Talking Point January 2016

TALKING POINT January 2016

Dancer Shannon opens LRI Institute…

…as she recovers from hip surgery page 11

Talking Point is your magazine and it is only as good as you make it.

It is produced quarterly in January, April, July and October each year.

Ideas and stories or suggestions to make Talking Point even better are always welcome.

Please send your ideas to: The editor - Lesley Connor Public relations South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust The James Cook University Hospital The Murray Building Marton Road MIDDLESBROUGH TS4 3BW Extension: 55900 Email: lesley.connor@stees.nhs.uk You can also contact the public relations team on 01642 854343, extension 54343, James Cook or email public.relations@stees.nhs.uk.

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Hospital launches rapid access unit for older people A DEDICATED assessment unit for older people has opened its doors at James Cook.

The rapid access frailty assessment (RAFA) unit aims to enable patients to be discharged more quickly, reducing unnecessary stays in hospital.

Patients will have their complex needs assessed by a range of specialists who are all based at the unit including an elderly care consultant, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, psychiatric liaison nurse and social worker.

A discharge plan will be established with a maximum stay on the unit of 72 hours to ensure patients get home or to the right place for their continued treatment as soon as possible.

Nurse practitioner Kelly Russell said: “It’s like a one stop MOT shop because our patients are getting everything in one place which speeds up the whole process.

“It’s about attending to their medical needs, getting them back home as quickly as possible and then working with community staff to arrange the right care for them closer to home.”

Based on ward 11, the RAFA unit is open 24/7 with consultant cover Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. The consultant service will eventually be extended to 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

The unit currently accepts admissions from the hospital’s emergency department and acute assessment units but there are plans to accept direct

Occupational therapist Tracy Horton (left) and physiotherapist Diane Pearey on the RAFA unit referrals from other services including GPs, community matrons and the ambulance service in the future.

Physiotherapist Diane Pearey added: “Having a social worker based in the office has made a big difference because we have been able to get people home faster.”

Occupational therapist Tracy Horton added: “It works well especially when we can assess the patient at the same time which saves them having to answer the same questions over and over again.”

The trust is part of the Acute Frailty Network and has been selected as one of ten sites across the country to contribute to the development of services aimed at improving the acute care of older people.

Rachel Murdoch, consultant geriatrician said: “Our patients need a holistic approach to ensure that all their needs are assessed and managed from the time they arrive at hospital through to when they are ready to go home.”

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The rapid access frailty assessment unit team at James Cook 2

Patients reminded A&E doesn’t mean Absolutely Everything James Cook nurses reminded patients A&E doesn’t mean absolutely everything, as part of a campaign demonstrating the impact of winter on the trust.

IT AIMED to keep A&E free for emergencies and speed up patient discharge processes, as well as showing how an increase in common winter ailments affects the trust’s surgical capacity and areas such as paediatrics and elderly care.

A video produced by the trust highlighted some of the more bizarre A&E attendances that were seen, as winter got underway.

These included one family who brought in several children with spots on their tongue – which turned out to be taste buds.

Other self-referrals to A&E included false nail disasters, splinters and a cut finger so minor, it only required a normal sticking plaster.

Nurses also reported mischievous children with elastic bands or cable ties around their wrists, which staff simply cut off with household scissors.

“A number of patients come in with minor ailments or injuries which are clearly inappropriate for A&E.”

One man came in simply because he was ‘cold and wet’.

People across the South Tees area are still being urged to consider alternatives to A&E like visiting the minor injuries unit at Redcar Primary Care Hospital, or calling NHS 111 for advice and access to GP services out of hours.

Other inappropriate A&E attendances included holiday sunburn and back pain that was not the result of an injury. Both of these should be seen by GPs.

Julie Suckling, A&E directorate manager at James Cook, said: “A number of patients come in with minor ailments or injuries which are clearly inappropriate for A&E.

Staff also witnessed patients waiting in A&E with infectious vomiting and diarrhoea bug Norovirus - best allowed to run its course at home.

“At the weekend, we also get a lot of people coming here because they want to be seen that day and they won’t wait to see their GP the following week.

“Your first line of contact with any nonlife-threatening illness should always be your own GP.” She added GP walk-in centres and minor injuries units can provide the same level of care as A&E would provide for minor injuries or illnesses.

And as James Cook is a major trauma centre (MTC) for the whole region, patients coming in with minor injuries or illnesses could face a long wait if staff are dealing with one or more seriously ill or injured patients.

Redcar Primary Care Hospital and GP walk-in centres like The Resolution in North Ormesby and Eston Grange Healthcare Centre in Normanby Road also offer free parking.

For more information and to view our videos use #steeswinter on Twitter, or visit http://southtees.nhs.uk/ae-doesnt-mean-absolutely-everything/ 3

News from North Yorkshire….

Official opening (left to right): MP Rishi Sunak with Upendra Somasundram, Dr Dunbar, Elaine Vance and trust chairman Deborah Jenkins

MP’s praise for innovative service for patients at the Friarage Hospital AN INNOVATIVE new service at the Friarage which allows emergency patients, who would usually have to stay in hospital, to be treated as outpatients – or even in their own homes – has been praised by its local MP. Richmond MP Rishi Sunak cited the ambulatory care and OHPAT (outpatient and home parenteral antimicrobial treatment) unit as a ‘shining example’ of providing care closer to home when he officially opened the unit.

He said: “A massive congratulations to everyone who made this possible including the Friends of the Friarage and the medical team for thinking a bit differently about how to deliver great health care.

It is staffed by an 11-strong team, including consultants, GP hospitalists and nurse practitioners, and during the first pilot year saved over 4,000 overnight stays, with demand for the service steadily growing.

Consultant in infectious diseases Dr James Dunbar said: “The team are providing excellent same-day emergency care for the benefit of hundreds of patients. Essentially it’s rapid diagnostics and treatment for people who need urgent assessment and care but are not so sick that they need to be admitted to hospital as an inpatient.

“This hospital is doing a fantastic job and the service is making such a difference to patients. It’s wonderful to be able to keep people closer to their homes and this is an exciting new chapter in the Friarage Hospital’s life.”

“This means more beds are now available for people who really need to be in a hospital bed, while at the same time we’re providing the same level of care and promoting care closer to home for our local communities. The GP hospitalists are an absolute asset providing common sense medicine and a vital bridge between ourselves and our primary care colleagues.”

The unit sees around 300 patients a month who need urgent diagnostics

Nurse practitioner Elaine Vance added: “We’re serving a huge rural area and

“My job is to represent people and the issue that is always top of their minds is health care and having access to good health care.

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and treatment for conditions as diverse as skin infection and liver failure. Although in urgent need of help, these patients are not unwell enough to need an overnight stay in hospital (known as ambulatory care).

“A massive congratulations to everyone who made this possible.”

have staff also co-ordinating care in the local communities, for example district teams giving IV antibiotics and, in some cases, teaching patients and families to administer medication at home.

“It’s giving appropriate care out in the community, which is where it should be, so people in Leyburn for instance don’t have to make the long journey in for treatment.”

The Friends of the Friarage Hospital were hugely influential in getting the unit up and running, donating £42,000 towards an ECG machine, beds, pumps, trolleys and furniture.

Chairman Upendra Somasundram said: “Every penny we raise at the moment through fundraising is going towards the MRI scanner appeal – the donation for this new service has come entirely from the proceeds of the Friends hospital shop.

“This is such a wonderful service for local people and is going to benefit many, many more patients.

It’s great that we have facilities such as these at the Friarage run by such dedicated staff and that these new developments are happening in the hospital.”

Maternity centre celebrates first year as midwifery-led unit

Community transport project

MIDWIVES threw a very special birthday party to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of the midwifery-led unit and maternity centre at the Friarage.

AN INNOVATIVE project at Reeth Medical Centre to reduce social isolation, improve standards of care for disadvantaged patients and provide support for local voluntary services is underway.

Staff were joined by women who’ve used the service along with their babies who kindly modelled some special vests for the occasion!

Among them was Elizabeth Lunn, a special delivery in the early hours of yesterday morning and Max Rowell, who was born early evening on Monday (5 October).

The event was an opportunity for the maternity team to showcase the excellent services that are still available for women and their babies at the centre, which has been midwifery-led since October 2014 and provides friendly, individualised care to women with straightforward pregnancies.

Deborah Hebblethwaite, a midwife and the maternity centre’s manager, said: “This was a special birthday for us and we wanted to share it with the local community.

“I read a lovely comment on Facebook from a lady who chose to have her second baby at the Friarage and simply said she felt so lucky to have the team look after them. It just says it all really – we have a great team, providing great care at a very special time for families.”

Among the visitors was Baroness Julia Cumberlege, independent chairman of an on-going major review of maternity services across the country which forms part of the NHS Five Year Forward View.

She spoke to staff and parents about their own experiences of maternity services.

Baby Max Rowell (with parents Bryony Thompson and Phillip Rowell) and baby Elizabeth Lunn (with parents Esther and Colin Lunn)

Baroness Cumberlege with the team

Mums with babies who’ve been born at the unit over the last year, all modelling their Friarage vests

The centre is working in partnership with the trust, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group and Reeth and District Community Transport, to provide free transport for housebound patients, allowing them to attend the practice for routine checks such as monitoring of heart conditions, blood tests and influenza vaccinations.

GP partner at Reeth Medical Centre, Dr Mike Brookes said: “It is difficult to provide a gold-standard of care at home for many conditions because of lack of access to equipment and visits often perpetuate social isolation.

“We reviewed our home visits for the last 12 months and realised that a great number of the calls were generated because people did not have access to transport services. There were very few calls where the health condition of the patient meant that they were unable to travel.”

“Now, instead of arranging a nursing visit, we are able to arrange free transport for that person to be brought to a dedicated clinic at the practice which is staffed by practice and community nurses. They are also able to use the transport to call in at the Post Office or “There were luncheon clubs on the very few calls way home where the health as well.

condition of the It is hoped the patient meant that transport they were unable service will also reduce to travel.” the number of hours spent by the community nursing team on home visits and the centre is working with our teams on new services such as providing intravenous antibiotic therapy at the practice which has already been successfully carried out.

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Critical training aims to improve patient safety IN LINE with the trust’s mission to provide seamless, high quality, safe healthcare, the resuscitation department - part of the Learning Research and Innovation Institute - has recently implemented in-situ cardiac arrest simulations to various clinical areas.

These are simulated scenarios that take place in clinical areas during a normal working day, the benefits of which include: • Improved knowledge and technical skills of staff • Familiarisation of staff with equipment and the clinical environment • Improved non-technical skills especially teamwork and communication • Identification of hidden errors. (Running regular simulations in clinical settings allows identification of these errors before they cause harm. Examples include equipment problems (broken or missing), communication errors and systems failures).

Feedback from staff has been extremely positive. Comments included: “An excellent experience, I would love to participate more” and “I had several other arrest calls that day and feel that I approached them in a more logical manner.”

Donna Campbell, resuscitation department manager, said: “Cardiac arrest team response times have been very reassuring confirming appropriate systems are in place to ensure patients receive appropriate advanced life support treatment in accordance with national guidelines.

“Additionally a recent simulation on the Friarage site highlighted a potential issue that can now be monitored and appropriate actions taken to ensure patient safety is maintained.”

Any clinical areas wishing to participate in future simulations should contact the resuscitation department on extension 52864 or 01642 282864.

Claire Davies, Abi Pickthall and Fiona Atkinson with the new mobile pharmacy dispensing unit on ward 36

New mobile pharmacies speed up discharge process for patients PATIENTS could be going home more quickly, thanks to a new mobile pharmacy which dispenses prescriptions directly on the ward.

Staff and patients on ward 36 were the first to benefit from the new pharmacy dispensing carts, which were also due to be rolled out elsewhere across James Cook site.

Ward manager Claire Davies said the mobile device, which consists of an in-built computer and medicine cabinet, would help patients return home more quickly once they are well enough, as dispensing times are reduced.

“One of the biggest things we are trying to improve is the speed of discharge processes,” she said.

“One thing which slows the process down is waiting for discharge prescriptions, so, having the pharmacists on the ward means they can process all the prescriptions here, as and when they are needed.

“This way we can speed up the process for patients waiting to go home.”

Claire adds this also has the

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knock-on effect of improving “This way we on other targets, can speed up such as the process for completing treatment patients waiting for elective patients to go home.” of the orthopaedic ward more quickly.

Having the dispensing carts on the ward also means patients benefit from an improved discharge medication review and medication counselling by qualified pharmacy staff.

Fiona Atkinson, who was the first pharmacist to use the new mobile unit on ward 36, alongside pharmacy technician Abi Pickthall, said: “We are now remote dispensing, so instead of all the work coming down to the pharmacy, we have got the mobile unit.

“Each division of the hospital will be getting their own device but we are the first ones to use ours, so we are very excited!”

Prescriptions will be dispensed on the ward from Monday to Friday each week.

Helping you get home from hospital faster A NEW discharge suite is helping patients to get home from hospital faster at James Cook.

Based near the hospital’s bridge entrance for easy access, the discharge suite provides a safe and relaxing environment away from the ward for patients to wait for their prescriptions and transport home.

Julie Poultney, lead nurse for discharge, said: “Patients can help us by asking staff about their planned discharge date and relatives and carers can help by being available to collect patients from as early at 10am on their day of discharge.”

The new facility helps get patients home faster as it has its own dedicated patient transport ambulance and priority access to the hospital’s main pharmacy.

Patients who cannot be picked up before 10am may be transferred to the discharge suite where there are nurses and healthcare assistants on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly.

The suite is already receiving excellent feedback from patients.

It also means more hospital beds are kept free for urgent and unplanned admissions which helps to prevent potential delays and cancellations.

Joan Riley, 85, used the discharge suite to wait for a lift home after being admitted to James Cook when she had a slight stroke.

The discharge suite is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and has the ability to see up to 300 patients a week.

“The discharge suite is very nice,” she said. “I’ve had lots of cups of tea which suits me! The staff, all of them here have been absolutely brilliant.”

Keir Rumins, clinical matron for trauma and spinal injuries, said: “It’s nice for the patients as it gets them off the ward and one step closer to going home and it helps us keep beds free for urgent admissions.

“Late afternoon to evening is our busiest time, after people have been to their GP, clinic or A&E so it’s important to get people home as early as possible on their day of discharge.”

Figures for the last three months show the trust had around 31,000 inpatient admissions at James Cook, 11,000 of these were unplanned emergencies.

Linda Smith, discharge facilitator team lead, added: “If we can free a bed up it might save another patient from having to wait. It’s about providing the right care in the right place at the right time.”

Patient Joan Riley enjoys a cuppa in the discharge suite. Pictured with discharge facilitator team lead Linda Smith and care support workers Jennifer McLaren and Leanne Morrissey

Duncan celebrates retirement DUNCAN Stewart, associate specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery, is retiring after 20 years’ service and was given a fitting send-off surrounded by his former and current colleagues in oral surgery.

Duncan, affectionately known by theatre staff as ‘Dunc the hunk’, said: “I have particularly enjoyed working in trauma, however, it is seeing people progress and being able to pass on experience to the younger generation of staff that gives me real joy.”

After over 25 years of service on Teesside, Duncan is looking forward to travelling around the capital cities of Europe and fishing.

“Duncan is irreplaceable and we shall all miss him greatly.”

Colleague Richard Langford said: “Duncan is utterly reliable and an absolutely great colleague. He has worked across the region- at North Tees, the Friarage, James Cook and the old Middlesbrough General - and has provided on-call cover up until and including his last day. Duncan is irreplaceable and we shall all miss him greatly.”

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It’s time out for Vera after 35 years VERA Atkinson is retiring after working 35 years at the Friarage.

Vera - who has worked in the Friarage endoscopy unit as a healthcare assistant for most of her “Hard career – working Vera originally started will be greatly work as a missed by all domestic her friends and on 6 October colleagues.”

1980.

Her dual role involved decontaminating instruments and looking after patients in the recovery area.

Jane Bradshaw, endoscopy unit manager, said: “Hard working Vera will be greatly missed by all her friends and colleagues. She has a great sense of humour, and is an asset to the unit which won’t be the same without her.”

Vera’s retirement plans include spending more time visiting her family and grandchildren in Scotland and taking it a bit easier and having the time to enjoy walking and getting out and about more.

Major trauma centres boosting survival rates THE odds of surviving a major injury have risen dramatically since major trauma centres were introduced in 2012.

Statistics from Trauma Audit Research Network show a 60% improvement in survival rates for patients following significant injury and our trauma system in England now rivals any other in the world.

James Cook is one of 26 major trauma centres in England, and one of only 10 that look after the needs of both adults and children.

Phil Godfrey, clinical lead for major trauma said: “This means that if you have a serious injury ambulances can now bypass other hospitals and bring you straight here where our trauma team will be ready and waiting.

“We are proud to have all our specialties under one roof, giving us immediate access to emergency medicine, trauma theatres, critical care, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, paediatrics, plastic surgery and more.

“On average we treat two to three major trauma patients each day. For the most severely injured care is delivered by consultants no matter what the time of day or day of the week.

“As winter approaches we are urging people to take extra care as major trauma can affect us all.”

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Last year our youngest severely injured patient was just one month old, our eldest was 100.

“As winter approaches we are urging people to take extra care.”

We treated 83 patients with severe chest injuries (our surgeons are now able to rebuild broken rib cages), 160 patients with major head injuries (the majority of which were falls) and 80 patients with major pelvic injuries (most commonly car, motorbike and horse riding accidents).

Falls and road traffic collisions were the most common cause of serious injury across the region.

Phil added: “We are proud to have close links with our regional prehospital services including the Great North Air Ambulance - we are one of only five UK hospitals that can receive helicopters day or night.

“Many of our doctors and nurses have military experience and have helped introduce new ideas and techniques to save lives in the North east.

“In the last two years, 60 of our patients had injuries so severe that they were not expected to survive. Over half of them did.”

To find out more visit southtees.nhs.uk/ services/major-trauma-centre or follow us on Twitter @JamesCookMTC

Patient names racehorse after robot that performed his cancer surgery!

IT’S not unusual for hospital staff to have their efforts recognised by a kind letter, a thank you card or even a cake.

But David Barker has gone one step further by naming his racehorse after the robotic equipment used to treat his bladder cancer and the Macmillan nurse who supported him.

David of Northallerton, underwent leading-edge robotic surgery at James Cook and was amazed to be back home just five days later.

Following the success of his operation he decided to name his yearling racehorse DaVinci Dawn after the da Vinci robot and his specialist nurse Dawn Watson.

“I spent two months looking for a name and then all this happened,” said Mr Barker, who described the treatment he received throughout as “fantastic”.

“The da Vinci did a good job on me so hopefully it will be good for the horse as well!

“Looking back opting for the robotic surgery has been the best decision. I never dreamed I’d be out of hospital in five days after an eight-hour operation.”

The da Vinci robot has revolutionised surgical treatment by making it possible for surgeons to perform minimally-

invasive surgery with greater precision and control than ever before.

It uses tiny instruments, controlled remotely by the surgeon sitting at a console. The surgeon has the benefits of 3D vision and hand and foot controls to control the micromanipulators, which have a greater range of movement than the human hand.

Urological surgeon Jo Cresswell who performed the procedure said: “The robot is now in use at James Cook every day of the week for a range of bladder, prostate, gynaecological, colorectal and thoracic procedures.

“It’s great for patients as they can get home from hospital much faster.

Traditionally patients would have required open surgery and would have been in hospital for around 10 days, with robotic surgery they can be home in half that time.”

The Cutting Edge Fund and South Tees Hospitals Charity helped bring robotic surgery to Teesside in 2014 and this advanced treatment has already benefitted around 250 patients this year.

Dawn Watson, Macmillan bladder cancer specialist nurse added: “It’s a great honour to have a racehorse named after you! There were lots of us involved in Mr Barker’s care and the whole team was very excited when he announced the horse’s name.”

Patient David Barker with Macmillan bladder cancer specialist nurse Dawn Watson and urological surgeon Jo Cresswell (left-right) with racehorse DaVinci Dawn at Ann Duffield Racing

Got an idea to improve the surgical patient journey?

HOSPITAL staff are being urged to come up with ideas to help make the surgical pathway more efficient.

The surgical pathway steering group has been set up to examine the processes for all patients who have an operation within the trust.

The group are looking at everything from patient letters to theatre processes and staff at all levels are being encouraged to get involved including secretaries, nurses, list managers, theatre staff, anaesthetists and surgeons.

Ideas already being considered include having more planned procedures at the Friarage Hospital or Redcar Primary Care Hospital and giving more notice to patients ahead of operations and reminders to help minimise short-notice cancellations.

Every year more than 36,000 surgical procedures are carried out across the trust but there are also 1,600 theatre slots that are wasted because people fail to attend or cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, and this is one of the key areas the group plans to tackle.

David Chadwick, chief of service for the surgical services centre said: “The overall aim is to increase efficiency, improve the experience for our patients and staff and to increase productivity.”

Stuart Finn, directorate manager for theatres added: “It’s about making sure lists are used as efficiently as possible and that we plan and schedule and give our patients as much notice as possible.

“If we work together and get this right it will lead to shorter waiting times, better patient experience and patients will be more likely to want to choose to have a procedure at this organisation.”

Email your suggestions to Stuart.Finn@stees.nhs.uk.

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Dancer Shannon opens LRI I as she recovers from hip sur A YOUNG Teesside patient who feared her dancing career could be over before it had even begun because of a hip problem has officially opened the new Institute for Learning Research and Innovation.

Shannon Barstow, 20, from Ormesby, is now on the road to recovery - and possible stardom in the world of academia - after benefitting from a clinical trial comparing two different types of treatment for hip impingement - an abnormal shape of the hip.

The research, comparing keyhole surgery with exercise therapy for the condition, saw Shannon being selected for the surgical treatment route, and undergoing a daycase procedure in May. Now, thanks to the surgery, she is looking forward to putting on her dancing shoes again, as she completes the final year of her BA in dance at Teesside University.

As a recent research patient, Shannon was invited to officially open the trust’s new Institute for Learning, Research and Innovation, (LRI) which was showcased at a special event in October.

Staff from the LRI Institute Having recently gained Institute status, the former Academic centre aims to bring together a full range of research, teaching, development, training and innovation facilities into one ‘hub’ – with the ambition to grow and become a regional, national and international leader in its field.

Dr Susy Cook, director of learning, research and innovation, said: “The teams worked really hard to be granted institute status. Our ethos is integration of research, learning and innovation into practice through collaboration.

“This will be achieved through working in partnership with other agencies involved in the research of, training for and delivery of care, so we can build on the excellent work which already takes place and also plan and prepare for the future NHS workforce.”

Shannon is living proof of the benefits of clinical trials and research.

The young dancer, who hopes to continue her studies with a PGCE before becoming a primary school teacher specialising in teaching a range

Goodbye Tricia you’ll be missed TEARS were shed as Professor Tricia Hart said an emotional farewell to colleagues at the official launch of the LRI. The retiring chief executive was treated to a video highlighting her many

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achievements, since beginning her career in the NHS as a student nurse at the age of 18.

After working in a variety of roles including midwife, health visitor and community nurse, Tricia joined South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as director of nursing 11 years ago and was appointed as chief executive in 2013.

Her decision to join South Tees when other opportunities were available in Newcastle and on her doorstep came as she was so impressed with the friendly staff, from porters to doctors and consultants to board members.

In an emotional speech, she said: “When I first joined South Tees 11 years ago, I knew absolutely nobody. I knew the Friarage from when I had been a director

of nursing in York, but I had never been to James Cook.

But from day one, when I walked around the hospital, porters kept asking, did I need to know where to go and “was I okay” and I thought it was lovely.

Institute rgery of subjects through dance, initially feared she had inherited the condition hip dysplasia from mum Kim. Kim said: “She was complaining of pain so she was checked for hip dysplasia, but thankfully, she was fine. She was quite upset, being in her final year and being told she had a hip problem, where the head of femur had deformed because of the impingement.

But after the surgery, she is fine. Once she has finished her physiotherapy, she can continue with the career she is pursuing.”

Around 260 guests attended the LRI launch, with keynote speakers including Professor Ian Greer, vice president and dean of the faculty of medical and human sciences at the University of Manchester and Richard Kirk, chief executive of PolyPhotonix, Teesside.

Three reasons to support the James Cook neonatal ward HAVING one premature baby is stressful enough, but imagine having triplets!

To mark world prematurity day new parents Mark and Victoria Carter described their extraordinary experience of having three premature babies.

Victoria and Mark, from Newcastle, welcomed triplets Amelia, Joseph and Matilda into the world early, with the babies receiving treatment at the specialist intensive care unit at the James Cook neonatal ward.

Born at 28 weeks, triplets Matilda (1lb 13oz), Amelia (2lbs 8oz) and Joseph (2lb 9oz) are all making steady progress and are keeping both staff and parents very busy with nappy changes, feeding and demands for attention.

Mum Victoria said: “We have been here for five weeks now and the staff are so supportive. We find that they are consistently communicating with each other and discussing our babies and how to take their progress further.

“The staff almost see that we are slightly more vulnerable, in the sense that we are away from our friends and family. So they tend to chat to us a bit more and pair us up with other parents in similar situations so that we have a network of friends.

“Although we are originally from the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, we were transferred to James Cook as there was no space there. We have been really lucky in the sense that we got a flat at the hospital so that we are always close to the children.

It’s so reassuring!”

The neonatal unit at James Cook treats over 400 babies every year and its specialist care saves the lives of babies not only born in Teesside but across North Yorkshire and the North east.

Grand opening: Shannon with the senior team and special guests at the launch

“I got a real feel for the place and that is what has kept me here all those years.”

During Professor Hart’s career at South Tees, the trust and various members of staff have received no less than 38 prestigious awards centring on best practice and high standards of patient care in the NHS - and have been shortlisted in many more.

During her tenure, Professor Hart has also been recognised for her national work on the Francis Report into Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust and was asked by the Prime Minister to conduct a review of hospital complaints procedures alongside Ann Clwyd MP. During her farewell speech, she said her experience working across many NHS organisations had shown the culture at South Tees was “second to none” thanks to “superb” staff.

“So many of you go above and beyond all the time and it has been an absolute privilege and a joy to lead you as a director of nursing, and latterly, as your chief executive,” she said.

Dr Shalabh Garg, neonatal consultant, said: “We provide intensive care for babies that need to go on breathing machines (ventilators) or babies who have an infection and need support for their heart or blood pressure or need cooling treatment.

We have well equipped neonatal transport service and retrieve babies from other hospitals who need intensive care.

“You can see from the amount of cards and Christmas presents we receive from parents that they are really thankful for the work we do here.”

Mark, Victoria and Matilda with Dr Garg 11

Paul’s drives away with a new £12,000 car – for £2!

Panto stars Ashleigh and Pudsey the dog swapped Cinderella’s coach for a different type of transport - a brand new car!

THE Britain’s Got Talent favourites handed over the keys of a Peugeot 208 to Paul Forbes – the lucky winner of the Friarage MRI Scanner Appeal raffle.

News that Paul had clinched first prize came completely out of the blue and in the form of a cryptic message posted on the noticeboard at work which simply read ‘congratulations Paul – beep beep!’

“The charity team and work colleagues had been trying to get hold of me but I’d changed phone contracts so my number was in transit,” he said.

“I actually work at the Friarage but was on holiday – it was my gaffer who told me I’d won the car when I went back –

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I just couldn’t believe it!”

Paul, who has worked in the catering department of the hospital for the last seven years looking after patients’ dietary needs, bought just one £2 ticket – raffle number 5646!

Ironically, he has only recently bought a car…

“I haven’t won anything in my life apart from the odd fiver on the lottery so couldn’t believe my luck although it was amusing after I’d recently bought a car,” he added.

“I’m genuinely pleased and really appreciative, although I did have a bit of a panic when I couldn’t find my winning ticket – it turned up in my back garden!

“I’m extremely supportive of the Friarage – it’s a fantastic hospital and the MRI Scanner Appeal is a brilliant cause – I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who bought tickets.”

South Tees Hospitals Charity, in

partnership with the Friends of the Friarage, launched the raffle as part of their £2million Scanner Appeal target.

The car, provided by Simon Bailes Peugeot in Northallerton, is valued at £12,395 and has multifunction colour touchscreen, air conditioning, 15” alloy wheels, front fog lights and blue tooth.

Simon Bailes, managing director of Simon Bailes Peugeot Northallerton, said: “The Friarage Hospital is in desperate need of a MRI scanner, so it was our pleasure to support the Friarage scanner appeal.

“Working with local charities and organisations is a big part of our ethos and the scanner appeal will have huge benefits for people living in and around Northallerton.”

The other winning tickets were 1562 (second prize of £200), 3884 (third prize of £150) and 4757 (fourth prize of £100).

Fabulous five

Golden evening for scanner ROBIN Jessop, chartered surveyor, auctioneer and estate agent based in Bedale and Leyburn held a charity evening with friends at the Golden Lion raising a phenomenal £16,457.30 for the scanner appeal. An auction of promises conducted by Robin including amazing prizes and a raffle helped to raise this fantastic amount.

Big thank you to after dinner speaker 24-year-old Oxford graduate Lydia Slack, entertained the guests with her funny and unique stories of her childhood growing up in the Derbyshire countryside. Well done and thank you to the generous sponsors and everyone involved in the excellent evening for helping to make it such a huge success.

It’s a first for Skipton SKIPTON Building Society - one of the first business to support the scanner appeal’s busy fundraising campaign over the last few months has raised £476.63. Supporting a good cause at the heart of the community is important to Skipton are dedicated to supporting local charities and the Friarage, in particular, as customers often mention the hospital, are patients, or know someone being treated there.

Dance away

Racing ahead

A FUN evening of music and folk dancing organised by Paula Green raised £605 for the scanner appeal. Everyone had a great time at the sell out charity ceilidh at Chantry Hall, Bedale and enjoyed the entertainment by the Village Hop Band. A big thank you to all who attended and everyone who supported the two village celidihs raising £1,300 in total.

CURTAIN Up Productions (CUP) - a small group (20 members) of locals from Great Smeaton and surrounding villages fun race night raised a fantastic £1.014 for the appeal. The MRI gold cup stakes - racing ahead for scanner appeal racing with a twist - was a sell out and the most successful the group has organised. A big thank you to everyone for their support.

Brass, blues and all that jazz THE FABULOUS sounds of Alverton Brass and Middlesbrough Jazz and Blues Orchestra entertained guests at a special concert at The Forum, Northallerton. Kindly organised and sponsored by local Northallerton pensioner Bill Waters, the popular band and orchestra’s repertoire included something for everyone raising a fantastic £1,000 for the appeal. Bill said: “I wanted to do something to help my local hospital as a tribute to my wife, as I know this is what she would have wanted.”

13

Top author Joanna visits children’s ward HIGHLY acclaimed author Joanna Trollope popped in to the children’s ward at James Cook during a visit to the town to find out more about the work of the National Literacy Trust Hub in the area.

The National Literacy Trust Hub in Middlesbrough, known locally as the Middlesbrough Reading Campaign, aims to raise literacy levels in the area with innovative targeted programmes as well as wider community projects.

Joanna toured the children’s wards and neonatal unit where reading packs are being distributed to families by volunteers. This initiative aims to promote reading for enjoyment among children and encourage parents and carers to read to their new born babies while they are in hospital.

Ms Trollope said: “This project is absolutely vital. It dooms people to a very limited life if they can’t read or write with ease and obviously the earlier you start the easier it is to pick up and enjoy stories, that to children are irresistible.

“For the children in hospital, the opportunity to read books is a great way to alleviate the boredom and the parents of the tiny babies in the neonatal unit can read to them as although the babies are in a delicate state, it helps them to recognise their parents’ voices.

Joanna Trollope looks through a book with a young patient on the children’s ward at James Cook

(Front left to right) Maureen Raine, Chris Dalton, Mike Findley, his wife Judith, MND specialist physiotherapist Aine Stockton and Faye Dalton (far right) Vic Jeffries, Helen Oakes (middle), Anthony Hanratty MND nurse specialist and care co-ordinator (back)

Mike’s angels help make life easier for MND sufferers INSPIRATIONAL Mike Findley, who has lived with debilitating motor neurone disease (MND) for more than a decade, has continued his support for other sufferers - with the help of friends who also have the cause close to their hearts.

“Mike’s Angels” - the collective name given to kind, former MND carers and other supporters on board with his many sponsored walks and events – have funded a £2,000 specialist chair, which is now making life easier for MND patients at James Cook.

Mike, whose fund has raised almost £164,000 to date, said: “A lot of the money goes towards research, but we also like to help local people suffering with the disease now. We like to buy equipment for the MND centre and this is the latest piece we have purchased.”

He said the new chair – which he got the opportunity to try out for himself - was “great” because it “fits everyone with MND” moulding to them - no matter how they are affected by the condition.

They were joined by Helen Oakes, another of Mike’s Angels, who lost her husband Mike to MND four years ago, and Maureen Raine, 63, who has been touched by MND twice in her life.

Anthony Hanratty, MND nurse and care co-ordinator, at James Cook, said: “Due to the fantastic and extremely kind donations and partnership between the Care Centre and the Mike Findley MND fund, people living with MND in our area have greater access to intervention, improved care and a better quality of life, which otherwise may not have been the case. Words can never be enough to express how grateful we are.”

Six years ago, it cruelly claimed the life of her sister Mena Austin, a former Middlesbrough Council worker and librarian at St David’s School, from Linthorpe.

Mike and his team’s efforts have also funded equipment to assist patient mobility and carry out respiratory function testing, aiding quicker assessment and treatment.

And two months ago, Maureen also lost her friend Pauline Eason, 79, a retired primary school teacher of St Clare’s, from Acklam, known to her friends as Anne.

It has also part-funded an EMG machine, which allows patients who have suspected MND to be seen and investigated more quickly, and diagnosed as soon as possible.

Chris Dalton, 55, who lost her husband Martin to MND in July 2013 when he was just 53, was amongst the fundraisers who came to check out the new equipment, alongside daughter Faye, 27.

Mike Findley, who celebrated the 14

10th anniversary of his MND fund in September, said it was stories like these that inspired him to raise funds.

Cutting edge technology for North east patients NHS PATIENTS in the North east with serious digestive problems are some of the first to benefit from a successful new endoscopic procedure.

Consultant Mr YKS Viswanath, who specialises in upper GI and endoscopic/ laparoscopic surgery, carried out the minimally-invasive endoscopic outpatient procedure for the first time in the UK in the NHS at James Cook in February 2015.

Known as Stretta® therapy - endoscopic radio-frequency application - it offers an alternative to surgery for patients who suffer from chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) where acid from the stomach leaks out of the stomach and up into gullet causing symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux and difficulty swallowing.

A special catheter is used to deliver radiofrequency energy to the muscle tissues in the lower part of the gullet (area of gastro-oesophaegeal junction).

This strengthens the muscle tissue (lower oesophageal sphincter area) to prevent the reflux occurring.

The minimally invasive outpatient procedure takes less than an hour and does not require any incisions / cuts, stitches or implants so patients can return to normal activities the following day.

One patient who has benefitted from the new procedure and found significant relief is Margaret Wyke, 60, from Middlesbrough.

Margaret has been battling severe acid reflux - a very common symptom of burning pain felt internally around the lower chest area, caused by stomach acid flowing back up into the food

Mr Vishwanath chats with patient Margaret Wyke at James Cook. pipe - for over 10 years. She had the procedure in July this year.

She has been relying on medication to keep the worst of the symptoms at bay and says it has dramatically changed her life. “The symptoms were having a significant impact on my day to day life health wise and I was constantly being sick/regurgitating and had a cough.

Bending over made me ill, my sleep was affected and I could not enjoy eating due to the sickness and having to avoid certain foods and drinks which make reflux worse.

“Having the procedure was the best decision I have made. My quality of life has improved overall and it has really changed my life. Things changed for the better for me in a couple of weeks. The acid reflux has significantly improved, as has my voice. I can now eat foods I couldn’t before and enjoy a meal out and socialise with my family and friends.

Laparoscopic conference: Some of the delegates at the conference held in the LRI at James Cook

“I am grateful to Mr Vishwanath - who carried out the procedure – for his help and advice on managing my symptoms.

I would definitely recommend Stretta to anyone who has suffered the way I have. I am so glad I did it and that other patients will benefit in future.”

Mr Viswanath said: “I am very enthusiastic about bringing this advanced outpatient endoscopic treatment to James Cook. We have carried out around 20 procedures so for and we plan to increase the number of treatments we provide so more patients can benefit from this best in class cutting edge technology.

“I am delighted we can now offer this service to NHS patients in the UK as it’s a condition that affects a large number of the patients we see. It’s fantastic for our patients because they recover much faster and the therapy can offer significant symptom relief for up to 10 years with better quality of life.”

• Mr Viswanath was also heavily involved in the first northern video symposium for those interested in laparoscopic and robotic gastrointestinal (GI) surgery. The highly successful conference at the Learning Research Innovation Institute at James Cook was attended by over 70 people who heard a keynote speech from world-renowned laparoscopic GI surgeon Professor C Palanivelu.

15

Gift of life – G being a living DONATING a kidney to a complete stranger is something few of us might ever consider.

Teesside University academic Dr Gill Owens is among the several hundred people to have altruistically donated a kidney after the process became legal in 2006.

The TAVI team with an Australian visitor. (left to right) Dr Sonny Palmer, TAVI fellow, Dr Paul Williams, associate Professor Andrew MacIsaac from Australia, Dr Mark De Belder and Dr Dougie Muir

James Cook TAVI team welcomes Australian cardiologists THE TAVI team at James Cook were proud to welcome an associate professor in their field – all the way from down under.

Palmer, another cardiologist from Melbourne, who has been appointed as a fellow in TAVI at James Cook - one of the first posts like this in the country.

Dr Williams said: “We are extremely Professor Andrew MacIsaac, director of pleased to have attracted a high calibre cardiology at St Vincent’s Hospital in individual from Australia to work with Melbourne, who is also president of us on the team as our inaugural the Cardiac Society of Australia TAVI fellow and believe Dr and New Zealand, visited Palmer will be a huge asset the team that fits patients “Our to the department. with new heart valves clinical results “The TAVI programme through a small cut in at James Cook started their groin or chest - a are outstanding in 2009 and we are procedure known as with an extremely one of the highest transcatheter aortic volume centres in valve implantation – low mortality and the UK. or TAVI. The procedure dramatically cuts recovery time for patients, who could otherwise face open heart surgery.

complication rate.”

Professor MacIsaac was a guest of Dr Paul Williams, who worked with him as an interventional cardiology fellow in Melbourne, before taking up his consultant post at James Cook.

He joined the hospital’s TAVI programme manager Dougie Muir and Dr Sonny 16

“Our clinical results are outstanding with an extremely low mortality and complication rate.”

Professor MacIsaac spent a year as a young child living in Middlesbrough, where his father worked as an obstetrician.

He was keen to revisit his childhood home and take a tour of the cardiology department and Dr Williams said: “He seemed very impressed!”

Altruistic kidney donation involves an individual offering their kidney as a living donor to an unknown person in order to enable the recipient to live a longer and healthier life.

In April 2015 there were 6,919 people on the UK organ donor waiting list, each waiting an average of two and a half years for a donor. Awareness of this situation led to the development of a legal framework for altruistic donation in the UK. Gill, who is committed to spreading the word about the NHS’s altruistic programme, drew from her own personal experiences when she shared her story at a talk at Teesside University.

Dr Caroline Wroe, nephrologist joined her at the public event to explain the journey towards altruistic donation and the medical science behind kidney donation in the UK. Gill, 49, of Yarm, watched her sister-in-law Anita gain a new lease of life following a kidney transplant. Sadly Anita passed away a few months after the birth of her first grandchild.

It was the loss of Anita and the birth of a new arrival which led Gill to make her selfless donation of a kidney earlier this year ‘to help someone else’s Anita’.

For Gill it was the birth of Anita’s first grandchild which proved to be her trigger point. She said: “It made me realise that although I don’t have children myself, I can give life in another way.

Gill’s story of g donor “I’d always wanted my kidney to go to a child because I had not had children, but sister Alison Callaway at James Cook, where all the testing took place, made me realise that a life is a life.”

Gill who was approaching the end of her PhD contacted the transplant office the day after her studies were complete in order to set the ball rolling to become a living donor.

“There is a very long and complex system involved in finding a match, but they found a match which was perfect in January this year,” said Gill, who underwent surgery a few months later, with her kidney successfully transplanted to offer a new lease of life to the recipient.

“I want people to know that it possible to do this, how to go about it and what it involves,” said Gill.

Dr Wroe said: “Gill is a powerful advocate for altruistic living kidney donation and her story is moving. In the UK nearly 500 people have now become altruistic kidney donors offering hope to a significant number of patients who do not have a matching donor and would otherwise be on dialysis.

“At the end of the lecture Karen and Jeremy Williams shared their story of how Karen benefitted from receiving an altruistic kidney and how this released her from 12 years of dialysis treatment and has enabled her to spend time looking after her grandchildren.”

If you have a friend or relative affected by kidney disease and would like to know more about kidney donation please contact sister Alison Callaway on 01642 854732, extension 54732. The NHS website www.organdonation.nhs.uk gives more information and patient stories.

(left to right) Nina Williams, community psychiatric nurse, Debra Gallant, senior neurosciences occupational therapist, Viv Horton, advanced clinical pharmacist neurosciences, Susan Palfreeman, Parkinson’s liaison sister, Dr Neil Archibald, consultant neurologist and patient Neil Turver and his wife Phyllis Turver

New Parkinson’s clinic at the heart of the community hailed as a success A PARKINSON’S advanced symptom unit (PASU) - the first of its kind in the UK – has opened at Redcar Primary Care Hospital.

Unlike a usual 15 or 30 minute appointment, the PASU offers half-day or full day appointments where specialist staff have greater opportunity to assess the patient’s condition and to tailor treatment to individual needs.

Dr Neil Archibald, lead consultant neurologist, said there is a real need for specialist Parkinson’s care as one in 500 people has the disease and as the population ages then this number is only set to increase.

He said: “We’ve always done our best to see patients when we can but we have always felt our service was not as responsive to the patient as it could be – it could take up to three months for a patient to see all the different specialists they needed to.

“The key to this clinic is we have all the specialties in one place and follow-up is immediate - it’s proactive, preventative and community-based

which allows us to check up and assess patients a lot more closely.”

“Parkinson’s is an extremely distressing condition.”

One of the first patients to benefit from the clinic, Neil Turver, 71, from Marton said: “Parkinson’s is an extremely distressing condition making it difficult for patients to remain positive but having the specialist clinic in our backyard makes things so much better.

“It allows staff to work as a team and if any member of the team needs anything they are all together in the same building!”

The clinic was set up by the trust’s Parkinson’s team and is supported in part by a £75,000 grant from the independent healthcare charity the Health Foundation. It also has the support of Parkinson’s UK, South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.

17

Inspiring book reflects on Phil’s life after GBS Staff and patients with the new Heidelberg eye scanner

Unveiling of long awaited eye scanner STAFF and patients at James Cook celebrated the success of the retinal development appeal by unveiling a long awaited cutting edge eye scanner that will help save the sight of thousands of patients.

The Heidelberg eye scanner, which cost over £175,000, has advanced components which allow staff to diagnose patients quicker because of the high quality images that it produces.

Fundraisers, including patients past and present, have contributed over £84,000 to the charity appeal, which was added to a £120,000 grant from the drugs company Novartis.

Kay Henderson, manager and ophthalmic associate practitioner who co-ordinated the appeal said: “I would like to thank the fundraisers as without their hard work and dedication there would be no unveiling.

“This scanner will help clinicians diagnose sight threatening conditions more effectively and efficiently for patients all over Teesside and North Yorkshire. It will ensure that we meet the future growing demand and continue to provide the high standard of care that our patients have come to expect.”

The machine will be used to diagnose and treat many of the major eye diseases which lead to loss of sight such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.

The scanner can also be upgraded with components in the future to ensure that it remains at the forefront of medical technology.

18

A DAD-OF-TWO who almost died from Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) has launched an inspirational book with the support of neurology consultant Dr Neil Archibald at James Cook.

Chirpy Phil Graham is determined to show other sufferers there is life after the potentially fatal condition, in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the nervous system.

The title of the book “I’m going nowhere” is inspired by a particularly dark event in which Phil, 62, almost died, leaving wife Janet, 50, and the couple’s two boys Daniel, 29, and Padraic, 25.

But it is certainly not all doom and gloom, with its funny anecdotes in which Phil describes “the humorous side” of spending 10 months in James Cook.

Phil, who has been left partially paralysed by the condition, said: “The night I nearly died, hospital staff worked for five hours to keep me breathing. It was very traumatic.

“Writing the book, I had to revisit experiences that had been quite frightening. But it is still a book of hope.

“It’s about how we coped with a lifechanging situation – and how I’m so

happy to have cancelled my appointment with the grim reaper!”

“I got exemplary treatment at James Cook. The staff on wards 25 and 26 were brilliant.”

Phil makes no secret of the lifechanging nature of GBS, touching on his sadness at the fact he will never play his beloved guitar again.

After a career spanning almost 40 years as a photographer, he is also coming to terms with the fact he can no longer even hold a camera.

But he is still gigging with his band Share The Darkness - and determined to continue enjoying life.

He said: “When I came out of hospital, my life had inevitably changed, but I had seen some people come into hospital who died.

“That’s helped me have the attitude that life’s great and yes, there are things I can’t do now, but I’m still here.

“I can either let it bother me or I can get on and enjoy life as best I can.”

The launch of his book at Park Head Country Hotel, in his home town of New Coundon, Bishop Auckland, was a resounding success.

During the event, Dr Neil Archibald from James Cook gave a 10-minute presentation on GBS. Phil said: “I got exemplary treatment at James Cook.

The staff on wards 25 and 26 were brilliant.”

Janet and Phil – book launch

Money from the sale of Phil’s book is going to GAIN, a charity for people with GBS and other assorted inflammatory neuropathic conditions.

For more information or to get a copy, email phil@filmar.co.uk.

Nominate your nightingale THE search is on for the Nightingale award winner for 2016 The trust is looking for nominations for its annual Nightingale awards which recognise the hard work and dedication of nursing and midwifery staff at James Cook and Friarage hospitals and local community hospitals and health services.

A&E doctor Hans Korsen and paediatric nurse practitioner Amanda Dunn simulate an emergency in the new resuscitation rooms on a ‘dummy’ patient

Pupils help make A&E more child friendly School pupils have helped make the accident and emergency department at James Cook more child friendly by designing artwork for its new resuscitation rooms. make the area feel less intimidating EVERY year around 350 for young patients. children are treated by the Sara Hamill, paediatric nurse resuscitation team at the practitioner at James hospital but until Cook said: “Feedback recently they have so far has been had to use the very positive. Our same facilities as “The artwork patients feel that it’s much more adult patients.

The new rooms enable children who have been involved in major trauma or who have a medical emergency to be treated in a separate area with a more appropriate environment.

looks fantastic and we would like to thank everyone involved for their amazing efforts.”

Youngsters from St Bede’s School in Marske teamed up with A&E staff and Steve Robson Artworks to brighten up the walls of the new rooms with some unique designs. The pupils created their own fun, colourful images for the walls capturing everything from beach scenes to space travel to help

child friendly and parents have said what a difference it makes having children away from the hustle and bustle of the main A&E entrances.

“It’s much better for patient experience as youngsters who are struggling with their breathing will no longer find themselves being treated next to an adult who has had a heart attack.

Whether it’s an individual who has gone that extra mile to make a patient’s hospital stay more comfortable or a team who have worked extra hard to improve the service they deliver, the trust wants to hear who you think deserves this special award for 2015/2016.

Last year’s winner was neonatal staff nurse Sarah Brooks who was recognised for her outstanding contribution to patient care.

Sarah, pictured, also won the staff nurse award.

Nurse consultant Nicky Hand is part of the team in charge of organising the prestigious award ceremony which is now in its eleventh year. She said: “These awards are an opportunity to recognise nurses and midwives who you feel have gone that extra mile. Staff are always extremely proud to receive a nomination from a colleague, patient or carer.”

To nominate go to www. southtees.nhs.uk/about/awards/ nightingale/ and submit your nomination form before the end of February.

Sarah Brooks

“The artwork looks fantastic and we would like to thank everyone involved for their amazing efforts.”

19

Recycling benefits patients...

JK RECYCLING Limited is kindly supporting James Cook’s elderly care wards with a fundraising campaign throughout the year.

The local recycling company - which has branches on Marton and Linthorpe Road close to James Cook - is hoping to raise around £10,000 to enhance patient comfort.

They are generously donating a percentage of their profits to help the wards to provide everyday items such as slippers and pyjamas for patients who often come into hospital with few personal items. They also want to help towards providing specialist equipment, like reclining chairs and hoists, which will help staff and patients.

Got any unwanted Christmas gifts? They are always looking for donations and can provide local collection.

They accept pretty much anything from clothes to furniture, books and items in the house. If you can help telephone them on 01642 820733 or 07935 868960.

Fab four We feature below a small selection of the fantastic fundraisers who have helped us recently. If anyone is interested in fundraising contact the charity team on 01642 854160 or visit their website at www.southtees.nhs.uk/charity.You can also keep up to date with the latest on South Tees charity on twitter @STeesCharity

Bev races to put patients first

Fundraising is sweet THANKS to kind-hearted members of Thornton-leStreet upholstery group Ova the Rainbow gynaecological cancer support group has received a welcome £500.

The Norhallerton branch will use the money to support patients and their carers to provide extra comforts, holistic therapies and equipment.

Recipe book ‘Sweet Treats’ created by the ladies and featuring their recipes which have been passed down through the generations contains 20everything from a banana fudge loaf to carrot cake.

20

INTREPID orthopaedic discharge sister - Bev Tytler - went that extra mile running the Middlesbrough 10K in 1hour 2 minutes 51 seconds raising £701.43 for the trauma and theatre centre.

Bev wants to make sure all patients have a positive experience and are at the centre of everything we do. The money raised will help continue the patient experience work on wards 34, 36, 37 at James Cook and Gara ward at the Friarage.

Jon’s a brave heart

Simply the best D.B.E.S.T charity based at Little Ormesby Club and Institute in Middlesbrough has raised an amazing £10,000 for James Cook’s neonatal unit as their chosen charity.

Their fundraising campaign over the last 18 months has included charity nights, raffles, walks and much more.

A big thank you to everyone who has supported the events helping to raise this fantastic amount to help the tiny babies the unit cares for and their families.

INTREPID Jon Zigmond put his heart and soul into fundraising after recovering from major heart surgery and fighting his way back to fitness so he could continue with his sporty lifestyle. Jon, 64, from Rosedale Abbey in the North York Moors, wanted to raise money to help other patients looked after by the dedicated hospital teams at James Cook who look after him and his wife, Sally.

Thanks to his magnificent fundraising efforts and the generous people who sponsored him the cardiology and diabetes departments will share a fantastic £7,500 donation.

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