Hundreds of people across the Humber could be unaware they’re living with Hepatitis C

Nursing teams will take screening to the people as they hit the road with two custom-designed vehicles this month.

NHS Humber Health Partnership has received funding from NHS England to purchase and equip two vans to serve as mobile clinics in the fight against Hepatitis C.

Martin Lewis and Suzanne Dixon aboard one of the new screening vans

Hull is understood to have one of the highest incidence rates of the blood borne virus in the country, but it is feared many people living with Hepatitis C won’t even know it, as it doesn’t always lead to symptoms.

While the virus is completely curable if caught early, left untreated it can lead to long-term health problems such as liver damage, cirrhosis and cancer; something teams across the Humber region are keen to avoid.

Kasey P, Assistant Business Support Manager for NHS Humber Health Partnership explains:

“One of our main challenges in tackling Hepatitis C is to promote greater understanding of what it is and how it’s contracted.

“The virus used to be associated more with intravenous drug users, but this picture is changing quickly and we’re seeing a growing number of people who have contracted it by something as straight forward as having a piercing or a tattoo, for example, if equipment hasn’t been properly sterilised. This isn’t what people would generally consider risky behaviour, but any activity where a person comes into contact with another person’s blood, even something as simple as sharing a toothbrush, poses a risk of Hep C transmission.

“There’s also another group of people who are potentially at higher risk, and that is people who were born overseas and likely caught the virus many years ago in their country of birth through no fault of their own. In our local area, we are already supporting a number of people with treatment, predominantly from Eastern European countries, and will be looking to further this work through our mobile clinics.

“For us, it’s really about reaching out to people who may find it hard to access routine health services or who might not be able to afford to travel to appointments, as well as to those who simply don’t know they’re at risk, to offer proactive advice, screening and treatment.”

Most of the service’s patients are people who are taking or have taken drugs in the past, but 1 in every 5 people treated by the team has contracted Hepatitis C in a different way, with medical and cosmetic treatments overseas accounting for a growing number of people accessing the service due to less stringent hygiene measures.

The custom-made interior of the new mobile clinics

The two vehicles will be staffed by specialist nurses to deliver clinical care, and community engagement leads whose role it is to ensure patients whose lifestyles maybe more chaotic are still able to access testing and receive any necessary treatment, when and where they need it.

While they may look like ordinary vans from the outside, the interior of each vehicle has been fully redesigned and refitted to serve as a mobile clinic. They contain enough space for consultations, blood tests and liver scans, and offer a sterile environment in which to work.

Kim Santos, hepatitis C specialist nurse will be among those going out and about on the vans. She says:

“The vehicles serve two main purposes for us; the first is outreach to people who find it difficult or just aren’t used to accessing routine healthcare, and the second is raising the profile of Hepatitis C as a virus which anyone could be susceptible to.

“We have been heavily involved in designing the inside of the vans so they give us the facilities and the space we need to deliver the best possible service. Some of our patients are between homes or move around a lot, so find it easier to attend appointments outside hospital. The vans enable us to take testing and treatment to them, and for some patients this can all be done in one go.

Suzanne and Martin will take their screening clinics on the road

“At the same time, the vans will allow us to go out to more locations, such as health centres, food banks and hostels, and take part in community events, so we can speak to people more generally about their risk of Hepatitis C.

“It’s not a virus that’s talked about a great deal so people aren’t generally as familiar with what it is or the risks it poses. We’re keen to get across that the risk is higher than some people may think, and you don’t have to be engaging in what might traditionally be seen as risky behaviours to put yourself at risk.

“The good news is that Hepatitis C is curable with a course of medication, and if we catch any liver damage early, there’s a good chance this can also be reversed, so it really is best to get checked out.”

The two screening vans are now hitting the roads of North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, starting in Scarborough, Whitby and York.

If you are concerned about the risk of Hepatitis C and wish to be tested, you can order a free NHS home testing kit which can delivered straight to your door via the NHS website: https://hepctest.nhs.uk/

Missed your appointment for breast screening or concerned that you haven’t received an appointment yet, despite being over 50?

Come along to our Fit4Life event at Hull Royal Infirmary on Friday, July 11, and chat to the Humberside Breast Screening team.

Members of the team will outline the three-year rolling appointment process, advising when you should expect to be called for screening. And, if you’ve already missed your appointment, they’ll be able to screen you on the day, providing you meet the right criteria.

Lesley Peacock, Programme Manager for Humberside Breast Screening, said: “We’ll be able to screen you on the day if you meet the right criteria and give you advice and information about the breast screening programme and how it works.

“We can tell you what to expect when you come for your appointment and help address any fears or concerns you may have about the actual screening process.

“We’ll be here to help you on the day, no matter what you’d like to ask.”

Fit4Life is the first in a series of events offering the public the chance to speak to hospital-based experts about improving your wellbeing through smoking cessation, lifestyle choices, alcohol moderation, cancer screening and vaccination.

Chat to our doctors, nurses, therapists and health teams about steps you can take right now to improve your lifestyle, promote better health and prevent serious illness such as strokes, cancer and heart problems.

Join us in the atrium of HRI’s new main entrance and in Nourish, our first floor restaurant, from 10am to 4pm for:

• Workshops and presentations by NHS experts
• Q&A sessions on healthier lifestyles which reduce your risk of disease
• Information on cancer screening programmes
• Interactive sessions showing how AI is benefiting modern healthcare
• Opportunities to chat to experienced health professionals

Other Fit4Life events are planned for Castle Hill Hospital, Goole Hospital, Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby and Scunthorpe General Hospital over the coming months.

Hull Royal Infirmary is to fly its organ donation flag to mark when a life-saving donation has been made.

Helen Russell, Joanna Pancarowicz, Janine Tate and Jane Langley, all Specialist Nurses in Organ Donation, have arranged for the flag to be flown outside the main entrance to the hospital when a family agrees to organ donation on behalf of their loved one.

Seventeen families have consented to organ donation since April last year after their relatives were declared brain dead or following their death from cardiac arrest, known as a non-heartbeating donation, at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Helen said: “Flying the flag is a sign to the public that something very special is happening inside our hospital, that some family is giving another person the gift of life.

“It’s our way of honouring the patient who has made their wishes known to their relatives that they wish to donate their organs in the event of their death and it’s a way of saying thank you to their family.”

One family has already seen the flag flying over the hospital following their agreement to organ donation following the death of their loved one in the past few weeks.

Helen said: “They told us it brought them comfort and they were able to share photographs of the flag with other members of their family who could not be at hospital.”

Joanna said the team hoped flying the flag would encourage members of the public to sign the Organ Donor register and share their wishes with their families, should their life be cut short.

She said: “It can be difficult to raise the subject but having that conversation now means you’ll save your family to ordeal of having to make that decision when they’re coping with the trauma of your death.”

Across Yorkshire, 373 patients received a life-saving or life-changing transplant in 2023/4.

More than 100,000 transplants have been carried out since the creation of the Organ Donor Register in 1994. However, the waiting list for a transplant is currently the highest it’s been in an decade, with more than 7,900 people in the UK waiting for the call.

If you’d like to help, join the register and tell your family of your wishes so it’s easier for them in the event of your death. 

Ready to take charge of your health and wellbeing?  Join us at Hull Royal Infirmary on Friday, July 11, for Fit4Life!

This special event is your chance to speak to hospital-based experts about improving your wellbeing through smoking cessation, lifestyle choices, alcohol moderation, cancer screening and vaccination.

Chat to our doctors, nurses, therapists and health teams about steps you can take right now to improve your lifestyle, promote better health and prevent serious illness such as strokes, cancer and heart problems.

Join us in the atrium of HRI’s new main entrance and in Nourish, our first floor restaurant, from 10am to 4pm for:

• Workshops and presentations by NHS experts
• Q&A sessions on healthier lifestyles which reduce your risk of disease
• Information on cancer screening programmes
• Interactive sessions showing how AI is benefiting modern healthcare
• Opportunities to chat to experienced health professionals

Amanda Stanford, Acting Group Chief Executive of NHS Humber Health Partnership, said Fit4Life is the first in a series of health promotion events, tailored to address common health problems experienced by residents in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

She said: “Our hospitals are always here to help you but Fit4Life is a fun and engaging way to empower you to make healthier choices that might stop you needing us in the future.

“You’ll learn about measures you can take right now that will make a big difference while accessing valuable resources and chatting to our health experts.

“Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to take charge of your own wellbeing. Come along, bring your friends and family, and let’s make Hull a healthier place together.”

Fit4Life is the first in a series of public health events, with others planned for Castle Hill Hospital, Goole Hospital, Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby and Scunthorpe General Hospital over the coming months.

Women experiencing pelvic health problems during and after pregnancy are being invited to register for a free app to help improve their symptoms.

One in three women experience urinary incontinence three months after pregnancy and one in 12 report symptoms of pelvic prolapse after giving birth.

Now, Laura Caldicott, the first Pelvic Health Midwife to be appointed by NHS Humber Health Partnership to help many of the 8,700 women who give birth every year in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, is encouraging women to register for the NHS England “Squeezy” app

Laura said: “The app’s available for all women across the region up to 12 months after they give birth.

“It explains pelvic floor health and issues, gives you exercises to do to strengthen your pelvic floor, guidance on how to do them and sets reminders to carry them out.

“It also provides a diary where you can log symptoms.”

Anyone who is interested in the app can register through the Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) for Humer and North Yorkshire website.

A drive round a hospital car park, a sing song, or even decorating a treatment room as a theme from a film is all in a day’s work for a small team of nurses.

As part of this year’s Learning Disability Week, which starts today (Monday 16 June), we are shining the spotlight on our Vulnerabilities Team which works across our hospitals in Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole, and our Enhanced Care Team at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.

The theme for this year’s week, which is organised by the charity Mencap, is ‘Do you see me?’ It is all about challenging some of the barriers people who have learning disabilities face.

Jackie Fenwick, Lead Nurse for Vulnerabilities across the NHS Humber Health Partnership, said: “Our role is to make sure patients with a learning disability have equitable access to healthcare, as well as timely treatment. It is about making sure everyone is seen, heard and valued when they need help.”

There are different types of learning disability, which can be mild, moderate, severe or profound. In all cases a learning disability is lifelong. Someone with a mild learning disability may only need support with things like getting a job. However, someone with a severe or profound learning disability may need full­time care and support with every aspect of their life – they may also have physical disabilities.

Jackie said: “Hospital environments can be overwhelming and frightening for everyone, and this is especially true for individuals with a learning disability. Suddenly they are out of their routine. There are loud noises, unfamiliar smells, lots of people, medical jargon, medical equipment, tests and procedures that they don’t understand. They don’t feel safe or secure and they can get very scared and distressed. It is our role to plan ahead for their visit, if we can, to help ease their anxieties by working with them and their carers to make any necessary reasonable adjustments.”

It could be something as simple as:

• Their appointment being made for the start or end of an outpatient clinic
• A double appointment so they have more time
• Having access to a quiet side room while they wait to be seen
• Having access to sensory equipment and support
• Several visits to the hospital beforehand to help with familiarisation and desensitisation
• Distraction techniques, such as singing, toys, or decorating the treatment area in a theme they love.

Jackie said also, where possible they offer a one stop service, where the patient may come in for a procedure in which they need sedation or a general anaesthetic. “Staff will carry out the procedure, such as gallbladder removal, and while they are asleep, we may cut their nails, check their teeth, take blood and any other tests which may be stressful if they were awake. It is all about reducing their anxiety and stress levels.”

Jackie said the teams work closely with families and carers, as well as other agencies, to ensure a person’s care is tailored to their requirements before their appointment, during their visit and after their discharge. “Our work does not stop once they leave us, as we work hard to ensure people have the follow up care they require,” said Jackie.

The team in Hull recently had two people who required x-rays but were reluctant to go to the department, let alone have the tests. Jackie said: “Both people loved music, so our nurse staged an impromptu singalong which put them at enough ease, for them to have the required x-rays.”

One patient who the Vulnerabilities Team cares for is Tracy. She said: “I am articulate and intelligent but because of my disability I find accessing healthcare difficult. I used to get anxious in my outpatient hospital appointments as I knew the time is limited and precious, and I was scared I wouldn’t be able to communicate what I needed to.”

Noisy waiting areas with lots of people, radios playing in the background, hot and stuffy rooms, as well as people using computers when she is talking to them all overstimulate Tracy and make her feel anxious.

Tracy said: “I am overwhelmed by all of the environmental stimuli and I have an appalling memory and forget everything the minute I leave the consulting room. Having someone with me who understands my triggers and can advocate for me helps to make it better.

“I particularly want to thank the Vulnerabilities Team who now support my outpatient hospital care. I would not be able to access the care I need without them.”

One thing carers can help with is ensuring people have Hospital Passports with them. It is a simple booklet which includes the person’s name, and what they like to be known as, as well as things health care workers must know about them such as the language they speak and how they communicate, things that are important to them such as how they take their medication, how to recognise they are in pain, and their likes and dislikes.

Jackie added: “A learning disability doesn’t mean people can’t live happy, fulfilling or successful lives. What it does mean is at times we need to work with them in a different way to other patients to ensure we can give them the care they need. I feel privileged to play a part in such rewarding work.”

Put your health before embarrassment or fear and attend your smear test appointment, a hospital team says.

Cervical cancer screening rates in our area are higher than the national average, thanks to Hull’s #smearnotfear team from Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.

Around 72pc of women, trans men and non-binary people in the 25 to 49 age group and almost 77pc aged between 50 to 64 attended their smear test appointments last year compared to 67.5pc and 74.9pc nationally.

Now, to mark Cervical Screening Awareness Week, the Colposcopy Team at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, says everyone who receives an appointment should attend every three or five years, depending on their age.

Nurse Colposcopist Sarah Bolton

Nurse Colposcopist Sarah Bolton, who leads the #smearnotfear team, said: “Smear tests are a highly-effective way of checking for HPV, which causes abnormal cells to develop in the cervix.

“If you don’t come for your smear test, it can be really dangerous because if HPV is left untreated, these cells can turn into cervical cancer over time.

“You might be a woman who feels embarrassed or worried if you’ve never been for a smear test or you have missed some appointments. You might be a trans man or non-binary and have different worries or concerns.

“But be assured that those of us carrying out smear tests are not here to judge anyone. We’re here to help and you can chat to your health professional if you’re concerned before your appointment.”

The #smearnotfear campaign was launched by the team in 2017 and they hold events, often in their own time, to raise awareness including lighting up the hospital in teal, the colour associated with cervical cancer awareness, and attending major events including Hull Pride, Hull Freedom Festival, rugby matches and sporting events.

Smear tests are normally carried out by a female GP or nurse practitioner in your local surgery. You can request a chaperone to stay with you while you have the test, which takes less than five minutes.

Colposcopy Room at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital

Here’s what happens

• Once you’re in the room where the test will be carried out, you’ll undress from the waist down, lie down on a bed and be given a sheet to pull over you with your legs bent, feet together and knees apart
• A smooth, tube-shaped tool (a speculum) will be placed gently into your vagina and a small amount of lubricant may be used
• The speculum will be opened so the health professional can see your cervix and a soft brush will be used to take cells from your cervix
• The speculum will be removed and you’ll be left to get dressed

Sarah said: “Ten minutes is all it takes from beginning to end but it could mean the difference between life and death. Staff are here to help you so there’s nothing to fear.”

A hospital consultant is urging people with diabetes to attend their check-ups and appointments to prevent the risk of developing serious illness.

Dr Belinda Allan, Consultant in General Medicine and Endocrinology at NHS Humber Health Partnership, said check ups are the best way to manage this serious, complicated condition.

At the start of Diabetes Awareness Week, Dr Allan said: “There are many complications linked to diabetes including problems with your eyes or feet, heart attacks, nerve damage, and other serious long -term problems. It can also cause acute, short-term health issues such as hypos and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

“Attending your diabetes health checks is a way of ensuring your condition is stable and helps us pick up potential problems early enough to support you, preventing things from getting worse.

“And if you’ve just recently been diagnosed and feel a bit overwhelmed by it all, keeping your appointments mean you get to see specialist teams who can help and advise you.”

More than 40,000 people in Hull and the East Riding were diagnosed with diabetes in 2023/24. And the problem’s getting worse.

Mortality rates have tripled in Hull over the last 20 years, rising from 314 deaths between 2001-03 to 1,197 between 21-23. Of the 8,063 people who died in Hull between 2021-23, 15 per cent had diabetes mentioned on their death certificates.

Diabetes is a serious, complicated condition affecting how your body turns food into energy and there are two main types Type 1 – an autoimmune condition where the body produces little or no insulin – and Type 2 – the most common type of diabetes which is linked lifestyle such as obesity, physical inactivity and a diet high in ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks and unhealthy fats.

Dr Allan, based at the Allam Diabetes Centre at Hull Royal Infirmary, said: “Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which is often diagnosed in childhood although it can develop at any age. You’re at a slightly higher risk if a close family member has the condition.

“However, several factors can increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes such as being overweight or obese and not getting enough exercise and eating an unhealthy diet so taking control of these things now can stop you developing diabetes in the future.

“And if you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it’s really important that you take your medication as prescribed, monitor your blood glucose levels and make those important changes to your lifestyle.”

There’s more information from Diabetes UK.

Local charity P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery has recently been awarded an honorary contract with Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH), working as part of NHS Humber Health Partnership*. This contract allows Paul Spence and P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery Service Delivery Manager Nathalie Martin, to serve as charity advisors on the Neurosurgery and Neuro Trauma wards (Wards 4 and 40) at Hull Royal Infirmary (HRI), as well as on the Complex Rehabilitation Ward at Castle Hill Hospital.

This announcement coincides with Paul Spence, CEO and founder of P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery, marking his tenth year of volunteering in the Neurosurgery and Neuro Trauma wards at HRI.

In 2015, three years after sustaining a serious brain injury, Paul began offering voluntary support to patients and their families, using his lived experience to provide hope and reassurance to others in similar situations.

Over time, the partnership between Hull Hospitals and P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery has evolved, with the charity supporting the care pathway by providing community support for brain injury patients and their families across Hull, the East Riding of Yorkshire, and North and North-East Lincolnshire following discharge from acute services.

Nurse Champions have been appointed on Wards 4 and 40 at HRI to raise awareness of the charity and the services available to patients and families. The charity’s information materials are also available at both sites. These efforts have strengthened the charity’s reputation at both HRI and Castle Hill Hospital, which has helped to cultivate a meaningful and supportive partnership.

Paul Spence comments:

“There are various members of the Neurosurgery and Neuro Trauma wards to whom I’m extremely grateful. Their support during the early days of my recovery, volunteering and recognising the need for a service like the charity provides, really boosted my confidence. With patient care and safety being of the utmost importance, the charity is honoured to work alongside frontline healthcare professionals, who do an amazing job. I can’t thank them enough.”

Paul Spence (right) chats with nursing staff working across wards 4 and 40

Stacy Dixon, Charge Nurse, Ward 4, HRI, adds: “Since Paul and Nathalie began visiting and chatting with our patients, we have noticed a huge difference in their psychological wellbeing.

Stacy continues: “Paul and Nathalie visit patients with injuries in Wards 4 and 40 every Tuesday. Their visits provide patients with an opportunity to talk about any concerns or worries, which helps lift a huge weight off their shoulders. We are truly grateful for this service and love seeing how much it benefits both patients and their families.”

Paul Johnson, Nurse, Ward 4, HRI (pictured right, with Paul Spence and nursing colleagues) comments:

“Having been there himself, Paul knows that it’s not just about a medical recovery; patients who have experienced brain injury have a whole host of physical, emotional, financial and psychological needs to try and balance too. The charity provides so much support in this respect, beyond that which the NHS is able to offer; even the smaller things which help patients to cope again in the wider world.

“It’s not just about patients with a brain injury either, they consider the needs of their families and loved ones too and this is so important when a patient is recovering from this kind of injury and preparing for discharge.”

 Recognising the need for a more formal process, HUTH awarded honorary contracts to Paul and Nathalie to act as charity advisors. This allows them to speak with patients and families, ensuring they are aware of the post-discharge community support available from P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery.

Paul Spence, continues: “P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery is delighted to be awarded the contract to support people across Hull Royal and Castle Hill. It reinforces the importance of Nathalie and I being charity advisers on the wards and being able to speak with patients and families affected by brain injury. We are committed to providing excellent support to patients and families.”

From Paul becoming known as a volunteer on Wards 4 and 40 to the charity being formally recognised by the hospitals, the service will continue to evolve according to the needs of patients, families and clinical staff.