Feast@: West Atrium, Level 1, open daily 7am - 1am
Feast@ the Deli: West Atruim, Level 1, open Monday - Friday, 7am-3pm
Feast@ Café Bar: Out-patients East, open Monday - Friday, 7.30am - 4.30pm
Coffee House: Plaza (West), open MondayFriday, 7am - 6.30pm; Saturday, 9am - 4.30pm; Sunday, 9am - 3.30pm
Little Costa: Out-patients West, open Monday - Friday, 7am - 5.30pm
The Pod: Plaza East, open Monday - Friday, 7am - 8pm; Saturday, 9am - 6pm
Charity Café: Car park G outside the Emergency Department, 7.30am - 4pm weekdays
The Mardle Café at Cromer Hospital: 8am4pm Monday to Friday
Shopping
WRVS: East Atrium, open Monday – Friday, 8am - 8pm; weekends, 10am - 6pm
WH Smith, M&S Food: Plaza (West), open Monday – Friday, 7am - 7pm; Saturday, 9am5pm; Sunday, 9am - 4pm
The Stock Shop: West Atrium, Level 2, open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5.30pm; Saturday, 12pm - 4pm. We open 8am Thursdays.
Services
Lost property: Call 01603 286803 or ext 2803
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS): For confidential help and advice call 01603 289036
Chapel: Open to all. For details of services or to contact the Chaplains call 01603 287470 Cromer Hospital, call 01603 646200 Hospital Radio Norwich: To request a song or a bedside visit, call 01603 454585 or from your Hospedia bedside unit dial *800
Contact us
The Pulse Editorial team: call 01603 289822 or ext. 5822, email Communications@nnuh.nhs.uk Design: Medical Illustration
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Colney Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UY Tel: 01603 286286; Website: nnuh.nhs.uk
Cromer and District Hospital, Mill Road, Cromer, NR27 0BQ Tel: 01263 513571
WHAT’S ON Letters and social media @NNUH “
The care I received was second to none. I met the most amazing and positive shoulder surgeon. Not only has Miss R.F restored hope back to my family and myself but given me faith back for the NHS. All the staff that I met are absolutely wonderful, they made me feel safe and so cared for.
Nothing was too much if I asked any questions. An extra lot of gratitude to the Ashill Ward and NANOC team, from entering reception I was very nervous, the team helped me relax and calm down, all nurses had an amazing attitude. The surgery team deserve medals, you put me at ease, you told me clearly everything and removed my fear.
What an exceptional, amazing team you have, with all staff I met in the hospital being so kind and caring. Words honestly cannot describe my love for the hospital, thank you so very much to each and every one of you. You truly made a difference to my life.
AM
Recently, my wife experienced medical problems, specifically a query stroke and TIA. It was a very anxious time and she was referred by A&E to the stroke/TIA team.
We just wanted to express our sincere gratitude for the care and understanding we received during this process. We know that all staff work under challenging conditions daily, and it is a credit to the service that they still manage to deliver excellent care. The secretaries, stroke nurse and doctor have been extremely caring and supportive throughout this whole process, and it is very much appreciated.
We could not have asked for better healthcare. In particular, we would like to thank Dr Robin Brown for his excellent care. He was thorough, carefully answered all of our questions, and was true to his word with follow-up calls to appraise us of reports, which made such a difference at a very worrying time.
LP
To all maternity staff at NNUH, we cannot express how grateful we are to each and every one of you for helping to bring our beautiful baby boy into the world and supporting us throughout.
A special thanks to Dr Gemma Partridge, who we will never be able to repay for her expertise in a time of need. God bless you all.
KA
Accompanied my 90 year Mum today to a chest x-ray at the new CDC unit at @NNUH. Such a huge improvement, from the spacious, bright and attractive open plan waiting area, to the help given by the nurses, to the x-ray rooms, and the cafe adjacent to the waiting area. Great stuff.
SB
Huge thank you to the West Norwich Lions for this wonderful donation of £1,000 to support our patients living with dementia @nnuh.
Please note that all opening times are currently subject to change.
The cheque was presented to Jennifer, pictured right, from the Dementia Support Team who outlined some of the work undertaken by the team.
N&N Hospitals Charity
The shorter days and the cooler nights are a sure sign that the busy winter months are almost upon us.
Winter is traditionally a testing time for the NHS with an increase in admissions caused by a rise in respiratory complications and the added challenges of seasonal viruses.
Planning for this period started in the summer months and our Trust Board formally approved our Winter Plan at the end of September.
I’m exceptionally proud of our teams who have consistently performed above national standards for admitting, transferring or discharging patients within four hours of arriving at our Emergency Department, despite increased demand.
We know how difficult it is for patients if they are waiting for a long time in an ambulance and how this impacts emergency response times in the community, so the focus over winter is to continue our good emergency performance and to eradicate lengthy ambulance handover delays outside our hospital.
To reduce pressure on our Emergency Department, we are bolstering our Same Day Emergency Care hours and have developed our Acute Frailty Hub as well as putting measures in place to avoid unnecessary admissions from care homes.
A key part of our Winter Plan is also to reduce delays when patients are ready to be discharged from hospital and we are working closely with our partners to do this.
We also want to expand the very successful Virtual Ward model we have at NNUH to enable more patients to receive hospital care and monitoring in their own homes.
There’s a lot of concern about flu season this year because the Australian health system had a particularly bad winter and this often means the Northern hemisphere follows suit.
Everyone can do their bit to stay as healthy as possible by getting their flu vaccination, particularly if you are over 65, school aged, pregnant, living in a care home, a carer or someone more likely to get infections. Please get in touch with your GP practice if you are eligible for a free vaccination or find your nearest pharmacy offering the vaccine at www.nhs.uk/flu-pharmacy
Last year, our hospital was the best in the East of England for the staff vaccination programme and this winter, we are aiming for at least 70% to ensure we protect ourselves as much as possible from flu this season.
Tracey Bleakley, Executive Managing Director
8 9 12
NNUH teams recognised at HSJ Patient Safety Awards
Congratulations to two of our teams who have been recognised for their work at the national HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
Our maternity and virtual ward colleagues were crowned winners in the Virtual or Remote Care Initiative of the Year category for their work on caring for patients with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. We were also recognised as Highly Commended for our innovative falls prevention training video in the Patient Involvement in Safety Award category. HG affects around four percent of pregnancies and frequently leads to multiple GP appointments, emergency department visits, and hospital stays. To minimise the psychological, social and financial burden of repeated hospitalisations on patients and their families, our Hyperemesis team partnered with our Virtual Ward so that patients could receive IV hydration and medications both at a timed appointment in the Virtual Ward hub or in their own home. They’ve also formed virtual clinics to support patients with medication and psychological support. This cut bed days by over 50%, with feedback from service users saying it enhanced patient experience while reducing both financial and environmental costs, without compromising on clinical care quality.
Beth Laverick, Lead Obstetrician for Maternal Medicine, said: “We’ve developed a model that provides bespoke, personalised and patient-centred care
that judges felt could be rolled out nationwide. We’re so proud that service user voice has guided the development of this service - we’re all delighted to receive national recognition with this award.” Together with Age UK Norwich and Creative Sponge, the Highly Commended award was for our joint project to produce a video called ‘Alice’s Story’, which highlighted the healthcare missed opportunities in falls prevention. It was developed with patients who had directly experienced a fall and received care in hospital. The video is now being used as a training tool for staff as well as an awareness resource for the wider community, helping to highlight the importance of preventing falls and supporting people to remain safe and independent.
Falls Prevention and Management Lead Anna Skipper said: “I’m incredibly proud to have received this accolade which shows that partnership working can produce innovative resources that can support better patient safety.”
Staff praised for kindness and compassion in national survey
We’ve been praised for our kindness and compassion in the national Adult In-patient Survey.
Almost 600 patients responded to the survey, which is commissioned by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Patients aged over 16 completed the questionnaire in November 2024 after spending at least one night in hospital.
We were given benchmark scores so that we can see how we’re performing compared to other Trusts. Feedback mirrored similar themes to last year, including patients having confidence and trust in both doctors and nurses treating them. We scored about the same as most others in the majority of questions.
Rachael Cocker, Chief Nurse, said: “It is wonderful to hear that our patients felt they were treated with kindness and compassion and shown dignity and respect while they were with us. It’s very pleasing to see our highest scores were given for patients feeling they were given enough privacy and that they had enough to drink.
“Patients also rated us highly in saying they felt included in their conversations with doctors and understood information about what they should or shouldn’t do after being discharged. The results also show us where we want to see improvements. Reducing noise at night came up as an area to focus on as well as ensuring our patients feel able to talk to us about their worries and fears.”
To view the results in full, visit www.cqc.org.uk/publications/surveys/adultinpatient-survey
Showcasing innovation at our AGM
Our Annual General Meeting took place on 25 September, which included presentations from teams about their award-winning and nationally leading work. More than 70 attendees attended in the Benjamin Gooch Lecture theatre and online where Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group Chief Executive Lesley Dwyer provided a review of the year.
Watch the AGM in full on our Youtube channel by scanning the QR code.
Patient receives life changing corneal transplant at the age of 99
A 99-year-old woman from South Norfolk has become the oldest patient to receive a corneal transplant here.
Annetta Lord, who recently turned 100, underwent a DMEK procedure performed by Consultant Ophthalmologist, Chrishan Gunasekera last October. Corneal transplant surgery involves removing all or part of a damaged cornea and replacing it with healthy, clear corneal tissue from a donor. DMEK (Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty) involves carefully removing a single sheet of cells from a donated cornea and inserting it into a patient via a small incision.
The day case procedure uses a small gas bubble to hold the new corneal cells in place for two to three days while they settle and start working. Because only a single layer of cells is transplanted, DMEK offers excellent visual outcomes, faster recovery times, and a reduced risk of graft rejection compared with older techniques.
Annetta, who has lived in Norfolk all her life, had cataract surgery in her early 90s but had experienced very poor vision in recent years. Since her transplant surgery she is back reading and doing puzzles without the need for glasses.
She said: “I wasn’t worried about the operation because of my age at all. I had every confidence in the surgeon.
Ashill Ward strikes Gold
Congratulations to Ashill Ward for receiving Gold Accreditation of Excellence for their outstanding standards of care.
He asked if I wanted to see better, I said yes, and he said let’s do it.
My vision is now the best it’s been in a long time.”
Dr Gunasekera was the first to perform this surgery in Norfolk.
He said: “There was absolutely no reason why Annetta couldn’t have this surgery and it has vastly improved her quality of life. This innovative technique is better for patients because it offers quicker healing and outstanding visual outcomes.
“As far as I’m aware, Annetta is the oldest patient to have this procedure in the country, and I’m delighted she is now able to enjoy her hobbies again. It was a pleasure to see her in clinic last month and see her birthday card from the King and Queen which she received for her 100th birthday in July.”
Annetta’s daughter Janet added: “I did initially ask the consultant if mum was ‘too old’ but he assured me she wasn’t. He was absolutely brilliant. I’m really pleased for mum that it’s been a great success.”
The Accreditation of Excellence, endorsed by the Chief Nursing Officer for England, recognises wards that demonstrate consistently high standards of patient care, safety and experience, and aims to raise standards of care across NHS services.
Over a two-week period, Ashill Ward was assessed against 13 standards. “I am incredibly proud to share that we achieved 10 Gold, one Silver and two Bronze ratings – a truly outstanding result,” said Kathleen Chandler, Ward Sister.
Ashill Ward is a 21-bed Elective Orthopaedic Unit, which opened in July 2024. Since then, the team has worked tirelessly to refine processes and deliver the highest quality care. One of their key achievements has been the successful launch of a dedicated wound clinic, now running three days a week. This service allows wounds to be reviewed promptly and concerns identified early, helping to prevent avoidable admissions and ensuring patients receive specialist care directly from the Orthopaedic team.
Kathleen added: “Since opening, we’ve also seen a reduction in length of stay for both knee and hip replacements across the elective department, a reflection of the team’s commitment to improving outcomes and enhancing patient experience. Achieving Gold Ward Accreditation is a testament to the team’s hard work, dedication and passion, and I am incredibly honoured to be a part of this journey.”
Cristiana Jorge, Matron for Trauma and Orthopaedics, said: “This remarkable achievement reflects the dedication, compassion and teamwork of our staff, who consistently go above and beyond to provide outstanding patient care. The award process has also been a valuable learning experience for everyone involved, helping us to grow and continue delivering high-quality, people-focused services.”
Annetta Lord with her 100th birthday card from the King
Marking Organ Donation Week 2025
Teams across our hospitals marked Organ Donation Week during September.
Our Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation have been raising awareness about this important service and the life-changing impact a donor can have on a person’s life.
“It is a sad reality that every day a person dies waiting for a transplant. There are 8,000 people who are waiting for a transplant so the work that our specialist nurses do is hugely important with far-reaching effects,” said Chief Nurse Rachael Cocker.
“We always talk about the impact on the public and patients so this year we wanted to recognise the impact on our colleagues who are patients themselves, or loved ones of a donor or a recipient.”
Here in Norfolk and Waveney over the last six months,104 patients have gone on to donate organs after their deaths, which have helped people go on to live full lives.
Staff have shared their personal experiences to encourage everyone to confirm their choice to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Volunteer Ben Cronin shares his story
In 2011, our beloved husband and father, Ben, passed away suddenly at the age of 69 from sepsis and pneumonia. He was the devoted husband of Pam, and the cherished father of William, myself and Jamie.
On the Tuesday he was admitted to the James Paget Hospital with what seemed at first like a severe infection. By Saturday, we were faced with the devastating reality of discussing the withdrawal of life support. The speed and severity of sepsis took him from us in just a few days, leaving us in shock.
As a family, we had always spoken openly about organ and tissue donation. Because of those conversations, when the time came to make a decision at Ben’s bedside, there was no doubt in our minds about what he would have wanted.
Pam and Ben’s love story began in 1988 in the local library. They were brought together by their mutual love of books, and it was the beginning of a lifelong bond. For Pam, Ben was, and always will be, her one true love.
Although sepsis meant that no organs could be donated, Ben’s corneas were able to be given. Because of that gift, two people somewhere in the UK now have the ability to see. They can watch their families grow up, see smiles, sunsets, and precious moments, and that is the greatest gift of all.
Pam added: “Knowing that through Ben’s donation two people were given the gift of sight brings me a sense of comfort in the darkest of times. It felt like something positive was able to come from something so heartbreaking. While I lost the love of my life, knowing his gift lives on in others helps carry me forward.”
Ben added: “For me, waiting for a corneal transplant is easier to face because of how openly we have always spoken as a family about donation. Of course, I know that when my time comes it will mean another family has lost someone they love, and that will never be easy. But I also know the greatest peace for them may come from knowing their loved one will go on to make another person’s life better. That is exactly how we felt with Dad, and I will carry that with me when the call finally comes.”
Porter Michael
Denholm’s story
In February, we sadly lost our beloved mum and wife at just 45 years old to a sudden stroke.
She was the rock of our family, the one we could always turn to.
In the middle of our heartbreak, we respected that she was an organ donor and carried out her wishes. She was always kind, thoughtful, and ready to help others, and that spirit is carried on through her final act of generosity. Knowing that she has left such a powerful legacy brings us so much pride. Because of her decision, five people were given a second chance at life. Knowing that she has helped so many brings us comfort, and feels like a part of her is still out there, living on and making a difference.
The hospital staff supported us throughout the whole process with compassion and care. Their kindness meant the world to us during such a difficult time. One of us has already chosen to become an organ donor because of her, and together we are passionate about encouraging others to have that conversations.
Her gift has saved lives, and her story is proof of how powerful and meaningful organ donation can be. We encourage every family to have that conversation.
Claire Baldock, children’s epilepsy nurse spcialist, shares her story
“My husband William (Billy to everyone outside of the medical world) was born in 1979 with a congenital heart defect - a double inlet ventricle. This meant too much blood went into his lungs and not to the rest of his body. As a child he had many surgeries to reduce the high blood flow to the lungs.
This worked for a time, but he became increasingly unwell as a teenager. He was put on the heart transplant list in 1995.
Billy received the gift of life in November 1997. He received a domino transplant – he received the heart of a lady who received a heart and lung transplant. It was a long recovery – Billy needed a tracheostomy, a pacemaker and it took a little while to get his immunosuppressant medications right. Life was reasonably straightforward – Billy and I met in 2002, and we married in 2008. I was a newly qualified nurse, and Billy became a stay-at-home dad. Oliver was born in 2009, then Katy in 2011 and finally Will in 2014.
Over the years Billy’s renal function had been declining but he had been holding his own until 2015. Billy needed to start dialysis, and everything changed. I paused my career to be a stay-at-home mum and support Billy. I put myself forward to be a living donor – dialysis took its toll on Billy, and the goal was to get him back to his happy, fun-loving, high-energy self.
The living donor transplant took place August 2017. The teams at NNUH and Addenbrooke’s were amazing and everything went to plan. Recovery went well and were both home within the week. Billy went from strength to strength and once he had adjusted to the new medications’ life went back to normal with our little tribe.
Unfortunately, Billy died in 2021 - he contracted Covid and died from multi-system organ failure. Our children have so many happy memories and it’s all possible because he received a heart transplant. He was ever so lucky to get a second chance of life at 18-years-old and go on to have a family and live a good life.”
Susan’s story
Susan Kampiyil is a Deputy Sister on Dilham ward.
Her son Mathews was born with a liver condition called Biliary Atresia, which was diagnosed when he was two weeks old.
The decision to have a liver transplant when he was 13-years-old has been a difficult one for all his family and they leaned heavily on the hospital for support.
Susan said: “We’ve been on quite a journey together. NNUH has been by our side since Mathews was just two weeks old.
Their care and quick diagnosis came at a critical time and allowed him to have surgery right when he needed it most. We will always be grateful for that. Mathews, who is now 16 is still healing—not just physically, but emotionally. He’s slowly coming to terms with everything he’s been through. Physically he is still monitored every six to 12 months by the Paediatric Gastroenterology team at King’s Hospital, in London.
They make sure every detail of his care is thoughtfully managed. He is starting to get his life back on track and building his confidence. He goes to the gym to build his strength and once again enjoys socialising with his friends.”
Specialist Nurse Debbie Walford said: “It was really lovely to speak to everyone and so humbling to hear their individual experiences. We had no idea just how many members of staff have been, and continue to be, affected by organ donation. We hope to offer them any support they feel they need as well as the opportunity to help us raise awareness about organ donation and the potentially life-changing impact it can have on those involved.”
Billy and Claire, with their children Katy, Will and Oliver
Funding boost for Norfolk MND Care and Research Network
The Norfolk Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Care and Research Network has secured nearly £1m of external funding to help support those affected by MND in Norfolk.
The Norfolk MND Care and Research Network was set up in 2017 to support the care of people affected by MND and their families from the time of diagnosis. The Network is led by Dr Godwin Mamutse, Consultant Neurologist and Co-Director of Norfolk MND Care and Research Network, Dr Caroline Barry, Clinical Associate Professor and Co-Director of Norfolk MND Care and Research Network and Helen Copsey, MND Care Coordinator (pictured).
They see approximately 100 patients at NNUH every year in dedicated specialist clinics within the hospital and hospice setting.
MND is an often rapidly progressive neurological condition for which there is no cure. Multidisciplinary working has developed considerably across the Network since it began, with dedicated multidisciplinary meetings being held regularly across Norfolk and Waveney. This approach aims to ensure that the teams share expertise to provide the most effective care to people with MND. The Network also acts as a hub for specialist education in the management of MND and regularly holds educational events for health and social care professionals, students and volunteers.
The Network also aims to increase the research opportunities for people affected by this condition as this is crucial to help identify potential cures or help patients and their families to manage the condition. In the last year the network secured the renewal of its care centre grant from the MND Association. In addition to this, the Association is funding a full-time research nurse and it has awarded a health research grant to explore how the management of respiratory
secretions in MND can be improved. Alongside this, the team have secured a research infrastructure grant from the Scottish charity My Name’5 Doddie Foundation which will cover medical and administrative research time.
Emma Larner, MND Respiratory Physiotherapist has been successful in an NIHR Green Shoots award to support her in her first Principal Investigator role on a study which aims to improve non-invasive ventilation support for people living with MND.
Dr Barry said: “We’re incredibly proud of what the Norfolk MND Care and Research Network has achieved. Securing nearly £1 million in external funding this year reflects the dedication of our entire team - from hospital staff and community partners to our volunteers. Research offers real hope for people living with MND, and we’re committed to ensuring every patient in Norfolk has the opportunity to be part of that journey.”
Helen said: “Our strength lies in the collaboration between professionals, patients, families, and charities. It’s a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated team, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come in improving care and access to research for people with MND in Norfolk.”
Clinical research boost for Cromer
A project to bring clinical research studies to the population of North Norfolk aims to improve healthcare services for the rural community.
The project at Cromer Hospital, supported by a £100,000 grant from the N&N Hospitals Charity, has established clinical research studies relevant to the North Norfolk population, with the charity funding a Research Project Manager, responsible for training local staff and coordinating a portfolio of multi-specialty research studies.
Additional grant funding from the NIHR East of England Regional Research Delivery Network has accelerated the research training program for local staff—a key step toward bringing research closer to the rural population of North Norfolk.
Four nurses have now been trained in Good Clinical Practice and Informed Consent, with two progressing further, completing study-specific training, allowing them to actively recruit patients as research participants. Cromer nurse Christine Neate, who has worked on the Palliative Care and Oncology Survey on Terminology study, said: “I have been involved in palliative and oncology care research - areas of nursing that are new to me - where I have had to learn about the types of cancer treatments available to patients. North Norfolk tends to have an older population, and I believe that by approaching potential participants directly, they feel included and willing to contribute to research.”
If you are interested in being considered for taking part to clinical research, please email nihrnorfolkcrf@nnuh.nhs.uk or telephone 01603 647987.
Blooming marvellous! A career dedicated to hospital gardens
A lifetime of devotion to hospital gardens all began for Paul Roberts when he joined the estates team at the West Norwich Hospital in 1985.
Now, 40 years later Paul is now Grounds Supervisor at NNUH, heading up a team of six who ensure our 64 acres of gardens and grounds are gleaming and immaculate. He studied horticulture at Burlingham College and didn’t let the grass grow once qualified, swiftly joining the N&N team.
“We’re always looking to provide all year-round colourful flower displays for patients, visitors and staff here,” said Paul. “There are many shrubbery areas, individual gardens and hedges. We keep all of this trimmed and refreshed to make sure the grounds are looking their best.”
Paul and the team start in the early hours, clear all the rubbish from the hospital entrances, pressure wash the paved areas, check the flowerbeds and make sure everything is clean and tidy.
“This means that by the time we’ve cleared and cleaned, and people begin to arrive on-site everything is looking really smart – I love that we make that difference every day and improve the experience of everyone using or visiting the site.
“The areas at the front of the building, the lawns, hedges and flowers, including the rose garden, are really important. They give a sense of calm and a lovely green space in amongst the main buildings. These are some of my favourite areas and I work on them myself including the topiary.
“We have some other lovely garden areas too like the pond on the west side which has fish – it’s a quiet area that patients and visitors really appreciate. We feed the fish every morning and they know when breakfast is coming round!”
Paul’s team is part of Serco but work closely in partnership with the Trust’s Estates team. Together the teams have brought in many changes and improvements to adapt to a changing environment.
“We work in partnership with colleagues in Estates including introducing more sustainability to the site and helping to improve the environment for wildlife.
“Project examples include our wildflower meadow areas, which we’re hoping to expand, bug hotels, and making sure that trees can cope with the dry conditions with the use of tree watering bags.”
Paul works closely with Emma Jarvis, Environmental Arts Manager, on creating new garden areas and making improvements. This includes designing the planting layout of new Spring bulbs and trees donated by charities.
“Working with Paul and his team, and other Serco colleagues is tremendously positive and a true partnership experience”, said Emma. “We agree a framework of work priorities across the estate and grounds, and we work together to decide how the priorities are delivered.
“They do a super job and their help and commitment to the grounds, gardens and the environmental projects have contributed greatly to their success.”
‘Outstanding’ support for carers recognised
Our hospitals have once again been recognised for our support of carers after being reaccredited with the Carer Friendly Tick Award.
A panel of carers from Caring Together assessed our application and praised the “outstanding” support provided to carers at our Trust.
The assessment was based on how our carers agreement has been developed over the last two years, having carers champions in place and supporting people through Coffee for Carers events and other external activities.
Caring Together highlighted our Trust for best practice and praised the involvement of the Carers Forum and Patient Panel.
The charity said: “There is strong recognition of Carer awareness throughout the organisation. The panel were glad to see mention of Carers Passport. The panel were impressed by the wide variety of information for carers to access, in a range of different formats.”
Reacting to the news that we will be added to the Caring Together Hall of Fame, Sarah Higson, Associate Director for Patient Engagement and Experience, said: “The accreditation shows how far we have come as an organisation over the last few years and it is especially helpful to receive feedback to improve even further in the future.”
The NNUH Patient Experience team
Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence announced
Our hospital has been re-accredited as one of 14 Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence for our brain tumour services as part of the East of England Neuro-Oncology Network, which also includes Cambridge University Hospital and Ipswich Hospital.
The accreditation is awarded for the excellent treatment, care and research they provide to patients with a brain tumour, following an extensive peer-led review of their services and feedback collected from almost 1,500 patients by The Brain Tumour Charity.
Brain tumours affect over 12,000 adults in the UK every year and kill more people under the age of 40 than any other cancer. In the absence of a cure, the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) has committed to ensuring all UK patients with a brain tumour can access the best standard of treatment, care and research.
First launched in 2020, centres newly awarded in 2025 have demonstrated progress in areas such as holistic care, advancements in genomics and access to clinical trials. Experts highlighted many new innovations within services, from the use of Virtual Reality in post-operative recovery and technology to speed up molecular diagnosis, to new models of palliative care. Centres also met new and higher standards in areas such as neurological symptom management and psychological support, informed by key patient priorities and work of charity campaigners. These improvements demonstrate the outstanding commitment of NHS teams to driving innovation and elevating care, in a landscape of stretched resources, backed up by rigorous standards, national data collection and best practice sharing.
In each centre, the whole team treating brain tumours, from surgeons and nurses through to physiotherapists, palliative care specialists and researchers, came together to undergo a rigorous assessment of their services by
a committee of clinical, research and patient experts.
Dr Pinelopi Gkogkou, our Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Brain Cancer Lead, said: “Ten years ago this was a single-handed service. Now
I am proud to be part of an amazing team that has developed an excellent multi-disciplinary approach for our patients and I am delighted that our high-quality holistic care has been recognised.”
Our Consultant Neuro-Oncologist, Andrew Ho added: “We are honoured to be re-accredited as a TJBCM Centre of Excellence, giving external validation of the dedication to our patients and quality of service our team delivers. The fact that we were accredited as the East of England NeuroOncology Network demonstrates the collaborative approach we take to address the challenges that the large geography of East Anglia provides. This is reflected in the comments from the panel, including the comprehensive manner in which each and every patient’s holistic needs are addressed.”
Paul Simpson becomes Chair Elect of British Menopause Society
Congratulations to Consultant Gynaecologist Paul Simpson on being appointed as Chair Elect of the British Menopause Society (BMS).
The society is the specialist authority for menopause and post reproductive health in the UK. It is recognised throughout the UK as the leading provider of certificated menopause and post reproductive health education and training for healthcare professions working in both primary and secondary care. It works closely with various societies and charities representing other healthcare professions.
Mr Simpson is the Clinical Lead for the Menopause Service at NNUH as well as having specialist interests in endometriosis and minimal access surgery. He has been a member of the BMS since 2014 and a member of the BMS medical advisory council since 2022. He said: “The British Menopause Society, including members, mentors and close friends have been incredibly important to me and have undoubtedly influenced my work as a Consultant Gynaecologist and Menopause Lead. I am honoured that the Society have chosen me as Chair for 2026-2028. The BMS are the ‘go to’ source of expertise in the UK and I want to continue to provide a balanced and evidencebased voice within this field of medicine. I want the BMS to drive menopause service development and menopause research, whilst continuing to provide educational resources for my colleagues within medicine and other allied health roles.”
Paul Simpson (centre) with Sarah Moger, Chief Executive, and Professor Janice Wymer, BMS Chair
Seventy-two patients seen during first Super Sleep Weekend
The Sleep Clinic at our hospital successfully saw 72 patients during its first ‘Super Sleep Weekend’.
This was the first-ever Group CPAP clinic held over a weekend in the summer – a new approach aimed at reducing long waiting times for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
When our Sleep Clinic was first established it received around 500 new referrals a year, but demand has almost quadrupled and the team now receives nearly 2,000 new cases a year. This has put increasing pressure on waiting lists, with many of these patients needing both assessments and treatment for OSA.
OSA is a common disorder in which the throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway and repeatedly interrupting breathing causing apnoeic episodes that result in low oxygen levels overnight. Left untreated, OSA can lead to serious health issues including raised blood pressure, cardiac problems, an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and potential cognitive impairment. It is a highly treatable condition with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which uses a small machine and mask to keep the airway open at night leading to more restful sleep and longer-term health benefits.
To address the growing waiting list and the high number of patients waiting for treatment, the Sleep Clinic launched group education sessions during the “Super Sleep Weekend”. Patients attended a two-hour session where they received detailed information about their diagnosis, the role of lifestyle changes such as weight management and education on how CPAP works.
Three patient groups were seen on Saturday with a further two groups on Sunday. Following the education session, the patients were then seen in smaller groups of four for individual mask fitting. Each patient will have a CPAP machine and mask sent out to them and will be followed up with a one-to-one appointment within three months.
The weekend sessions were led by Respiratory Medicine Consultant Dr Sundari Ampikaipakan and supported by Specialist Sleep Nurses Vicky Ershadi and Georgina Siggins.
Sundari said: “When services are under pressure, we need to adapt the way we do things and I’m delighted we’ve been able to introduce this innovative model, alongside digital tools such as DrDoctor to carry out our pre-clinic assessments and post clinic feedback which has been invaluable.”
“All of the patients who attended had a confirmed diagnosis of moderate OSA after a sleep study, so providing education and treatment planning in a group setting made sense and saved many individual clinic appointments. The feedback from patients was overwhelmingly positive with most patients telling us that they found the group clinic to be an excellent initiative.”
“I would like to give special thanks to the entire sleep team and in particular our secretaries and respiratory outpatient team who have given us amazing support to organise this weekend – Georgia Tanner, Acacia Buttifant, Alicia Lambert, Ali Noble, Lynn Black and Allan Love-Jones - your hard work and support was crucial to the successful delivery of this weekend.”
Michelle wins national awards for anti-spiking campaign
Congratulations to Michelle Frost, who has received national recognition for her work to tackle drink spiking.
The Biomedical Specialist Scientist won two honours at the prestigious Institute of Biomedical Science Awards for her anti-spiking campaign, which was launched in December 2021. She received the Research and Innovation Award and was Highly Commended in the Public Engagement category.
Michelle launched her campaign after fearing she had herself been spiked – an unknown substance added to her drink without her knowledge. Michelle used her expertise as a Biomedical Specialist Scientist to create a kit which people could use if they suspected that they or their drink had been spiked.
Samples would be analysed here with complete anonymity guaranteed for the person submitting them. With support from the community and police the kits were rolled out across pubs, clubs and venues in Norfolk. The campaign gained national attention with Michelle appearing at a Parliamentary Select committee and on national radio.
Michelle, who now works in research at the hospital, said: “It was an absolutely amazing day and I feel honoured to have come away with two awards.”
Michelle Frost with her awards
Family’s £25,000 fundraising legacy for NICU
The family of a boy who spent his first days on our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) more than 16 years ago are finally taking a fundraising break having raised £25,000 for the N&N Hospitals Charity.
Jack Baker was born by emergency caesarean section in September 2009 after mum Lucy suffered a placental abruption which meant that his heartbeat had slowed considerably. The delivery team spent eight minutes resuscitating Jack before he was taken to the NICU where he took part in what was then a pioneering programme called TOBY which involved cooling his body to reduce any damage to the brain following oxygen deprivation.
Jack is now a happy, healthy 16-year-old, and to say thanks to the NICU which cared for him, Lucy and husband Simon, and grandparents Jane and Adrian, held an annual garden coffee morning and crafts sale support of the NICU.
Jane said: “We have held annual fundraising events in our garden all these years but decided that 2023 was the last one we were going to host. We managed to raise £2,500 that day, making a total over the years of about £25,000. My husband had his 80th birthday party at the end of May and instead of presents he was given money and the £900 was also donated to NICU.”
Lucy added: “Jack’s recovery in the NICU was amazing thanks to the care and dedication of the staff and, during the 12 days we were there, we always felt welcomed. Had it not been for the treatment he received at the NICU, it would have been a very different story.”
Golfer’s eye surgery inspires charity event
A charity golf day has raised £3,259 for our Eye Clinic where golfer John Cunningham was treated last year after being hit in the eye with a golf ball.
The John Cunningham Golf Day was attended by 36 players at Bungay and Waveney Valley Golf Club, 15 months after he suffered severe injuries to his eye.
Organiser Peter Shields said: “The day was requested by John to raise money for the eye clinic and Nelson Ward. The surgeons and the team were absolutely brilliant and he is expecting his final operations in September to bring him back to virtually full sight and appearance.”
Consultant Ophthalmologist Chrishan Gunasekera, who performed the emergency operation that saved John’s eye, said: “It has been a privilege to support John through his recovery. His decision to turn a difficult experience into a positive legacy is deeply inspiring, raising awareness and funding that will directly benefit many other patients through the work of the hospital charity.”
The money raised will go towards the purchase of a specular microscope which will enhance risk assessments and followup for patients undergoing complex cataract, glaucoma or vitreoretinal surgery, particularly those with compromised corneas.
Runner who struggled to walk takes on iconic race for charity
A woman who struggled to walk as a child and underwent a hip replacement six years ago is taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon to support our hospital.
Francesca Davey, a physiotherapist from Diss, was born with hip dysplasia, a condition that affects the formation of the hip joint or socket.
She will take on the 2026 London Landmarks Half Marathon (LLHM) on April 12 after securing one of the N&N Hospitals Charity places.
Francesca said: “Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I struggled to walk due to pain at times, let alone participate in sport or run. This led to a lot of corrective surgeries and multiple procedures, all performed at NNUH. Unfortunately, my limitations became too much, and I had a hip replacement six years ago at the age of 24.”
“I still battle, mentally and physically, when I run, and that’s why I wanted the chance to set myself a real challenge, and running for a charity that supports a hospital that has done so much for me growing up.”
If you would like to support Francesca, visit www.justgiving.com/page/francesca-davey-1
If you would like to support the N&N Hospitals Charity, contact us at charity@nnuh.nhs.uk
Jack after climbing Ben Vorlich in Scotland
John Cunningham, Chrishan Gunasekera and Peter Shields with the charity cheque
