WHAT’S NEW...

A round up of the latest news from Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

New Procedure Performed For The First Time In Portsmouth To Help Lower Blood Pressure

An innovative keyhole procedure which helps lower high blood pressure has been performed at Queen Alexandra Hospital for the first time.

As part of a clinical trial, doctors at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust carried out a minimally invasive procedure on three patients with high blood pressure.

Using the ‘Medtronic Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure’ (also known as Renal Denervation), doctors insert a catheter into a patient’s leg which then delivers radio-frequency energy to specific nerves near the kidneys, which can become overactive causing high blood pressure.

The procedure works by delivering energy to the overactive nerves, which then decreases their activity. It is used in patients with difficult to control high blood pressure or where patients can’t tolerate tablets. 66 year old Christina Holland from Stamshaw in Portsmouth, was one of the first patients to receive the treatment at QA Hospital. Christina has suffered with high blood pressure for over two years leading to reoccurring heart palpitations and back pain. She is on multiple medications for other conditions and conventional blood pressure tablets and lifestyle changes were not lowering her blood pressure.

The grandmother of 15 said: “I was only in for the day and a week later my blood pressure has gone down significantly. I would highly recommend to those people who may be suffering right now with high blood pressure and who could be suitable for this to ask their doctors about it.”

The one hour procedure is currently licensed for use in over 60 countries and is in clinical trials in England.

Patients Praise New Service Offering Breast Screening Closer To Home

A mammography screening service has opened at Oak Park Community Clinic in Havant as part of a programme at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust to offer patients a greater range of tests closer to home.

Pauline Broad was one of the first patients to use the new service at the clinic.

The 68-year-old from Waterlooville said: “Having attended there before, the centre is easy to find and there is plenty of parking available. The premises were spotless and made me feel very safe.

“The signage was plentiful and access to Breast Imaging was clearly visible. On arrival I was greeted by a lovely radiographer, Ruth, who put me completely at ease and explained the procedure.

“Ruth was very caring and made me feel reassured, so the whole experience was very positive and I would not hesitate to use this service again.”

Oak Park Community Clinic is a satellite clinic that is part of the Community Diagnostic Centre programme in Portsmouth and south east Hampshire, which received a share of the £350 million national investment fund in 2021 to enable a larger capacity of tests and scans to help speed up diagnoses.

Major Milestone For New Emergency Department

Spades were poised at the ready to cut the sod as part of the next major milestone in the development of the new Emergency Department at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Staff involved in the Building Better Emergency Care project at Queen Alexandra Hospital were joined by Chief Executive Penny Emerit, Chair Melloney Poole, local MPs and construction partner colleagues from Integrated Health Projects (IHP) for the cutting of the sod ceremony.

Demand on urgent and emergency services has increased throughout the Portsmouth and south east Hampshire area and the facility has been planned by clinicians to help support this demand and offer an improved environment for both patients and staff.

Chief Executive Penny Emerit said: “Seeing another major milestone in our work to improve emergency care for our community is fantastic. This new facility provides a great opportunity to redesign our urgent and emergency services to further respond to the needs of our patients.”

JOINING THE NATION IN KING’S CORONATION CELEBRATIONS

NHS staff at Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital will be making sure patients don’t miss out on celebrations as the nation gets together to mark the King’s Coronation this May.

On Saturday 6 May, King Charles will be crowned and staff at the hospital are busy working on plans to ensure patients don’t miss out on the celebratory spirit. Plans include games, activities and special bunting for wards with patients who are unable to take part in community events.

Stronger Partnership Between Isle Of Wight Trust And Phu

A stronger partnership between neighbouring NHS trusts will help tackle the long-standing challenges of delivering healthcare for the Isle of Wight and ensure the provision of high quality, safe, and sustainable services to all the populations they serve.

As part of the partnership, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust will appoint a single Chief Executive and Executive Team, with a single clinical leadership approach across the two Trusts.

Melloney Poole, Chairman at Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust said: “Our two organisations are taking the next step in our Acute Services Partnership which will bring teams from both Trusts more closely together, while remaining two separate, statutory organisations.

“Creating a single leadership team and establishing shared clinical leadership will allow us to better plan and deliver services for a combined population of 800,000 people across Portsmouth, South East Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.”

WORK STARTS ON MULTI-MILLION POUND RENAL DIALYSIS UNIT IN FAREHAM

Works have begun on a brand new multi-million-pound Renal Dialysis Unit in Fareham.

The new 25-bed centre modular build at the Fareham Community Hospital site will begin to take shape in the next few months.

The Trust has seen an increase in need for dialysis treatment since the COVID-19 pandemic and the new centre is vital to provide further capacity for those patients.

Divisional Director for Networked Services and Consultant Nephrologist at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Natalie Borman said: ““For patients, living with kidney failure, the burden of travelling for their life-saving treatment three times a week has a big impact on quality of life for them and their families.

“This facility will treat up to 150 patients a week living in and around the area and significantly reduce travel time improving experience and health outcomes for our patients as well as reducing the environmental impact of the excess miles being travelled.”

Trust Goes Green

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and city-wide organisations have pledged their commitment to environmental sustainability by signing The Portsmouth Green Partnership Charter.

As part of the Trust’s Green Plan, the Trust joined partners from across Portsmouth to sign the new Green Charter city-wide initiative, making a public commitment to improving our environmental performance.

PHU will work alongside local partners to become more environmentally sustainable through reducing carbon emissions and operational waste, supporting local biodiversity, and empowering and supporting those living and working in Portsmouth to make greener decisions.

Read our Green Plan at: www.porthosp.nhs.uk/about-us/climate-changeand-sustainability