Approval has been given for a new helipad to be built at the rear of Hull Royal Infirmary.

Members of Hull City Council’s Planning Committee gave the green light this afternoon for proposals to demolish three existing buildings on the hospital site and replace them with the new landing pad.

Hull Royal Infirmary serves the region as a Major Trauma Centre, regularly receiving emergency patients via helicopter and organising patient transfers via air ambulance. A number of providers currently fly in to Hull Royal Infirmary, including Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Embrace, the children’s air ambulance based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Duncan Taylor, Director of Estates, Facilities and Development for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, says:

“We’re pleased that our planning application has been approved, as this represents the next step in improving our emergency and major trauma care facilities.

“Hull Royal Infirmary (HRI) is a major trauma centre for the region, so it’s important that we have the estate and the infrastructure to support this role. The recent, multi-million pound redevelopment of the Emergency Department has given us the most up-to-date medical facilities in which to treat patients, so the development of an on-site helipad is the next piece of the jigsaw.

“At the moment, helicopters bring patients to the hospital almost every day, but currently land on a helipad situated in a field just over the road from the hospital. An ambulance is then required to transfer each patient from the helicopter, negotiate the busy junction onto Anlaby Road, and then transport the patient to the Emergency Department. All of this takes time, and in emergency situations, every second counts.

“Having a helipad on site just outside the entrance to our Emergency Department will ensure patients arriving by air ambulance can be taken into hospital to begin treatment more quickly, and will free up traditional road ambulances for duties elsewhere.”

Demolition work is expected to begin early in the New Year. Alternative accommodation for staff currently housed in the buildings which will be demolished has been identified at both Castle Hill Hospital and elsewhere on the HRI site.

The helipad is expected to be ready and operational by the Spring.

Families in East Yorkshire who lose a baby at an early stage of pregnancy are set to receive special ‘Forget-Me-Not’ memory boxes to bring comfort and help them grieve.

Hayley Ellenton, a Staff Nurse at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary, recognised the need to create something more bespoke for parents who lose a child either due to miscarriage, ectopic or molar pregnancy.

Hayley has since set up the Forget-Me-Not Fund to raise money to purchase and fill the boxes, which will be given to women who have suffered the early loss of a baby on Cedar Ward at the Women and Children’s Hospital and via the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU).

“Early pregnancy loss can often be overlooked or not seen as important, but from the moment a couple know they’re expecting a baby, they start to make plans and look forward to their new arrival. The grief felt when this type of pregnancy is lost is real grief, and can be very hard to come to terms with.

“As nurses and doctors, we can do our very best to support women going through early pregnancy loss by making sure they are physically safe and providing short term emotional support, but as miscarriage is something very close to my heart, I wanted to go beyond that and provide something that would be of comfort longer term.

“I set up the Forget-Me-Not Fund as a means of raising money for the memory boxes and their contents. We already have memory boxes to give to parents who lose a baby in later pregnancy, which are beautiful, but can contain some things which aren’t appropriate for an earlier loss, such as items for hand and foot prints.

“Not all women will want a memory box or find comfort in their contents, but we recognise everyone grieves differently, and we feel it’s important that these early losses are seen as no less significant than later losses.”

The Forget-Me-Not memory boxes are set to contain:

• A packet of forget-me-not flower seeds to plant in remembrance
• A journal, for writing down thoughts and feelings
• A candle and a form of words to bring comfort and remembrance
• A bespoke pendant, which can be used or worn in whichever way a lady feels most comfortable
• A memorial certificate to mark the day the pregnancy was lost
• Information on local and national sources of advice and support

The pendant has been designed specifically for the Forget-Me-Not Fund by Willerby-based jewellery designer, Kate Hunter. As well as offering her services for free to support the project, Kate has also kindly agreed to donate a further pendant herself for every pendant which is sold via her website. Pendants are priced at just £3.50 including P&P, and can be ordered via www.katehunter.co.uk

Kate says:

“Working with Hayley and our local NHS has been an emotional experience and one to be remembered. Hayley asked me to design the piece loosely around the forget-me-not flower, so I have designed the keepsake remembrance piece as a silver circular flower pendant, encased with stencilled petal leaves, an angel wing, and a gold tone glass bead.

“This was a very sensitive and heartfelt project, and I was very honoured to be a part of it.”

Charlotte Fear, Senior Sister on Cedar Ward says:

“This is a fantastic idea, as we have never had anything special to give to parents following this kind of early bereavement. Boxes are donated to maternity services from charities to give to parents who have lost their babies in the later stages of pregnancy or at birth, which are lovely, but not always appropriate for an early pregnancy loss.

“Hayley is so thoughtful, and has spent a lot of time and energy getting this project off the ground. She has already raised money for the Forget-Me-Not Fund with a sponsored ‘Choc Stop’ during October, which was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and is now in the process of organising a Christmas Raffle.

“The pendants are also a really welcome and unusual fundraising addition, as not only will women who have suffered an early pregnancy loss have a bespoke pendant to keep with them in remembrance, but others can also show their support by wearing them, knowing that they are also supporting newly bereaved families at the same time.”

Forget-Me-Not pendants can be purchased via the Kate Hunter website: www.katehunter.co.uk for £3.50 each (incl P&P).

Living with dementia can be an upsetting and often lonely experience, so when someone with dementia needs to stay in hospital, unfamiliar surroundings, isolation, and new faces can all add to a person’s anxiety.

But what of that person’s carer or relatives? How often do we stop to think about the impact on them, or the role they might play in their loved one’s recovery?

In an attempt to improve the experience of patients with dementia and their carers, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is piloting new overnight facilities specifically for carers on medical elderly wards 8 and 80 at Hull Royal Infirmary.

The facilities The move follows local research carried out amongst carers of people with dementia which showed overwhelming support for extended or overnight facilities. It also supports John’s Campaign, a growing national movement based on the experience of Dr John Gerrard who died in hospital with Alzheimer’s in 2014 and whose family believes his decline was due in part to limited contact with loved ones.

John’s campaign calls for the families and carers of people with dementia to have the same rights as the parents of sick children, and be allowed to remain with them in hospital for as many hours as they are needed, and as they are able to give.

Suzy Bunton, Lead Dementia Nurse for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust explains:

“Our elderly care wards have been operating extended visiting hours up to 10pm for some time, as we know having a loved one around can be really beneficial for people with dementia when they’re somewhere unfamiliar. Having a carer or family member there to keep them occupied, encourage them to eat or have a drink or just generally spend time with them is such a boost mentally, and helps patients to retain more of a sense of normality.

“More recently, we spoke to a number of carers to ask whether, given the opportunity, they would like to be able to stay overnight with their loved one, and almost three quarters said yes.

“Clearly, with Hull Royal Infirmary being a tower block, we are somewhat restricted in terms of space so, in the initial stages of rolling out John’s Campaign, we have created an overnight room which can accommodate up to two people and which has separate bathroom facilities to enable family to stay close to a loved one whilst they’re in hospital.

“Going forward, we’ll evaluate how well this carers room is working as we expect it to be in high demand. We’ll also look at whether we can start to address other things which carers told us were important, such as somewhere to get a drink, or recliner chairs to be able to stay alongside relatives overnight, with the aim of making the experience of more patients and carers a positive one.”

The creation of overnight facilities in support of John’s Campaign is just one example of the work being carried out at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to improve the experience of people with dementia when accessing hospital services. Other pieces of work, including improved signage, recreational activities, and a special ‘memory café’ recently earned the dementia team a place in the finals of the Hull Daily Mail Health & Care Awards ‘Mental Health & Well-being’ category.

About John’s campaign:

Dr John Gerrard was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his mid-seventies. It was a slow decline with accelerations when he was ill or upset. At the beginning of February 2014, aged 86, he went into hospital because he had infected leg ulcers which weren’t responding to antibiotics. He was there for five weeks.

John Gerrard went into hospital strong, mobile, smiling, able to tell stories about his past, to work in his garden and help with things round the house. He was able to feed himself, to go the lavatory, to keep clean, to have a good kind of daily life. He came out skeletal, incontinent, immobile, incoherent. He required 24-hour care and barely knew those around him. He wore a nappy, could not stand up or walk, could not lift a mug to his mouth or put words into a sentence.

His family feel certain that if he had not lain for five weeks without people he knew to tend and comfort him, he would not have descended into such a state of incapacity. The individual nurses and doctors were kind, conscientious, respectful, but they couldn’t sit and talk to him, read to him, make sure he ate, keep him attached to the world.

John Gerrard died in November 2014.

Hospitals in East Yorkshire are showing their green credentials by adding three new electric vans to the fleet of Trust vehicles.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has taken receipt of the three vans as a means of reducing its environmental impact and transport costs at the same time.

Dave Wilkinson, Transport Manager at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“Many of the journeys our hospital fleet makes are short journeys, often of just a few miles between Castle Hill and Hull Royal, and sometimes shorter still.

“As a means of reducing our CO₂ emissions, demonstrating our commitment to sustainability, and as a way of bringing our costs down, we have decided to trial the replacement of three of our normal delivery vehicles with electric vans.

“The vans will help in the day to day running of our hospitals by transporting samples between pathology departments, delivering medical records between sites, and other general portering service duties.

“Each of the vehicles will cover up to 70 miles in a typical day, but can last for up to 106 miles on a single charge. As well as reducing our CO₂ emissions; something which we and every other hospital Trust are monitored on; we also expect the vans to deliver a combined saving of around £6,000 per year on fuel and other associated costs.”

Charging stations have now been installed specifically for the electric vans at both hospital sites. The vehicles have also been branded in Trust livery, and are on the move now!

He’s been a policeman, a footballer, and a switchboard operator. He’s performed in Les Misérables and chaperoned Desmond Tutu, and now, aged 79, Tom Mathers is one of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s oldest volunteers.

Tom began volunteering on Ward 200, the Elderly Assessment Unit at Hull Royal Infirmary in the summer, joining some 450 other local people who give their time to help others. He comes into the unit several times each week for a few hours, to offer a smile, a chat and a listening ear to patients who are there at the time.

As well as keeping older people occupied whilst in hospital, he also helps the ward staff by collecting comments from patients and relatives which can be used to improve the service. But Tom would argue he gets more out of his volunteering role than anyone.

“I always start by saying ‘Hello, my name’s Tom and I’m a volunteer. You’ve no TV or radio, so I just wondered if you’d like a chat?’ and 95% respond positively.

“I’ve met some very interesting and some very clever people in the short time I’ve been here, including a concert pianist and a former professional cyclist. I get a lot of pleasure from talking to people as they tell me about the things that interest them, and I learn a lot.

“Often I’m older than the patients I’m talking to, so we’ll talk about things from the olden days; I’ll ask ‘do you remember dolly sticks? Washboards? Or only going in the front room on a Sunday?’ And the patients and their relatives are really appreciative as it brings back memories and helps them to pass the time.

“I look forward to volunteering, and it’s a real privilege to be here.”

Tom began volunteering after losing his wife, but says he wishes he’d known about the opportunity much earlier.

He has also survived cancer, and that’s part of the reason he considers our local NHS to be ‘world class’.

“I have such a great depth of feeling for the NHS, it’s a world class service and the staff don’t get the recognition they deserve.

“Ward 200 really typifies our caring NHS, the staff are wonderful and the atmosphere here says ‘don’t worry, we’re going to take care of you’; I tell that to all of the patients and their relatives who come in here.

“This isn’t like a hospital ward, it’s like being with friends, and I never thought I would get so much pleasure out of being here; I wish I’d known about volunteering here years ago.”

In the few short months he has been giving his time to the ward, he has become a firm favourite with staff and patients alike.

Ward Sister, Bobbie Chapman, says:

“Tom is a real asset to our ward, as he connects with our many of our patients in a way which only people from the same generation can. He’s a real character who helps to brighten up the day of many of those spending time on the ward, some of whom don’t have relatives or visitors and so the days can seem very long.

“We’re really grateful to Tom for his help, and it’s always a pleasure to see him when he stops by.”

Tom is one of a growing army of volunteers supporting patients, staff and visitors across both Castle Hill Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary. Volunteering opportunities are available for people as young as 16 years of age through the Young Volunteers programme, with no upper age limit, and those giving their time can express a preference for the department they work in.

For more information on volunteering opportunities with Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, contact the Patient Experience Team on (01482) 674326 or 675189.

Hospitals’ healthy record showcased during World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 14-20 November 2016

Health workers in Hull are leading the way when it comes to reducing reliance on antibiotics and tackling antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

According to recent data from Public Health England, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the better performing Trusts in the country when it comes to antibiotic prescribing rates.

Inappropriate use of antibiotics in recent years has led to the drugs becoming less effective, and a subsequent rise in cases of so-called superbugs such as C Difficile and MRSA.

Locally, however, the Trust has not seen a case of MRSA since June 2015, and rates of C Difficile also compare favourably, with 12.9 cases per 100,000 bed days compared to a national average of 14.9 cases per 100,000 bed days.

The success is attributed in no small part to antibiotic stewardship; a coordinated programme of efforts to optimise the use of antibiotics prescribed in hospital.

Dr Gavin Barlow, Consultant Physician at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust explains:

“In recent years, people have become over-reliant on antibiotics, frequently taking them for minor and self-limiting health problems such as coughs and colds. What people don’t realise when they do this is that the antibiotics aren’t necessarily going to help with the immediate problem, and in fact, they could end up doing more damage in the long term by killing the body’s good bacteria.

“The more we use antibiotics, the greater the chance bacteria will become resistant to them and they can no longer be used to treat infections. This is a major threat to patients’ treatment and safety, as procedures ranging from routine surgery through to cancer chemotherapy or setting broken bones all rely on the use of antibiotics.

“At Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we have been working hard to safely reduce the amount  of antibiotics prescribed to our patients. Of the two main broad-spectrum antibiotics used in the UK, we prescribe considerably less than many other hospitals; 76 daily doses per 1,000 admissions of Piperacillin/Tazobactam versus the national average of 146, and 68.5 daily doses of Carbapenems per 1,000 admissions compared with the England average of 104. The Trust’s overall antibiotic prescribing rate is also below the national average.

“This success has been achieved with a concerted effort from doctors, pharmacists and nurses all working together to look at the situations where and when antibiotics are prescribed. Infection doctors have increased their presence in the hospitals’ admission areas this year, for example, to review patients who have been admitted with infections and prescribed antibiotics to check that this is the most appropriate course of treatment.

“Patients’ drug charts have also been redesigned to prompt prescribers to review and, if appropriate, stop the supply of antibiotics, and further training and support around antibiotic stewardship has also been made available to relevant doctors and nurses.”

Dr Barlow adds:

“If a patient acquires antibiotic resistant bacteria like MRSA or C Difficile when they are already seriously ill or their immune system is low, it could be potentially fatal. The reduction in the use of antibiotics in hospital is not just good news from a prescribing cost point of view, therefore, it really could save lives.

“Antibiotics can sound like the easy answer when someone’s unwell, but they should only be used when absolutely necessary. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed could end up doing more harm than good, and will only help to keep superbugs such as C Difficile and MRSA in circulation.”

Patients requiring potentially life-changing investigations are set to benefit from a new, state-of-the-art scanner which has been installed at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Radiographers took delivery of the new 1.5T Siemens Aera MRI scanner, valued at around £1 million, last month when it was hoisted into place in the hospital’s MRI Centre.

The machine performs body scans to help identify and diagnose conditions such as cancer and epilepsy, for example, but can also be used to examine brain development in children, to investigate cartilage and ligament damage, and even look between the ears for the causes of hearing loss.

The first scans involving patients will be carried out later this week.

The investment is part of an ongoing programme within Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to update and replace ageing radiography equipment. This latest scanner replaced a previous model which has been is use for the last 24 years, and the surrounding areas of the MRI Centre have also been transformed to provide a new recovery area for patients and additional patient changing facilities.

Nicola Webster, Cross Sectional Speciality Manager in the Trust’s Radiology Department, says the changes will lead to a better experience for both patients and staff:

“The new MRI scanner will provide a much better experience for people requiring diagnostic scans, to investigate back or knee pain, for example, or to monitor how a tumour is progressing.

“The new scanner is wider and shorter than the previous model, meaning it will be better for those who don’t like tight spaces or the feeling of being confined, and it also features special mood lighting to further relax our patients.

“Having a MRI scan normally creates a certain level of anxiety anyway, as people are nervous about coming for tests or receiving a diagnosis, so the more at ease we can make our patients feel, both physically and mentally, the better it is for everyone.

“Patients can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour having their scans, but as we now have access to the very latest diagnostic software, it means that, in some cases, patients will spend less time in the scanner, and we will also be able to perform more specialised examinations if required.

“As well as the machine itself contributing to a better patient experience, we’ve also carried out some works around the scanner. The main scanning room has been shielded with a copper cage to keep the magnetic field in, but outside of that, we’ve also converted former offices into extra space for patients to change, be prepped, and recover after they have undergone their scans.

“There’s a much brighter, airier and more relaxed feel to the place, and this is something which benefits both patients and the staff who work here, all of whom have been played a huge part in getting the scanner up and running and really embraced the changes whole-heartedly.

A small number of staff have been trained to use the new software initially, and this training will be cascaded to other members of the team over the coming weeks.

A Hull Macmillan Programme team has been shortlisted for a prestigious award recognising their inspirational work supporting people affected by cancer in the area.

Helen Sowden, Programme Manager and Lucie Osborne, Project Manager who work on the Macmillan Cancer Support Improvement Programme for Brain Tumour and Central Nervous System (CNS) Cancers, were nominated by colleagues in the Integration Excellence Award category. The Integration Excellence Award is awarded to individuals who have successfully developed integrated cancer care services through creating exciting new initiatives, products and services.

The Macmillan Improvement Programme for Brain Tumour and CNS Cancers is the first Macmillan redesign project to focus on improving the patient experience for people with rare and complex cancers.

Helen and Lucie, who are hosted by Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group took the approach to continually co-create and integrate patient experience when shaping service re-design.

By articulating complex patient needs through patient stories and films alongside comprehensive evidence, the team have influenced providers and commissioners to deliver transformational change.

They continue to work with determination to highlight the issues relating to brain tumours and CNS cancers and identify opportunities where there are similarities with other health conditions.

Helen Sowden, Programme Manager, said: “The complexity of this cancer type means there are no off-the-shelf solutions. We’ve had to be really innovative and novel in coming up with suitable solutions for this cohort of patients.”

A surprise celebrity guest will be hosting the awards ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on Thursday 17 November, where the winners will be announced for the first time.

The awards, which are now in their fifth year are a perfect opportunity for Macmillan to recognise and thank pioneering teams and individuals who deliver the highest standards of care for people affected by cancer.
Last year more than 300 Macmillan professionals as well as representatives from Macmillan and leading healthcare institutions attended the awards ceremony.

No one should face cancer alone. For support, information or if you have any questions, call Macmillan Cancer Support free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk.

What’s the difference between a food allergy and an intolerance? They can both have a big impact on a person’s health and well-being, but how far do we really understand what causes them and how are they identified?

Year 10 students from across Hull will be seeking to discover the answers to these questions and more, as they go behind the scenes with the Pathology Team at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust next week.

To celebrate National Pathology Week (7-13th November), the doors at both Castle Hill Hospital and Hull Royal Infirmary will be thrown open to Sirius Academy, Newland High School, Malet Lambert and Kelvin Hall pupils, in order to shine a light on the work of pathology staff, who are instrumental in 70% of all NHS diagnoses.

With support from the Royal College of Pathologists and various other hospital departments including Dietetics, Immunology, and Infection Control, students will be able to:

• Learn the difference between allergies and intolerances, and then use this learning to make a range of special recipe smoothies on a ‘smoothie bike’
• Examine blood cells through a microscope and use UV light to show where hands have not been washed properly
• Take part in competitions, including ‘Pin the organ on the teacher’ and a race to ‘scoop the poop’ (chocolate cake mixture!) into test tubes
• Tour the pathology labs and learn about the various specialties within pathology, including immunology, haematology, biochemistry, histopathology, microbiology, and virology
• Browse a range of stands and information displays
• Compete in a quiz to determine who has learned the most during the day

Clinical Scientist, Nicola Svenson, is amongst those organising the week’s celebrations. She says:

“National Pathology Week is themed around allergies and intolerance this year, with the aim of showing how pathology teams can help in their diagnosis and how our clinical teams work together to support people with these kinds of issues.

“Whilst young people may not feel they know much about our area of work, they probably will know someone who has an allergy or is intolerant to a certain kind of food, so this is our way of connecting what we do with their real life experiences, and showing how pathology can be part of a solution.”

Nicola and the team are keen to use the day to inspire more young people into scientific careers. She continues:

“The image many people have of pathology is one which the media have built for us through TV programmes such as CSI or Silent Witness, but pathology is about much more than finding cause of death! In fact, the vast majority of our work is focused on keeping people well; diagnosing illnesses, solving problems, and helping other teams across the NHS to provide the right care and treatment for our patients.

“At a recent NHS careers event, many of the students told us they want to know more about pathology, so today is all about inspiring young people, showing them how pathology underpins much of the care the NHS provides, and how varied and satisfying a career in pathology can be.

“Pathology is an exciting and rewarding area to work in, and one which is constantly changing as new techniques and equipment are introduced. By creating a buzz about science and showing how pathology can help in the real world, we’re hoping to be the inspiration for the next generation of local healthcare scientists.”

Pupils from Sirius Academy and Newland High School will visit the Pathology Team at Castle Hill Hospital in the morning of Wednesday 9th November, whilst pupils from Malet Lambert and Kelvin Hall will spend their day at Hull Royal Infirmary in the morning of Thursday 10th November.

For more information, to request interviews or photo/filming opportunities, please contact the Communications Department at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on (01482) 674486.

Parents in Hull are being ‘dared to share’ their fertility success stories as part of a new campaign by the Hull IVF Unit, supporting National Fertility Awareness Week (31st October to 6 November 2016).

Based within the Hull Women and Children’s Hospital at Hull Royal Infirmary, the Hull IVF Unit is encouraging couples across the region who have been successful in having a family to share their news openly to give hope and confidence to others who are due to embark on fertility treatment.

The #DareToShare campaign, set to run on social media, will involve former patients sharing photos of their babies conceived through treatment, using the hashtag #DareToShare, in order to help remove the stigma of IVF and other fertility treatments that assist with conception. One in every six couples in the UK (approx. 3.5 million people) are affected by infertility, and Fertility Network UK’s aim this year is to highlight the unseen, intimate, and day to day reality of fertility issues.

The Hull IVF Unit will also be holding an open evening on Friday 4th November, 4.30pm – 7.30pm, at the Mercure Grange Park Hotel, Willerby, to encourage couples who are considering fertility treatment to meet the team in informal surroundings and ask any questions.

Caroline Frost from the Hull IVF Unit says:

“We always support National Fertility Awareness Week and this year, we are asking our former patients to help us with our campaign. It is a brave, bold ask, we know that, and we understand it may have been a potentially painful time, but we hope people join in, celebrate their success, and help us change perceptions about fertility issues. We have a wall full of photos of wonderful babies in our waiting area and would love it if their parents would share their photographs on their social media pages, suing the hashtag #DareToShare, and not be afraid to talk about their treatment.”

Caroline adds:

“There are many reasons a couple may consider fertility treatment and it is great news that Fertility Network UK is focusing on those stories that aren’t stereotypical. The whole aim of the campaign and our open evening is to help couples who might be contemplating treatment, and we would encourage anyone to come along on the 4th November to ask any questions they may have.”

Helen Davies, 42, of South Newbald, successfully conceived twins after four rounds of IVF through the Hull IVF Unit. She now promotes the issue of Secondary Infertility through her website, www.secondaryinfertilitymatters.com, and her book about the journey, More Love To Give, was the first to back the #DareToShare campaign.

Helen says: “There was a time when I was ashamed that we had treatment but it was the silence of people like myself, who have now been successful, that reinforced that ridiculous stigma around fertility. Infertility is hugely common, with many causes, it is tremendously stressful and often painful, and I really believe it is the responsibility of all of us who have been successful to share our stories to help it become more accepted in society.

“I would hate for my precious children to feel any stigmatism and would like to think that, by talking about it, I can ‘normalise’ all treatment available for their sakes too.”

Members of the Hull IVF Clinic team will also be baking and preparing fertility friendly foods, and sharing ideas at the clinic and on social media during National Fertility Awareness Week, to help educate people how they can help themselves via nutrition.

Fertility Network UK is the leading patient charity helping people with any aspect of fertility problems. National Fertility Awareness Week runs from 31 October to 6 November 2016 and the focus for the national campaign is to reveal #HiddenFaces struggling with fertility problems, examining those who aren’t stereotypically infertile by shining the spotlight on untold fertility stories.

Susan Seenan, Chief Executive of Fertility Network UK says:

“National Fertility Awareness Week is about raising awareness and changing perceptions of fertility issues, as well as providing support for the one in six couples, and others, who struggle to become parents. This year we are revealing fertility’s #HiddenFaces – the real people behind fertility struggles; we hope their stories and images will help others experiencing fertility problems and help turn around common misconceptions about fertility. We would like to thank the Hull IVF Unit for supporting our campaign and the awareness week.”

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