Health improvement

A giant teepee has been set up at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough to give people a space where they can come together when they need it most.

Stop smoking support for staff has been launched as part of the Trust’s pledge to go smokefree by the end of March 2019. Provided by occupational health, the 12-week programme is designed to help staff stop smoking with the support of a qualified stop smoking advisor.

For some smokers in their 30s and 40s, the thought of cancer or COPD is often dismissed as a risk that feels years away… But now two former smokers and cancer survivors are making personal appeals in a graphic quit smoking campaign that urges smokers to quit and reduce their risk – and never assume it won’t happen to them.

People across the North East and North Cumbria are being asked to help ease pressure on NHS accident and emergency services over the August bank holiday.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has signed a national pledge to go smokefree by March 2019. The 12-month countdown officially starts this Wednesday – National No Smoking Day – with the launch of a hard-hitting campaign to stop people smoking in the women and children’s entrance way at The James Cook University Hospital.

Patients’ involvement in a pioneering cancer trial at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have led to ‘practice changing’ results about how mesothelioma will be treated in the future.

New research shows encouraging evidence for a role of exercise training in patients in the weeks leading up to major surgery.

Superheroes and cartoon creations will be adding a touch of fun to this weekend’s Middlesbrough Tees Pride 10k. And for those still hoping to enter the flagship event on Sunday, September 3, the deadline for entries has been extended to midnight on Thursday (August 31).

A grateful patient has praised the care she received from the James Cook University Hospital’s hand therapy team, after a bad wrist break resulted in intensive physiotherapy. Pam Pedersen, 73, from Great Ayton, says she “couldn’t have asked for better treatment” after losing the use of her left hand and being referred to Gary Rigby, a specialist hand physiotherapist.

The Occupational Health Physiotherapy Team at The James Cook University Hospital challenged colleagues to hop on an exercise bike in the staff restaurant and help clock up 57km during their breaks – the equivalent of cycling from the Middlesbrough hospital to Whitby – for Workout at Work Day.