North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

"I’m part of something now that’s so much bigger than my initial job and I never expected to go that far." 💙 Amy Todd-Davis began at the University Hospital of Hartlepool aged 19 as a clerical officer – answering phones and booking appointments for patients in the specialist services admin hub. When she took part in a leadership programme heading up an improvement project, she found a new passion for quality improvement. Almost three years on, she has a newfound confidence in her new role as clinical support officer and as is supporting her colleagues with making meaningful hospital improvements - all for the benefit of our patients. We recently sat down with Amy to find out more about how QI is paving the way in her successful career: https://lnkd.in/e8Zg7C_t #QIWeek2024 #QualityImprovement

Exciting times are ahead for our Hartlepool site as we start works to use renewable energy from the ground and sun to provide heating and electricity to the site - making it one of the first hospitals of its kind. #greenerNHS North East and North Cumbria NHS https://lnkd.in/eBwCXWu7

Today marks the beginning of quality improvement (QI) week - a time to reflect on the work our colleagues are doing to improve services for our patients, like Charlotte Marshall and baby Alycia pictured here. Charlotte and little Alycia have benefitted from a QI project launched by some of our community midwifery assistants. The team launched a 12-week quit programme to support expectant mums with packing in smoking for good. Just over a year on, 41 women in Hartlepool have given up the bad habit as a result. Charlotte was enrolled on the programme upon registering her third pregnancy with the trust. A heavy smoker for more than 10 years, Charlotte received specialist support and nicotine replacement therapy and was completely smoke free by 12 weeks. Charlotte gave birth on 13 June to a healthy little girl, Alycia, through her chosen ideal birth plan. More than two months on, she is still smoke free and encouraging others to take up the team’s support. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/eX2ZpTUn The team received dedicated support in implementing the programme by Danielle Stephens – quality, safety and innovation lead for midwifery at the trust. It forms part of a quality improvement initiative at the organisation which ensures staff are empowered and supported to make service changes for the benefit of patients and staff. #QIWeek2024 #QualityImprovement #NHS #Maternity

Thank you and congratulations to everyone who took part in the Great North Run as part of our team at North Tees and Hartlepool Together. All of our runners and their generous supporters have already helped raise so much for our charity. This year was even more special as we joined dozens of other health organisations in a dedicated NHS Charities Together area in the charity village at the end of the run so all runners and their families could celebrate together. Interested in joining #TeamNTH next year? Look out for more information over the coming weeks.

A brand new state-of-the-art academy has opened its doors to help kick start the careers of the region’s next generation of health and social care professionals. The Health and Social Care Academy (HSCA), based at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, is one of five of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Town Deal transformation projects and secured £1.25m in funding back in 2022 to support its development at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. The launch event welcomed partnership representatives from across the Town Deal board, including the Trust, Hartlepool Borough Council and Hartlepool College of Further Education. The new academy has a dedicated academy manager and clinical training team. It includes a bespoke ‘at home’ simulation suite, an immersive suite, a four-bed training bay, ICT suite, trainee common room and several flexible training and class rooms. Read the full story online at: https://lnkd.in/eFsv5J9Y Hartlepool Borough Council Hartlepool College of Further Education

“It’s not every day an envelope posted through your front door could save your life”. That is the message from Teessiders backing a regional campaign for people to not ignore a bowel cancer test sent to the homes of all people after they turn 50. The home test kit collects a small sample of poo which is posted back to a lab to be checked for tiny amounts of blood. Blood can be a sign of polyps – growths in the bowel which can turn to cancer – or could already be a sign of cancer itself. In a new campaign, backed by public health experts across the Tees Valley, a new appeal is made to people – “this test could save your life”. In a special video supported by seven health organisations, a series of health professionals and those impacted by bowel cancer have shared their stories. Middlesbrough Council Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Hartlepool Borough Council Northern Cancer Alliance Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

A rare opportunity has arisen to join University Hospitals Tees (UHT) – a hospital group partnership between South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust – as our group chief allied health professional. The successful candidate will take on responsibility for the professional leadership of AHPs (allied health professionals) and therapists across both trusts. To find out more about this exciting opportunity, visit: https://lnkd.in/e2shPhSD

Our North Tees Kaleidostroke Therapy Garden has been widely used by our patients since it opened in early summer – despite some of the dreary weather we’ve seen. The garden is being used by our therapy teams to support physical and cognitive rehabilitation in stroke, dementia or elderly patients. Featuring walking rehabilitation facilities, specialist equipment for building muscle, and cognitive learning activities, it is being used for both group and individual therapy sessions. Patients can also simply use the space to get away from the busy ward area enjoy the outdoors with their loved ones. It is also being used be our enhanced care team for patients who have additional needs. Victoria Butler, physiotherapist on our stroke ward, (pictured right) said: “The garden’s allowed our patients a space where they can get off the ward and into a green area. I think it’s helping them to adjust a little bit more to the changes that a stroke causes and to be with their relatives and loved ones.” The garden has so far received phenomenal feedback from our patients, with one commenting: “The garden made me feel relaxed and comfortable and helped my mental health. I like the feeling of being in contact with nature and a green space. The ward can be a busy environment and the garden made me feel a bit more normal.” The garden was funded through the Greener Communities Fund after a successful bid from our charity, North Tees and Hartlepool Together. A huge thank you to Tangent Construction who carried made our garden come to life. The Greener Communities Fund is a partnership between NHS Charities Together 💙 and environmental charity Hubbub, funded by the Starbucks 5p cup charge. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/ep_KF6f7

"It takes an enormous amount of courage and resilience to leave your loved ones, come to the UK and work for the NHS." 👏💙 We're over the moon to have been recognised with a NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award for our work in supporting internationally-recruited nurses. We have been recruiting international nurses since 2002 when we launched our first recruitment drive in the Philippines. Since then we've widened our scope to recruit from India as well - taking on 61 nurses from India and 22 from the Philippines between June 2022 and September 2023. Becky Johnson (front and centre, first photo) has been instrumental in supporting our international recruits. As well as guiding their clinical skills, she helps them settle into their new homes in the Tees Valley. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ewpKPvRZ

Jeff Toledo was one of the first group of nurses from the Philippines to move to North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust in 2002 as part of a national drive to recruit nurses from overseas. Though Jeff, who is 51 and lives in Stockton, says he has “loved” his time in the UK, he has made the decision to move back to care for his elderly mother. He said: "I have loved it so much, both working with the team and caring for our patients. But my mum needs that care and support now so I have decided to return so I can care for her. Hopefully, one day I will be back!” https://lnkd.in/eJMkg-UZ