3,775 women across Hull and the East Riding have already done it this year, and a further 1,507 are waiting patiently…

Having a baby can be an exciting and daunting life event at the best of times, so now health experts from across the area are getting together to host a series of drop-ins to help new and expectant parents .

From hypnobirth and fitting a car seat correctly to using the new Fatima Allam Birth Centre, experts from various agencies, community and support groups will convene later this month for the next HEY Baby carousel event.

Melanie Lee, Childbirth Educator Midwife at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“Literally thousands of babies are born in this city every year, and we want to give those babies and their parents the best possible start.

“The event we’ll be hosting next week is designed to bring a lot of different experts in their field together so pregnant women or new parents can come along and have all those niggly little questions answered, like ‘what do I need to bring into hospital’ or ‘how do I lose my baby weight?’

“Sometimes women don’t always like to bother their midwife, or questions crop up later in conversation with friends or family, so this event gives people the opportunity to pop in and ask whatever they like; the main thing is we want families to feel ready, confident and supported, and aware of all the options open to them.”

The HEY Baby Carousel Event will take place on Wednesday 27 September from 6 to 8pm at the Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.  Representatives from/advice on the following will be available:

• Fatima Allam Birth Centre (midwife led unit)
• SureStart Children’s Centres
• UsMums fitness sessions
• Baby bath and nappy change demonstrations
• Car seat safety
• Home birth group
• Hypnobirth
• Healthy lifestyles
• ‘Let’s talk’ talking therapies
• Health Visitors
• Breast buddies – breastfeeding support
• Infant feeding
• … and much more!

Copies of the Baby Footprint postcards, as featured on the 2017 City of Culture artwork within the entrance to the Women and Children’s Hospital, will also be on sale.

There is no need to book, but for more information, call the HEY Baby team on 07769 671449.

Local hospital staff have given national conference delegates arriving in Hull this week a more unusual welcome to the city.

Hundreds of eye specialists are convening for the BIPOSA (British Isles Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Association) 11^th annual conference, held in Hull in celebration of the 2017 City of Culture Year.

Far from playing the Housemartins or passing round the chip spice, however, healthcare staff have done what they do best, and that’s give a warm and healthy welcome to visitors in the form of a 5km run around the city centre earlier this morning.

Usman Mahmood, Consultant in Paediatric Ophthalmology at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has led on organising the conference and the active introduction to the area. He says:

“In recent years, we’re told it’s become somewhat of a tradition for BIPOSA to offer its delegates a run as part of their annual three day conference.

“We’re incredibly proud of our city and so this gave us the perfect opportunity to show off some of the sights in a relaxed and sociable way, as well as for delegates to get a bit of fresh air and get the blood pumping before their conference schedule begins.”

The 5km route designed by Specialist Optometrist, Ellen Messingham, took runners from Hull City Hall, where the conference is being held, through the old town and along the marina before heading past The Deep and onto Victoria Dock. The route then led participants over Scale Lane Bridge, along High Street to the Wilberforce Museum, before heading back to the City Hall past Hull College and through Queen’s Gardens.

Usman continues:

“We have a lot of keen runners throughout the Eye Hospital, HRI and Castle Hill, and staff were only too willing to give fellow health workers from across the UK a warm welcome in this way.

“Hull has so much to offer that we didn’t want our visitors to miss out. We hope by giving them a taste of what’s around and about, they will use what free time they have while they’re here to explore further, or maybe even encourage a return visit to Hull in the weeks and months ahead.”

For most hospital patients, visits to the ward tend to come from the doctor, a therapist, friends or loved ones. Elderly patients spending time on Ward 9 at Hull Royal infirmary, however, are now receiving visits from a new four-legged friend.

Nudel is an 14 month old Labradoodle who is training to be an assistance dog with Canine Partners. Once a month, Nudel and her Puppy Parent, Mike Cormack, come on to the ward to raise a smile among patients and give Nudel herself experience of socialising in different environments.

Once fully trained, Nudel will be matched with an appropriate owner who requires help with daily tasks; often this is someone living with a long term health condition such as Multiple Sclerosis or Muscular Dystrophy, or it could be someone who has been injured in military service.

In the meantime, Nudel is serving as a welcome talking point among patients and staff, and bringing enjoyment to those patients who may be temporarily parted from their own pets.

Mike says:

“It’s great for Nudel to be able to come into Hull Royal to get used to the sights, sounds and smells of a hospital environment. This is also a socialisation exercise for her, so it gets her used to people and how to behave when she’s working.

“She can already perform a number of tasks and understand a lot of commands. She’s used to picking things up off the floor and retrieving things, but she can also push and pull which, once she has a permanent owner, will mean she can help with everyday tasks such as dressing, closing doors, opening drawers, and turning light switches on and off.

Nudel is being trained through Canine Partners, a registered charity bringing greater independence and quality of life to people with physical disabilities. As well as visiting hospital, Nudel and Mike also visit older people in a care home, journey on buses and trains, visit shops, supermarkets and even restaurants to get Nudel used to working in busy areas.

Dr Fiona Thomson, Consultant Physician in Elderly Medicine says:

“Before we brought Canine Partners on to the ward, we carried out a survey amongst our patients which found that many of them were bored and felt they had little to occupy them during the day.

“As a team, we’ve been looking closely at what we can do to keep older people engaged and active while they’re in our care, and generally brighten up their days. Animals as therapy have been trialled elsewhere, and so we decided to give it a go and begin canine visits to the ward, with a really positive response.”

The Royal College of Nursing is currently drawing up guidelines for medical institutions on how to use animal therapy safely and effectively in order to benefit patients. In a survey carried out last year, 82% of nurses surveyed by the RCN said animals could help patients be more physically active and 60% said they believed animals improved physical recovery.

“As well as the obvious enjoyment which some people get from animals, we’ve also seen other benefits for our patients from having the dog in already,” Dr Thomson continues.

“Some patients with dementia who may otherwise appear quite withdrawn engage very well with the dog, and we’ve also seen a calming effect for some patients if they’re anxious. Nudel also serves as a talking point for people, whether it’s patient to patient, patients and relatives, or patients and staff, and this not only helps to pass the time but these social interactions also benefit our patients’ sense of well-being too.”

Canine visits are just one of a series of events and activities organised for older people by the staff on Ward 9 to promote regular physical activity and social interaction; other schemes include exercise to music and reminiscence therapy.

Nudel will begin advanced training on the 20^th November, where she will be assessed over a period of eight weeks. Mike describes this as, “a very sad day for us all”, but if accepted, her training will then be tailor made to benefit one suitable person on the Canine Partners waiting list.

Staff at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital have been overwhelmed by kindness following an appeal for help on facebook.

Ward Housekeeper, Sarah Hames, issued the call-out via the hospital’s facebook page after the Labour and Delivery Ward began to run short of knitted hats for newborns.

Within hours, the appeal had been shared far and wide, reaching in excess of 215,000 people in the first 24 hours. And the buzz created by the post has now translated into hundreds of new baby hats, bundles of which are continuing to arrive daily at the Women and Children’s Hospital.

Sarah says:

“We like to be able to give every baby born in the hospital a knitted hat which they can take away, as it then makes a lovely keepsake for both parents and the child in the years to come.

“We have a number of groups who knit for us on a regular basis to ensure both newborns and premature babies can each receive a hat.

“Due to recent holidays and other reasons, we began to get low on hats, and knowing that knitting is becoming more popular as a hobby again, we thought we’d ask to see if anyone could help us and the babies in our care in the short term.”

Over 500 knitted hats have already been received since the original request was made two weeks ago.

“Local knitters have done us proud, but hats have also been received from as far afield as Scarborough and Scotland,” Sarah continues.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of people; we had no idea when we asked for knitters to help plug the gap that we would receive so many beautiful hats, and we appreciate every single one.”

Staff on the Labour and Delivery Ward are sending thank you cards to those who supply their contact details with their parcels.

The hospital continues to welcome donations of knitted hats only. Hats must be close knit and washable to 60 degrees. Donations should be addressed to the Ward Coordinator, Labour and Delivery Ward, Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary, Anlaby Road, Hull HU3 2JZ.

One person could save or transform the lives of up to nine others – make sure you sign the register this Organ Donation Week, 4 – 10 September 2017

Specialist Nurses will be encouraging people to talk loud and proud about their wishes after they die, during National Organ Donation Week next week (4 – 10 September).

Alex Wray, Raz Igasan and Sarah Plant, all Specialist Nurses in Organ Donation, work across the Emergency Department and two Intensive Care Units at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.

The team coordinates transplants between patients from this area and suitable matches across the country, and their work has contributed to some 381 people across the Yorkshire and Humber region receiving organ transplants in 2016/17.

Research carried out by NHS Blood and Transplant shows that more than 80% of people support organ donation but fewer than half (49%) have ever talked about it.

In a bid to raise awareness and get those conversations started between friends and loved ones this week, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s team of Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation will be involved in:

• The unveiling of a fire engine in partnership with Humberside Fire and Rescue, fully wrapped in the ‘Yes I donate’ branding (Wednesday 6 September)
• Speaking to shoppers and passers-by in St Stephen’s Shopping Centre to share information and encourage people to join the Donor Register (Thursday 7 September)
• Taking part in the UK Rescue Organisations Challenge, hosted by Humberside Fire & Rescue, at the KCOM Stadium. The team will be encouraging people to talk to loved ones about their wishes around organ donation, and encouraging people to take part in a game of Operation Donation! (Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September)

Alex Wray, Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation says:

“One donor can save or transform the lives of up to nine people, and yet three people die in the UK every day waiting for a transplant.

“In our field of work, we often find that people have not even discussed organ donation with their families, or they may have signed the Organ Donor Register but never mentioned this to loved ones. If a family doesn’t want to proceed with donation, even if that was the wish of their loved one while they were alive, we can’t go ahead, so it’s really important for anyone who wants to be an organ donor to have a conversation with their nearest and dearest to let them know.

“Should it come to it, it can be a very helpful thing for a family to see something positive come from a bereavement. Of course any loss if difficult, but knowing you have helped to save the life of someone else can often be a factor in helping people cope and work through their grief.”

Research shows that women are 30% more likely to start a conversation about organ donation than men, but whoever you are and whatever your views, make them known. Don’t leave your family to make a difficult decision without knowing what you wanted.

For more information, call and see the Specialist Nurses in Organ Donation at the events listed above, or contact NHS Blood and Transplant on 0300 123 23 23 / www.organdonation.nhs.uk

Hospital staff in Hull will be taking part in a national project designed to improve the quality of care for bereaved parents.

The National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP), which has the support of the Department of Health, has been developed to improve the quality of bereavement care experienced by parents and families at all stages of pregnancy and baby loss up to 12 months.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of just 11 organisations across the country to be chosen to trial the NBCP; designed to cover the whole parental journey and their contact with hospital professionals. It is set to include new materials, guidelines, and training for staff to improve the care they offer, such as training in how to talk to bereaved parents and the kind of facilities which should be available for them.

From October, staff including midwives, gynaecology nurses, paediatric nurses, obstetricians and paediatricians will begin working with the NBCP project team to understand the impact and the effectiveness of the new pathway for parents who have lost a young child.

The Trust was selected by a Core Group* of charities and professional bodies who are leading the NBCP, including SANDS (the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity), the Royal College of Midwives, and The Miscarriage Association.

Sue Cooper (pictured) is the Bereavement Midwife based within Hull Women and Children’s Hospital. She says:

“Losing a child is an incredibly difficult experience and something that no parent should ever have to go through. If they do, however, it’s important that we as health professionals are able to provide the right advice, information and support for bereaved parents.

“The quality of care and the empathy shown to parents at a time when they are struggling with a whole range of different emotions is crucial, and our role in guiding bereaved parents through this difficult time is not to be underestimated.  How we care for bereaved families when their baby dies can have long-lasting effects; good care cannot remove parents’ pain and grief, but it can help them through a devastating experience.

“For those reasons, we’re really pleased to have been chosen to pilot the new care pathway. We’re not only hoping to improve the care we personally provide for bereaved parents, but it will mean a lot to know that what we do here in Hull and East Yorkshire will go on to shape and improve services provided for others right across the country.”

Clea Harmer, Chief Executive of Sands and Chair of the Core Group, says:

“I am delighted that we have so many enthusiastic partners across the country who want to work with us in improving bereavement care for those parents when a baby dies.

“We were inundated with offers of support and I am excited by the potential impact that the pathway will have in the 11 sites, in the first instance. We look forward to learning from their experiences before wave 2 begins and the wider roll out later next year.”

The 11 sites were chosen as they are representative of geography, capacity and specialism. Hospital staff are about to embark on training in the NBCP before the pilot begins locally in October.  A second wave of pilot sites is planned for April of 2018, ahead of a wider national roll out in October 2018.

For further information visit: www.sands.org.uk/professionals/projects-improve-bereavement-care/national-bereavement-care-pathway

The 11 pilot sites are:

• Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust
• Wirral University Teaching Hospital
• Liverpool Women’s Hospital Trust
• Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
• Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (Barnstaple Hospital)
• Medway (Maritime) NHS Foundation Trust
• West Middlesex, Chelsea & Westminster
• Barking, Havering & Redbridge University Trust –Queens Hospital, Romford
• Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
• York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

The Core Group comprises:

• Sands (Stillbirth and neonatal death charity)
• Bliss
• The Lullaby Trust
• The Miscarriage Association
• ARC (Antenatal Results & Choices)
• Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
• Royal College of Midwives
• Royal College of Nursing
• Neonatal Nurses Association
• Institute of Health Visiting
• NHS England
• Representative of the UK health research
  community

Patients in Hull and the East Riding continue to play a leading part in advances in medical treatment, according to figures released today.

Data published today by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) show that Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is among the highest performing Trusts in the country for recruitment of patients into clinical trials.

The figures show that 72,931 people across the Yorkshire and Humber region have taken part in NHS clinical research during the past financial year, 2016/17.

More locally, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust recorded a near-300% increase in the number of patients saying ‘yes’ to involvement in clinical research, which can range from completing simple lifestyle questionnaires right through to drug trials or the use of novel medical devices.

Within the space of a year, the Trust has gone from recruiting 2,304 people in 2015/16 to an impressive 9,118 in 2016/17. This means the Trust now ranks 26^th in the national recruitment table out of a total of 240 participating organisations.

James Illingworth, Research and Development Manager for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“We are delighted to have seen such a huge rise in the number of people taking part in research with us in the past year. This underlines our commitment as a Trust to using research, and people’s participation in this, as a means of improving the health and well-being of people across Hull and East Yorkshire.

“Research is vitally important in the field of healthcare. It helps us develop cures, it helps us measure the effectiveness of drugs and treatments, it helps us understand people and the human body better, and ultimately it helps us to make decisions which could be hugely beneficial for groups of patients in the future.

“People who haven’t come across or taken part in clinical trials before may have an idea of what they involve, and that often involves medication and science labs, but in reality, the types of research we undertake vary markedly, from straightforward surveys to  questionnaires and the testing of blood samples through to studies of body image and drug trials.”

Current research underway at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust includes:

• a study looking at how to manage post-operative hypothermia in critical care through the use of a new warming blanket, as compared to forced air warming blankets in patients who become hypothermic after surgery
• assessing the clinical and cost effectiveness of a novel post-operative wound dressing versus current standard care in the prevention of Surgical Site Infections in vascular surgery
• a study testing the hypothesis that stopping some conventional drug treatments, compared with continuing on these treatments, improves or stabilises renal function in patients with progressive stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD)

James continues:

“Whether they realise it or not, most patients coming into hospital today and receiving treatment will have benefited from patients before them agreeing to take part in research in one form or another.

“Our dedicated research workforce, combined with highly skilled support staff, continue to work incredibly hard to ensure we are able to offer research opportunities to patients and service users across a wide range of clinical areas.  We also enjoy a strong academic partnership with the University of Hull, and in the last year, we sought to focus in particular on health and lifestyle choices, and service users’ perspectives on the hospital patient journey.

“We believe that an organisation which actively promotes, and is in involved in, clinical research is one that will deliver high quality care and a good patient experience. The data published today show that, in Hull and East Yorkshire, we have a healthy foundation on which to build and ensure that aspiration is achieved”.

Nationally, the number of participants recruited into clinical research studies in 2016-17 exceeded 665,000, the highest number of clinical research participants in any given year.

New injectable technology means doctors could know there’s a problem before you do

Patients experiencing unexplained blackouts are set to have their hearts monitored using a new device, no bigger than three matchsticks, and their smartphone.

For some time, implantable loop recorders have been fitted in patients for cardiac monitoring, but at the size of a computer USB stick, they were visible under skin, had to be surgically implanted in a cath lab, and patients had to return to hospital regularly for the data to be reviewed.

But now advances in technology mean that doctors could soon know there’s a problem before the patient does, as Lee Wise, Cardiac Physiologist based at Castle Hill Hospital explains:

“It was when I was working as a locum at another Trust that I first saw the very small devices being used. It struck me that they had so many benefits, so when I came back to Castle Hill, I made a point of getting them introduced.

“Traditional loop recorders are about the size of a USB stick. They have to be implanted in the cath labs, which involves making a surgical incision and then closing it with sutures. This creates scar tissue, and the device is still very noticeable under the skin. The new loop recorders are much smaller; about the size of three matchsticks laid side by side; which means they can be ‘injected’ into the skin and the opening glued shut, making the device barely noticeable once in place.

“As well as benefiting patients receiving the new recorders, there are also huge benefits for the hospital. The fitting of each traditional loop recorder takes around 20 to 25 minutes in a cath labs, whereas inserting the new device can be completed in most clinic rooms in just a couple of minutes. It’s less stressful for the patient and, crucially, frees up the time of clinicians, theatres and follow-up clinics to deal with other patients and procedures. Conservative estimates suggest we could save at least 250 clinic appointments each year by using the new devices, as well as creating considerable capacity for the cath labs.

But perhaps the most exciting thing is the potential which the new loop recorders offer for round the clock monitoring.

“We are currently using two small devices, the Medtronic Reveal LINQ and the St Jude’s Confirm,” Lee continues.

“The LINQ device has an activator which patients can use to instruct the device to start recording, and it wirelessly transmits the information it collects at the end of each day to a secure website. The Confirm device does a similar thing, but data is transmitted by the patient, quickly and conveniently, using a smartphone app.

“As irregular cardiac patterns aren’t always physically noticeable by the patient, this means there is potential for the clinician caring for them to spot a concern based on the data they receive before the patient is even aware something’s wrong.”

This is one of the UK’s few physiologist-led services. The team, comprising Lee Wise, Debbie Leggott and Renjith Antony, began to ‘inject’ the new loop recorders at the end of June in six patients, and a further eight patients received a new small loop recorder earlier this month.

Lee continues:

“The implantable loop recorders are very clever devices, and whether large or small, they can help us to identify the causes of some people’s blackouts or identify other previously undiagnosed cardiac issues, in particular atrial fibrillation (AF).

“Research suggests that if the heart is in AF for longer than six minutes at a time, the patient is at increased risk of stroke. Longer term, there’s a lot of scope for us to get involved with research projects alongside our stroke team, and to realise our vision of a ‘one stop’ clinic for blackouts; where the new loop device could be implanted on the same day as the clinic appointment.”

Breastfeeding Awareness Week, 31 July – 6 August 2017

Specialist clinics designed to help new mums in the crucial early days of breastfeeding will be launched in Hull next week.

The benefits of breastfeeding have been widely known for some time, but despite some mums’ best efforts, they still have difficulty giving their baby the best possible start.

Now Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infant feeding Coordinators, Anna Lee Hughes and Pippa Stott, will be using Breastfeeding Awareness Week (31^st July – 6^th August 2017) to launch their new specialist infant feeding clinics.  The clinics will take place weekly, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and are designed to help women in the crucial first month after having their baby.

The clinics will be held in relaxed surroundings within the Fatima Allam Birth Centre, and will be supported by the Goodwin Breastfeeding Peer Support Team*.

Anna Lee Hughes, Infant Feeding Coordinator within Hull Women and Children’s Hospital says:

“Women have lots of different things to think about when they’ve just had a baby and, naturally, feeding is often high up the list. It is well known that, if women are given access to specialist advice and support with breastfeeding in the very early stages, they are more likely to be successful. In turn, breastfeeding can strengthen babies’ immune systems in the early months, helps to create a strong bond between mum and baby, and can even reduce a woman’s risk of breast and ovarian cancers longer term.

“For several months, we have been holding a number of ‘pilot’ clinics to determine how best to offer breastfeeding support to new mums in the early weeks, and determine what they would want out of such a service. Using the feedback we’ve received, we’re now pleased to announce a regular series of clinics will begin this week within the Women and Children’s Hospital to help with issues such position and attachment, baby weight loss and increasing milk supply.  Our specialist midwives will also be assisted in the clinic by members of the Goodwin Breastfeeding Peer Support Team, who can offer general breastfeeding advice and mum-to-mum support.”

Nicola Jones was one of the first mums to attend one of the pilot clinics. She says:

“We needed a lot of support in the beginning with position, and then it was just about reassurance that what I was doing, and how my baby was feeding, was right.

“The clinic support really helped and gave me confidence to carry on. Six months on and it seems like second nature.  I can’t believe it was ever that difficult. I’m so glad I was able to get the support and advice I needed to stick with it.”

The infant feeding clinics are open to any woman who has given birth in the Hull and East Riding area.  Women will be referred to the clinics for specialist breastfeeding support by their community midwife if there are issues around weight loss or supply which they have been unable to support to improve.  Women can also refer themselves for peer support by contacting the Goodwin Trust. 

The launch of the clinics is just one initiative taking place locally to mark Breastfeeding Awareness Week. The Infant Feeding Coordinators and Peer Supporters will also be talking to women in the antenatal clinic, and gifting each with a ‘golden moments’ keyring. The keyring is designed to introduce the topic of breastfeeding and highlight its benefits for both mum and baby’s health and wellbeing.

Midwives and nurses from the neonatal and children’s wards will also have a stand in the entrance to the Women and Children’s Hospital throughout the week.  They will be sharing advice and displaying information about the ‘Big Latch On’ events taking place regionally and nationally, where women gather to breastfeed and offer peer support.

This group of staff has also come together to form several new internal working groups aimed at improving and ensuring best practice for breastfeeding mums and babies under the group name, “HEY! Let’s support our mums to breastfeed.”

More details about the ‘Big Latch On’ events can be found at www.biglatchon.org  The team will also feature on the City of Culture’s ‘Challenge Hull’ page throughout Breastfeeding Awareness Week , where you will also be able to find out more about support and activities in relation to breastfeeding throughout the city.