Together Autumn 2020

We are one team and we are best when we work together

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

together AUTUMN 2020: COVID-19 SPECIAL

In memory of those we lost

Leicestershire Health

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UNISON WE’RE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US To join contact: Email leicestershirehealthunison@gmail.com

0116 255 8890

In this Issue

AUTUMN 2020: COVID-19 SPECIAL

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16,000 heroes

24

We led the way on COVID-19 research because we know it’s the path back to normality.

Find out what we’re up to

It’s not an understatement to say Team UHL are heroes.

Read about some of our stars of the past six months

Get social with Leicester’s Hospitals @Leic hospital

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leicester’shospitals

leicestershospitals

We all found our sense of community again through COVID-19.

See what you achieved for our hospitals

Togetherness

Read our practical advice on how you can stay well as the seasons change

Our Only Solution

26

Stay Well This Winter

Test and Trace

NHS TEST & TRACE

GOT SYMPTOMS? GET TESTED NOW To stop the spread, do not leave home except to get a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119

Welcome home

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In memoriam.

A message from Rebecca Brown, acting chief executive at Leicester’s Hospitals

Recently, I wrote to our staff thanking them for their service during the pandemic – for the hours, commitment and strength of spirit they showed in the face of the toughest moments of our lives and careers.

I’ve been in the NHS my whole career never have I been more proud to lead a group of people - I have learnt so much from them.

Yet, somehow, somewhere in all that sadness, there was hope. We remembered the value of community and saw what can be achieved when we tackle challenges together. I have no doubt this experience will shape healthcare, and it will shape each of us too.

Rose background designed by rawpixel.com / Freepik

In this issue of Together, we’ve tried to capture some of the many stories from our In this same sentiment, I want to thank you, hospitals. We’ve dedicated the issue to the people we lost and the loved ones they left our community, for all you have done to behind. For now, please take a moment to support us. pause and remember them.

What we have all been through will be a story we tell for generations to come.

The story is sad, so many families have lost Rebecca Brown, loved ones and nationally we shared in Acting Chief Executive that loss.

“I want to thank you, our community, for all you have done to support us” Cover image ‘Petals in a Pandemic’ by Jonny Acheson @pdinfocus, ED Consultant for Leicester’s Hospitals

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COVID-19:

Here we look at the key milestones of those early, uncertain days of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Rising to the Challenge

22 Mar

Glenfield Hospital

The Nursing and Midwifery Council announced that more than 5,600 former nurses had registered to offer their services in the fight against coronavirus.

Within days, we proudly welcomed fifty new nurses and midwives who had their studies fast-tracked by Leicester’s De Montfort University. This strengthened our team of nursing staff, enabling us to provide vital frontline support during the pandemic.

Beating Covid-19 Wear a mask Clean hands often

2m

Stay 2 metres apart Get involved in research

www.leicestersresearch.nhs.uk Buildings & trees designed by macrovector / virus designed by articular / Freepik

31 Jan The first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in UK.

By March 31, this figure climbed to over 25,500 confirmed cases.

Coronavirus assessment pods opened to protect staff and patients. As ‘Stay Home’ advice evolved, these pods were adapted.

“I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge.”

23 Mar

UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced that Britain would ‘lockdown’ in his daily TV address.

Doctors messes and empty meeting rooms were converted into ‘NOVID’ rooms. Safe havens for rest and recovery for all staff across our hospitals.

LEICESTER

3 Apr

NHS Nightingale Hospital London opens, one of seven emergency field hospitals to be set up in the fight against the virus.

Intensive care units at Leicester’s Hospitals were re-configured to ensure that we could help as many patients as possible, COVID and non-COVID, when they needed it the most.

Our respiratory team also developed SPACES a way of working to protect ward staff from increased exposure to COVID.

We recruited our first patient to the RECOVERY trial on 3 April. Over the coming months we would recruit the most patients in the UK to this trial, which found that a cheap low-dose steroid called dexamethasone improved survival rates by up to a third in patients with COVID-19 who needed ventilation or oxygen. The treatment would become a care standard.

Leicester Royal Infirmary

5 Apr

Queen Elizabeth II made a rare broadcast and pays tribute to key workers, “I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge.”

Our emergency department was split into COVID and NON-COVID zones to help safely manage patients and encourage social distancing. Our paediatric intensive care team received their first adult patients.’

General Hospital

What you need to know:

COVID-19

Here’s some key facts about the new coronavirus disease to help you better understand the symptoms and how to manage them.

What is it?

If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) develops from exposure to SARS-Cov2 coronavirus. It’s a new disease in humans, causing viral pneumonia.

1 Book a free test within the first five days of having symptoms by calling 119.

2 Stay at home for at least 10 days.

How can I get it?

COVID-19 spreads when infectious droplets from one person’s mouth and nose secretions, get into another person’s mouth, nose or eyes.

Current evidence suggests that those droplets spread through direct, indirect (contaminated objects or surfaces), or close contact with infected people.

Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also stay at home until you get your result.

Main symptoms

Worried about your symptoms?:

Managing symptoms Most people will be able to manage their symptoms from home. Rest and water can help a high temperature and you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable. Lying on your side or sitting up can help ease the cough and whilst you shouldn’t attend your pharmacy in person, a call to your pharmacist on anything you could take to ease your cough may be a good idea if you are uncomfortable.

If you’re feeling breathless, this can be a sign of a more serious infection, read our symptoms box (right).

High temperature

New continuous cough

Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service: www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19 Call 111 if you cannot get help online.

Loss of or change to sense of smell

Loss of or change to sense of taste

Do not go to your GP surgery, hospital or pharmacy.

Wash hands

Cover face

Make space

keep washing your hands regularly

wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in enclosed spaces

stay at least 2 metres away from people not in your household

Visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ for more guidance 8

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Virus image Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

To protect yourself and others from COVID-19 when you leave home you must:

Behind the scenes:

COVID-19 Testing Have you ever wondered what happens when you take a COVID-19 test in hospital?

Testing for coronavirus is vital in order for our lives to return to some kind of normality.

While the test itself is a simple swab of your nose and throat, the clever part takes place when the sample arrives at the Leicester Royal Infirmary virology lab. Let’s take a look behind the scenes to find out what happens:

1 The samples are prepared for testing in a biosafety cabinet to keep our staff safe.

2

3

The vials await extraction of nucleic acid, Here, we see the nucleic acid the substance that tells us if the sample being extracted. It takes around 80 is positive or negative for COVID-19. minutes.

Fact:

4 The nucleic extract is then tested for the COVID-19 virus by being put through a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This process takes around four hours.

5 If rapid testing is required, our virologists will use this machine, called the Infinity.

It can complete a test in around 60 minutes for clinically urgent cases

Our Microbiology lab teams processed over 250% more respiratory samples in March 2020 than in March 2019.

That’s a lot of tests!

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16,000 Team UHL Over 16,000 members of staff and volunteers worked tirelessly across our hospitals during the peak of Coronavirus. Here we share the stories of some of our #TeamUHL colleagues.

Volunteers kept that all important connection going between patients and their loved ones

Hospital School

Although volunteering briefly stopped at the beginning of the pandemic some volunteers returned to help support our Connecting Families initiative.

UHL volunteers

Dave Bamford was one of those volunteers who kept that all important connection going between patients and their loved ones by delivering e-greeting cards.

“We quickly adapted to offer remote learning and bespoke educational support” Teachers across the country went above the call of duty during the pandemic, and this was also true of our hospital school team.

Head teacher, Stephen Deadman says,

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“We quickly adapted to offer remote learning and bespoke educational support to our most vulnerable patients, enabling them to continue to learn despite the challenges.”

“Colleagues across Intensive care worked with energy, compassion and outstanding commitment in incredibly difficult circumstances.

It was a privilege to work alongside them.”

Moira Durbridge, transformation director, was one of many colleagues to return to front line clinical practice. For 12 weeks she supported critically ill COVID patients at Glenfield Hospital. Reflecting on those weeks she said, “Colleagues across

Clinical staff The supplies team rose to every challenge, working hard to provide vital equipment to their colleagues The supplies team stopped at nothing to ensure staff had the right personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep them safe at work.

David Streets, head of procurement and supplies, said: “The team clocked up hundreds

Intensive care worked with energy, compassion and outstanding commitment in incredibly difficult circumstances. It was a privilege to work alongside them.” The ICU at Glenfield took referrals from all over the UK, including healthcare workers, for specialist ECMO treatment.

Supplies team

of motorway miles collecting supplies from around the country to ensure that our teams had what they need.

The supplies team rose to every challenge, working hard to provide vital equipment to their colleagues. It was through this incredible dedication that we were able to ensure that our teams didn’t run out of anything they needed.”

Team UHL

Inspired to care like us?

You can join

#TeamUHL

See our range of volunteering programmes: leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ volunteering and view our latest vacancies: jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk Stripe background design by vector corp / Freepik

Every possible care has been taken to ensure that the information given in this publication is accurate. Whilst the publisher would be grateful to learn of any errors, it cannot accept any liability over and above the cost of the advertisement for loss there by caused. No reproduction by any method whatsoever of any part of this publication is permitted without written consent of the copyright owners.

Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd. Š2020. Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN10 6AB. Tel: 01302 714528

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University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust endorse any of the products or services.

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Yahya, the Little Lion whose legacy lives on In just over two short years of life, miracle baby Yahya has inspired a community to usher in a bright future for children across the East Midlands.

At her 20 week scan, Asiya found out that her son’s heart was on the right side of his chest, rather than the left.

Once he was born, it became clear that Yahya had multiple heart conditions and a unique circulatory system. He was given just a few months to live.

Despite this, Yahya fought through the next two years, growing beyond expectations and living a happy family life.

He had his first surgery at six months old and progressed to be eligible for open-heart surgery by his first birthday.

Asiya became a passionate supporter of our Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal and told Yahya’s remarkable story on Radio Ramadan, inspiring

Let’s #DoThem Proud 14

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Asiya with Yahya

listeners to raise money for the appeal.

brighter future for the children of the East Midlands.

Heartbreakingly, within days of telling their story, Yahya passed away. He was two years old.

Families like Yahya’s deserve the best possible children’s hospital services when facing the most unimaginable challenges - and we are determined to help give them that.

His death prompted an outpouring of support, from individuals and charities wishing to honour ‘Little Lion’, Yahya.

Leicestershire charity Drop of Compassion announced they would be donating £250,000; while Radio Ramadan listeners rallied to raise £25,000.

We are incredibly thankful to both organisations, and their supporters, for everything they have done to support our appeal.

We also grateful to Yahya’s wonderful family, who despite such a devastating loss continue to do all they can to ensure a

You can help #DoThemProud by donating or signing up as a supporter at

DoThemProud.com or simply ringing our friendly team on 0116 258 8709.

Togetherness

when we needed it the most While we prepared our hospitals for the challenge of Coronavirus, our communities rallied around us to make sure we had what we needed to keep us going.

And inside our hospitals our charity, estates, volunteering and wellbeing teams pulled together to make sure that all this goodwill went to those who needed it most.

Roses by Jonny Acheson

1.2 million gifts of support received during the COVID-19 pandemic.

1600 meals for 100 days from ‘Salute the NHS’ charity

Nearly

50,000

food items from CoFresh, KP Snacks, Corkers Crisps, United Biscuits and Fox’s Biscuits

50,000 soft drinks from charities and businesses including Midland Langar Seva Society, Amazon UK, Brew Vic and PepsiCo

2,000 children’s activity packs from the Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service

Over

15,000 units of hand sanitisers and creams from local donors and national organisations including Jo Malone, Clarins and the Blue Light Foundation

Making sure we didn’t miss Easter At the peak of the pandemic, Samworth Brothers, Nestlé, Cadbury, Poundland, HM Prisons and East Midlands Railway delivered over 34,000 eggs so that the children and families of patients and staff didn’t miss out.

Over

45,000 eggs

“We received donations from hundreds of individuals, charities and businesses, schools and community groups, which speaks volumes about the generosity and togetherness of our communities.”

Rebecca Brown, acting chief executive, Leicester’s Hospitals.

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Thank you Kind messages, uplifting artwork and moving poetry gave us food for the soul during some difficult moments. Here we share some of the special pieces that captured the moment.

Artists painted for us Talented artists painted for us including Invernessbased artist Ian Whyte.

He painted this portrait of Jennifer Nichols, consultant in trauma and orthopaedics at Leicester's Hospitals, as part of the #PortraitsforNHSHeroes campaign.

The campaign celebrates all of the staff who delivered compassionate care during the NHS’ most challenging period in its 72 year history.

Explaining what motivated Jennifer to get involved in the campaign, she says:

“For us going the extra mile has become the standard distance.

We all deserve recognition for our incredible work.”

“I just felt it was my duty to paint something and I was honoured to be able to donate this to the Trust. My piece represents the hustle and bustle of the corridors, which we may not all see and appreciate.”

Anton Levy Amoo, artist

Thank you to everyone for your support 16

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Kids brightened our walls

Caring Hands

The children in our communities brightened our walls (and our hearts!) with their creative and colourful artwork.

Here are just a few of those that have stuck in our mind.

David Roy Mathers, bereavement support nurse at Leicester’s Hospitals wrote Caring Hands, a poem he says is inspired by:

“The sheer level of dedication and compassion shown by so many across UHL during the pandemic.

I also saw how, at a time when verbal communication is much more difficult, the touch of a caring hand could bring hope and trust to those in need.”

Caring hands reach out to those in need building trust from tiny, fragile seeds, nurturing patients with every touch simple gestures which mean so much.

Caring hands show patients you’re there an advocate with whom they can share, worries, troubles or even their fears laughter, smiles or when needed tears.

Caring hands make a difference each day tending, nurturing in many simple ways, conveying more than words can ever do a message of hope that holds ever true.

Caring hands convey a sense of calm acting like a soothing balm, bringing hope to troubled minds sharing an experience that binds.

Caring hands create a strong bond as people go above and beyond, showing each patient, we truly care as part of ourselves we share.

Caring hands touch lives each day in such a myriad of ways, for each simple, thoughtful deed can lift the hopes of someone in need.

from everyone at Leicester’s Hospitals AUTUMN 2020

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Surviving and thriving: beating coronavirus and telling the tale Hylton

The miracle of this whole story is the NHS. We have always known how wonderful the NHS is, but I can tell you, these people are the heroes of the moment Hylton and his heroes of the moment 61 year old international conservationist, Hylton MurrayPhilipson spent 12 days in our hospitals, five of which were in intensive care, fighting for his life.

Hylton described the terrifying feeling of not being able to breathe, as if his lungs were paralysed. “There were moments of great distress, great panic” he said.

Despite the panic and despair, Hylton also vividly recalls the compassionate care he received from the medical team that brought him back to health.

The 61-year-old father of two recounts one of the defining memories of his time at Leicester’s Hospitals. He says, “The nurses found out it was my 61st birthday and asked me what I wanted. I felt pretty rough

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so I said I’d love a shave. The nurses were happy to assist, and they gathered around my bed with cake and sang Happy Birthday. It was so unbelievably moving.”

During appearances on BBC, ITV and in national newspapers, Hylton, who is now back at home, called the NHS ‘the crowning achievement of Britain’.

He says, “The miracle of this whole story is the NHS. We have always known how wonderful the NHS is, but I can tell you, these people are the heroes of the moment – whether in reception, intensive care or on the ward – their care and compassion is so humbling. I want to thank the staff, without them I would not be here today.”

“I still don’t have the words to describe what this amazing gift means to me and my family.

I will never be able to thank Lorraine enough.”

Paulo

Colleagues, friends and a selfless act Deputy team leader nurse at Glenfield Hospital, Paulo Goncalves, had his life was turned upside down when he was struck with COVID-19 and admitted to intensive care.

It took Paulo four long weeks in ICU to win the battle against COVID-19, an experience that took its toll on his physical and mental wellbeing.

He says, “It’s been challenging to see myself like this. When I was first discharged, I couldn’t talk in whole sentences.”

The impact of Paulo’s struggles struck a chord with his cardiac theatre teammate, Lorraine Simpson. As a recent winner of the UHL Lotto Superdraw she had won a once in a lifetime trip to Monaco to watch the Monte Carlo tennis masters as winner of the UHL Lotto Superdraw.

Without hesitation, Lorraine selflessly gifted her travel prize to Paulo and his wife, via a video-call following his discharge from intensive care.

She says,

“It felt like the right thing to do. Paulo and his family had been through so much.

It was my way of helping him to turn this negative experience into a positive one.”

Staff Lotto UHL Staff Lotto funds the hospital’s staff health and wellbeing programme.

If you work for our Trust you can sign up by going to INsite.

Paulo says, “I still don’t have the words to describe what this amazing gift means to me and my family.

I will never be able to thank Lorraine enough.”

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The future is COVID-19 had a transformational impact on how healthcare is delivered, both within Leicester’s Hospitals and the wider NHS. One innovation that has supported keeping both staff and patients safe is the move to virtual appointments, both telephone and video.

Serving our deaf and hearing-impaired communities

1

Ensure you have good phone signal on your device and strong WiFi if having a video consultation

2

Ensure you are in a private room with good lighting, away from background noise and distractions.

3

Have all of your current medication with you in case you are asked or need a repeat of your prescription

4

5

?

Make a note in advance of any questions you have for your clinician Keep a pen and paper handy so that you can write down any instructions or advice they give to you

If you have additional questions about your telephone or video consultation, please call the number on your appointment letter.

To ensure our deaf and hearing impaired patients can participate in their remote hospital appointment, our equality and outpatient services teams have collaborated to provide access to video translation services. Alison Blount (left) is a British Sign Language interpreter.

Where appointments still need to take place face to face, Action Deafness and Vista continue to provide a translation service for our deaf and deaf-blind patients.

To access any of these services contact the number on your appointment letter for more information or email interpreter.

network@uhl-tr.nhs.uk

Triangles designed by Harryarts Phone designed by Jannoon028 / Freepik

If you have an upcoming virtual appointment, here are five steps to ensure it is a success:

Keeping hearts beating during the pandemic

Coronavirus didn’t stop cardiologists at Leicester’s Hospitals from becoming the first in the UK to implant the latest generation of the world’s smallest, wireless pacemaker.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, routine procedures and appointments were paused to limit the risk to patients and staff. But not all appointments could wait and we continued to see urgent cases, like that of teacher Mr Short, who was the first person in the UK to receive an innovative pacemaker implant.

Reassuring and comforting Mr Short’s incredible journey began when his implantable loop recorder detected a change in his heart rhythm. Within two weeks, he had been assessed, booked in for his two hour day-surgery and returned home with a new, one-inch long pacemaker.

Dr Somani explained: “Mr Short suffered with AV block, a condition that prevents the heart from contracting as it needs to. There are no medications available to treat it, so until now patients have been treated with traditional pacemakers connected to the heart via wires.

Without a pacemaker, Mr Short’s health could have very quickly deteriorated.

Remembering his experience, Mr Short said,

“Everything at the hospital was so well organised – it was reassuring and comforting given the fact that we are in the middle of a pandemic.

The staff couldn’t have been better.

Everybody was so committed and caring. The pacemaker is an amazing piece of technology, far beyond my expectations. It’s incredible to think it’s inside my heart right now.”

Dr Somani said of the team’s accomplishment during the pandemic: “Being able to continue with the pioneering work that Leicester’s cardiology team is renowned for, during the pandemic, is vitally important for the patients we serve and reflects the dedication and commitment of the whole cardiac team.”

We are still here for you If you need urgent or emergency services related to stroke, heart attacks and other severe conditions you will still be seen at our hospitals.

In the first instance, if your symptoms are not life threatening / you aren’t experiencing a stroke or a heart attack, you should call 111 or go to the NHS 111 online service.

If your symptoms are serious or your situation is life threatening you should call 999 immediately

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Our Only Solution Understanding who COVID-19 affects most and finding proven treatments are vital to saving lives and navigating a path to the end of the pandemic.

“This time last year we’d never heard of COVID-19”, said Professor Nigel Brunskill (pictured right), director of research and innovation at Leicester’s Hospitals. “Now we have a better understanding of how the virus works, who is at most risk, and some ways we can treat it. That shows what research can achieve”.

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Supporting BAME communities

Searching for treatments

As the pandemic spread, scientists around the world set about gathering information on who was most affected

by COVID-19.

As the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital began to increase, many consented to take part in RECOVERY, a clinical trial to test medicines that are used to treat similar diseases.

Leicester’s Hospitals recruited more patients into this trial than any other trust in the country.

Dr Manish Pareek (pictured left), consultant in infectious diseases at Leicester’s Hospitals and associate clinical professor at the University of Leicester explains: “From the data we know the people most affected by COVID-19 are male, over 65, from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background (BAME), and have other long term health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and heart problems.”

Professor Chris Brightling (pictured below), who leads the Leicester COVID research team, said: “If we know what works then patients can get the best possible treatment, which means we can save more lives.

“In the RECOVERY trial it was exciting to discover that a cheap, low-dose steroid called dexamethasone significantly improved survival rates in patients with COVID-19 who needed oxygen or ventilation.”

Following its announcement, all trusts across the country began to use dexamethasone as standard care.

The path to recovery While most COVID-19 survivors make a full recovery, some continue to display symptoms long after the initial infection. To understand why, Leicester is leading a national study called PHOSP-COVID into the long-term effects of COVID-19. The study aims to discover why some people react differently to the virus, and whether treatments received in hospital affect the later course of the disease.

He adds: “During the first wave, people from BAME communities were 2.5 times more likely to be COVID-positive than white people, which is a particularly important fact if you also work on the healthcare frontline where you’re more likely to be exposed to the virus. In response we launched a national project called UK-REACH to explore just how healthcare workers from BAME backgrounds are affected

by COVID-19.”

Leicester’s COVID research in numbers

180

12

622

1498

members of staff in our COVID research team

the number of UK government Urgent Public Health priority research studies we run in our hospitals

patients recruited into the RECOVERY trial

patients who shared their data with the ISARIC study

*All numbers correct as of 8 September 2020

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Stay well this winter

With winter approaching, now is the perfect time to focus on your physical health and mental wellbeing.

Some of the season’s most common illnesses, including Norovirus, Flu and the common cold can really take it out of us. Our handy wellbeing guide shares some ways you can make sure you are:

• Get outdoors in the daylight to keep your Vitamin D levels up • Sleep well - try to get between 6-9 hours of sleep every night • Eat well - try to get your five portions of fruit and veg, as part of eating a balanced diet

• Stay hydrated drink plenty of water, around 6-8 glasses per day is best • Connect with other people often to protect your mental wellbeing • Keep washing your hands.

For more information and resources, including, mindfulness audio guides, a mood selfassessment tool and tips to reduce stress, visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxietydepression/improve-mental-wellbeing/

flu fighter

Get your flu jab Getting your flu jab will be one of the best presents you give yourself this winter.

Don’t leave it till Christmas - book one as soon as they become available (from October).

As always, it’s its free for adults aged 65 and over, pregnant women, children and adults in clinical risk groups, carers, primary school children and those aged 2-3 years. Additionally this year, the

vaccination is also being offered to children in school year 7, people over 50 years of age, and anyone who has been shielding, or lives with someone who was shielding.

To find out more search “Flu vaccine - NHS” on Google or speak to your GP.

If you’re part of #TeamUHL, it’s never been more important to get your flu jab.

Look out for details of our annual Flu Fighter campaign 26

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Photo by Andrea Piacquadio/pexels

Fit for winter

Get Appy Try these free tools and apps from Public Health England designed to support you to eat better and get active.

Photo by Retha Ferguson/pexels

NHS Fitness Studio nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio Take your pick from 24 instructor-led videos spanning aerobics, strength and resistance, pilates and yoga categories. Workouts range between 10-45 minutes long.

NHS weight loss plan nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/start-the-nhsweight-loss-plan/ A free 12 week diet and exercise plan to help you reach your goals, and keep the weight off. The PDF plan has been downloaded more than 7million times and is also available via app for Android and iPhone.

Lastly, to eat well, try the Easy Meal app for inspiration to make your own healthy meals.

Here’s one we couldn’t resist, for you to cut out and keep.

Chunky chicken & sweetcorn soup This creamy soup is made with cooked chicken, onion, sweetcorn, milk and stock with some chopped fresh parsley.

It’s utterly delicious!

Preparation: 15 mins Cooking: 25 mins Serves: 4 adults Calories per portion: 193 kcal

Method 1. Melt the margarine in a large saucepan and gently cook the onion for 2-3 minutes, until softened 2. Add the potatoes and stock, bring to the boil, then simmer until the potatoes are tender 3. Add the sweetcorn, chicken, milk and cook gently for 3-4 minutes, stirring often 4. Add the cornflour mixture, stirring till thickened.

5. Add the parsley and season with ground black pepper 6. Serve with a slice of wholemeal bread

Photo by Retha Ferguson/pexels

Ingredients 15g margarine 1 small onion, finely chopped 250g potatoes, chopped into small chunks 600ml reduced-salt vegetable stock and boiling water 100g sweetcorn 100g chopped cooked chicken 300ml semi-skimmed milk 2 tbsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp cold water 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 pinch ground black pepper

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Author Joe Nixon created an imaginary ‘locked down’ world in his book The Fearless Fox and Daring Deer to help children understand why the world around them had changed so dramatically Perplexing, strange, surreal… or time for an adventure?! Lockdown meant different things to us all.

The Fearless Fox & Daring Deer is the tale of wild animals who venture into empty towns and deserted cities and gain a new-found courage to co-exist with humans peacefully.

Joe was inspired to write the story for his young niece and nephew after watching news reports about the changing behaviours of wild animals during lockdown, whilst he himself was recovering from COVID-19.

Talking about the story, Joe said the message is really one of hope,

“My young niece and nephew, were finding it difficult to understand why they were trapped at home during lockdown. So I wanted to gift them this story to give them a little hope about a brighter future.”

Proceeds from the sale of The Fearless Fox & Daring Deer will go towards a range of local causes including the Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal, which is raising funds to realise the first dedicated, single-site children’s hospital in the East Midlands.

You can order your copy of the book by visiting www.fearlessfox.co.uk 28

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AUTUMN 2020

A space to pause...

The Secret Garden Supporting staff, patients and their families throughout the pandemic was an army of staff and volunteers whose focus was to help us find balance amongst the chaos.

With a little help from Leicester Hospitals Charity, NHS Charities Together and local businesses, together they transformed empty and forgotten spaces into wellbeing retreats, including an outdoor space in the grounds of old mansion house, Glenfield, lovingly called the “Secret Garden�.

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AUTUMN 2020

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

LEICESTER LOVES NURSES Get the opportunities you want and the recognition you deserve.

Go to jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk Michael Stokes (Deputy Sister), Paediatric Emergency Department (Leicester Royal Infirmary)