years and have never heard her say a bad word about anyone.

“She is very attentive to the children and families in her care and alleviates their stress at what can be an extremely difficult time.

“Liz is a valued member of the PHDU team and her experience and unique personality will be greatly missed by staff and patients alike.”

Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital staff will be getting in the party spirit when they join thousands for this year’s Hull Pride celebrations.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is inviting members of its 9,000-strong workforce to join the event as the city erupts in a rainbow of colour on Saturday, July 21.

As a silver sponsor of the event, local NHS services will also set up a marquee in the Pride Village in the city centre after the parade to promote national NHS health screening programmes, including cervical screening, breast screening, and AAA screening.

Two NHS delivery vans have also been given the rainbow treatment for the second year running and can be seen travelling between Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.

Lucy Vere, the trust’s Head of Organisational Development, said: “This is a fantastic event and we’re so pleased to be showing our support and friendship to the Pride community.

“It’s a double celebration for us as we will also be marking the 70^th anniversary of the NHS this year.

“We really hope as many staff as possible join us for the parade. People can dress up, cover themselves in glitter or just come as they are and they won’t look out of place. It’s an event for everyone.”

The trust set up its LGBT Staff Network earlier this year to support workers of any sexual orientation or gender identity, ensuring the organisation is a welcoming place for everyone to work.

Staff will be offered up to four wristbands so family and friends can join them for the parade.

The trust will team up with Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups to promote changes to urgent care services, which now offer people a faster and more appropriate way of getting medical attention to ease the pressure on Hull’s A&E.

City Healthcare Partnership, which provides a range of health and care services across Hull and East Riding, will also be joining the NHS trusts.

Bonnie Gray, representing the LGBT Staff Network, said: “This will be the third year the trust has taken part in Hull Pride but the first since the formation of the network.

“It’s a fantastic atmosphere and it’s a great way of showing Hull is a diverse, friendly place for people of all backgrounds, cultures, identities and orientations.

“I believe the same can be said for the NHS as a place to work and to receive healthcare.”

A virus normally seen during the winter months has led to temporary ward closures at Hull Royal Infirmary in recent days.

Wards 11 and 110 have been closed to new admissions due to the winter vomiting bug, Norovirus, and further bays have been closed on ward 31 at the Queen’s Centre, Castle Hill Hospital, due to an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Both hospitals are continually busy, and the unwelcome news comes as Hull Royal Infirmary saw A&E attendances top 500 in a single day last week.

In light of this unseasonal outbreak, hospital staff are now appealing for the public’s help in limiting the spread of the virus and keeping patients safe.

Greta Johnson, Lead Nurse for Infection Control at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“It’s very unusual for a virus which is normally at its most prevalent in the midst of winter to be doing the rounds in July.

“In healthy people, Norovirus can be unpleasant but is generally quite mild, with symptoms such as sickness and diarrhoea lasting for a couple of days. For patients in hospital however, many of whom will already be weak or susceptible to infection, Norovirus can be much more serious.

“In order to limit the spread of the virus, we have temporarily closed two of our wards to new admissions, and staff are doing a great job in containing it, but we also need the public to play their part.”

Bugs such as Norovirus often originate in the community and can spread quickly when a number of people spend time in close proximity, such as in schools or on a hospital ward.

“As a temporary measure, in order to try and prevent further spread of the virus, we are asking people only to visit Wards 11 and 110 at this time if absolutely necessary, because Norovirus can be passed on so easily,” Greta continues.

“People who have had symptoms can remain infectious for up to two days after the symptoms have gone, so we would ask patients, visitors and staff who have experienced diarrhoea or vomiting to stay away from hospital until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours to help minimise the spread of the virus to others.”

Anyone experiencing sickness, vomiting or diarrhoea should not come to hospital but should seek advice first from their local pharmacy, or telephone their local GP or NHS 111. Attending the GP surgery or Emergency Department is strongly discouraged as this risks spreading the illness to other people who may already have weakened immune systems.

Regular, thorough handwashing, especially after using the toilet, can also help to reduce the risk of viruses being passed on to others.