The seasons have changed and there may be a chill in the autumn air now, but the fantastic summer we have enjoyed - thanks to our generous fundraisers - is keeping us all warm and fuzzy inside!
We are so fortunate to be able to say that there have been so many charity events and fundraisers in the past few months that unfortunately, we can’t cram them all into this newsletter.
We are still basking in the warm glow of big events such as Middlesbrough 10k, the Great North Run and our charity golf day in the summer, all of which were fantastic days – helped, of course, by the good weather Gods!
Again, so many people supported these events that we unfortunately can’t name them all, but we hope those who have taken part will enjoy seeing if they can spot themselves in our pictures!
I have to give a special mention to our James Cook Hospital midwives, whose cycling event in Middlesbrough raised thousands of pounds for a new bereavement room, which will help us to better support families affected by baby loss.
They are such fantastic ambassadors for our hospitals and what they have done, spurred on by our generous patients and staff from other departments who got behind the cause, will have a dramatic positive impact for years to come.
Work on the new facility, which has been supported by our corporate partner Geoffrey Robinson, started on November 1st and we look forward to keeping you informed of its progress.
We understand that as we head into the winter months in the current climate, many families in our area are facing a difficult time.
Ben
Murphy Head of
ourhospitalscharity.org
It was great to welcome back Teesside’s own TV presenter Steph McGovern, who officially opened our critical care garden at James Cook Hospital recently.
The national treasure was delighted to do the honours and described our hospital as a welcoming place to be.
A JustGiving appeal for the garden raised over £13,000 due to the kindness of 278 supporters.
Several local companies, including Hill’s Nurseries in Stokesley and Durham University Botanic Gardens, kindly donated plants and trees and the garden was designed by local artist Dr Laura Johnston.
Boro lass Steph couldn’t have been happier to meet the staff who had worked so hard on the garden.
She recalled her Mam working in the hospital as a radiographer when she was little and said: “I’ve loved the chance to come back.”
The garden enables patients in critical care and their families to spend precious time together in a calming environment.
Beds can be wheeled out into the space to enable patients to get some much-needed fresh air and a change of scenery.
Steph described the garden as “brilliant” and gave a huge “well done” to the team who made it possible.
“Thanks for being lovely and looking after everyone,” she said.
“Thank you for everything you’ve been doing and continue to do.
“My applause and love goes out to you.”
You can come back and visit us any time Steph!
Lynne Paterson is a Clinical Director, Neonatal Nurse Consultant and Lead Nurse at the Northern Neonatal Network.
Lynne is also very supportive of families wanting to make a donation to our neonatal unit, which you can find out more about on pages four and five.
What do you love about your job?
I love meeting all of our supporters and service users and hearing their stories when they tell us why they fundraise and how they have benefitted from our support.
What has been your most memorable moment so far while working for Our Hospitals Charity?
I am quite new to the role but there has already been a lot, such as meeting our runners recently and the reaction of the staff and patients when we helped the Children and Young People’s Emergency Department celebrate their first birthday.
What’s your favourite type of fundraising event and why?
I just love it when people choose to put on a fundraising event for us, as there is usually a reason why and they are very passionate and come up with some great ideas. We are here to support fundraisers along the way with advice and resources.
What’s your top tip for people who are thinking of holding a fundraising event?
Have fun, check out what else is on in the area, give yourself plenty of time, tell everybody about your event, use social media, local newspapers and radio, ask friends for help and don’t forget to thank people.
BORO LASS STEPH CUTS THE RIBBON ON BEAUTIFUL NEW GARDEN
The vast majority of these are born safe and well and can go home with their mums relatively quickly, without any problems.
However, a small proportion of these tiny patients require much more help than others.
This is where the neonatal unit comes in, providing round the clock care to little ones who have been born prematurely or extremely poorly.
These families may be in the unit for just a few days, but some spend several weeks, even months with us.
Over the years, we have been overwhelmed with generous donations from families who have experienced the care of the neonatal unit and have gone on to raise funds.
It is the most special thank you for the care that we have given that we could possibly receive – and
what’s more it helps other families who are unfortunate enough to find themselves in the same situation for years to come.
The James Cook Hospital Neonatal Charitable Fund helps us to provide treatment and care over and above what the NHS would routinely provide.
People’s generous donations really do make a huge difference to both staff and families, funding everything from creating a tranquil and relaxing outdoor space where people can take a break from the busy ward, to the latest medical or technical equipment.
The fund is part of Our Hospitals Charity and anybody who wishes to make a donation to this specific fund can do so at the charity hub at James Cook Hospital near Costa or by contacting our team.
Some of the things the fund has provided over the years include Memory Boxes and keepsakes for families of babies who have sadly passed away, as well as family rooms, cooling mats and other equipment.
A lot of the time, it’s the little things that have the biggest impact on making our families feel well cared for.
Here is a snapshot of some of the things that the fund has made possible:
Thanks to the generous donations we receive, we are able to provide keepsakes for families and their babies, which provide comfort to families who may be going through a difficult time. A teddy with a recording of a baby’s heartbeat is one of the most touching examples. We also provide knitted items including hats, cardigans, toys and blankets for our premature babies.
Through donations we’ve been able to transform two sitting rooms for parents and transformed the clinical feeling areas into more comfortable, calm, tranquil and relaxing spaces for families to take some time out from the ward.
Through generous donations we’ve been able to transform the neonatal garden. This gives families and staff a place where they can go to relax, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy ward and what can sometimes be an intense atmosphere. Siblings of some of the poorly babies particularly appreciate having a space where they can play and let off a bit of steam.
None of this would have been possible without generous donations – our patients and staff will be thankful for many years to come.
If you would like to make a donation to the James Cook Neonatal Charitable Fund, call 01642 854296 or email ourhospitalscharity@nhs.net.
We also have a JustGiving page for the fund, which is at www.justgiving.com/ campaign/JCNCF
Great North Runners do us proud!
A total of 135 people did the Great North Run for Our Hospitals Charity this year –and we’re incredibly grateful for their support.
The famous half marathon can be very gruelling indeed, but judging by the smiles on some of these faces, our athletes took it all in their
Brave parents, Katie and Thomas join 10k race as part of £14,000 fundraising drive
Brave parents, Katie and Thomas, who lost their baby boy Ronnie when he was just one day old were amongst the Middlesbrough 10k runners raising funds for Our Hospitals Charity.
The remarkable couple took part in the race less than three months after their baby boy passed away, as part of a team raising funds for ‘Remembering Ronnie’.
Along with family and friends, they have raised a massive £14,704 at the time of writing for the James Cook Hospital’s neonatal unit and maternity bereavement services.
Katie and Thomas’s JustGiving page details how their son Ronnie Nichols was born “7lbs of perfect” on 16th June, but because his cord had been trapped during labour, he passed away the following day, despite the best efforts of the neonatal unit. Everyone at Our Hospitals Charity is so grateful to Katie, Thomas and everyone else who took part in the race to raise funds for our hospitals.
A 12-year-old girl with diabetes has inspired Eston and Normanby Social Club to raise £1,000 for charity.
Gracie Ewart attends Peat Rigg every year for a little holiday with other children with diabetes – an annual event that is organised by South Tees Hospitals’ Paediatric Diabetes Unit.
However, charitable funds are needed to make this and other events possible and Gracie’s Dad Sean, who is a committee man at the Eston and Normanby, put the Diabetes Unit forward to be the club’s charity of the year.
Thanks to the club’s policy of committee members donating what they used to receive as monetary “duties” to the charity of the year, as well as generous punters filling up collection jars on the bar or donating their refundable function room deposit, £978 has been raised.
Gracie’s mum Lisa, who presented a cheque to the Paediatric Diabetes Team with Gracie recently, said: “I am over the moon with everything the club do.
“Gracie has been going to Peat Rigg since she was eight, which is great because she doesn’t sleep out at friends’ houses or anything.
“She often says she’s glad she has diabetes because of the fact that she gets to go there!”
Kevan Howe, the club secretary, said: “Each year we nominate a charity and we are happy to support Gracie’s charity.”
Well done Gracie for spreading the word about the Paediatric Diabetes Unit and thank you to Eston and Normanby Social Club for your generosity!
In the past few months, we have been very fortunate to receive several donations from bereaved families who have decided to have one of our collection tins at their loved ones’ funerals.
We wholeheartedly appreciate what is such a touching gesture at the most difficult of times.
If you would like to know more about donating to Our Hospitals Charity in this way, please contact the team on 01642 854160.
We are also honoured to pay tribute to loved ones who raise funds in this way in our newsletter.
Since the children’s A&E department at James Cook Hospital opened its doors one year ago, almost 30,000 young people have walked through its doors for treatment.
The phenomenal figure has been achieved thanks to the hard work and dedication of two teams who came together to improve accident and emergency services for children and young people.
It has also been made possible through a massive fundraising drive by Our Hospitals Charity, who also organised a first birthday party for the department, featuring Peppa Pig and plenty of cake!
The event was not only enjoyed by the young families who happened to be using the facility on that particular day, as Stephen McKenna, matron of the department explains.
“The staff absolutely loved it,” he said.
“They all put in a lot of hard work into the department all day every single day, and celebrating the first year is recognition of everything they have achieved in that time.
“The staff have been through lots of changes having been given a new department, finding new ways of working as the new children and young people’s department brought together what used to be the paediatric day unit and the old paediatric emergency department.
“The first birthday party wasn’t just a celebration of one year since the department opened, it was a celebration
of the way the teams have come together and the fact everyone has been able to blend and work together.”
Stephen added the unit regularly receives plenty of compliments from young patients and their families - and it’s also really busy!
“We saw approximately 29,000 patients last year, which is a massive amount,” he said.
“The unit has a really big, positive impact on the local community, with a lot of GPs in the local area regularly referring patients.
“With the new department, we have a sustainable service which incorporates a paediatric day unit stream preventing patients who don’t need to from coming into A&E, which in turn supports emergency care for all the patients who need it.”
Thanking the charity for their efforts in organising the celebration, Stephen added: “It meant a lot to the team and we thank Our Hospitals Charity for all their support.”
The Ferrum Lodge of Freemasons, based in Middlesbrough, decided to support the Rainbow Appeal for the children’s A&E facility at James Cook University Hospital, in recognition of the hard work of staff on the unit.
Over the past 15 years, Yorkshire Freemasons have supported children attending A&E through the TLC Scheme, which provides Teddy Bears as a gift to alleviate distress whilst awaiting treatment.
Over this period in the region of 20,000 teddy bears have been distributed to children in A&E, all of which have been funded entirely by Freemasons and their friends and family.
Ferrum Lodge members raised £2,500 for the scanner, and also put together a successful matched funding application to the Freemason’s Charity of Yorkshire North & East Ridings.
A contribution from the main Freemason’s national charity the Masonic Charitable Foundation, took the total to £6,500 to enable the purchase of an additional bladder scanner machine for the children’s A&E facility.
On behalf of the Masonic Province of Yorkshire North & East Ridings, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Denis Stubley, thanked the members of Ferrum Lodge for their diligence in organising the donations and contributing so much to their local community.
Ben Murphy, head of Our Hospitals Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to all the Freemasons across Middlesbrough, Yorkshire and beyond for their fundraising efforts and donations, which have enabled the purchase of this additional bladder scanner machine.
“The Freemasons have become firm friends with our A&E staff and patients over many years in which they have donated teddy bears to children attending A&E - simple gifts which have meant so much to so many individuals going through a stressful time in hospital.
“The scanner will enable nursing staff to make a quick assessment of care required by some of our youngest patients to avoid delay and also to rule out any potentially serious clinical condition, putting minds at rest as swiftly as possible.”
ourhospitalscharity.org
Yorkshire freemasons have supported the Children’s A&E unit at James Cook Hospital with £6,500 for an additional bladder scanner machine.Freemasons present cheque to Ben Murphy and children’s A&E staff
“We are incredibly grateful to all the Freemasons across Middlesbrough, Yorkshire and beyond.”
A law firm which supports people who have suffered lifechanging injuries is giving its backing to Our Hospitals Charity, as a new corporate supporter.
Sintons recognises the life-saving work and life-changing rehabilitation of the South Tees Trust, as it supports more than one million patients across Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, Hambleton & Richmondshire and North Yorkshire.
Sintons, whose Neurotrauma team works closely with specialist medics at James Cook Hospital, has become a corporate supporter of Our Hospitals Charity, in recognition of its work raising vital funds to help enhance the work of the Trust.
Andrew McGowan, head of Neurotrauma at Sintons, recently met our head of charity Ben Murphy to cement the new partnership.
He said Sintons was “very pleased to be associated with such a great charity, which supports a very dynamic NHS Trust”.
“South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises an array of vital NHS resources, which are lifelines within their communities,” said Andrew.
“The James Cook University Hospital is known nationally for its work in major trauma and spinal specialism in
particular, and we have seen first-hand how our clients have received life-saving, life-changing care and rehabilitation from its hugely committed team.
“This is an absolutely crucial first step in rebuilding their lives.
“By becoming a corporate supporter, we hope we can play some part in sustaining this amazing work through the fundraising of the Our Hospitals Charity.”
Sintons’ neurotrauma team works nationally supporting clients who have sustained life-changing injury, particularly brain and spinal cord injury.
The firm supports them and their families from the very earliest days post-trauma in rebuilding their lives and accessing the rehabilitation that will help them do that.
If you would like to make a one-off donation from your business, match funds raised for us by your staff or have Our Hospitals Charity as your charity of the year, please get in touch. We can also help you set up a payroll giving scheme, as well as supporting any fundraising events you would like to hold in your workplace.
Having you as a corporate supporter enables us to raise vital funds to improve care for more than one million people across the South Tees Hospitals patch. For more information, visit https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/charity/donation/ become-a-corporate-supporter/ or our contact the team page at https://www. southtees.nhs.uk/charity/contact/
Ottie, centre, Linda, second from left with some of the other musicians presenting a cheque to Kathryn Armstrong and Lauren Farrow of Trinity Holistic Centre.
A dedicated group of musicians who have played with the likes of Lindisfarne, Sting, Matt Monro and The Who to name just a few big name stars, are continuing to share their talents free of charge, to raise funds for Trinity Holistic Centre.
Since 2019, the group of guitarists, pianists, singers and other musicians have been travelling from as far afield as Norwich, Manchester and Northumberland to come together as the Fabulosa Band, putting on concerts to raise thousands for Trinity Holistic Centre.
Their late summer music festival, at Fletchers Farm, Great Ayton, raised more than £3,000, taking their running total for the centre to more than £12,000.
What’s more, the musicians happily do it for free and don’t even ask for travel expenses, so that every penny that is raised from the events goes to the centre.
Ottie McLoughlin, who organises the events alongside longtime friend Linda Zivanaris, jokes that the idea for the events came about because he was fed up with only seeing some of his musician friends at funerals!
As a result, he decided to throw a party where everybody enjoyed coming along and jamming together.
That sparked the idea of doing a regular concert for charity and Linda had learned how fantastic Trinity Holistic Centre was from a friend who was having treatment there.
She said: “When we were deciding what charity to support, we were really mindful of it being local, as we have a lot of local musicians involved and we also wanted it to raise funds for something people could relate to.
“We came down to see the place for ourselves and found it to be absolutely fabulous.
“There are so many friendly volunteers and it doesn’t get a lot of funding, so this was a chance to do something that would make a difference to a lot of people locally.”
Ottie added: “We have more than 30 musicians who love the events and come down and do it all for free – it’s a social thing for them.
“They all have the chance to meet each other again when they haven’t seen each other for a while.
“It’s great value as well for the people who come to see the concert because of the high calibre of musicians who are all really established and have played with all the big names.”
As well as transforming whatever venue they play into a “little nightclub” Linda also organises raffles at the events.
Ottie says: “It’s just got bigger and bigger over the years. “Next year, it will be even bigger and it’s all thanks to the generosity of the musicians who give their time and cover their own expenses – we provide them with nothing other than a stage!”
email Linda at Linziv@aol.com
That’s why Steve Wilson, from Guisborough, set up a men’s cancer support group at the Trinity Holistic Centre.
“You don’t always want to talk to your family because you don’t want to burden them or upset them,” said Steve, who is married to Angie and has two daughters Abbie, 21, and Erin, 19.
“This is a safe space for men, who are living with cancer, to talk about their feelings.
“Lindsey and Laura at the Holistic Centre are wonderful. I am hoping to put together a timetable of events including mindfulness, guided breathing, guest speakers.”
Steve was diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer, in 2010, after finding a lump in the back of his calf.
Anyone interested email: stevewilson_nz@yahoo.co.uk
He had surgery to remove the tumour but in 2017, he found a lump in his groin.
A fine needle biopsy revealed he had secondary cancer in his lymph nodes and he had surgery to remove the affected lymph nodes.
He has lymphedema in his left leg which causes him to feel tired and sickly.
Following his second surgery, he had rotten tissue in his leg causing infections so he had some muscle taken out of his leg “giving it a weird shape”.
“People think you have the surgery to remove the cancer and that’s the end of it,” said Steve, a learning disability nurse originally from London.
“You have to make physical adjustments to your life and it affects your mental health too.”
Steve plans to set up a walking football group too.
The group meets on the first Thursday of every month at the Trinity Holistic Centre at 6.30pm-8.30pm.
While we rely on monetary donations to enable us to enhance facilities and services across our hospitals, we are also so grateful for the many arty donations which brighten up our wards.
In summer, we were delighted to receive another fantastic work of art from Mackenzie Thorpe, which now has a home at the Spinal Injuries Unit at James Cook Hospital.
The work, entitled Light of the North, pays homage to our industrial heritage and is already being enjoyed by patients and staff.
Mackenzie said he will always draw Middlesbrough and the North East, where we have “the most amazing skies”.
“They are a constant source of inspiration and the light is like nowhere else I have ever been,” he said.
“The pride I have in our town will never die – I see beauty in our industrial past and kindness and strength in our community.”
He added that while times and landscapes change, his memories don’t, saying: “In our future are the influences and silent whispers of our forefathers, ever present, guiding us, our children and grandchildren to a bright future.”
Recently, we worked with Year One A-level and UAL Diploma graphic design students of the Northern School of Art in Middlesbrough, who were tasked with brightening up the Emergency Department at James Cook.
We gave the students a simple one word brief: “Wave” and they produced some beautiful designs.
Lucy Tranter, graphic design lecturer, said the students really enjoyed working with Our Hospitals Charity on their creations and the brief wave theme provided the opportunity to explore a range of artworks and associated ideas.
The result was a multitude of design outcomes which used different techniques, methods and processes.
“This was a brilliant opportunity for the students to be involved with local contacts and experience a brief with real time frames and deadlines as part of their industry practices and understanding of the creative industries,” Lucy said.
Student Bella Henderson added: “This was one of my favourite projects because I could work independently with my ideas and decide what I wanted to do myself. I used watercolour, which I love to use.”
SCHOOL OF ART BRIGHTEN UP HOSPITAL WITH A WAVE
A unique dandelion sculpture in memory of people who gave the gift of life through organ donation is lighting up a hospital garden and waiting area.
The sculpture, by artist Dr Laura Johnston, was produced thanks to generous donations to Our Hospitals Charity.
It stands in the Organ Donor garden at James Cook University Hospital as a symbol of the gift of life and will continue to be a huge source of comfort to bereaved families for years to come.
Laura met with staff including the Trust’s specialist organ donor nurse to come up with the unique idea for the sculpture, which features light-reflecting dandelion seeds, which are also spread around the garden.
Laura said: “I had this idea of a dandelion seed head because it’s such a beautiful structure and the seeds of the dandelion go off to create a new life, so that seemed like a really appropriate structure and symbol.
“I talked to the staff about it and then went away and made a little model of the idea and brought it back.
“I thought it would be nice to create little seedlings around the garden as well and if you look around the garden you can see elements of it around the three flower beds.”
The structure needed to be something that new names and dedications could be added to for years to come.
It is made up of hundreds of panels that will eventually be full of the names of people who have given the gift of life to someone else after their death.
As it is made from dichroic glass, it responds to the light and changes colour throughout the day.
The sculpture has already attracted many compliments from patients who have been able to sit and watch this from a nearby waiting area before their appointment.
Laura said: “Its globe shape means you have got 360 degrees of coloured elements when the sun shines on it.
“It scatters light across the garden, again suggesting giving light and life and you see these little flower shapes appearing on tree trunks and the paving, with patterns that are constantly changing.”
Seven dedications were added to the sculpture during Organ Donor week and new pink plants have also been added to the garden area after careful research of what would thrive in it and would also complement the sculpture.
Loved ones add dedications to Dandelion Sculpture
The Academic Cardiovascular Unit appeal Hearts + Minds is being run jointly by Our Hospitals Charity and South Cleveland Heart Fund.
Since launching in March, thousands of people from across the region have got behind the cause, organising various fundraising events or donating to the appeal in memory of loved ones.
Both consultant cardiologist David Austin and leading cardiac surgeon Enoch Akowuah are delighted with the way people across the region have got behind the major fundraising campaign.
Enoch said: “We are hugely excited to have reached 80% of our fundraising target.
“The opportunity to have our delivery nurses working together with the academic cardiovascular unit in the same building is an exciting one.
“We are looking forward to designing and delivering high quality research which will improve the health of our patients in the Tees Valley and nationally.”
David added: “A big thank you for all the efforts that have been made to raise money for the Cardiovascular Research Facility - a fantastic effort in the current climate.
“We are in touching distance of achieving this major milestone for our hospital and the region.”
A Charity night for much-loved Russell Teasdale raised £5,000 for the James Cook Hospital’s cardio unit - not to mention smiles through tears for wife Karen.
Russell – known as Russ - died after contracting coronavirus at the age of 62 last August, leaving behind Karen as well as daughters Jessica, 32, and Elizabeth, 30.
Russell had previously been a patient at James Cook and had a defibrillator fitted that Karen believes gave him some extra years of life that he wouldn’t otherwise have had.
So when family friend Ben O’Connor of Elite Events suggested a charity night in Russ’s memory, it seemed fitting that the money should go to the cardio unit appeal.
Karen said: “Russ had been so brave and had gone through a hip replacement, got his diabetes sorted and had a defibrillator and we were just thinking of retiring, when he got covid.
“I miss him more now than I did originally, but I’m lucky because I have good family around me including two daughters I couldn’t have done without and their fabulous husbands, as well as such a close-knit circle of friends.”
It was those generous friends and family who rallied around to make a night to remember Russ at Gisborough Hall so special – as well as being a massive fundraising success.
The night included magicians and tarot card readers, well-known local singer and family friend George Williamson and Pete Graves from Sky Sports as master of ceremonies.
An auction and raffle also took place.
Karen, 59, recalls it was a night Russ would have loved, surrounded by all the people who are closest to the family.
But it was also bittersweet, as pictures of Russ, a former singer, were shown, as his band played a special version of My Way in tribute to him.
“I was in tears,” said Karen, who still runs the family business Beaumont Accountancy Services.
“Russ was such a gregarious larger than life character - so well-liked - and he liked to have everyone who he knew around him.
“I wish people who didn’t know Russ could meet him for five minutes because as soon as anyone met him, he had them under his spell!
“He was so full of life, bless him.”
Karen adds she was “gobsmacked” with the number of people who turned up at Russ’s funeral.
“I’m sure that he is out there laughing at us and glad to see we are still running the business,” said Karen, who praised all the staff on the cardio unit for the way they looked after Russ when he was a patient in 2016.
“I’m very grateful that they kept him alive when he had his defibrillator fitted because I thought I was going to lose him then,” she said.
“I really can’t thank them enough.”
£5,000 raised in memory of much-loved Dad and husband.Russ. Family of Russ present £5,000 cheque for heart unit
HOSPITAL colleagues, drivers and families across Middlesbrough came out to support an intrepid team of midwives from James Cook Hospital, when they embarked on a Call The Midwife-themed bike ride.
Led by Debbie Bezance, delivery suite manager, the team cycled from James Cook to Centre Square in Middlesbrough, before stopping for tea and cakes and returning to hospital via Albert Park.
The team, who shed many tears on the journey during Baby Loss Awareness Week, brought traffic to a standstill along the way, with many drivers beeping in support!
Patients and staff at the hospital couldn’t believe their eyes when they looked out of their windows – and once they knew what was going on, they were keen to donate funds to the midwives’ cause.
The result has been more than £20,000 being raised towards the £60,000 cost of a new bereavement suite for families affected by baby loss.
Debbie explains how the team were inspired by a patient, Chloe, who wanted to improve facilities for women giving birth to babies born sleeping, following her own experience of losing her precious baby girl.
“We currently have a bereavement suite in maternity in the middle of our very noisy labour ward,” she explained.
“It’s not sound-proof and there is no seating area – it’s just very clinical, like a side ward.
“A beautiful lady was admitted in full term labour and when we listened in, we discovered her baby had died and she gave birth to a little girl in that room.”
During the three days the lady spent in the room following her sad loss, she could clearly hear babies crying and other women in labour and became determined to make the situation better for other mums who would walk in her shoes in future.
Debbie said: “She had to walk out onto the labour ward and go home without her baby.
“She got back in touch with us, pregnant again and she has now got a beautiful little girl.
“During that pregnancy, she fundraised and fundraised and managed to raise £30,000 to completely transform our delivery suite.”
Debbie describes this as “lighting a fire” inside her and the team, who thought if this girl can achieve that, they also wanted to do something to help her cause.
ourhospitalscharity.org
“We looked into the cost of a gold standard delivery suite for bereaved families with its own entrance and a visiting area for families and initially, we were looking at £132,000,” Debbie explained.
“But with the help and support of Geoffrey Robinson, a lovely local firm from Billingham, we were able to bring that down to £60,000 and we thought “that’s really doable”.
“All these people were helping us and saying we inspire them and we thought, we can raise the profile of this fundraising campaign as well as supporting a positive image of midwives and maternity services.
“We wanted to show people we are human and we care.”
With that in mind, the midwives embarked on their charity bike ride and set up a JustGiving page.
The page has attracted donations from people across the world in America, as well as generous colleagues in the hospital, patients, families and friends.
Debbie said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the whole experience.
“We brought traffic to a standstill and every so often, I would look up at one of my colleagues cycling beside me and would see them crying.
“It was so overwhelming.”
Thanks to everyone’s efforts, work was due to begin on the new bereavement suite at the beginning of November. Watch this space to see how the project develops.
Thank you to all the businesses that came out and supported our Charity Golf Day this summer, raising valuable funds for the Academic Cardiovascular Unit Appeal Hearts and Minds.
Better Brand Agency were the winners on the day, with Middlesbrough Football Club not too far behind. It was a fantastic day and we hope to see you all again next year.
Superhero fan Owen Alderson received a special treat on his 18th birthday, when the Incredible Hulk paid a visit to the Critical Care Garden to surprise him!
Owen, who has a rare genetic condition, developed a poorly chest that became incredibly serious recently, resulting in him spending several days in a coma and two months in intensive care.
The fun pub party his family had planned for him was put on hold, but when Our Hospitals Charity heard of his plight, they arranged for Teesside Entertainment Group to bring the party to Owen.
Owen’s Dad, Alec Loughran, said: “We couldn’t be happier
with what the charity did for Owen.
“It was unbelievable considering where he was and how it was all organised in such a short space of time.
“It meant the world to him and it meant the world to us as well.”
Our Hospitals Charity only found out about Owen’s birthday the day before the event, but pulled out all the stops to make his day special, with balloons, cakes and gifts – not to mention the VIP superhero visitor.
“We can’t thank them enough,” said Alec.
“Owen had a smile on his face all night.”
It’s only through your generous donations that we are able to enhance our patients’ lives in ways like this, making sure nobody misses out on big milestones just because they happen to be in hospital.
The importance of having relaxing and attractive outdoor spaces was brought into focus again recently, when we held a wedding in the Critical Care Garden for a terminally ill patient.
The garden space was transformed into a beautiful setting and the bride and groom and their guests were able to make the most of this very precious time together.
As you can see, our charity volunteers did a fantastic job and went above and beyond to create a beautiful wedding venue.
Huge thanks goes to everyone who was involved.
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Friarage
to our patients that goes above and beyond the fantastic care they already get from our nurses and
support and
Whether it’s making them a cup of tea, accompanying them on a walk around the ward when they are sick of just sitting or being in bed or even doing a jigsaw or colouring with them, our Therapeutic Care Support Workers are worth their weight in gold to our patients.
Their distinctive yellow uniforms reflect their sunny personality and they are all just like the Friarage’s first Therapeutic Care Support Worker recruit Danielle White, in their enthusiastic approach to their important role.
Vicki Davidson, clinical matron at The Friarage Hospital, had seen the benefits of having Therapeutic Care Support Workers at James Cook Hospital and was delighted to be able to introduce such a vital role within The Friarage.
She said: “I’m delighted we have been able to begin establishing Therapeutic Care Support Workers here as well.
“We don’t have a full service up and running just yet but we’ve got four Therapeutic Care Support Workers who are going through the training process and we can already see how valuable it will be to the patients here.
“Our Therapeutic Care Support Workers are very well thought of by staff, patients and their families.”
The Therapeutic Care Support Workers are an asset to medical staff in many ways.
They are often found supporting vulnerable patients who
need one to one care, with acts of kindness ranging from simply sitting by their bedside and talking to them to supporting them to get out of bed and take a walk.
These are things that medical staff, who have many different patients to see, would find difficult to do on their own.
Vicki said: “The Therapeutic Care Support Workers support us in ensuring our patients receive one to one care when they need it.
“Being in hospital can be a stressful time for some of our patients and the Therapeutic Care Support Workers can distract them by sitting and colouring with them, doing jigsaws or playing cards.
“They are so very valuable to us.”
The Therapeutic Care Support Workers are hoping to build up a store of items that will help them to carry out their role and are looking for various donations.
Sensory equipment, “twiddle muffs” - which are knitted items or blankets with buttons and tassles that dementia patients find soothing to play with - jigsaws, colouring books, art materials and devices like ipads and other tablets would be gratefully received.
Vicki said: “We may even look at having pyjamas, nightdresses and toiletries for patients who don’t have family and come into hospital with very little.”
“When you’re singing, you can’t think about anything else,” said Jeanette Mason, who runs the South Tees NHS Choir.
“There are many benefits to singing. Singing involves deep breathing so it can help things like asthma; it releases the ‘happy’ hormones (oxytocin and endorphins); improves posture; makes you feel better; and there’s the camaraderie that comes with singing in a choir.
“It is also a great leveller. Whatever your job, you’re standing side by side. Their jobs are caring about other people. This is their time for them; they are so receptive and grateful.”
Set up in April 2021, the choir began via Zoom progressing to outside the Trinity Centre in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough “avoiding the bats under the cloisters” before moving into the hall.
Jeanette, a former professional opera singer, is part of the Free Your Voice committee and asked them in December 2020 about setting up a local NHS choir. Originally Lottery-funded, the choir proved so popular that when
The Trust’s Annual Baby Memorial takes place on Sunday December 4 at Grove Hill Methodist Church in Middlesbrough, starting at 3pm.
the funding ran out in July 2021, Our Hospitals Charity stepped in.
With 40 members, the choir has around 23-30 regular singers but there is room for more, especially male voices.
• The choir meets on Tuesdays 7.20pm8.20pm at the Trinity Centre, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough. Anyone who works for South Tees NHS Hospitals Trust is welcome.
• The choir will sing by the tree in the Atrium at James Cook University Hospital on December 13th at 1pm for patients and their families.
• On December 17th, the choir’s Christmas concert is at the Trinity Centre, North Ormesby at 2pm.
The South Tees NHS Choir will take part and anyone is welcome to attend, including children, families and grandparents.
As well as remembering babies who sadly left us too soon, there will be a chance to meet with staff and charities working with baby loss.
Refreshments and a craft table for children will also be provided.
Lisa Opala, hospital chaplain, said: “This service is not only for babies lost this year but in years gone by.
“We welcome people of all faiths and none to be together and remember our little ones this Christmas time.”
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For an hour a week, doctors, nurses and other NHS key workers leave their work and worries at the door and sing.
Pay tribute
Our specialist palliative care team is once again offering families the opportunity to remember loved ones who passed away in James Cook or the Friarage by hanging a ‘love bauble’ on our memorial Christmas trees.
The baubles can be bought online via the Memorial Christmas Tree JustGiving page.
All the money raised will go towards buying items for the palliative care team’s Dragonfly Scheme. This scheme allows the palliative care team to provide comfort bags and memory boxes, which are given to the relatives of patients receiving end of life care to help them cope at such a difficult time.
Laura Devereux, Macmillan palliative and end of life support sister, said: “The festive period brings joy for many but for others, Christmas time can be difficult if you have lost someone special.
Every bauble contains a white feather and can be personalised with a tribute for a loved one. Families can hang the special decorations on either the dedicated memorial Christmas tree at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough or the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.
“Last Christmas we were blown away with the amount of support and feedback we received by local families. We know that Christmas can be a very difficult time for those who have lost someone special so we hope our memorial trees go some way in offering comfort.”
Patients of the Golden Jubilee Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at James Cook Hospital formed a team at the Inter Spinal Unit games in September.
The team of eight recently injured patients and six support staff travelled to the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, Stoke Mandeville Stadium, where they joined the other spinal units in Buckinghamshire for a full week of taster sessions and wheelchair sports competitions.
This annual event is hosted by WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport and it provides recently paralysed people with the opportunity to try over 15 sports that included wheelchair basketball, tennis, shooting, swimming, rowing, and hand cycling, to name a few.
The Games are sometimes people’s first experience away from home and the unit, and are an important part of their rehabilitation.
Tony, 33, who is still an inpatient at the unit was amongst the competitors.
He said: “Earlier this year I sustained multiple fractures
to my spine, as well as broken elbows and a broken wrist following a motocross accident.
“I have a long journey ahead but coming here has been so inspirational and has given me more of an insight about what you can do.
“Sport has always been a massive part of my life and this event has given me the confidence to crack on and find more opportunities near me.”
Martin McElhatton, WheelPower Chief Executive, said: “It has been wonderful to welcome the Middlesbrough team to Stoke Mandeville and see them taking part in all the activities on offer.
“We hope that everyone who joined us will now have a better understanding of the opportunities available to them following a life-changing injury, and feel motivated to lead a more active life through movement, physical activity and sport in the future.”
“Sport has always been a massive part of my life and this event has given me the confidence to crack on and find more opportunities near me.”