Health improvement

Almost a third of staff at Teesside’s biggest hospital trust got their flu vaccine within 10 days of the start of a hard-hitting campaign.
A total of 29.6% of eligible staff at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had been vaccinated as at October 10, including 33.4% of doctors and 31.7% of support staff to clinicians.

A successful project to provide intravenous (IV) antibiotics to patients with a long-term lung condition in their own homes is set to benefit dozens of others with different health conditions. The cutting-edge service improvement enterprise looked at how providing IV antibiotic therapy to patients in their own homes rather than as inpatients in hospital could improve both the patient experience and also reduce costs.

Having the flu jab this year could save a life – yours, a hospital patient’s or a member of your family’s. That’s the message to staff at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, as part of a hard-hitting campaign to encourage them to get vaccinated against flu.

Consultants and surgeons from South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust came out to support Tour de Yorkshire cyclists as they whizzed past The James Cook University Hospital on Marton Road. The Vascular and Endovascular surgery department joined forces with the trust’s Specialist Weight Management Service, The Circulation Foundation and colleagues from South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to serve up tasty and heart healthy Mediterranean treats to the crowds who came out to cheer on the cyclists.

Smokers who light up in vehicles with children present face £50 fine from today – but the penalty could be far worse, as little ones face increased risk of serious illness. That’s the message from Public Health England and Fresh Smoke Free North East today, as Stoptober begins on the same day a new law banning smoking in vehicles transporting under 18s comes into force.

The Trinity Holstic Centre will need to find an additional £2,200 this year – to replace two beds that have broken down in the last week. More than 100 patients a month suffering from cancer and other long-term conditions could miss out on complementary therapies, after the two beds broke down within days.

Maternity staff at The James Cook University Hospital are holding a market place event to highlight the dangers of drinking during pregnancy and other key health issues. The public health market place is being held on 9 September to mark International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day.

New mums and maternity staff at The James Cook University Hospital have been urging smokers to rethink their habits. The group from the hospital’s family and birth (FAB) forum have been campaigning to highlight the impact that smoking at the women and children’s entrance has on staff and patients.

The Eat Well, Feel Better programme based at The James Cook University Hospital’s Trinity Holistic Centre is offering a free six week programme specially designed for those who have previously had a cancer or long term condition to feel better through eating well.

South Tees is backing a campaign launched by Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, to raise awareness of the link between alcohol and seven types of cancer.