UHNM News | Issue 13

UHNM NEWS

Birthday celebrations for Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke

75 years of the National Health Service

County Hospital developments

Welcome from Tracy Bullock, Chief Executive

The latest edition of UHNM News highlights just a small sample of the amazing work our staff are doing across County Hospital and Royal Stoke University Hospital. I am immensely proud to be the Chief Executive and of everyone who works at UHNM. All of our teams continue to go above and beyond to care for our patients, people who use our services and their carers and loved ones.

I have been inspired and impressed by the stories I hear every week about how members of our special UHNM team have gone out of their way to help those most in need.

Many of our services remain under immense pressure and our teams are doing everything possible to see and treat patients as quickly as possible. We are investing in new technology and equipment where it will help us to see patients quickly. We are recruiting more clinical colleagues as well as growing our own talent through training and development programmes. We remain committed to providing the best care possible, something we are passionate about here at UHNM.

The support from local people is overwhelming and this warmth and affection is welcomed and valued by everyone at UHNM. Your feedback is really important to us, so please remember that if you or your loved ones need any help our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) team have offices at both County and Royal Stoke University hospitals and you can drop in, make an appointment, email patientadvice.uhnm@nhs.net or call 01782 676450. Our teams also really appreciate the many compliments they receive - thank you so much to all those who take the time to do this.

Thank you to everyone who works here at UHNM, our volunteers, patients, service users and partners for your on-going support of your local hospitals.

Recondition the nation

UHNM receives national award for blood cancer services

Inspired by UHNM’s own Sit Up, Get Dressed and Keep Moving campaign, Recondition the Nation is about preventing deconditioning by encouraging everyone to try innovative and fun ways to promote physical activity and emotional well-being.

By taking small steps to reduce the harms of deconditioning, the independence of people can be improved and help people get home from hospital sooner.

Dr Amit Arora, the UHNM Consultant Geriatrician behind ‘Sit Up, Get Dressed and Keep Moving’ said: “We want to help healthcare professionals recognise the long term effects of deconditioning, implement simple measures to prevent it, and educate patients and carers about the importance of remaining active during hospital admission and following discharge.”

Research has shown that during hospitalisation, between 30% and 55% of older patients show a decline in the ability to perform routine activities such as bathing, getting dressed and toileting, and up to 65% of hospitalised older adults experience a decline in function.

In recent years ‘deconditioning syndrome’ has gained increased recognition among the medical community, aided by ‘Sit Up, Get Dressed and Keep Moving’ and in 2022 UHNM’s Frailty Academy won the HSJ patient safety education and training award.

UHNM has been awarded the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme Award for the outstanding quality of care provided to its myeloma patients.

Myeloma is the second most common form of blood cancer and affects around 17,500 people in the UK. It can often be controlled and symptoms can be relieved for prolonged periods but the disease inevitably comes back.

UHNM provides comprehensive myeloma care with dedicated myeloma clinics and a dedicated clinical nurse specialist as well as a support group for patients in the region.

Clinical Service Excellence Programme (CSEP) is a Myeloma UK programme supporting hospitals in delivering the best, patient-focused myeloma treatment and care. The programme aims to recognise and share excellence in myeloma care.

Dr Kamaraj Karunanithi, Consultant Haematologist who leads myeloma service at the Trust, said: “I am delighted we have been recognised with this award which acknowledges the high quality care we give to our myeloma patients. We have big plans for the future and I am hopeful we can continue to build on this success.”

Jess Turner, Clinical Practice Services Programme Manager at Myeloma UK, said: “Royal Stoke University Hospital groups together patients who were diagnosed at similar times for their appointments and treatments which helps them to naturally form their own support networks. In addition, anyone newly diagnosed is given the opportunity to speak to other patients for peer support, particularly those at a later stage of their myeloma journey.”

Dr Amit Arora

Dr Kamaraj Karunanithi and the team

UHNM neonatal outreach service provides care for 200th family

A neonatal community outreach service at UHNM which allows premature babies to go home earlier than usual has provided care to its 200th family, a major milestone for the service and its patients.

The Neonatal Community Outreach Team (NCOT), at Royal Stoke University Hospital supports families and babies in the community who require additional care. This includes specialist feeding support, home oxygen and home phototherapy.

Baby Oliver Mountford, was born 22 April weighing just 5lb and received care on the neonatal unit, with suspected sepsis and jaundice. After being born four weeks early and staying for one week on the unit, Oliver was discharged and put under the care of the outreach team.

Oliver’s Mum, Megan Mountford, 24, from Middleport praised the outreach team for its care. She said: “The outreach team were lovely to us. I had met one of the ladies while I was in hospital which was nice. On each visit they were really helpful and understanding.”

Babies are under the care of NCOT for up to six to eight weeks but will only be discharged when the team is confident there are no ongoing concerns. Should they feel further specialist support is required, NCOT will

make a referral to the appropriate community children’s nursing team.

Oliver is doing well and thriving. Megan added: “He is doing great, he is putting on weight and really growing.”

UHNM is the first in the UK to introduce new patient online check-in before surgery

University Hospitals of North Midlands is the first hospital trust in the UK to introduce a new online electronic check-in process for patients who are scheduled for surgery.

The innovative solution allows patients to check-in online three weeks before their operation. It is designed to significantly help reduce cancellations on the day of surgery which in turn will reduce delays in treatment and maximise the use of theatres at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford.

A link is sent by email and text message for patients to answer questions regarding their availability and any changes in their health or medications. Any issues are picked up and resolved by secretaries and clinicians before the surgery.

Dr Veera Gudimetla, UHNM Consultant Anaesthetist and project lead, and Surgery Division Clinical Information Officer, said: “We have been working on surgery checkin project at UHNM for the last four years. We sincerely

hope that this will improve communication between patients, clinicians and secretarial staff and result in fewer cancellations on the day of surgery.”

Patients who do not have access to internet and therefore not able to use it are flagged up by the system for immediate secretarial attention.

Baby Oliver

UHNM’s online theatre check in team

Urology patients to benefit from two new life-changing treatments

The UroLift® System Treatment and Rezūm® Steam Ablation Therapy are minimally invasive procedures for patients suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - a benign enlarged prostate.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common and progressive condition where the enlarged prostate can make it difficult for men to pass urine and can impact their quality of life. Occasionally it can lead to complications including urinary tract infections, urinary retention and, in some cases, renal failure. Prevalence increases with advancing age, affecting more than one in three men in their 50’s and 80 per cent of men over the age of 70.

Consultant Urological Surgeon, Ms Mistry Pain said: “We are very happy to be able to offer these two new innovative treatments at UHNM and we believe they will make a big difference to the quality of life for many

of our patients. We are now able to offer men a choice of treatment options for their BPH depending on their individual suitability and preference.

“As these more efficient treatments are performed as daycase procedures, this also means that fewer patients require an overnight stay in a hospital bed. In time, we hope to be able to offer men these procedures under local anaesthesia in an ambulatory setting.”

UHNM awarded £5 million grant to reduce carbon emissions

University Hospitals of North Midlands has been awarded a £5.4 million grant to reduce carbon emissions that are used to heat buildings, supporting the commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.

The Decarbonisation Scheme grant from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures for four buildings at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Louise Stockdale, Head of Transformation and Sustainability said: “Successful award of a Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant is a monumental achievement. This investment will enable the delivery of schemes that will significantly decarbonise the heating of the estate; by approximately 1,243 tonnes of direct CO2 equivalent emissions.”

Estates, Facilities and PFI team at UHNM

Urology Theatre Team

New £4.3m ward at University Hospitals of North Midlands opens

A new respiratory ward has opened at University Hospitals of North Midlands providing state-ofthe-art facilities for patients needing advanced respiratory care following a £4.3 million development.

The new 26 bed inpatient respiratory ward at Royal Stoke University Hospital was funded by NHS England. It includes 14 single side rooms providing increased infection prevention measures, as well as improved environment and patient confidentiality. Patients requiring care for cystic fibrosis, COPD and asthma are already benefiting from this new facility.

The 14 side rooms are themed with individual wall murals - chosen by the respiratory staff of their favourite landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower funded by UHNM Charity. The new ward also contains a 10 bed Respiratory Support Unit (RSU).

Tracy Mellor, UHNM

Sister of the new ward, said: “We are delighted with our new ward. As soon as you enter, the bright and spacious environment is immediately inviting and there are lots of windows which bring natural light on to the ward area.

“Since we moved to the new ward the staff have been happier and it is lovely to hear them saying that they look forward to coming to work, which I believe is a positive effect on their well-being.”

75 years of the National Health Service

On 5 July 2023 teams across UHNM took time to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS. When it was founded in 1948, the NHS was the first universal health system to be available to all, free at the point of delivery

Today, nine in 10 people agree that healthcare should be free of charge, more than four in five agree that care should be available to everyone, and that the NHS makes them most proud to be British.

Teams across both hospitals took time to celebrate by taking part in the Big Tea, decorating and wards and sharing their own memories of the NHS over the years.

international neonatal nurses for the first time

Life-saving screening gives double success for Stoke-on-Trent

couple

Four international nurses have been recruited to provide specialist neonatal care at University Hospitals of North Midlands for the first time.

Anju Philip, Soumya Joseph and Manju Soman, from India and Ghada Shams, from Lebanon passed their OSCE examinations and became qualified NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) recognised nurses, joining the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Royal Stoke University Hospital in May 2022.

Pastoral support is offered by the corporate nursing team who ensure advice and guidance is available to every candidate in all aspects of their recruitment journey, including accommodation recommendations, OSCE exam support, training and development and a support network of staff that have arrived overseas themselves.

Katy Edwards, Matron NICU, said: “We have been amazed by the nurses that have joined us. There are four nurses with many years of neonatal skill and experience, and as a team we were extremely happy to support them clinically, and throughout their OSCE training. We have welcomed them to team UHNM and to a new life in Stoke-on-Trent. It has been a great experience to meet Ghada, Anju, Manju and Soumya, and we are now ready for the next part of our next adventure together.”

A Stoke-on-Trent couple are urging people to take up the offer of cancer screening services provided by University Hospitals of North Midlands after they were both diagnosed with cancer within four months of each other.

Former UHNM health care assistant Kath Dean and her husband Michael Dean, a former West Midlands Ambulance Service driver, were diagnosed with lung and bowel cancer after cancer screening at UHNM detected abnormalities.

Michael, from Chell received his bowel screening test through his letter box in August 2021. After sending the kit back to be tested, he was promptly invited to attend a further test where a two and a half centimetre tumour was found in his bowel.

The 68-year-old said: “I had absolutely no symptoms. No blood in my poo and no change of bowel habits so it was a complete shock to hear the nurse say I had bowel cancer. That’s the importance of taking up your screening. I had no symptoms. If you don’t take up the opportunity, you are putting your life on the line.”

While Michael was being treated for his bowel cancer, his wife Kath, 65, was invited to attend a lung health check appointment due to her smoking history. After Kath’s lung check appointment, she was invited to attend a CT scan of her chest as part of the lung screening process. A suspicious area was seen in her lung and surgery was booked.

Kath said: “When I went down to theatre I thought, I’m wasting their time - I don’t have any symptoms; I don’t have lung cancer. However, the lung team told me I had an aggressive cancer and if I had not attended my lung screening I would have been dead in three months.”

Michael and Kath have both received treatment and have now been given the all clear.

Michael and Kath

Katy Edwards, NICU Matron and Stella Underwood, International Nurse Lead with new international nurses

UHNM consultants awarded

Honorary Professorships

Two Consultants from University Hospitals of North Midlands have been awarded Honorary Professorships with Keele University School of Medicine.

Professor Will Carroll, Respiratory Paediatrician and Professor Fahmy Hanna, Consultant in Endocrinology and Metabolism have been awarded Honorary Professorships.

Professor Will Carroll, Respiratory Paediatrician, has an established reputation as a researcher, writer and educator.

Professor Carroll said: “If I have learnt anything over the last 20 years, it is the need to be persistent. Most research ideas and grant applications are unsuccessful and tenacity is important. UHNM Research and Innovation and Keele have been incredibly supportive over the years and I am very grateful to everyone who has helped me get to this point on my research journey.”

Professor Fahmy Hanna Consultant in Endocrinology and Metabolism has been awarded Honorary Professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism after establishing his reputation and expertise on his work around Diabetes in high-risk groups and adrenal incidentaloma.

Professor Fahmy Hanna, said: “This award is not only personal but it should also be recognition of all the colleagues from UHNM and Keele who have collaborated and supported me over the years. The Research and Innovation department, especially Dr Simon Lea, has been an instrumental partner throughout this journey.

Armed Forces Community to benefit from guaranteed interview scheme

Members of the Armed Forces community will be offered guaranteed interviews when applying for roles at UHNM in a new interview scheme.

Applicants from the Armed Forces who meet all the essential criteria and specifications for a job description will be offered interviews under the scheme. The scheme has been established as part of UHNM’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and its accreditation as a ‘Gold Award’ Employer.

By providing guaranteed interviews, UHNM will be helping the Armed Forces community across Staffordshire and beyond to demonstrate their skills beyond the initial application stage, paving the way for greater employment opportunities at both Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford.

David Smith, UHNM Transformation Project Manager

and Member of the Armed Forces Champion Team, said: “UHNM recognises that the Armed Forces community often face difficulties when applying for work and aims to help in removing any disadvantages associated with this.

“We have a large Armed Forces community network across UHNM and benefit from the talent and invaluable skills that this community bring our organisation.”

The scheme does not offer a guaranteed job but does allow veterans, reservists and their families a better chance to find work, especially when it can be hard for them to transition to civilian life and secure employment.

If you would like to find out more about this scheme and further job opportunities please contact: recruitment@uhnm.nhs.uk

Professor Fahmy Hanna

Professor Will Carroll

County Hospital Developments

Staffordshire Treatment Suite at UHNM welcomes its first patients

UHNM has welcomed its first patients to a new Treatment Suite to help tackle backlogs and offer thousands more patients quicker access to day-case surgery.

The Staffordshire Treatment Suite is based at County Hospital in Stafford and provides theatre space and associated recovery bays to be able to treat patients on a day-case basis.

As the suite can treat more patients who are deemed suitable to have their procedure in that environment, it also frees up more space at main theatres at County Hospital and at Royal Stoke University Hospital. This means patients will be seen quicker at the hospital most appropriate for their needs.

Helen Ashley, UHNM Director of Strategy, said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to make some fantastic enhancements to the surgical facilities that we provide for patients at County Hospital. The teams are working hard to bring plans to life and this is the first step to developing County as a hub for low complexity elective procedures.”

The suite is funded as part of NHS England and Improvement’s Elective Recovery Plan which will allow

more patients to be operated on each month. Andrew Cole, Theatre Matron said: “It’s a great development for County Hospital.

“A huge amount of work has gone into this from the theatres team. From staffing it, equipping it and to setting processes in place to make sure it is safe for the patient. It is all credit to the theatre team for getting us to this position.”

North Midlands Hand Centre welcomes first patients to County Hospital

Patients requiring hand surgery will have a shorter wait for their procedures thanks to the opening of a new dedicated day-case facility at County Hospital.

Welcoming patients into the centre Sister Sarah Barber said: “It was absolutely brilliant to see our first patients walk through the door. The facilities here are first-class and patients can expect a warm welcome from our passionate and skilled staff.

“This really is the future of hand surgery, with many procedures carried out endoscopically, which results in us being able to treat patients as a day case with less pain and a quicker recovery time. The fact this is a stand-alone centre also means we no longer have to find beds for our hand patients to recover in in other parts of the hospital, freeing up spaces for other cases.”

Kathryn Carpenter, 79, from Bignall End was the very first patient to walk through the door at the new North Midlands Hand Centre, having suffered from carpal tunnel for a number of years.

Prior to the Centre opening she would have faced a longer wait for treatment at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. At the new facility she was treated and discharged just two hours after

arriving for her procedure.

Kathryn said: “My carpal tunnel was causing me to have trouble sleeping at night thanks to the ongoing pins and needles. I’ve been very impressed with these new facilities, and it was very interesting to have the operation done under a local anaesthetic. I wanted to see more of what was going on!”

Hand Surgery Team and Kathryn Carpenter

The treatment suite team at County Hospital

Birthday celebrations for Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke

Patients and staff from Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke came together to celebrate the third birthday of the children’s centre based within Royal Stoke University Hospital.

“We have a fantastic team; they are the golden thread to our service. I am delighted that babies, infants and young adults are receiving specialist care within their own locality and welcoming regional, national and international children into our services. The team here always focuses on the children and families who need us at their most vulnerable time. They are our priority.”

Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke launched in March 2020 creating a ‘hospital within a hospital’ concept, providing 100 services of specialist care for young people as part of University Hospitals of North Midlands.

Clinical teams decorated the ward areas and the entrance to the hospital with colourful balloons and bunting in celebration of the third birthday.

Janet Hagan, Senior Matron at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke, said: “I am delighted that Staffordshire Children’s Hospital is celebrating its third year of being a Children’s Hospital at UHNM.

“It’s been brilliant to showcase all the amazing work of ours teams do here at UHNM, including our Neonatal team showcasing what they do for the local community.

Patients and their families joined in with the celebrations of having a specialist hospital locally, including Stacey Sykes, from Werrington, who praised Staffordshire Children’s Hospital for the specialist care her son Brodie, aged nine, has received since being diagnosed with Ewsing Sarcoma in July 2022.

Stacey said: “Having Staffordshire Children’s Hospital on our doorstep has helped massively for us as a family. We are a 20 minute car journey away instead of a couple of hours away. Sometimes we are here for long periods of time so having this hospital providing this incredible care for Brodie makes all the difference.

“I found the care to be really good here at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital. Everyone’s really friendly. They are really caring and supportive. Whatever you need here or at home they are always here for you.”

In 2018, University Hospitals of North Midlands opened its doors to documentary makers for a new type of medical series focusing on its major trauma status and the challenges its clinicians have dealing with making lifesaving decisions under pressure.

Film crews from Brinkworth Productions produced an award-winning documentary for Channel 5 which, following its first run has returned for more during the last five years. Providing unique access behind the scenes at Royal Stoke, film crews have captured the vital interventions, actions and medical strategies of our specialist teams while delivering immediate life-saving care.

Jessie Dickson, Deputy Director of Communications said: “The first series of Critical Condition received national critical acclaim for its first-hand look at how our consultants and their teams make life-saving decisions under extreme pressure. To have crews return year on

year has been a fantastic opportunity to show people our exceptional staff, their hard work and dedication to providing the best care.

“The programme has always provided a true picture of the life-threatening injuries and conditions our teams deal with day in, day out and captured the moments of absolute pride in the excellent care that we give to our patients and their families.

“Most of all though, we are grateful to our patients and their families, who agreed to be filmed, often on the worst days of their lives and allow us to share their stories.”

Following five successful series, Royal Stoke’s relationship with 999: Critical Condition has now ended but the amazing work of its teams can still be seen On Demand at My 5.

Teenager given all clear following awake surgery

A Shropshire teenager has been given the all clear following a life-saving operation on his brain.

Izaac Roberts, 18, of Market Drayton underwent the unique procedure after doctors discovered a tumour on his brain following a series of seizures which left one side of his body numb and at worst, him unconscious.

A range of the tumours can be located very close to areas of the brain which have very important functions, such as speech, movement and other more complex functions including thinking and judgement. Awake craniotomy is a procedure performed while the patient is awake so that there is no risk of their speech or movement.

Joiner suffers potential life-changing injuries after tumbling downstairs

Tim Millington, of Holmes Chapel, blacked out at the top of his stairs at home.

Tim said: “I honestly thought I would just be a bit bruised and back to work in a day or so but by the second day of being in bed I couldn’t move. I was completely unaware of how serious my injuries were and to hear doctors saying I might not have made it or been in a wheelchair for the rest of my life is hard to understand.”

Following four weeks at Royal Stoke, father of five Tim spent 12 weeks in a rehabilitation care home and is now back home, determined to back at work.

During his tests at Royal Stoke doctors discovered Tim was in heart failure and that was the cause of his blackout and is also under the care of the cardiology team at Royal Stoke.

Staffordshire pensioner’s lucky escape

A 73-year-old Staffordshire granddad looked like he’d been “mauled by a lion” after falling on a moving escalator, impaling his head and trapping his leg before being taken to the Major Trauma Centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Frank, a retired electrical engineer, said: “Once arriving at Stoke I received a full body scan to check my injuries and my head was the worst and luckily I didn’t break my leg. However, I did break a vertebrae in the top of my spine and you could see my skull.

“Frank needed a skin graft about 5cm by 6cm on his head. He said: “They took the skin from my thigh. My hair is growing back now and everyone is amazed at how well my head has healed.

“It was the first time I have been to hospital in Stoke and I was so pleased with the care I received. I have been back on an escalator but I don’t like them. It’s had much more of an effect on my wife Rosalind who thought I was a-gonna.”

Barlaston Golf Club hosts un-foregettable fundraising golf day

Local celebrities, businesses and members of the public have all come together to raise more than £13,000 to help UHNM Charity improve patient care and experience at UHNM.

Eighteen teams took part in a fundraising golf day at a sun-drenched Barlaston Golf Club, the second to be held at the club in aid of UHNM Charity.

The teams enjoyed 18 holes of golf followed by a barbeque and evening of entertainment on Friday 16 June.

Lisa Thomson, Director of Communications and Charity at UHNM said: “It was really exciting to be back at Barlaston Golf Club for our second UHNM Charity Golf Day. The weather was fantastic and the atmosphere was just amazing. So many people have put in so much hard work and donated some brilliant prizes, and I hope everybody had a special day.

“Every penny raised from our amazing total will go towards helping improve the experience of our patients and their environment, helping the charity to provide over and above what the NHS normally does.”

The event, which was sponsored by LD Property and Tile Central UK, raised £13,102.17 in total, more than twice the amount of last year’s event.

The day’s winning team were the lucky recipients of an overnight stay at the Celtic Manor Resort and round of golf thanks to the sponsors.

Danny Bowers of Tile Central UK said: “We’re delighted to continue our fundraising for UHNM Charity by sponsoring this year’s Golf Day. At some point in our lives we will be in need of the services that our amazing local NHS provide.

“As a local company, we wanted to show our support and would encourage local businesses to sign up and get involved for a spectacular day’s golf at Barlaston Golf Club. We’re delighted to have raised so much for UHNM Charity.”

The golf day was also attended by local sportspeople including boxer Nathan ‘Hitman’ Heaney and former Stoke City FC midfielder Liam Laurence.

Liam said: “This is an important event for people in our area and I was honoured to be asked to come down and enjoy a fantastic day’s golf. Nathan was also part of my team, and it was good for us to come down and show our support for UHNM Charity as much as we can.”

Barlaston Golf Club Commercial Director Terry Adnams added: “We’re delighted with how the Golf Day went. We raised a fantastic amount of money for UHNM Charity and the visiting teams had a great day.”

UHNM Charity-funded project scoops prestigious national award

“It turned out to be a huge success, much better than we imagined, and the schools were really pleased with what we had to offer. It’s thanks to UHNM Charity for funding the project, and Stoke City Community Trust for helping to deliver the project, that we’re able to raise our oral health care to the next level. It’s UHNM Charity’s vision to see this as a preventative strategy, rather than a treatment. What we’re trying to do with these sessions is stop local children getting dental decay and needing the intervention of UHNM’s Orthodontics team because they’re much more able to look after their own teeth.”

UHNM Head of Charity Steve Rushton, Jo Gideon MP, Adrian Hurst and Alice Faulkner

A UHNM Charity-funded oral health project has been named as the English Football League (EFL) Championship’s Community Project of the Season.

The ‘Keep Stoke Smiling’ campaign, delivered by the Stoke City Community Trust on behalf of UHNM Charity in partnership with University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), utilises the power of football to deliver diet and dental health messaging to 11,000 primary school children across the Potteries.

In total 74 schools have engaged with the project, receiving advice in bespoke sessions delivered by UHNM Consultant Orthodontist Dr Karen Juggins.

Dr Juggins said: “We started the Keep Stoke Smiling project in 2020 as a new, innovative way of delivering oral health care messages to children and young adults in the area. We were bored and tired of the same old NHS standard posters, so what we really wanted was something that would engage, inspire and drive young people in our area to really think about how important it is to look after their teeth.

Lisa Thomson, Director of Communications and Charity at UHNM said: “We’re so pleased to have been working with the Stoke City Community Trust on such an amazing project that has brought local people together to make a real difference to our children. We have a real problem with oral health in our local area, and by working in partnership on this campaign to address this and make a difference.”

As part of the Keep Stoke Smiling project, toothbrushes were provided to children that didn’t previously own one, together with advice on how to use them correctly.

In addition, each of the schools engaged in the project pledged to be fizzy drink free because of the initiative.

Elaine Watson, a year four teacher at Burnwood Primary School said: “The children were really engaged in the session, and left school buzzing. It offered us an easy way into difficult conversations, and now some of the parents have registered at a dentist for their children’s first visit. This is a brilliant outcome for us all.”

The judging panel were unanimous in their votes for EFL Community Project of the Season which recognises the most innovative and impactful projects.

UHNM Consultants take UHNM Charity to new heights

A team of intrepid UHNM consultants battled snowstorms and sickness to scale a Himalayan mountain range for UHNM Charity.

Neuroradiologist Dr Sanjeev Nayak, spinal surgeon

Mr Sandeep Konduru and critical care consultant Dr Nageswar Bandla began a hike up the Mera Peak in Nepal on 1 May.

The trio were joined by local GPs Dr Jag Boyapati and Dr Anil Surendran to raise funds for and awareness of the 24/7 stroke thrombectomy service at UHNM.

But ‘horrendous’ weather conditions meant just three members of the team made it past base camp after Mr Konduru and Dr Surendran developed breathing problems.

Dr Nayak said: “We faced snowstorms every day of the climb, by the end of it the skin on my face was peeling off, the snow was like bullets hitting you.

“Every level of the Mera Peak was hard, it was non-stop and relentless climbing.

“On day two as we were ascending a steep area in treacherous conditions we heard a nearby scream. The visibility was poor so we couldn’t tell where it came from. At this point we were split into two groups, so it was a relief when we were looking for the other group and we realised we were all together. To this day we don’t know whose scream it was or if they were OK.”

Dr Nayak admits he was only scared once during the trek: “One night our tents were being hit by a really bad

snowstorm and I found myself alone in mine after the person I was sharing with had to withdraw with illness. The wind was moving the tent and I thought I was going to die or be blown into the valley. So I went out into the storm to get boulders of rock and put them into the tent to weigh it down.”

Dr Nayak explains pain and numbness in his feet from the cold forced him to turn back just 150m from the summit.

“Starting in my toes, my feet started going completely dead. Our guide told me to start kicking the ice to get the circulation back. I kept hitting my feet but it was getting worse. I said to myself its either my feet or the summit, I can only do one.”

“Back in camp when I took my shoes off my feet were bleeding from kicking the ice with no sensation. I was sat in my tent feeling sick, but thinking I made the right decision as another hour on the mountain and I would of lost my feet.”

The poor weather meant the other two members had to abandon their climb only 50 meters further up.

“Different people have different experiences, the other two felt really upset they couldn’t make it to the summit, but I was so happy I even had this amazing and spiritual experience in the Himalayas.”

Sensory projector improves mobility

Following a grant from UHNM Charity, patients on the Children’s Oncology Unit are seeing their mobility improved during treatment as a result of using the equipment.

The omiVista Mobii 3 projects interactive sensory content including games and moving imagery onto flat surfaces such as the floor and tables.

Patients interact with this content through touch, either with hands or feet.

Julie Eaton, Children’s Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke, said: “Some of our treatment affects the tendons in patient’s legs and can lead to painful mobility issues. Patients can lose the ability to walk and can even become bedridden.

“However we’re now seeing massive improvements in the mobility of patients who use the projector. The range of games and activities not only stimulate and entertain patients, but encourage them to exercise and move from crawling, to walking to jumping.

“It’s being utilised on toddlers right up to early teens. Our patients are more likely to engage with the content on this than listen to a physiotherapist asking them to do exercises, it’s physio that’s fun.”

The projector is fully portable and can be wheeled into different cubicles on the Unit. It can also be utilised by the hospital’s teachers and play specialists as an educational tool for inpatients.

One of the patients to benefit from the new equipment is Wyatt Forster.

The three-year-old from Waterhayes was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in July 2022, a type of cancer that affects white blood cells.

Mum Rhiannon Forster said: “I was first alerted to Wyatt when he became increasingly lethargic. After weeks of antibiotics from the GP didn’t work, he was sent for a blood test at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital which told us what he’s got. During his treatment he unfortunately caught a fungal infection at home which meant his chemotherapy had been on hold for a while whilst he fought that, but thankfully he’s now well enough for it to resume.

“The care here has been fantastic, I cannot fault anybody. For example, I had a nurse take the time out of her busy day to sit with me and hold me as I cried as I shaved off Wyatt’s hair off because he was pulling it out. It’s been amazing here, every time we’ve needed anything they’ve got it.”

Patients receiving cancer treatment at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke are benefitting from a cutting-edge interactive sensory projector thanks to charity funding.

Wyatt Forster

Legacy Success for Dr Brind

The Consultant Gastroenterologist has now raised almost £24,000 for liver disease

myself. Being a Liver Consultant at UHNM for 25 years, I’d seen so much death and misery from liver disease over that time, so I looked no further for a cause.

“Most advanced liver disease is preventable if caught early enough, but patients usually have no symptoms or signs until it’s too late for intervention. That’s why I decided to set up an appeal to fund more resources for early screening of liver disease but also to raise awareness so people know how to look after their liver.

“I decided on a Parkrun as this was achievable to most. I had an amazing response from people helping to organise the event and also those who wanted to attend. Those in attendance included my family, former patients and colleagues from across UHNM including those from Liver, Cancer, Endoscopy and Bowel Cancer Screening.”

Dr Brind continues to fundraise for her liver appeal, raising almost £23,500 to date. In June 2023 she invited colleagues from UHNM Team Liver to form a relay team to run the Potters ‘Arf Marathon.

Dr Brind said: “I’ve always been an active and outdoors person and enthusiastic marathon and ultrarunner and happy member of Stone Master Marathoners. However, I was gradually becoming less and less fit and was becoming plagued with neck problems and a forward lean. A parkrun had become a comfortable distance for me.

“Then in September 2022 the bottom fell out my world. The neck pain radiating down into my arms, which I’d put down to old age and osteoporosis with a bit of whiplash was diagnosed as Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer.

“At rock bottom with no motivation, my oncologist challenged me to take up a cause of great importance to

Specialist chair improves comfort of Parkinson’s patients

Thanks to a UHNM Charity grant, Ward 76a at Royal Stoke has been able to purchase a special Albany recliner chair.

The comfort of elderly patients suffering from Parkinson’s has been improved thanks to UHNM Charity and its supporters.

The chair has a range of features aimed at improving comfort and stability of patients.

She said: “Despite my diagnosis I’m trying to remain positive and think of other people. I’ve always loved the Potters ‘Arf and have run it a few times myself and so this year I wanted to involve my colleagues and friends.”

Vanessa Carr, Liver Clinical Nurse Specialist added: “We were so looking forward to running the race for Dr Brind who is quite simply phenomenal and an inspiration to us. It was a great day to raise funds and awareness of a disease which is one of the biggest causes of premature death locally.”

If you would like to find out more about Dr Brind, her work and how you donate, please contact the UHMN charity team and email: charity@uhnm.nhs.uk.

Dr Brind

Sharon Thomas, Housekeeper

Charity funding helps make breastfeeding in hospital easier

Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke, has been able to purchase new equipment aimed at making breastfeeding a more relaxed and comfortable experience.

Equipment including breast pumps, sterilisers and recliner chairs are now being utilised in areas across the Children’s Hospital including children’s A&E, medical wards and day cases.

Babies suffering from jaundice, bronchiolitis, weight loss, as well as mothers who are admitted onto adult wards are set to benefit.

Eve Petrozzi-Smith, Play Specialist and Infant Feeding Instructor said: “Caring for mother and baby in the postnatal period involves supporting their feeding journey whichever method they choose.

“This new equipment allows staff at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital to offer the best possible support to mother and babies. We want to provide high quality care within a comfortable stress free and relaxing

environment which is safe and effective.”

John’s cycling endurance challenge for Children’s Hospital

In December last year, John Walkley set himself a challenge to ride 4,025 virtual kilometres in a week to beat the current cycling record on the online training program Zwift.

At 40kmph, that would mean riding for 14 and a half hours a day, every day, for seven days. All this to raise an incredible £6,891.16 for Staffordshire Children’s Hospital to thank them for the care given to son Edison.

John, from Alsager explains: “My son Edison became quite ill around February 2022, he’s been in and out of hospital for just over a year now. And when he comes in, its everything from taking bloods to endoscopy, colonoscopy for investigating the cause of his illness, right through to any procedure and medications he’s needed. Along the way, it’s been not only quite a physical challenge for him being so young, but also a mental one.”

“The care he’s received at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital has been like a family experience. He’s been in that much that he feels very safe here because of the environment and the care he receives.

“The thing that got me started was the idea that

I wanted to show Edison that no matter how big the challenge or how long the odds, you need to keep going. We never know how deep we can dig unless we try. For him, he doesn’t have a choice - he has to battle every day. I chose an almost impossible challenge of endurance to show that we can keep going against the odds. I felt it was important to show him he was not alone, that he wasn’t the only one who had to push.”

Matron Emma Kesall and Eve Petrozzi-Smith, Play Specialist and Infant Feeding Instructor

John Walkley with Play Specialist Emma Bidulph and Directorate Manager Mark Jones

State-of-the-art surgical robot crosses 500 colorectal cancer patient treatment milestone

The intuitive Da Vinci Xi dual console robotic system was funded by the Denise Coates Foundation as part of their support for the development of the Trust’s cancer services which has been delivered via an £8.4 million grant to UHNM Charity.

The system enables surgeons to perform advanced robotic procedures using cutting-edge technology.

Mr Philip Varghese is consultant colorectal surgeon and lead for colorectal robotic surgery programme at UHNM. As robotic proctor he is involved in training colorectal surgeons nationally and internationally.

Mr Varghese said: “This state-of-the-art system helps us to take patient care to the next level at UHNM.

“UHNM is one of the leading centres in the UK with expertise in offering robotic surgical procedures. Since the inception of the robotic programme in 2014, almost 2,500 major robotic surgical procedures have been undertaken by surgeons in Urology, Colorectal, and Gynaecology.

“We are passionate in training the next generation of robotic surgeons.”

The integrated SimNow robotic simulation system with 47 skills exercises and over 30 procedure simulations provides surgeons with specialised content to support

their learning over time. The dual console also enables training of surgeons and higher surgical trainees which then facilitates joint operating for complex procedures.

Beryl Gwilt, 76, from Tittensor underwent robotic surgery with Mr Varghese for bowel cancer at Royal Stoke following a 14 weeks treatment with chemoradiotherapy to shrink her cancer.

Beryl said: “The outcome was definitely better than I thought it was going to be because you haven’t got all the cuts, it’s only four little round circles. I think it’s amazing how they can go in these little round circles and manage to remove the cancer. The team were marvellous, from the anaesthetist Dr. Hopkins who put me at ease just before the operation, to Mr Varghese who visited me every day I was on the ward recovering.

“The staff on the Gastrointestinal Ward 108 have been wonderful. They’re there as soon as you ask them to do anything and they keep checking on me throughout the day, it’s been really good.”

The robotic system costing £2 million, is a key part of UHNM’s plans to develop state-of-the-art cancer services at the Trust, the total investment of £8.4 million will comprise eight further elements when fully delivered.

Team Theatre

Technology helps speed up stroke patient recovery

The Acute Stroke Unit at Royal Stoke University Hospital has been able to purchase a Clevertouch Impact Plus which is a 55-inch screen featuring dedicated software that helps to increase the intensity of cognitive rehabilitation. This helps speed up recovery and discharge from hospital.

Patients can use the specially designed inbuilt apps and games to improve their hand and arm dexterity as well as vision.

Panagiotis Stergiou, UHNM Stroke Therapy Team Manager said: “The difficulty with complex stoke patients is that they lack mobility, balance, strength, cognition, memory and vision. This new tool will bring all of them all together. We’ll be able to specify which area we want to train through the software and develop an holistic treatment for each patient.

“Many of our patients who are post-stroke and suffering from cognitive impairments often spend a long time on the Unit and due to its acute nature many suffer from

low-mood and withdrawal. The fact its portable means we’re able to place it over a patient’s bed or chair and keep them entertained through a range of in-built, online or streamable content.

“Its connectivity also means we can utilise apps like Zoom and Microsoft Teams to better keep patients connected with their loved ones who aren’t able to visit them. We can also position it to make it a table for up to eight patients so they can interact with each other using specially designed games.”

Steve Rushton, Head of UHNM Charity, said: “Thanks to our amazing supporters, UHNM Charity was delighted to support UHNM’s Acute Stroke Unit with this new equipment. Prior to its arrival staff on the Unit were using tablets with patients with much less effect due to their limited stroke-specialist content. The new screen will become an essential tool on the Unit not only improving clinical outcomes for patients but improving their experience whilst in hospital too.”

Panagiotis Stergiou, Stroke Therapy Team Manager

UHNM Charity awarded £500k to help combat loneliness

NHS Charities Together has awarded the £500,000 grant to UHNM Charity as part of its Community Partnership programme.

Fourteen community groups and projects from the Staffordshire and Stoke Integrated Care System (ICS) will receive a slice of the grant funding to help address the issue of loneliness and social isolation.

UHNM Charity worked with other organisations including Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire County Council and Support Staffordshire to identify the projects who will get a share of the half a million pound grant over the next two years.

The grant will fund a range of initiatives including improvements to existing services for people at risk of loneliness and isolation, the creation of new projects and groups to improve social connection and the use of new technology.

Those benefitting include Beam Staffs, an organisation based in Stafford who provide opportunities to people with low to medium learning disabilities.

A grant of almost £50,000 will enable Beam to provide a series of day activities aimed at improving dayto-day living skills and personal independence helping to boost selfconfidence.

Mike Howell, Chief Officer at Beam Staffs said: “Our clients are knocking on the doors of different life experience and this grant funding enables us to open them for them. It adds strings to our bow and our current offer. Where at times previously we might not have the staff or resources, now we’re able to find a way to say yes to more clients activities, be that cooking or employment skills training or even a trip to the shops or cinema.”

Other initiatives planned thanks to grants from this project include the

creation of a weekly Friendship Café at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The café, funded by a grant of almost £30,000 will be open to local people wishing to attend free drop-in sessions where they can meet new friends and take part in health and wellbeingfocused activities.

Lisa Thomson, UHNM Director of Communications, said: “Data shows that almost half of all adults experience some degree of loneliness in their lifetime and this has been made worse by the pandemic.

“It’s thanks to the hundreds of thousands of people that got behind NHS Charities Together’s Covid-19 appeal that we are able to work in partnership with community and voluntary groups to tackle loneliness and isolation in our region. UHNM Charity is proud to be a part of this project helping to improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of local people and we look forward to working with and supporting the local groups.”

Long-time supporter Iona Botfield ran the Adidas Manchester Marathon, raising funds for Royal Stoke’s Cancer Centre.

She said: “The department is currently providing life-saving treatment to my father-in-law, and as always, the treatment they provide is fantastic and unwavering. I’d like to support their incredible work.

“The statistics of how many people will suffer with cancer in their lifetime is staggering, and the wider impact on friends and family truly heart-breaking. By raising money for the Cancer Centre at UHNM, I hope it’ll help with equipment and treatment to provide hope and comfort to those suffering.

Fundraiser Focus

This will be my third fundraising event for UHNM Charity, and certainly not my last!”

Superstar fundraiser Isaac Rotherham visited Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke to present his cheque of £239.39 raised through the sale of hanging baskets and a nonschool uniform day.

Mum Gemma said: “It started as a family day out to the zoo, but as soon as we got home and walked back through the door at home he stopped breathing and it progressed rapidly from there.

“The fundraising started this year to mark 10 years since he was admitted with Isaac making and selling hanging baskets he’d made himself to his family, friends at school and whoever he could sell them too! He’s also raised funds through a nonuniform day at school based on superheroes. “

Thank you to Lady Captain Esther McNeal and members of Barlaston Golf Club for raising a tee-rific £630 for Breast Care at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.

Esther turned October into ‘Pink Month’ at the club, fundraising for us by turning as many things as possible pink- from people’s outfits to golf balls.

She said: “It’s a cause very close to our hearts because some of our lady members have been struck by breast cancer.”

Money raised from the event goes towards new equipment and patient information.

Leave a legacy to UHNM Charity

After providing for your loved ones, leaving a gift in your will to UHNM Charity is a wonderful way to support a cause you care about and can help transform the care and experience for hundreds or even thousands of local patients for years to come. Whatever the size of your gift, you can help to provide extra state-of-the-art equipment, new facilities, pioneering research and all the extras that make our care so special.

Whatever your reasons for supporting UHNM Charity, by including a gift in your will you’re helping us to go above and beyond what the NHS can provide. We work hand-in-hand with doctors, nurses and other medical experts from UHNM to ensure that every gift bequeathed to the Charity is put to good use - making the greatest possible difference to patient care.

Whichever ward or service is close to your heart, we want you to know that we will hold your donation in a charitable fund that supports the area of your choice, or if you’d prefer to leave a gift for general charitable purposes we will ensure that it is spent where it is needed the most.

We are truly grateful to all those who consider leaving a gift to UHNM Charity in their will.

We appreciate this can be a difficult subject, but if you would like to discuss how your legacy could have an impact on local patients or any wishes for how the money is spent please get in touch with one of our friendly team on 01782 676444.

Welcome from Lisa Thomson, Director of Communications and

UHNM Charity

Over the past year our UHNM Charity team, which serves both County Hospital and Royal Stoke University Hospital have been able to engage with more staff, members of the community and local businesses than ever before.

We have been able to support celebrations of the work everyone is doing to raise money both in our hospitals and in our communities. We have also been able to fund some very big projects which improve the experience for both our patients and our staff. Our work with Keep Stoke Smiling has been nothing short of amazing. Led by Dr Karen Juggins, Consultant Orthodontist at UHNM in partnership with Stoke City Community Trust (part of Stoke City Football Club) we have seen more schools across Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent signup to take part and become fizz free, tackling the important issue of oral health in children. Karen’s and the team’s work is continuing as they plan to take the important message of oral hygiene into more schools.

To the local companies, organisations, members of staff and individuals who have donated money, their time and everything from chocolates and food hampers to face cream, a huge thank you. Your support and help is greatly appreciated, it brings smiles and happiness during very difficult times.

We rely on all of our supporters, who are continuing to grow in numbers. There are many reasons why you may have chosen to give to us. Some people choose to remember us in their will and some choose to leave us a donation in the memory of a loved one. Others choose to hold events, run marathons and even climb mountains! Whatever you choose to do, 100 percent of the money you raise goes to providing services that are above and beyond what the NHS alone can provide, touching lives and making a huge difference to the people in our care. We want to encourage more people to get involved and join many of our UHNM staff in fundraising. In this edition of our magazine we feature just a small sample of what some our supporters have been doing, along with how this is making a real difference to our patients and staff. I hope you enjoy reading it and above all I hope it encourages you to get involved!

Raising funds for your local hospitals

Making a difference for our patients