WE’RE UNLOCKING
AUTUMN!
Have a peek through the keyhole to see what we’ve been up to!
The days are getting shorter and it’s been a long summer of fun and fundraising – but here at Our Hospitals Charity, there’s no time for us to put our fluffy socks and pjs on and relax! We’re gearing up for all the festivities autumn and winter brings – and need your donations at this time of year more than ever.
For now though, we invite you to take a look at what we’ve been up to over the spring and summer months.
As you might expect, we’ve been having lots of fun outdoors, especially in the many garden areas we have been opening up for patients.
We were delighted staff from HMP Kirklevington could join us to help spruce up our neonatal garden at James Cook – and the garden for patients on the Haematology Day Unit was officially opened, thanks in no small part to our ward Sister Sunnat Malik.
Sunnat devoted her evenings and weekends to getting the job done – what a star!
Michelle Milson has also proudly shared a sneak peek of James Cook Hospital’s new ward 3 garden, which is now coming on a treat, benefiting our patients at the end of their lives, as well as giving their families a less clinical space in which to take a breather.
Meanwhile, a garden party over at The Friarage Hospital gave visitors an insight into how we support our palliative care patients in the community.
We’re delighted to bring you Amy Burns’ story about her magnificent fundraising efforts in memory of her Dad Mark – 20 years since he sadly lost his life in the James Cook Hospital’s intensive care unit.
You’ll also get the opportunity to find out about the many other ways we have been supporting our
patients and their families, from creating a paediatric quiet room and improving the children’s waiting area over at Redcar, to investing in equipment to support our critical care patients.
Why not grab a cuppa and flick through to find out what we’ve been up to?
On the subject of hot drinks, if you’re enjoying a seasonal latte or hot chocolate near our hub in James Cook Hospital (we are opposite Costa) or if you’re passing our office at The Friarage, please drop in to see how you can help support Our Hospitals Charity.
From buying or selling raffle tickets to sharing fundraising ideas, we’d love to hear from you.
Have a great Autumn!
Love from the Charities Team
CONTACT US Contact our charities team to find out how you can help us Make a Difference across Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and North Yorkshire.
James Cook
Find us in the Charity Hub, opposite Costa at The James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW.
Tel: 01642 854160
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
The Friarage Find our office in the admin block at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, DL6 1JG. Tel: 01609 764936
CHILDREN’S WAITING AREA GIVEN A MAKEOVER!
Thanks to your generous donations, we’ve been able to support the renovation of the children’s waiting area at Redcar Urgent Treatment Centre.
We know how attending hospital can be quite daunting for little ones, and this new and improved space has already made a huge difference.
The waiting area is now a bright and welcoming space for children attending the the Urgent Treatment Centre.
The Redcar Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) is for anyone who has an injury that requires urgent attention but is not life-threatening.
You can walk into the UTC without an appointment from 8am to 9.30pm, seven days a week.
Please continue to call 999 for any life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
For more on the many ways Our Hospitals Charity and South Tees NHS Foundation Trust support our littlest patients, see page 8.
Many of you will recognise Lynn Kell’s friendly face, given that she has been a part of our hospital trust for over five decades since 1981!
Lynn, who has now retired, previously held roles as a staff nurse, in occupational health where she headed up the staff flu campaign, encouraging members of staff to get their annual flu jab, as well as working in quality of care and patient safety.
Since her retirement, Lynn has become a registered fundraiser and valued supporter of Our Hospitals Charity, dedicating a few days every week to fundraising.
With her fun personality, creative thinking and enthusiasm for care, Lynn has raised a fantastic amount of money. She is worth her weight in gold and we are so thankful for her!
So thank you Lynn, for all that you do we think you are wonderful!
For more information about Lynn and how to become a volunteer, see page 12.
MORE THAN £7,000
RAISED IN MEMORY OF POPULAR DAD.
Friends and family rally to raise funds 20 years on.
Memories of her much-loved and missed Dad have inspired Amy Burns to raise thousands of pounds for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at James Cook Hospital.
Amy was just 13 when her Dad, Mark Burns, died 20 years ago, after being attacked in Stockton town centre on a night out.
Amy’s sadness at the loss of her father is something that never goes away, especially as she is now married with a daughter, Isabelle, of her own.
She knows Mark would have been a brilliant grandad.
However, despite her grief, Amy is determined to keep Mark’s memory alive and has devoted years to fundraising for the ICU in his memory.
This year, Mark would have turned 60, so Amy decided to mark the occasion with both a charity night and a year of fundraising involving Mark’s many friends and family members.
Amy said: “My Dad was a lad’s lad. He played football most Saturdays and Sundays.
“He was a welder by trade and loved his Sundays in the pub. He also liked playing golf.”
Amy recalls that one Sunday in late summer 2004, the family had enjoyed some time together in the Castle and Anchor pub, around the time they were due to go on holiday to celebrate Mark’s recent 40th birthday.
“It was a Bank Holiday and he stayed out to watch a Man United match – he was a mad Man Utd fan,” Amy explains.
“He was later found unconscious in the middle of Stockton High Street and rushed to the ICU in the early hours of August 24.”
Mark was in the ICU and was then taken off life support as he was breathing by himself. He was moved to Critical Care, where he stayed for a couple of days.
However, Mark’s condition deteriorated and he ended up back on life support.
He died on September 4, 2004.
“With the help of his friends, we’ve raised money most years since he passed away for James Cook, through charity football matches, followed by a trip to the club house where we would have raffles and blind cards and things like that,” Amy says.
“We did it every year until Covid hit and after Covid, we did another match.
“We used to do it around Dad’s birthday in June.
“Once Dad’s mates were getting to 50, they were asking ‘can we do golf next year – this is tiring doing 90 minutes of football!’”
IN TOTAL, THE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS OF AMY AND FRIENDS AND MARK’S FRIENDS RAISED £7,726.76 FOR THE ICU AT JAMES COOK.
Amy still did one or two matches after Covid to raise funds, but then decided to wait until the 20th anniversary of his death to organise a year of fundraising.
“I decided to make a bigger event of it this year and do lots of different things,” she said.
“It started in May this year, with me and my friends doing a pub crawl from Stockton to Yarm on our bikes!
“Three of us also did a skydive and we held a charity football match at the Riverside Stadium.”
A charity night was also held in the year Mark would have been 60, with blindcards, raffles and signed celebrity photos up for auction.
Amy’s husband and some of his friends also completed a sponsored bike ride from Stockton to Whitby.
In total, the fundraising efforts of Amy and friends and Mark’s friends raised £7,726.76 for the ICU at James Cook.
“When I went in to take the cheque, three of the nurses who were there had cared for my Dad all those years ago,” Amy said.
Speaking of her desire to keep Mark’s memory alive, Amy added: “I’ve got a little girl who’s 10 and at every birthday or Christmas – or with things like me opening my own salon – milestones that me or Isabelle reach that he hasn’t been able to see – it can put a bit of a dampener on things.
“My dad was so popular and I’m proud of the way his friends have supported me – it’s just about keeping his memory alive and being able to remember him as he was.
“It’s nice for Isabelle when people tell her stories about her Grandad and she does have an idea of the person he was.
“He would have loved her and they would have got on so well.”
Amy would like to thank Martin McQuade and Mark Garvery for their help and support arranging matches.
REGULAR GIVING HELPS US MAKE LIFE IN HOSPITAL MORE COMFORTABLE.
Did you know that you can sign up to donate to Our Hospitals Charity via a regular Direct Debit?
Anything - from just a few pounds upwards each month - would be gratefully received, as it will make such a difference to our patients, their families and our staff.
For the cost of a cup of coffee and a cake, your money could provide a much-needed distraction pack for a child going through mental ill health while in hospital, or even go towards creating a new quiet and tranquil space away from the clinical environment within our hospitals.
Care-enhancing equipment that is not routinely funded by the NHS could also be funded thanks to your regular donations.
The money that we receive through regular giving is allocated to the areas of the greatest need, so you can be sure the funds you generously donate are going to where they are needed most - and this will have far-reaching benefits across the Trust.
For example, did you know that we are creating a new ticketing system to try and reduce queuing in our pharmacies with charity funds? We’re also looking at prescription locker systems. These will benefit all patients - and are just a couple of examples of how we’re using our general fund to support real key areas within our hospitals –and make a positive difference for everyone.
If you would like your money to go to a specific area, let us know and we can support you to make this possible.
STAFF LOTTERY
If you’re a member of staff, you could even have a go on the staff lottery. Proceeds from this go to Our Hospitals Charity.
The money can be taken from your pay at source so you won’t even miss it – but you could win a very lovely cash prize! As they say, you’ve got to be in it, to win it!
GET IN TOUCH
If you’d like to make a regular Direct Debit donation, get in touch with us by email at OurHospitalsCharity@ nhs.net and we can arrange to provide you with our bank details for donations.
Thank you for your generosity!
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
Ward 3 project takes big strides forward to provide a tranquil space for patients at the end of their lives
AN INSPIRING nurse who discovered she had stage 4 bowel cancer just after graduating has proudly showed off the new outdoor space that is coming together for patients on end-of-life care in Ward 3 of James Cook Hospital.
Michelle Milson can no longer work clinically, but continues to work in an office on Ward 3 in spite of her diagnosis.
She has also turned her hands to fundraising to improve the family room on Ward 3, turning it into a tranquil space, as well as creating a garden area where both family members and the patient can go outside to take a much-needed break.
Following her success transforming the tranquil family room, the outdoor space is also finally coming together, as Michelle continues to co-ordinate a fundraising super team!
Michelle says: “It feels real now – like we are making the dream a reality!
“At times, you don’t feel like it’s coming together, but then, you eventually see progress like this.
“I’m so proud of the team who have made this happen – we’ve done so well and have had so much support from everyone.”
A fundraising event just over a year ago raised quite a lot of money for the project, with more money trickling in over the last 12 months.
Michelle says: “Some of the girls did a Boxing Day dip –they are braver than me!
“We’ve had raffles, tombolas and cake sales and blind cards – anything and everything we could possibly think of.”
“I’M SO PROUD OF THE TEAM WHO HAVE MADE THIS HAPPEN – WE’VE DONE SO WELL AND HAVE HAD SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM EVERYONE.”
Michelle is passionate about transforming the clinical environment into one of tranquility.
Speaking candidly about her own prognosis, she says: “I have terminal cancer myself and personally, I feel hospitals are a very clinical environment.
“Some patients at the end of their lives don’t get chance to go home, so this is the last place they will get to see.
“I wanted to ensure it was more homely and comfortable so families don’t have to leave their loved one – they can just go outside for a little bit of time.
“It will also be nice for everyone using the room to be able to look out and see something nice and positive.”
Staff on Ward 3 have already had “lovely feedback” from families who have used the facilities.
Michelle says: “I think I just wanted to leave a little legacy behind when my time comes to leave.
“Although I can’t physically be with patients any more, I want to make a difference.”
PARENTS AND STAFF BENEFIT FROM NEW quiet room
Staff and parents are benefiting from a newly refurbished quiet room on the paediatric ward at James Cook Hospital.
The room has been transformed into a calming and welcoming space, in which families can be updated about plans for their children’s care, or staff can take a breather or receive supervision and support.
The room is accessed using a key code on the door, so it’s not possible for the people using it to be interrupted.
Katie Metcalfe, paediatric clinical nurse educator, said the newly refurbished room is already making a huge difference to parents and staff.
“This is a space where we can update parents on their child’s progress in a private space to maintain confidentiality,” she said.
“It was a very small room and previously, it was just like looking at a cream box.
“But now we have had ceiling lights put in, new furniture added, a Mackenzie Thorpe painting on the wall and some fake plants and it has really softened the room, so it is a more comfortable and calming space in which both staff and patients can talk confidentially.”
Our Hospitals Charity has also funded “distraction packs” for those children experiencing mental health issues and distress whilst in hospital.
This has gone hand in hand with a quality improvement project to train staff on paediatric mental health support and the provision of “wellbeing passports” for those children who can benefit from them.
The passport gives them a space in which they can communicate what it looks like when they are struggling with their mental health and state their wishes around their care and what supports them with their emotional wellbeing.
Katie said: “We have given staff the tools, through a six-hour training programme that you can complete one hour at a time, to be able to talk and listen to children experiencing
a mental health issue – and that includes domestic staff, hostesses and security staff as well as the nurses.
“The wellbeing passport and the training has also been made available for any ward where staff might be supporting young people up to the age of 25 and to support the transition process between paediatric and adult care.
“We have got over 400 staff through this training and the whole quality improvement project we have done around this is now up for a Nursing Times Award.”
Young adults who had experienced care in hospital while also experiencing a mental health issue helped design the passports, which also support young people with autism or learning difficulties.
COME AND JOIN THE
STAFF CHOIR!
A new choir is forming to support staff and South Tees retirees with their mental health and wellbeing.
Mimi O’Malley, who runs the Saltburn Sirens choir, will be running the show, offering a different style of choir that takes a modern approach, named South Tees Sirens.
Expect pop songs from the seventies and eighties, as well as songs from the last 10 to 15 years.
“We don’t use backing tracks,” says Mimi, who writes and arranges all the music herself.
“All the musical accompaniment is played live.”
Mimi studied at Chetham’s, one of the foremost private music schools and the Royal Northern College of Music.
But despite her exceptional credentials, Mimi’s choirs have a nice, informal, family feel.
“It’s not just a case of turning up and singing songs – we’re there to create a community of people who are there to support each other,” she says
“We understand how stressful jobs in the NHS can be and giving staff and retirees the opportunity to become part of a community, where people from different backgrounds with a shared interest come together to sing and talk, is hugely important to us.”
Mimi’s aim is to make music “very accessible” to people - and there is no pressure to perform.
However, Mimi will support people to be involved in performances if they would like to – at events around Christmas for example.
Choir practice sessions will be held every Monday evening between 8.30pm to 9.30pm.
Contact ourhospitalscharity@nhs.net to register your interest
DID YOU KNOW?
Singing has many benefits for our emotional and physical health? Here are just some of them!
1) Reduces stress and anxiety: Singing triggers the release of endorphins and oxytocin, hormones that promote relaxation and reduce feelings of stress. It helps lower cortisol levels, which are associated with stress.
2) Boosts lung health: Singing involves deep breathing and controlled use of muscles in the diaphragm, which can improve lung function and overall respiratory health.
3) Improves mood: Singing releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that enhances feelings of pleasure and happiness. Group singing, in particular, fosters a sense of community, helping to combat loneliness and improve overall emotional health.
4) Enhances cognitive function: Learning new songs, harmonising, and remembering lyrics can sharpen memory and cognitive skills. Singing exercises the brain, improving focus, concentration, and mental agility.
CELEBRATES OUR NHS BIG BIRTHDAY TEA
Our Hospitals Charity put on a big birthday tea to celebrate 76 years of the NHS across South Tees Hospitals – with a little help from some good friends.
The Alice in Wonderland themed tea party was supported by AlphaGraphics, who donated fantastic cardboard cutouts for the event, which really helped bring the atrium at James Cook Hospital to life.
Alex Whitley, group marketing manager at AlphaGraphics, said the company had a connection with Our Hospitals Charity since they donated a Star Wars cardboard cutout on May 4th, which they had created to test out a new machine.
“Our Hospitals Charity were over the moon with the donation and had a lot of fun with it, with patients and staff taking their pictures with it,” he said.
“That sparked a relationship with the charity and when they mentioned the Big Tea they were planning, we were more than happy to get involved.
“We are very happy to support Our Hospitals Charity as it’s quite close to everyone’s hearts within AlphaGraphics.”
Patients enjoyed cake and a brew with entertainment from the wonderful Saltburn Uke Group and the exceptionally talented Saltburn Sirens Choir. Saltburn Sirens is run by Mimi O’Malley, who is soon going to be helping us with our own staff choir! See page 9 for more details.
As well as the choir, Mimi runs music school, Mimi’s Maestros in Saltburn.
Hospitals are a vitally important part of everyone’s community and it was a nobrainer to get involved.”
She has now got 10 teachers running early years classes for children aged from 0 to 4, then classes for 4 to 7s, where children are given different instruments to try out.
Those who show an interest and aptitude can then go onto one-to-one lessons with a specific instrument.
Last October, Mimi set out with the intention of having a choir of 30 to 40 people - but now has 105 choir members coming to three different sessions per week.
Speaking about being involved in the NHS Big Tea, Mimi said:
“Because it’s our local NHS Trust, everyone involved at Sirens has probably been to hospital here at some point.
“Hospitals are a vitally important part of everyone’s community and it was a no-brainer to get involved.
“If it helps keep people in the foyer a bit longer us singing and they will be buying from the stalls while they are there we have done a good job!”
A special garden party also took place in the Spinal Injuries Unit, where patients, staff and their families were joined by the children from Beech Grove Primary School choir.
Lisa Meehan, fundraising manager at Our Hospitals Charity, said “It was a great day when we held our NHS Big Tea events and we would like to say a big, heartfelt “thank you” to everyone who gave up their time to support us.
“The events were appreciated by both staff and patients and we look forward to putting on further events in the future.”
QUEEN OF HEARTS
In this issue of Making The Difference, we wanted to put the spotlight on our Lynne.
Lynn Kell, a former employee of South Tees Hospitals over many years, is one of our registered fundraisers.
Lynn, who is also known as “nanna’s taxi” by her grandchildren, says: “I’ve been working with Our Hospitals Charity for quite a while now and I enjoy it – in fact, this is my third year of being involved.
“I’ve retired now, but when I worked part-time at the hospital was doing raffles.
“The most recent event I’ve done was the Big Tea party.” Lynn admits that when she retired she “didn’t know what to do” with her time.
As a result, she has actually “retired” a number of times, only to come back to work!
“Working at James Cook hospital has been my life,” she said.
“I’ve been here since the hospital opened in 1981 and it’s just in me.”
As well as being a staff nurse, Lynn has also headed up the annual flu campaign to encourage staff to get their jabs as a key part of the occupational health team.
She has also worked in quality of care and patient safety.
Lynn has taken some well-earned time off with her grandchildren over the summer but says she is looking forward to coming back to the charity “with a vengeance” this autumn.
“I like seeing people –especially everyone I used to work with,” Lynn says.
“I get sick of watching daytime television.
“I also go to the gym three times a week – and I’m nanna’s taxi – but I like doing that as well.
“It’s just lovely to see people and sometimes you see the same patients as well.”
Lynn has also got her husband involved as a registered fundraiser and says he is even better at selling tickets than her!
“I think he quite likes it!” she says.
“He helps me carry all the stuff!”
Without people like Lynn, we don’t know where we’d be so thank you Lynn – and everyone else who supports for Our Hospitals Charity!
If you’re interested in supporting for Our Hospitals Charity or raising funds for us, give us a call on 01642 854160 or email OurHospitalsCharity@nhs.net.
ENHANCING THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE IN CRITICAL CARE
Life-enhancing equipment for patients has been supplied to James Cook Hospital’s Critical Care Unit, enabling patients to enjoy small pleasures like sitting in the ward’s new garden area or having a trip to a hospital café.
Martin Johnson, general manager on the Critical Care unit said the Airvos devices and postural chair, while not essential pieces of kit within the NHS, are enhancing patient care at the hospital immeasurably.
Airvos devices are portable ventilators with a 40-minute run time, meaning patients can spend time off the unit while still receiving vital treatment and support.
The postural chair also benefits patients who may have been on the ward for many weeks or even months, enabling them to get out of bed while remaining comfortable.
The chairs are designed to help prevent pressure injuries, sliding and falls, and encourage mobilisation for patients who have spent the majority of their time in bed due to their illness or injuries.
Martin said: “Being able to get our patients safely out of bed into a chair is really helpful, both for their physical and psychological wellbeing.
“The chairs are padded really well so they are good for people’s pressure areas, which is great for our patients who have often lost a lot of muscle and so are really prone to pressure sores.
“They are so adjustable that they just work really well and they are also on wheels so we can easily move them around.”
The chairs cost around £2,000.
The Airvos system runs by battery allowing patients who have just come off ventilation but still require respiratory support to be able to go to the garden or a café within the hospital, supported by family members and a nurse.
“This gives them a bit of normality which they couldn’t have if it wasn’t for the Airvos equipment,” Martin said.
“It is essentially a portable ventilator which gives them the opportunity to enjoy the garden or go and have a drink and something to eat when they normally wouldn’t be able to.
“Some of our patients are here for months at a time, so their first time off the ward is a really big deal for them.
“We are so grateful to Our Hospitals Charity for funding this equipment, which is enabling us to enhance our patients’ experiences immeasurably.”
DAD’S
MOUNTAIN MISSION
A proud Dad has completed an epic three peaks challenge to raise funds for the ward that has cared for his son for so many years.
Mike Ellis’ son Max, 15, was “in and out of hospital” between the ages of seven and 14, with severe scoliosis. Without surgery, Max would have died at a young age due to the condition, so has had to endure several major surgeries on his spine.
Mike, 42, from Norton, said: “When he was five, we took him to the doctors because his ribs were sticking out on one side and he had a curvature of the spine like an ‘s’.”
After being diagnosed with scoliosis, Max had to have surgery using MAGEC rods (Magnetic Expansion Control)where a remote control with magnets is used to lengthen the rods inside the child’s spine at regular intervals.
“Once they got as long as they could go, he would have to have more surgery,” Mike said.
“It was fantastic the way they treated him.
“He is in the gym regularly and he’s phenomenal and doing fantastic.
“You wouldn’t know he has had surgery – it is an absolute success story and all the team were absolutely amazing.”
HAEMATOLOGY DAY UNIT GARDEN officially opened
Ward sister gave up her evenings and weekends to complete passion project
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT BACK”
Such was Mike’s admiration and gratitude for the treatment given to his son, he and a friend decided to do the three peaks challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scaffel Pike and Snowdon in under 24 hours.
They raised £1,288 to be donated to Cheryl Honeyman in the paediatric ward at James Cook Hospital.
“The level of care he got doesn’t compare to anything and we’re pleased to be able to donate these funds,” Mike said.
“When Max was seven, nobody his age had had the rods in, but it was a massive success and all in all, the attention they gave him, the support and the way they explained everything to us was amazing.
“He had a chair to get him around the hospital and he had to learn to walk again.
“I would just like to give a little bit back and hopefully, the money will help them get a bit more apparatus that they need to help other people going through a similar experience.”
Mike completed the challenge with Rugby pal Daniel Parker and said it was “incredible” despite being hugely tiring!
He is now looking into doing another three peaks challenge in Morocco.
Watch this space!
The sun was shining across Teesside as the James Cook Hospital’s Haematology Day Unit garden was opened.
Patients will now be able to enjoy a newly improved outdoor garden area, which is a far cry from how it looked in spring.
Thanks to the dedication of one of our incredible nurses on the unit - and the support of the local community - this space was beautifully transformed in time for summer.
Sunnat Malik, a sister on the Haematology Unit, was pleased to see her vision turned into a reality.
Sunnat gave up her evenings and weekends to work on this project herself - and has given her all so that patients can get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.
“Some of our patients can be in the unit for 12 hours at a time,” Sunnat explained.
“We wanted to open the unit out into the garden so that they can enjoy time away from a clinical environment.”
On the official opening day, staff and patients gathered in the garden to enjoy tea and cake, whilst Sunnat and long-term patient Amanda Sidgwick officially opened the garden with the cutting of a ribbon.
Sunnat added: “We are delighted with the outcome.
“It has taken a lot of work, but with the support of my friend Chris and donations from the local community, our garden is now a beautiful relaxing area for our patients to enjoy.
“We would like to say a big thank you to Cherry Hill Garden & Landscape Centre B&Q, Martin from the works department and Dan from Delta coaches for their kindness.
“An extra special thanks must also go to Mary Cook and Sarah Cook-Smith.”
HARD TO SWALLOW… My treatment was
BUT ONE YEAR ON, I’M DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK!
Arthur Fawcett has become something of a local celebrity, after embarking on 30 days of walking around Great Ayton and the local area, exactly one year after he went through 30 days of radiotherapy and five cycles of chemotherapy for tongue cancer.
It was a tough time for Arthur and his wife Deborah, but as much as he could, he faced the treatment head on and kept a positive attitude and sense of humour.
In fact, Arthur quipped on his JustGiving page, where he raised funds for the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) and Ward 14, that his treatment was “hard to swallow – well, almost impossible!”
Arthur said the whole team involved in his care at James Cook Hospital, from diagnosis, through to treatment and recovery have been “brilliant” – and he was determined to give something back, after they gave him “a chance in life once again”.
Arthur went to the doctors several times as he felt like he had something at the back of his throat - but GPs drew a blank.
That room that they had in ENT was transformed thanks to people’s fundraising and we thought, even if we could raise some money for little things like that it would help others going through the same process.”
He was eventually referred to ENT at James Cook when a dentist who was removing a tooth decided he was “not happy” about a lump in his neck and emailed his GP.
As a result of the examinations carried out at James Cook, it was found he had two squamous cell carcinoma tumours on the back of his tongue, which had also spread to lymph nodes.
Arthur was faced with the choice of undergoing an operation which would possibly limit movement in his right arm, or a mixture of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for 30 days.
He chose the latter, as the movement problem in his right arm would have been very restrictive due to the fact he had his left arm amputated at the age of two.
During his treatment, Arthur got an infection and was taken onto Ward 14. He was stabilised so he could complete the 30 days’ treatment.
Following his treatment, he was pleased to be told there was no evidence of tumours on the tongue and only very slight colour in one of the lymph nodes.
As a result, he underwent wo sets of biopsies on one of those lymph nodes which was inconclusive - and lymph nodes were taken out on the right-hand side of his neck.
“This time last year, I couldn’t get out of bed for three months and couldn’t walk,” he says.
“I’d had 30 days of treatment, so once I was able, I decided to do 30 days of short walks to raise funds.
“I couldn’t walk for more than two or three miles a day, but I completed the same 30 days that I had my treatment the year previously doing short walks.”
Arthur and Deborah shared their walks and JustGiving page via Facebook. They enjoyed keeping a diary each day and being “out and about meeting folk”.
“By the end of the 30 days, people were waving out of the window at us as we passed and beeping their horns at us as they passed in the car!” Arthur says, of his new-found celebrity status!
“That room that they had in ENT was transformed thanks to people’s fundraising and we thought, even if we could raise some money for little things like that it would help others going through the same process.”
Arthur set out to raise £1,000 and thought this was a reasonable target, given that he is well known as a former local butcher who also played local cricket and darts.
However, he easily surpassed this target, raising more than £4,500.
“This was just through Facebook and having a couple of tins in the shops in the village,” he said.
“People paid in bits and pieces and the word spread and it all added up.”
Arthur is keen to warn others to persist when it comes to their health concerns.
“My brother died with cancer in his sinuses and that’s why I persisted at the doctors,” he said.
“You know your own body.
“I’m very grateful to the dentist at Queensway, Billingham, who picked up on the lump in my neck.”
Arthur adds “everything is showing clear now” and his appointments are further apart.
Speaking of the reason it was important to the couple to “give something back” Deborah said: “When we were given the news, we were taken into a nice room by a Macmillan nurse who talked to us and asked, ‘would you like a coffee’ and those little simple things made a difference.
“I’ve been told to ring up if I feel something’s not right and if I need an appointment in between those scheduled, they will get me in,” he said.
“I’m so grateful to have that peace of mind.”
WE’VE GOT A SEAT AT THE
CAPTAINS’ TABLES!
We’re honoured that Romanby Golf & Country Club has chosen The Friarage Hospital’s Community Palliative Care Team to benefit from their fundraising events in 2024 –and goodness, have they been busy!
Lady Captain of the club Diane Clothier found herself ringing around various charities trying to find one that she felt was a good fit when she was made Lady Captain at the beginning of the year.
And the one she eventually chose couldn’t have been closer to her heart!
“Alison Faulkner Butcher from the Hospital’s community palliative care team was one of my husband’s Macmillan nurses,” she explained.
Sadly, Diane’s husband passed away about 15 years ago, aged just 62. He had prostate cancer.
“When I was signposted to this team I thought, ‘this is a really good cause,” she said.
“Some of the things they are doing now would have been really helpful to my husband in the last days of his life.
“I told the Men’s Captain, Tony Kelly, about the charity and he was happy to support them as well in his year of fundraising.”
Diane and Tony held a joint ‘Casino night’ for the charity and the ladies have also enjoyed two fashion show evenings in aid of the charity.
A Spring sale, offering plants, books, jigsaws and cakes for sale also raised funds at the golf club.
“The ladies have been extremely proactive and they are very generous as well – we’ve had quite a few donations,” Diane said.
“So far, the Golf Club has raised £3,000 and there are still more fundraising events in the pipeline.”
SO
FAR, THE GOLF CLUB HAS RAISED £3,000 AND THERE ARE STILL MORE FUNDRAISING EVENTS IN
THE PIPELINE.”
Keep an eye on the Our Hospitals Charity’s Facebook page for more details on the golf clubs efforts!
ADA’S GIFT FUNDS HITTING £20K
MARK
A beauty therapist with a very special reason for raising funds for maternity bereavement has now raised about £20,000.
In July 2022, Amy Peirse underwent life-saving treatment due to a rare and life-threatening complication in pregnancy, which also meant her little girl Ada was sadly born sleeping.
At 41 weeks’ pregnant, Amy developed HELLP syndrome which occurs in less than 1% of all pregnancies and stands for haemolysis (H), elevated liver enzymes (EL), low platelet count (L).
Her condition rapidly deteriorated and she was rushed into surgery at James Cook, where Ada was born sleeping by caesarean section.
After delivering Ada, surgeons worked to save Amy’s life after her liver had haemorrhaged and then ruptured, resulting in her losing five litres of blood.
Further life-threatening complications followed and in total Amy spent six weeks in hospital.
But despite her ordeal, Amy and Carl were determined to raise funds, knowing a new maternity
bereavement suite was being built in the hospital.
Since this very sad time, the couple have undertaken Boxing Day Dips in the freezing North Sea, as well as organising a much more glamorous grand ball through Ada’s Gift.
Amy’s clients at Podology in Saltburn where she works have been very generous during the fundraising and one client in particular supported her husband to make an extra special effort.
Amy says: “Helen Pasco comes to Podology for a massage and other beauty treatments.
“She has been coming to me for sixand-a-hal years and you get to know your clients quite well.
“She had been saying her husband Steve was looking to do a charity night.
GARDEN IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
HMP Kirklevington staff spruce up neonatal unit garden.
for families
Families caring for their poorly babies are getting a breath of fresh air, thanks to staff at HMP Kirklevington.
The prison staff volunteered to go green-fingered and spruce up the garden outside the neonatal unit at James Cook Hospital.
They spent the day weeding, planting and painting, to make the space more welcoming for families on the unit.
Lisa Meehan, fundraising manager, said: “Special thanks must go to Duncan, Tony, Maria and Steve.
“They painted, planted and weeded amongst the many jobs that were required in the garden, as well as supplying gorgeous hanging baskets.”
Duncan Barker, industries manager at HMP Kirklevington, said it was a privilege to be asked by Lisa to spruce up the neonatal garden.
Steve mobilised fellow members of the Guisborough Spiritualist Group to put on an evening event, which raised “just short of £3,000”.
Amy said: “We are so grateful to Steve for what he has done. He planned and organised it all with friends at Guisborough Spiritualist Group. My thanks go to Helen and Steve. Everyone loved it – it was such a good night.”
Amy herself is taking a well-earned break from fundraising at the present time, but says she will “always raise funds for maternity bereavement” and has other ideas in the pipeline.
“I will always do fundraising for the maternity bereavement department within James Cook – forever,” she says.
“When Helen told Steve our story, he said, “I will do it for the maternity bereavement fund”.
“Our
“We hope everybody enjoys the garden and look forward to helping again in the spring.”
“SPECIAL THANKS MUST GO TO DUNCAN, TONY, MARIA AND STEVE.”
“HMP Kirklevington has had a long relationship with James Cook and we only wish we had the resources to do more,” he added.
Gardens staff were more than happy to use one of their volunteering days to help with a lovely garden that can be used by families at the hospital.
FRIARAGE
GARDEN PARTY!
IN SUPPORT OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton welcomed some of its regular donors and supporters to a garden party, where they were able to learn more about the work Our Hospitals Charity does in this area.
Along with staff from our Hambleton and Richmondshire Specialist Palliative Care team, we were able to showcase some of the amazing, much needed items that your donations contribute to.
Did you know, that where appropriate, we are able to offer support with the provision of stair lifts in our patients’ homes, and recliner chairs for comfort, enabling patients to have time out of bed to spend with their family?
Donations also allow us to create memory boxes for children, with comfort items such as handprints, a heart in their hand, and books explaining grief.
Patients can also be supported to create life memory books - a therapeutic activity where they can create a book to leave a lasting legacy of memories for their loved ones.
These things help our patients live as comfortably and as dignified as possible, during the most difficult times.
TRUST’S SUBSCRIPTIONS TO DAILY SPARKLE
SUPPORT DEMENTIA
PATIENTS
Our Hospitals Charity is supporting dementia patients across the Trust with subscriptions to a resource full of useful and enjoyable activities called the Daily Sparkle.
The charity pays for three subscriptions to the service, to cover patients at James Cook Hospital, The Friarage and throughout community services.
The Daily Sparkle is used in care homes and hospitals and provides top quality, professionally created activities, promoting reminiscence and mindfulness activities.
These provide stimulation, interest, fun and enjoyment every day.
The therapeutic care team use these resources a lot, to support patients to overcome boredom or if they are feeling agitated.
Our Hospitals Charity also supported the trust’s dementia lead nurse Anna Wilson to raise awareness of dementia, diagnosis and sources of support throughout Dementia Action Week.
The charity team got out and about, fundraising and showcasing the trust’s work to help patients living with dementia.
Previously, Our Hospitals Charity has funded day rooms inspired by local
landmarks such as Saltburn and local parks.
Environments like this can help patients with dementia feel a little less anxious and create a familiar and homely environment – somewhere they can enjoy an afternoon tea and other meaningful activities.
The charities team has also collected ‘Twiddle Muffs’ – knitted fidget toys - and forget-me-nots, as a wonderful addition to the dementia distraction boxes they provide.
Anna said: “Resources and enhancements to the environments where our patients stay can make a huge positive difference.
“Sometimes, being in hospital can be boring, whether you have dementia or not, and keeping patients occupied is important.
“Dementia patients are sometimes very confused and can easily become agitated or try to leave their ward.
“Distraction with positive resources can help avoid escalations of
behaviour and even help us to reduce falls.”
Anna added the support from Our Hospitals Charity is very welcome, as it ensures patients can do something nice during their stay in hospital.
The Trust also uses a Reminiscene Interactive Therapy Activities Tablet (RITA), which enables patients to watch films, listen to music, enjoy karaoke or play games.
“This is used a lot with patients who require one to one support or enhanced observations,” said Anna.
“There are a few Trusts that use this and there have been some audits and research that have shown it can reduce falls.
“We’re very grateful to all the staff, patients and their families who carry out fundraising for our dementia patients.”
BENEFITING PATIENTS TRANQUIL SPACE
Patients going through difficult times now have the benefit of a tranquil space in which they can have private conversations with staff and their relatives.
A room within ward 31, a 24-hour short stay ward which has a high turnover of patients every day - many of whom have needs related to their mental health - has been completely transformed, thanks to donations to Our Hospitals Charity.
Previously, staff were limited with the space they had available to hold private conversations with patients and their families.
The private area that could be used was very much in need of some TLC - and a bigger space within the ward required completely renovating to make it fit for purpose.
However, after this larger space underwent a serious glow-up, it is now providing patients and their families with a comfortable haven within the ward where they can be supported with compassionate care.
“every day!”
“We contacted Our Hospitals Charity and they asked us to put down in writing what they wanted - and then they agreed to fund it for us,” says Hannah Tunley, ward manager.
“They paid for a room on the ward to be completely redecorated and for the furniture - and we also got some extras like plants to make the room more inviting and homely.”
The room, which was paid for out of the charity’s general fund, is now used every single day and provides privacy for patients and their families who are sometimes vulnerable and going through very difficult and emotional times.
“It’s a lovely space – it’s tranquil and it shows that we care and we are compassionate,” Hannah says.
“The feedback that we have had from relatives that have used it has been amazing.”
Hannah particularly praised Lisa Meehan, our fundraising manager, saying she had been “brilliant”.
“We can’t thank her enough – because I love this room!” she said.
“It’s helped so much!”
Ward 31 has recently achieved a diamond accreditation from the Trust for the care it provides and has been awarded a certificate for achieving 100 days pressure ulcer-free.
Celebrations all round!
LEAVE A GIFT
K IN YOUR WILL
Leave a lasting legacy that will support future generations of patients and their families
At Our Hospitals Charity, we understand that thinking about your wishes for after you have gone can be very difficult indeed.
However, many people find it very comforting to know that they can leave a lasting legacy when they support Our Hospitals Charity with a gift in their will.
The process is very straightforward, as we are a registered charity, with the registration number 1056061.
Many people also like to know that leaving a gift in a will can mean a reduction in the inheritance tax that loved ones would be liable to pay when receiving money from your estate.
Donations given to Our Hospitals Charity are used to enhance patient care over and above the core services and facilities which are funded by the government.
Legacies have enabled us to create bereavement rooms, update our children’s emergency department and improve our renal unit.
Generous donations have also allowed us to purchase state of the art medical equipment and support our staff’s health and wellbeing in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Types of gifts
You may wish your gift to be used where the need is greatest, in which case, please consider leaving an ‘unrestricted gift’. This gives the most flexibility for it to be used where it is most needed and makes the biggest difference to the healthcare we provide. Alternatively, please stipulate which particular area of the hospital, or our activities you wish to support.
Choosing the type of gift you want to leave
There are three common types of gift you can leave to your loved ones and the causes you care about. Whichever you choose and whatever its size, your gift will help to provide the best possible healthcare for future generations.
A cash gift
Also known as a pecuniary gift, this is a gift of a specific sum of money.
A percentage of your estate
Also known as a residuary legacy. This is a gift of a percentage of all of your estate after the payment of tax, expenses and the distribution of any other bequests.
An item
This is a gift of any specific nonmonetary items such as works of art or other valuables.
For more information about leaving a gift in your will please contact us on 01642 854160 or at The Friarage on 01609 764936. You can also email us at OurHospitalsCharity@nhs.net. You can be sure we will handle your enquiry with the utmost sensitivity.
WHAT EXCITING
CHALLENGE WILL YOU UNDERTAKE!?
If you’ve been inspired to raise funds for Our Hospitals Charity after reading the stories about our many brilliant fundraisers in this issue, then why not get in touch and see how you can help us?
Whether you’re a star baker who wants to hold a cake sale, you fancy organising a small raffle, or you’re an adrenaline junkie who wants to jump out of a plane for us – we’d be delighted to hear from you!
All the funds that are raised for Our Hospitals Charity help to make hospital life more comfortable – for our patients and their families as well as staff.
The NHS covers much of the vital equipment and facilities in our hospitals and across our community services – but there are many extra resources that make life more comfortable and healthcare more efficient that are funded by Our Hospitals Charity.
In this issue, you’ve seen examples
like quiet room makeovers, which give both staff and patients comfortable, inviting and confidential spaces to talk.
Then there is healthcare equipment, like AIRVOS and the postural chair we were able to provide for our critical care patients.
Our outdoor spaces are also areas that we are continuously investing in, providing extra non-clinical spaces where staff, patients and their families can take a breather.
As a fundraiser, you can even choose which area of the hospital you’d like to make a donation to.
If you don’t know, that’s great –because we’ll direct the funds to the area which is most in need at any one time.
SO, IF YOU’RE INSPIRED TO DO SOMETHING TO SUPPORT US, WHY NOT GET IN TOUCH?
You can pop in and see us at James Cook Hospital or The Friarage.
At James Cook, our charity hub is opposite Costa Coffee in the shopping area between both the North and South entrances.
You can also call the team at James Cook on 01642 854160.
Our Friarage office is in the admin block and you can call us on 01609 764936.
Alternatively, why not drop us an email at OurHospitalsCharity@nhs.net
We’d be delighted to hear from you!
MAKE A donation
If you like what you’ve read about the work we do at Our Hospitals Charity, why not make a donation to Our Hospitals Charity at: The James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW or Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL6 1JG.
You can also drop your donation into our hub near Costa Coffee on The James Cook University Hospital site, where we also take contactless debit card donations. For further information or advice, call us on 01642 854160 or email OurHospitalsCharity@nhs.net
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