NUH Together Issue 4 - Summer 2023

Introduction from our Chief Executive

On 5 July 2023, the NHS marks 75 years of service. The first health system to be available to all, free at the point of delivery, it has evolved to meet the needs of each successive generation, putting the patient at the heart of all it does. To mark the milestone birthday, five long-serving NUH colleagues and volunteers will represent NUH at a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey for NHS staff, volunteers, and partners.

75 years of the NHS provides the opportunity to reflect on past achievements, recognise where we are today, and to look ahead to the future. Since 1948, the NHS has supported many innovative research discoveries, from organ transplants to vaccination rollouts, national screening programmes, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and DNA mapping. Our national health service has championed life-saving, evidence-based medicine and made huge strides in improving life expectancy. The Covid-19 pandemic tested the resilience of the NHS, causing shifts in attitudes towards health. It increased the public’s commitment to the NHS core principles but added to pre-existing pressures. As we look ahead, there is a need to address the growing demand for services with workforce constraints and social care provision.

As the NHS reflects on what is needed to strive after the most turbulent time in its history, People First, our new strategy for improvement, helps set the direction for NUH to do the same. The picture we see at NUH reflects the pressures across the NHS nationally. With a growing population, the communities we serve are increasingly diverse and some have unacceptable health inequalities. It’s within this context that People First sets out a roadmap and a framework through which our three biggest barriers flow: recruitment and retention, and culture and leadership can be tackled. Doing so will support the many excellent services at NUH to thrive. Defined

priorities will support the achievement of our strategic goals, meet the expectations of our patients and partners, and demonstrate to our regulators our ability to address the challenges we face. I am confident that focusing on the barriers in People First will improve standards of care, help with recruitment and retention, and make us a better partner.

The founding NHS principles are as valued and relevant today as they were in 1948. The NHS provides a comprehensive service, based on clinical need, available

to all. I am proud to lead an organisation full of dedicated colleagues who go above and beyond every day to deliver compassionate, person-centred care.

Despite our challenges, NUH does so many things well and it is humbling to be part of it. I want to thank all NUH colleagues and volunteers past and present for everything you have done and continue to do for our local community.

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Cancer patient’s £5k Coronation thank you to our staff

NHS workers in Nottingham’s hospitals enjoyed a £5,000 Coronation party thanks to a grateful cancer patient.

Mary Morgan, 72, said NUH staffs care, expertise and dedication has given her precious time with her grandchildren.

The Trust won a Morrisons supermarket and Sun on Sunday Coronation party competition after being nominated by Mary.

“I found out I had bowel cancer during the pandemic,” said Mary. “I was so scared, I immediately feared the worst.

“NUH staff instantly scooped me up and were there for me. Without the NHS I wouldn’t have this time with my sons or my grandchildren.”

Healthcare Assistant Aiden Mills struck up a good rapport with Mary. He said: “It is amazing to realise you have such an impact. We don’t go into this looking for praise – we’re just doing our job. But for someone to do something like this for us, it really means a lot.”

Oncology matron Debra Holmes added: “It was a complete surprise! Our teams speak very highly of Mary. They feel honoured to be part of all their patients’ lives and how they make a positive impact during someone’s personal journey.”

“All NUH staff are a wonderful bunch and they truly deserve this party and so much more,” said Mary. “All the staff, from the porters to the consultants, are amazing and go the extra mile every single day; I take my hat off to all of them.”

NUH chief executive Anthony May said: “To be chosen as the overall winner, from a range of national nominations, is wonderful recognition for everyone at NUH. It will be an honour to hold a party to celebrate the Coronation.”

On the day, hundreds of patients were served a celebratory afternoon tea on the wards, with the coronation streamed live by Nottingham Hospitals Radio.

NUH Estates and Facilities staff pulled out all the stops; as well as the afternoon teas, they served staff at the party, erected Union Flags across City and QMC, created a Union Flagthemed flower bed at the corner of West Block, installed a commemorative bench at City and QMC, hung a framed photograph of His Majesty the King in the foyer of Trust HQ, QMC, and Ropewalk House, and lit up the buildings for the weekend.

“Without the NHS I wouldn’t have this time with my sons or my grandchildren.”

Patient Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan and Healthcare Assistant Aiden Mills

King Charles was “the ideal patient”

The coronation sparked special memories for NUH staff who remember the then Prince Charles as “the ideal patient”.

On 11 January 1989, Charles visited the Queen’s Medical Centre to meet survivors of the Kegworth air disaster and to chat with staff who cared for them.

A Boeing 737 - en route to Belfast from Heathrow with 126 people on boarddiverted to East Midlands Airport for an emergency landing after developing engine trouble. The plane came down short of the runway, smashing into the embankment on the side of the M1. Of the 79 survivors, 74 were seriously injured.

Nurse Lynn Dyer – on a day off - was called in to the Emergency Department.

Lynn – who now works in Infection Control – lined up outside with her colleagues for the royal visit.

“It was a freezing January day,” she said. “Charles commented on how cold it was, and I said I should have put my thermals on! He said we should all go back inside and have a hot toddy – I told him I wasn’t allowed to drink on duty!

“It was a very proud moment in my career and one I will never forget – not only meeting Prince Charles – who had no airs and graces - but being part of the Resus team that night.”

Senior staff nurse Gail Burbage was called in to look after Prince Charles when he broke his elbow in a polo match in 1990.

“I jumped at the chance,” said Gail.

After a three-hour op, Charles was cared for in a normal side room on ward D9 with a small bay occupied by his security team and personal assistants throughout his week-long stay.

“It was an honour to care for him. He was personable, chatty – the ideal patient. Of course, we had certain protocol we had to follow but he kept it all light-hearted and made it easy for us.”

Charles brought his own chefs as he didn’t want to cause any unnecessary work for catering staff. Despite this, he was curious to sample the food.

“We ordered a meal for him using a madeup name so no-one would know. He ate it off the plastic trays we used at the time.

“He said it was really well-balanced!

“When he was able to start moving around, he would stop and speak to everyone – nurses, doctors, porters, cleaners.”

After his stay, Charles sent Christmas cards and gifts from Harrods to the staff that had cared for him.

The following year, he organised a charity polo match at Royal Windsor against Alpha Romeo and all those involved in his care were invited. “It was a great day,” said Gail.

The match raised £25,000 which Charles donated to NUH for medical equipment.

“Charles returned in 1992 to open the QMC daycase unit and theatre service centre, and visited ward B3. By then I was a Sister, and when he came in, he congratulated me on my promotion!”

Charles also opened the multi-faith centre at QMC in 1999, the Breast Institute and the £6.9m Emergency Department - now home to Channel 4’s 24 Hours in A&E - in 2004.

“I can remember it as vividly as anything.”

Recognising two of our longest-serving

Volunteer Bow Heath – 50 years voluntary service

Bow Heath, who had her bowel removed in her twenties, has dedicated her life to helping others going through the same thing.

Bow, 80, was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease at the age of 10. The symptoms for this include tummy pain, diarrhoea lasting longer than four weeks, and bleeding.

She had her bowel removed when she was 27 after pre-cancerous cells were discovered.

“Wearing an ileostomy bag in my twenties was a daunting thought,” recalls Bow.

“I wanted to wear miniskirts and look as glamorous as any other young woman - but after suffering for 15 years, I was desperate for a cure, no matter how terrible that cure might be. I wanted to live to see my two young daughters, aged two and five, grow up.”

After surgery, Bow met another patient who helped her to feel confident again.

And 50 years later, Bow still supports specialist stoma nurses at the clinic, logging in patients as they arrive, sending them through to the nurses, and looking after the day-to-day running of the clinic.

“It is always so rewarding to see very worried and frightened patient coming to clinic being reassured by these wonderful nurses in a very informal clinic setting. It is this clinic l came to after my surgery, l still had drips attached to me and it started me on my road to recovery in 1973 and l remain committed to this clinic.”

for over 50 years. She has a wealth of experience to offer our new members and always has a smile and a welcoming face. The clinic runs very smoothly with Bow at the helm. We love her and couldn’t do without her.”

The clinic encourages group discussion, providing the opportunity for people with a stoma to exchange views and ideas on their shared problems and successes.

Bow’s surgeon encouraged her to join City Hospital Stoma Outpatients’ clinic, to share her experience with other younger people going through similar experiences.

Jenny Taylor, from Urology, said: “Bow has been a vital member of our Saturday Stoma clinic, which has been running

On learning that she was NUH’s longest-serving volunteer, Bow said: “It’s amazing. I don’t know where the years have gone. I thought lockdown would’ve been the end of volunteering –but we’ve bounced back. I have no plans to stop anytime soon.”

“She managed to look feminine and gorgeous with the stoma bagI was over the moon.”

Bow Heath

longest-serving staff members

June Belshaw – 50 years NHS service

An NUH employee who celebrated a milestone achievement of working in the NHS for 50 years has been given a special award.

June Belshaw, 75, started working at the hospital in 1973. Her first role was in the operating theatre at the age of 25. “I started to earn some money for a family holiday, but after that I went back because I just loved it. I felt it was the way forward for me and my career. The manager at the time, Miss Wand, used to say to me ‘you’re just as important as the doctors because without you, we couldn’t operate. It was lovely. We were one big family.”

June did that for 13 years, before moving on to become a supervisor, a training officer and then an assistant manager.

When June was asked about being one of the longest-serving staff members. She said: “I’ve still got the same passion today, as I did when I started. I would wish for another 50 years, but nobody lives that long! But you do start reminiscing over all the things you’ve done and all the changes that have happened over the years.”

One of the biggest things to happen during June’s time was Covid-19.

“Covid-19 was a big learning curve for everybody. I’ve never experienced anything like it. It was quite scary, quite terrifying. When it first came out, people wondered when it was going to end. At one point the hospital was full of it.”

Due to June’s age, she was put on the at-risk register, but it didn’t stop

her from working. “I felt it was a bit like a war zone and I needed to be there to support my colleagues.”

As June was unable to go onto the wards, she supported by organising staff risk assessments.

The Trust would like to congratulate and say an enormous thank you to June for everything she’s done and for her continued commitment and service.

staff stay with us for a very long time. and staff member, both with wonderful stories.

“It’s really rewarding. I felt that everyone I dealt with, was just as passionate as I was. It’s one of the best services and jobs anyone could ever have.”

June Belshaw

“I’ve still got the same passion today, as I did when I first started”

June Belshaw

NUH pride as home-grown talent return to City Hospital

Five years after joining Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) as apprentices, two ‘homegrown’ talents have started their careers as Registered Nurses.

Eliza Barlow and Jack Robinson have impressed NUH colleagues with their dedication to learning and developing, completing two apprenticeships before completing the NA-RN course at the University of Derby to become Registered Nurses.

Karen Butler, a practice development nurse in Cancer and Associated Specialities (CAS) who was a clinical educator at the time, interviewed the pair - then apprentice health care assistantsfor trainee nurse associate placements in November 2018 and was impressed by their obvious potential.

Eliza and Jack were trainee nursing associates and qualified nurse associates before qualifying as Registered Nurses in March. Both are now working in CAS at City Hospital.

“If I had my time again, this is the way I would do it,” says Karen. “You can be much more hands on, which suits my style of learning.”

Eliza is working on Fletcher ward –where she did part of her training - and Jack is going to Carell, which is a renal transplant unit.

“We’re delighted that Eliza is starting her career on Fletcher - she is going to hit the ground running. She has worked her way up and she will be amazing.

Eliza, 23, from Kimberley, always dreamt of becoming a nurse.

“I really enjoyed training on Fletcher - I got so much on-the-job experience. It was the making of me as a nurse, alongside my placements in children and adults and haematology. I was delighted to rejoin the ward I trained on - it felt like coming home. It has been a really special experience for me; everyone has made me feel so welcome, it’s as if I never left.”

Jack, from Bulwell, opted for an apprenticeship as he was also unsure about going to university.

“I decided to take the route of apprenticeships into nursing as my style of learning is definitely through a more practical hands on approach. Being given the chance to gain experience and learn the theory behind the practice has helped us to develop and progress into becoming the nurses we aspire to be.”

“It feels good to be able to practice everything we have learned. I’m enjoying my new career and looking forward to making a huge difference to people’s lives.”

Eliza added: “I would definitely recommend this route to anyone. It is such a great opportunity as you learn so much plus you earn as you learn so you come out debt-free. Whenever I get the chance to advocate for this route that NUH offers I tell anyone that will listen and is interested in this pathway as I really have loved every second of it, and believe it is such a good alternative route that provides you with so much experience and confidence working in healthcare.”

“I’m now looking forward to a different challenge as a Registered Nurse, building relationships with our patients and helping them on their road to recovery.”

If you have been inspired by Jack and Eliza, and are interested in becoming a health care apprentice or registered nurse, contact Wider Workforce on widerworkforce@nuh.nhs.uk. To find out more about recruitment and career development in nursing visit https://ioce.nuh.nhs.uk/recruitment-andcareer-development.

“We are also very excited to have Jack join Carell – he’s a fantastic addition. We are so proud of them both - our homegrown talents.”

Hospital at Home Initiative WW2 veteran Hospital at Home’s first patient

An 89-year-old World War II veteran became the first patient to return home under a pioneering initiative, launched last year, to ease pressure on hospital beds and enhance patient-centred care.

Caird had a fall. Previously, he would have had to stay in hospital until a care package was secured. Under Hospital at Home, he was discharged, with a fortnight’s care from the NUH staff who’d nursed him back to health.

“Patients are desperate to go home,” said Bev Brady, Lead Nurse in Clinical Care. “We know people recover better when they are in their own environment and this allows them to do so while remaining under our care.

“We take patients home while a care package is sourced, which frees up a bed – and we mirror what the package of community care is expected to be.”

Caird’s face broke into a smile when Healthcare Assistant Lisa Cunningham arrived. He wiggled his feet in his spotty red non-slip socks: “Do you like them?”

He chatted about his time in the Education Department at the RAF, wistfully explaining that poor eyesight stopped him from becoming a pilot. “Sometimes, a chap would swing by and say ‘I’ve had a cancellation, do you fancy going up?’ and I’d say ‘boy do I ever!”

Caird was looking forward to going home.

“As much as he wants to go home, he’s anxious,” said Lisa, who would be

delivering Caird’s homecare. “Having a familiar face is really important.”

Hospital at Home - one of a raft of initiatives commissioned and funded by NUH - is having a real impact on patient flow. We have currently helped over 1,500 people through the initiative.

“Potentially, you free up several beds in the chain,” said Bev. “An ED patient can go onto an assessment ward; a

patient on an assessment ward can go on to a base ward, a patient can come to our transition ward, and a patient like Caird can go home.

“We can save an elderly patient waiting hours in ED for a bed.”

As Lisa wheeled Caird out, staff lined the corridor to wish him well. Grinning from ear to ear, he said: “I feel like a celebrity!”

“We can save an elderly patient waiting hours in ED for a bed.”

Bev Brady

People look to the skies as Betty launches Nottingham hospitals’ organ donation campaign

Social media was flooded with snaps of Betty the hot-air balloon when Nottingham hospitals launched a national campaign to raise awareness of organ donation.

The balloon – funded by the Organ Donation Committee – made its inaugural flight in March, taking off from Forest Recreation Ground and flying over the Queen’s Medical Centre.

“We want to start that conversation about organ donation,” said Skye IrvineBerry, specialist nurse in NUH’s Organ Donation Team.

“Some families like to release balloons when they lose a loved one, or look up at the sky. The balloon is symbolic and we want our families to look up and remember the precious gift their loved one gave.”

Neil said: “I’m aware of the work done by the organ donation and transplant teams at what is a very difficult time for families who are facing the loss of a loved one. Donating an organ gives new life to others that would otherwise be suffering. I am very happy to fly the flag (balloon) for the team.”

Dr Keith Girling, Medical Director at NUH, said: “As a Trust we are completely committed to organ donation and the amazing lifesaving work that is done by the generous decisions of individuals and families at incredibly difficult and challenging times.

• Organ donation can only happen in a small number of cases - around 500,000 people die every year in the UK, but only around one per cent die in circumstances where they can donate their organs. This means every donor is precious.

• Around 7,000 people - including 200 children - are waiting for a life-saving transplant in the UK right now.

• Since the pandemic, while organ donation and transplantation services have shown good recovery, there has been an increase in the numbers waiting and in need of transplant.

In March, 456,341 people living in Nottinghamshire were on the UK Organ Donor Register.

“The balloon is really bright and people won’t be able to miss it floating past,” said Skye. “We hope people will talk to each other, make their decisions known or sign up on the organ donation register.”

“We absolutely hope that the highly visible nature of this balloon will prompt people to find out and talk about this more and we really look forward to hearing the stories that come from people seeing this balloon flying. We are very grateful to the organ donation committee for funding this tremendous project and making this possible.”

• There is a particular need for donors of Black and Asian heritage. Certain organs, such as kidneys (which more than 75% of people on the list are waiting for), are matched by blood group and tissue type. People from the same ethnic background are more likely to be a match.

“The balloon is symbolic - we want our families to look up and remember the precious gift their loved one gave.”

Skye Irvine-Berry, specialist nurse

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We have over 18,000 staff and we’re passionate about celebrating and recognising their achievements.

Our Team NUH Awards programme is open for nominations 365 days a year. Three winning and two highly commended nominees in eight categories are decided on three times a year by an internal judging panel. The staff member(s) or team(s) who are voted for are presented with their awards in our hospitals throughout the year, we call these the quarterly rounds.

Have you, a relative or a friend received great care at one of our hospitals?

You can nominate the staff member or team involved with yours or their care for a Team NUH Public Award.

We then hold an annual ceremony in the autumn that all staff members and teams that have been awarded in the quarterly rounds are invited to attend and an external judging panel vote for one overall winner in each category. At the annual ceremony, we also announce our ‘Volunteer of the Year’ - nominations for which are also open all year round. Scan

Nottinghamshire police award for NUH consultant who has transformed care for young sexual abuse survivors

A consultant who has transformed care for young survivors of sexual abuse has received a special award from Nottinghamshire Police.

Dr Fiona Straw, Consultant Community Paediatrician at Nottingham Children’s Hospital, and Clinical Lead for East Midlands Children and Young People’s Sexual Assault Service (EMCYPSAS), received the award from Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry.

Dr Straw began to campaign for forensic examinations to be taken out of police stations and into a more suitable environment with more support in place to help the wellbeing of the survivors.

After years of hard work and attempts to change perceptions, she gained support from NHS England, Nottingham Hospitals Charity and police and crime Commissioners from across the East Midlands for funding and resources for a state-of-the-art regional facility at the Queen’s Medical Centre.

The East Midlands Children and Young People Sexual Assault Service suite is managed by a dedicated team of 24 staff who cover a 24-hour rota. The facility is going from strength-to-strength, providing support for a growing number of children and young people from across the East Midlands, with referrals increasing by 25% in the last year alone.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire Caroline Henry said: “Dr Fiona Straw has demonstrated total commitment over many long years to put better support in place for children and young people affected by sexual violence and abuse. It wasn’t that many years ago, when children and young people who had experienced these terrible crimes received little in the way of physical and mental health support.

“We now have an excellent paediatric sexual assault referral centre, or SARC, in Nottingham and I can honestly say that that wouldn’t have happened without Fiona, who lobbied commissioners, developed the service model in what was ultimately a successful bid, secured the hospital Trust’s agreement and raised voluntary sector funding to pay for the capital work required.”

For information about the East Midlands Children and Young People’s Sexual Assault Service, visit www.emcypsas.co.uk

“Our most vulnerable children and young people have greatly improved support locally because of Fiona and I am delighted to recognise that by presenting her with this award.”

Caroline Henry, Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire

Ella’s Grandpa challenges nursing stereotypes

A book written by a Nottingham schoolgirl and her gran is being handed out to children across England to promote nursing and midwifery as a career.

Ella’s Grandpa goes Hippity Hop! was hatched in a “hackathon” in 2019 as part of a Nursing Now Challenge.

“Most children’s books depict a nurse as a doctor’s helper and not the strong, diverse profession that we are,” said Dr Louise Bramley, Assistant Director of Nursing at NUH.

Growing the NHS nursing workforce is a national priority. The NHS NextGen Nurse programme – which funded a 10,000-copy print-run of the book - aims to address this.

An expert panel, including children’s author Jonathan Emmett, children and nurses, chose Ella’s Grandpa goes Hippity Hop! - written by NUH nurse Louise Kirk and Ella Sharpe - from 11 strong submissions.

The NUH team worked with Dr Sarah McConnell, course leader in MA Illustration at Nottingham Trent University, to draw up a creative brief, which she tasked her students with interpreting.

Sarah said: “It turned out that we would be working together through the pandemic, an incredibly challenging period for all of us but in particular for the NHS. There couldn’t be a better time to celebrate the important work that nurses do.”

“Elizabeth’s design was a visual feast,” said Sarah. “She received tutorship and industry advice from publishers to help make her book professional and contemporary – her work was a clear winner.”

Elizabeth, now studying a Masters in Illustration at NTU, said: “This was my favourite final-year project – I really enjoyed the whole process.”

Ella, now 13, said: “I hope children enjoy reading Ella’s Grandpa goes Hippity Hop! as much as my Nanna and I had creating it. My little brother, Jaxon, who’s seven, gave it the thumbs up!”

Louise - Lead Nurse for Education and Practice Development - said: “I hope this book inspires young minds to think about nursing as a career.”

Michelle Rhodes, Chief Nurse at NUH, said: “It’s fantastic to see Louise and Ella’s story brought to life by Elizabeth’s illustrations.

“Nursing as a profession has come a long way. Modern nurses have the kind of autonomy in their role that would have been unrecognisable in the 1950s, constantly making decisions, gathering data, making medical assessments and prescribing drugs. This has changed the profile of nursing – there is a huge range of different roles nowadays and hopefully reading this book will plant a seed in someone’s mind about becoming a nurse in the future.

Community rallies round to create Hayward-by-the-Sea for terminally ill patients and families

Thousands of people rallied round to create Hayward-by-the Sea – with donkey rides, hook-a-duck, ice-creams, and fish and chips – after a terminally ill patient said they wished they could take their children to the seaside one last time.

Staff at Hayward House palliative care unit at City Hospital immediately leapt into action: if the patient couldn’t go to the seaside, they would bring the seaside to them.

A Facebook post asking for donations was shared more than 2,000 times in just a few hours.

And within minutes of mentioning donkeys live on air on BBC Radio Nottingham’s breakfast show, Brackenhurst College offered the loan of Joseph and Genevieve. Moo Haven, of West Bridgford, also offered two donkeys, Alice and Beau.

In just 48 hours, the team had everything they needed to transform their tranquil garden into Hayward-by-the-Sea.

“People have been amazing,” said Deborah Walker, Deputy Ward Sister.

Mellors Group, which owns Skegness Pier and Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells, supplied a hook-a-duck and prizes, paddling pool, deckchairs – even the customary sticks of rock - and built a sandpit.

“It started as a small thing and the next thing you know, I had a man in a lorry with two-ton of sand!” said Deborah.

“We are really grateful to everyone – too many to name.”

James Mellors, Director of Operations at Mellors Group, said: “When we heard about the appeal we immediately knew it was something we had to be involved

in. Our business is all about providing people with memorable experiences and we really do hope the patients had a great day.”

As well as the Mellors Group and individual donations, contributions came from: Robbie’s Bouncy Castles, Bestwood Fisheries, Reno’s, Brackenhurst College, Moo Haven, and the Rotary Club, who maintain the garden for free all year round.

“It’s just what we do,” said Deborah. “We don’t want thanks for it. We get to care for people when they are at their most vulnerable - it really is a privilege to share such precious moments with our patients and their families.”

“It really is a privilege to share such precious moments with our patients and their families.”

Deborah Walker, Deputy Ward Sister

Welcoming back the cameras for another series of 24 Hours in A&E

Channel 4’s award-winning documentary series 24 Hours in A&E recently returned to the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham for another series.

In 2021, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) welcomed cameras into the Emergency Department (ED) at QMC for the first series to be filmed outside of London.

During 46 days of filming, 1,000 patients and over 2,000 staff gave their permission to be filmed. A total of 24 programmes were recorded and the first seven episodes were broadcast earlier this year, giving viewers a look inside one of the country’s busiest accident and emergency departments.

Channel 4 re-commissioned production company The Garden, part of ITV Studios, to produce another 24 episodes this year. Filming took place between 5 May to 8 June.

Around 120 fixed cameras are attached to the walls and ceilings in the ED, which feed footage to the production company gallery so that filming can take place without being obtrusive. Everyone who appears in the programmes, including staff and patients, agree to take part and are fully consented.

Before filming of the second series commenced, Anthony May OBE DL, Chief Executive at NUH, said:

“We are incredibly proud to be home to 24 Hours in A&E.

“Viewers witnessed the life-saving and life-changing work of our teams in series one. They saw their dedication, passion and skill in providing care every day to our communities.

“The success of the series would not have been possible without the hard work and support of our teams, as well as our patients and their families who have been willing to share their stories.

“This is a proud moment for our staff and we look forward to working with The Garden and Channel 4 on producing another successful series.”

A total of seven episodes from the first series filmed at the Queen’s Medical Centre have aired so far on Channel 4. If you missed them, you can catch up on All4. The first series will continue in July 2023.

“We are delighted to welcome the cameras back for another series of this award-winning programme, giving the public a chance to see life inside one of the country’s biggest and busiest emergency departments.”

Anthony May, Chief Executive

Murals to mark 75th anniversary of NHS

Staff, patients and volunteers in Nottingham have a starring role in the NHS’s 75th anniversary.

Three murals were commissioned to commemorate the anniversary - featuring staff, patients and volunteers.

“After nearly 30 years at NUH, I’m now officially part of the furniture!” laughed Ben Lambourne, Specialist Audiologist, who features in the first mural, unveiled at Ropewalk House in May.

Funded by the Medical Staff Committee (MSC), murals will be installed at QMC and City Hospital over the summer.

The MSC, which represents doctors’ and consultants’ views to the Executive Teamvoted to use legacy funds on art work.

Megan Dawes, NUH Arts Co-ordinator, said: “The MSC and Arts Steering Group felt strongly that there should be a piece for each site representing those who work there and those who receive care.”

Artists had to submit a proposal of their ideas, with a portfolio of previous commissions. The MSC and the steering group, along with patient representatives, chose HandMade Theatre.

Amy Nicholson and Suzy Gunn - founders of HandMade Theatre – consulted with staff and patients.

“As a theatre company we specialise in telling stories and that’s just what a mural aims to do,” said Amy. “We love to create

bespoke work which connects directly to people and places.

“The architecture of the buildings was important so that’s how the concept of windows evolved. Celebrating the important people working and visiting the hospital was a key factor in making the mural meaningful. It created a real buzz - lots of people came down and enjoyed spotting colleagues they knew in the artwork.”

Claire Benton, Head of Audiology, said: “The mural is brilliant. Lots of patients and visitors have commented on it - it reflects the staff here, what we do, and the history of Ropewalk House.

“There is great excitement about it capturing members of our team so accurately – HandMade Theatre was a great choice!”

“After nearly 30 years at NUH, I’m now officially part of the furniture!”

Ben Lambourne, Specialist Audiologist

New Bereavement Suite at Queen’s Medical Centre

The new Bereavement Suite at QMC will provide an even better level of service to those who have lost loved ones, and means that more staff can be housed in the purpose built facility, with updated equipment and improved facilities for those grieving.

The Bereavement Service has been in place for over a decade, after taking over from the chaplaincy. In 2019, it implemented the Medical Examiners service which is now a nation-wide function for NHS Trusts. Due to this huge change, it became busier than ever and the facilities at QMC were struggling to keep up with demand.

The service was rapidly running out of space as the room was not large enough for all of the medical examiners, medical examiner officers, bereavement officers, management team, doctors, and consultants. The bereavement family room was also located three floors up from the main office, and families would often have to wait in corridors until the family room was free.

An initial bid for funding was turned down, but refusing to be disheartened, the team applied for the right to fundraise for the new bereavement suite themselves and had their eye on a disused pathology laboratory. A feasibility study then resulted in the cost being as high as £250,000, but the team were determined to try and raise

at least some of the funds, in the hope that the Trust may cover the rest.

The team did everything they could to raise funds, from raffles, sponsored swims, card-making, they appeared on NUH radio, spent four weekends clearing out the old laboratory, liaised with local Nottingham companies, set up a Twitter page and just-giving page, and they also had the invaluable support of the Friends of the QMC charity behind them who had pledged to fund all of the furnishings for the new suite.

The arrival of the pandemic threw the bereavement service into the fore-front of everyone’s mind more than anyone could have ever imagined. At this point the Trust agreed to the construction of the new suite, and it was furnished with the assistance of the Friends of the QMC charity.

During the first fundraising drive, the team had set up a ‘buy a leaf’ campaign for a mural that was to be designed in the new family room, and used the last of their justgiving money to fund a beautiful birch tree mural which features name dedications Jo Frearson-Smith, Bereavement Services Manager, said:

“We would like to thank everyone that has been involved in this journey and who has supported us from the start.

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and contributions made to get this project moving and finally completed.”

Research & Innovation

Research carried out by our staff has helped patients receive life-saving treatments during the Covid-19 crisis and treat serious diseases including liver disease, while Nottingham has led the way by pioneering magnetic resonance imaging. In terms of NUH’s contribution to clinical research over the last 75 years, there is plenty to celebrate…

Nottingham’s important role in life-saving Covid-19 research

Since its inception, the NHS has been a key supporter and deliverer of medical research, helping to develop treatments that have improved and –in many cases – saved patients’ lives.

This was visible recently during the Covid-19 pandemic, with our single NHS enabling scientists and clinicians to carry out research on an unprecedented scale.

Research proved to be the only route out of the crisis, and our NUH researchers can be proud of their roles.

Professor Ian Hall, Director of the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, and a respiratory consultant at NUH, was

among the leading researchers at the frontline of efforts to investigate the most effective treatments for Covid-19.

“NUH was integral in recruiting patients into the RECOVERY trial and was involved in early work on the Covid-19 vaccine trials, recruiting patients into two such trials in Nottingham,” he said.

“We also co-ordinated work looking at immunity against Covid-19 infection and facilitated work on Covid-19 sequencing, looking at different variants of the virus…so Nottingham, along with other UK centres, had a really important role in managing the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The partnership approach, which included academic centres, industry, and funding bodies - including the NIHR and UKRI - “maximised our efficiency to undertake research”.

Professor Hall said: “Undoubtedly, this saved lives because it meant we were able to introduce those vaccines and treatments into routine healthcare faster than in many other countries.

He added: “A huge thank you is due to all our patients who participated in clinical research, both in Covid-19 and nonCovid-19 related studies. Without their input, we would not been able to make the advances we did in Covid-19 and with other disease areas.”

How Nottingham’s discovery resonates around the world

Nottingham has an important place in the history of medical imaging that continues to have a major global impact. Every day, hundreds of thousands of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are performed across the world - in the UK alone, 3.75 million MRI scans were performed last year.

Ground-breaking developments in MRI at the University of Nottingham in the late 1970s led to a Nobel Prize for Professor Sir Peter Mansfield. Since it opened over 45 years ago, Queen’s Medical Centre has provided the ideal test bed for using the new technology in clinical practice.

The NUH MRI unit opened in 1984, as one of the first hospital MRI installations in the country allowing pioneering clinical imaging studies.

Since then, the first human ultra-high field 7-Tesla scanner in Europe was installed at the University in 2005. In 2019, a collaboration between NUH and the University allowed the installation of a clinical research MRI scanner attached to neurosurgical theatre, allowing people to have MRI scans during brain tumour operations.

Nottingham’s NIHR Biomedical Research Centre MRI and Precision Imaging theme, led by Professor Dorothee Auer, will bring the latest developments in MRI technology and computational processing of medical images to help tailor treatment approaches to improve patient outcomes.

Our contribution to treating “untreatable” diseases

Professor Stephen Ryder, Clinical Director

& Innovation and Director of the Nottingham Clinical Research Facility, explains about Nottingham’s significant role in treating liver disease.

“Every treatment the NHS gives is based on research, and it’s key to how we deal with the challenges the health service faces in the future.

“My own specialism is liver disease, where early detection before people develop symptoms is a major problem. Fibroscan, a device pioneered in Nottingham, has become a key technique in detecting liver disease. With my colleagues, we’re leading the national Scarred Liver Project to examine better, earlier ways to discover it.

“The Scarred Liver Project has also shown how the same disease can affect people differently based on their ethnicity, and it’s an example of why we want to make sure all the parts of the community are represented.

“It’s not just about representing everyone – it makes for better science as different communities face different challenges, both biologically and from their environment.

“It leads to better care for everyone, and we want every patient to have the opportunity to be part of that, which doesn’t mean necessarily being in a trial, but giving their views about what research is useful.

“Research is an integral part of what NUH does – it’s for our patients, and we need our patients to make it work.”

Unlocking the benefits of genetic testing at NUH

Genetic testing is a powerful tool within the NHS. It can give answers to a family living with a rare and undiagnosed condition, reveal an inherited condition before any symptoms, find out if a pregnancy will have a genetic condition, or catch a cancer early. Each year genetic testing improves and saves the lives of thousands of patients across the UK.

Finding the ‘missing’ many

Despite the clear benefits to patients and families, for many conditions, such as Lynch Syndrome (which gives a higher risk of certain cancers) many people remain unaware they are affected. In the case of Lynch, an estimated 200,000 in the UK have it, but 95% of them don’t know they do.

If genetic testing could be made more widespread within the NHS, then detection rates for rare conditions and cancers could increase. And with higher detection rates comes earlier diagnoses, more targeted treatments and, ultimately, better outcomes for patients.

45 years of Clinical Genetics at NUH

In this 75th year of the NHS, we wanted to mark a milestone a little closer to home and celebrate over 45 years of Clinical Genetics at Nottingham University Hospitals.

From humble beginnings in 1977, the service now has more than 30 clinical staff and supports over 5,000 patients each year through genetic testing.

Increasing capacity for genetic testing at NUH

In our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Paediatric Intensive care Unit (NICU and PICU) we have introduced specialist genetic counsellors to arrange testing for acutely unwell infants, which provides results within 2-3 weeks.

Marie-Anne O’Reilly, Lead Genetic Counsellor, Clinical Genetics, explains: “In the UK, 1015% of all births result in admission to a neonatal intensive care unit. Initial clinical presentation may not accurately predict future clinical and developmental outcomes; however rapid genomic testing has the potential to transform the diagnosis and care of babies with rare or inherited genetic conditions.

“This new ‘link’ role between NICU/PICU and Clinical Genetics will enable more families to benefit from genomic testing.”

Within Ophthalmology we are training specialist orthoptists and nurses in

genomic testing indications, counselling and consenting.

Dr Ajoy Sarkar, Head of Clinical Genetics, said: “Through upskilling healthcare professionals outside of our specialist Clinical Genetics service, we can increase the ability and capacity of many more NUH services to identify underlying genetic causes of conditions in their patients.

“By doing so, we aim to get more people referred for testing and into management or treatment of their condition earlier, which we know improves outcomes for patients.”

You can find out more about the department at www.nuh.nhs.uk/clinical-genetics

Both projects are run by NHS East Genomics. You can find out more at www.eastgenomics.nhs.uk

CARE DIRECTORIES

County, City and Borough Council care directories are comprehensive guides to nursing care, residential care and independent living support. Created for individuals and their families exploring the possibility of moving to nursing/ residential care or seeking advice and support to continue living independently at home.

NHS STAFF MAGAZINES

NHS publications are circulated throughout hospitals to staff, patients and visitors on a regular basis. Advertising within the publications enables companies to promote their services to NHS employees and are an excellent way to Increase their customer base within this very targeted audience.

Introducing the National Rehabilitation Centre

What is rehabilitation?

Following traumatic injury, long-term illness or surgery, many people can be discharged straight home from hospital with support from local community services, but for those with particularly complex needs, a period of specialist inpatient rehabilitation is required to maximise physical, emotional, cognitive and social recovery. The aim is to enable people to regain their life and work.

National Rehabilitation Centre ambition

The centre will deliver world-leading rehabilitation. The benefits of creating the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) are many and wide-ranging. At its core, this is about transforming outcomes for people who have suffered potentially life-changing injury or illness, combining clinical expertise with training and education for the future workforce, and embedding research within the NRC.The ambition is to roll out this new model across the country.

What will this mean for people who need rehabilitation?

Patients who need specialist rehabilitation often have a range of needs.The NRS focus is on supporting both mental and physical health. The NRC will provide care to patients with multiple injuries or illness, widening the cohort of patients to include neuro, musculoskeletal or spinal as well as long-term conditions to truly capture those with the highest rehabilitation needs.

The NRC: building

The NRC will be located on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate (SHRE) between Nottingham and Loughborough, 400m away from the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), and will share facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool, Gait Lab and CAREN; a virtual reality

Tomorrow’s NUH Update

Nottingham University Hospitals and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board welcomes the continued commitment to the New Hospital Programme (NHP). We will be working with the NHP team and NHS England over the next few weeks to understand what this announcement will mean for Tomorrow’s NUH, our programme to develop our hospital estate, and timescales.

We continue to plan for a public consultation to consult on the TNUH programme proposals. After this is completed, outline and full business cases will be developed, which will include the delivery of the enabling works for the programme.

More information: Five major hospitals to be rebuilt as part of over £20 billion new hospital infrastructure investment (www.gov.uk)

Joint stakeholder update from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board.

rehabilitation environment. Combining high-quality design with bespoke treatment facilities, this 70-bed specialist clinical building set in acres of parkland will contribute directly to patient wellbeing. It will be designed and constructed to achieve the highest standards of sustainability, performance and energy efficiency.

Meet the people behind the Mask Reconnecting with

Dr Phil Dykes, Consultant in Adult and Paediatric Emergency Medicine. Phil loves the TEAM. The people he works with, are what makes his job the best!

staff as we emerge from the pandemic

Andrew Beckham, ED Registrar and DREEAM Educator and Teaching Fellow, Well Being and Staff Support Team. Andy loves the team he works with and being able to make a difference for patients, relatives and staff.

John, ED Charge Nurse. John enjoys helping and says NUH gives him the chance to gain experience he wouldn’t get anywhere else. NUH gives me the opportunity to gain experience I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else.

Eloise, Emergency Department Clinical Support Worker. Eloise loves the role she plays in supporting the nursing and medical team in emergency situations

Mike Soroka, Head of Estates, QMC. Engineer Mike says he really enjoys solving complex issues and contributing (in a small way) to the overall patient experience.

Carla Castillo, Health Care Assistant on ward C25. Carla says the best part of the job is helping patients and helping them recover, always trying to put a smile on their face no matter the situation.

Kate Thornton, Recovery Team Leader. Kate loves her job because being able to make changes to improve patient care makes it all worthwhile.

Kelly Davis, Clinical Support Trainer for the Head and Neck Unit. Kelly loves seeing people grow, develop and succeed.

Sue Mazengart, Adult Airway Clinical Nurse Specialist. Sue says she has the best job at NUH, and is privileged to be able to offer much-needed support and education.

Change to our mask wearing guidance

Mask wearing is now optional for staff and visitors in most areas of our hospitals, unless there is confirmed or suspected Covid.

Gemma, Senior Medications Management Technician in the Emergency Department. Gemma loves her role in helping critically unwell patients get better.

Some limited areas will continue to require mask wearing due to the vulnerability of patients. Please look out for the red signs.

How HospitalsNottingham Charity has supported NUH

Nottingham Hospitals Charity is delighted to be involved in celebrations for the 75th birthday of the NHS. To mark the occasion, the Charity is collating messages of thanks from patients and staff on two giant birthday cards – one at City Hospital and one at QMC – as well as online.

Nottingham Hospitals Charity was first formed almost 17 years ago, in November 2006, to benefit patients and staff at Nottingham’s NHS hospitals.

Over the years, and thanks to its generous donors and fundraisers, the Charity has raised over £50million and has funded a whole host of projects across City Hospital, Queen’s Medical Centre, Ropewalk House and Nottingham Children’s Hospital.

Back in January 2010, the Charity made news headlines when an anonymous donor gave £100,000 for a new stateof-the-art ultrasound system at the Trent Cardiac Centre – providing surgeons with 3D imaging of their patients’ heart function, aiding diagnosis and treatment. In November 2016, the Big Appeal for Nottingham Children’s Hospital was

launched. The appeal raised £500,000 to refurbish the family accommodation, giving parents more comfortable surroundings to stay in, whilst their children spend time in hospital.

The appeal also raised £1.6million for an intra-operative MRI scanner, along with a further £1.3million raised by the University of Nottingham. Thanks to supporters from across the East Midlands and beyond, the iMRI scanner has transformed the care of children being treated for brain tumours at Nottingham Children’s Hospital.

More recently, in March 2020, the Charity launched its Help your Hospitals Appeal – an emergency appeal launched at the very beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, to support staff at Nottingham’s NHS hospitals during this time of crisis. Thanks to the support from the Nottinghamshire community, the appeal raised over £300,000 – far beyond its original target of £100,000.

Generous donations enabled the Charity to fund emergency food packages, a psychological support programme, sleep pods, wellbeing centres, refurbished rest

areas, and relaxing outdoor areas, to enable staff to take a break during busy and challenging shifts.

Over the years, grateful patients, families and staff members have jumped out of planes, run marathons, baked cakes, donated to wards and departments across the Trust and left gifts in their wills to ensure Nottingham’s hospitals receive the very best support through Nottingham Hospitals Charity.

Thank you so much to every individual, family, community group and local business who has supported Nottingham Hospitals Charity over the years.

To find out more about how you can support Nottingham Hospitals Charity, please visit www. nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk

To leave a 75th birthday dedication message to staff at Nottingham’s hospitals, please visit nottinghamhospitalscharity. celebrationpage.org/nhs75

Join one of our fundraising events

There are a whole host of ways you can get involved in fundraising for Nottingham’s NHS hospitals in this special birthday year. Here are a few ideas to get you started…

• Take part in a sponsored walk –take part in Nottingham Hospitals Charity’s ‘Hike for your Hospitals’ campaign, and get together with colleagues, family or friends to walk your chosen distance in aid of Nottingham’s hospitals.

• Take on a challenge event – take on one of the Charity’s exciting events, such as the Big QMC Abseil, Skydive or Dragon Boat Race – all great ways to get a team of friends, family members of colleagues together for a day of fun and excitement!

• Hold a quiz – arrange an online or in-person quiz with the Charity’s special quiz pack! It’s an easy and enjoyable way of getting together and raising money.

• Do your own thing – many fundraisers choose to organise their own fundraising events, such as cake sales and balls, to raise money for their chosen area of Nottingham’s hospitals.

Find out more and sign up to an event at www.nottinghamhospitalscharity. org.uk/events

Sheffield Children’s Hospital

Refurbishment

Client: Sheffield Children’s Hospital

Sector: Healthcare

Type: Refurbishment

Procurement Method: Tender

Location: Sheffield

Project Value: £3.5 million

Project Description:

A 12-month refurbishment project of Ward 6 at the Sheffield Children’s Hospital creating a newly transformed Cancer and Leukaemia ward. This involved a complete strip out taking the building back to a concrete shell. We also built an extension at the back of the ward to form new doctor office with kitchens and places for the staff to relax on their breaks, In the new ward area we created ensuite bespoke bedrooms, interactive playrooms, school rooms and more for the children, to make the stay as comfortable as possible. Around the back of the hospital in between 3 building we manufactured and installed a steel mezzanine plant deck at roof level, on this 2 new AHU and 2 new chillers were built servicing all ward 6 and the ED department sending fresh filtered air in the ensuites.

Our works included new mechanical and electrical installations, new partitioning and ceilings, replacement of all external windows on the entire hospital and roof coverings, all the joinery in the bedrooms was bespoke making the new rooms bright and welcoming, it is now a more comfortable place to stay.

The Solution:

Working a tricky shaped building can sometimes cause problems, luckily our teams knew how to solve problems quickly so as not to cause any hold ups. Biggest issue was the size of the void above the ceiling and fitting the vast ducts up there whilst also getting electrics and pipe work underneath, all the teams working hand in hand, so they all had enough space.

The design and build steel plant deck at roof level connects to three different building on four different elevations. The steel had to be crane lifted over the roof of the main hospital building and assembled from a crash deck in the void between all four buildings. This deck had to be designed and installed in phases this was subject to road closure restrictions to the main road in front of the hospital and the installation was completed while operations continued in all four of the adjacent hospital buildings.

Testimonial:

Project was very successful, work was done to the scheduled program and completed with respect to the hospital’s requirements. A safe and welcoming safe space was created for the children, along with quiet and calming space for the parents and staff.