News

Teesside patients with long term lung conditions can now benefit from a specialist hydrotherapy rehabilitation programme – believed to be one of the first in the UK. The water-based sessions at The James Cook University Hospital and Redcar Primary Care Hospital are designed for respiratory patients with conditions such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) who require rehabilitation but struggle with gym-based exercises because of joint problems.

A night of fun, food and music has raised more than £15,500 for The Friends of The Friarage. Patients across Hambleton and Richmond are set to benefit following the rip-roaring success of the Barn That Rocks concert, held at Grazing Nook Farm, near Patrick Brompton, close to Bedale, in June.

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.

Trust apprentices celebrated success at the Health Education England North East Apprenticeship Awards – with one being named North East Apprentice of the Year. The awards were held during National Apprenticeship Week, which the Trust also participated in by celebrating previous apprentice successes and highlighting the ongoing hard work of our current apprentices.

Calls to The James Cook University Hospital switchboard will be answered faster when a new voice recognition telephone system goes live tomorrow evening (Tuesday 1 August). The automated system will pick up most calls within two seconds and will enable more calls to be dealt with at any one time.

A fabulous fundraiser whose athletic prowess helped generate £7,000 for South Tees Hospitals Charity is hoping to inspire would-be runners to get sponsored for the Middlesbrough 10k on September 3. Robbie Varey, 43, from Linthorpe raised more than £1,000 in his first week of collecting sponsorship, after deciding to complete the annual race for James Cook’s Breast Cancer Unit.

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.

The James Cook University Hospital has become the first in the UK to host a residential course for future doctors from low-income backgrounds. The week-long programme taking place until Friday July 21 features live theatre lectures, practical workshops and the chance to speak to consultants from a range of specialties in a unique “speed dating” event.

A 16-YEAR-OLD boy who has spent the last six months in intensive care celebrated his school prom with kind-hearted friends. Leon Thorpe, a pupil of Redcar Academy, suffered brain injuries, spinal cord damage, breathing difficulties and numerous broken bones when he was knocked off his bike while coming out of Locke Park in Redcar in January.

A new-look radiology unit at The Friary Community Hospital in Richmond has been officially opened – and has already benefited 81 patients in its first week. The Friends of The Friary Community Hospital donated £170,000 to fund new, state-of-the-art X-ray equipment at the community hospital, which provides instant digital results, and will ensure thousands of patients per year can continue to benefit from this crucial diagnostic service closer to their homes.