Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

23/09/2025

23/09/2025

There is plenty that family members can do to get a loved one home when they are medically fit to do so.

If you have a loved one getting ready to be discharged from hospital, please think about the following checklist:

🚨 Firstly, can they can get home – picking up a loved one from hospital can help get them home sooner. Ask their medical team about the Discharge Lounge.
🏠 Do they have somewhere warm and comfortable at home to recover?
🍞 Have they stocked up on food and drink?
👕 Have they got suitable clothing for going home?
🔑 Make sure they have their house keys with them
💊 They may have specific medical needs – for instance a sharps box for needles and syringes

Check in advance with any local charities or organisations that may offer a supporting service such as Lancashire Fire and Rescue which offers a home fire assessment.

They may be referred to a service to support their recovery such as a rehabilitation service or other specialist team so make sure you are comfortable with this information.

Find out more about getting home from hospital here:
https://www.blackpoolteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/patients/getting-home-hospital

22/09/2025

👶 ICON Week 2025 👶

Today marks the start of ICON Week 2025.

ICON week reminds parents that infant crying is normal, provides practical coping strategies and raises awareness of the dangers of shaking a baby.

All babies cry, and it can feel really tough at times – but remember: babies cry, you can cope.

Crying often increases around 2 weeks and peaks at 6–8 weeks. This phase will pass, and you are not alone.

Find out more about ICON week here:
https://iconcope.org/news/20250712-icon-week-2025/

22/09/2025

We are seeing a high demand for our services today. Our teams are doing everything that they can to see and treat patients as quickly and safely as possible.

If you have a minor injury or illness such as the below an Urgent Treatment centre could be an alternative to travelling to our Emergency Department:
• Sprains and strains
• Suspected broken bones
• Injuries, cuts and bruises
• Wound dressing
• Stomach pain
• Coughs, colds and breathing problems
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Skin infections and rashes
• High temperature in children and adults
• Mental health concerns

Urgent treatment centres in our area includes ...

📍 Whitegate Health Centre
150-158 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, FY3 9ES
Open till 8pm

📍 Fleetwood Health and Wellbeing Centre
Dock Street, Fleetwood, FY7 6HP
Open till 8pm

If you’re worried about an urgent medical concern, please contact NHS 111, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Fully-trained advisors can also assess if you need an ambulance and send one to you.

For more information please visit:
https://www.blackpoolteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/services/feeling-unwell

21/09/2025

Our colleagues will be out and about next week, talking to people about the Organ Donation register as part of Organ Donation Week that starts on Monday.

The NHS Organ Donor register is a secure database that keeps a record of your organ donation decision.

If you are unsure of how to register, of the choices available or simply want to know more about how it works please come and visit the team who are out and about next week:

Monday - Mecca Bingo, Talbot Rd from 10am - 3pm
Tuesday - Asda, Cherry Tree Rd from 9am - 3pm
Thursday - Booths, Poulton from 9am - 3pm

Find out more here:
https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/

20/09/2025

🏆 CT department wins award for image quality 🏆

Congratulations to Blackpool Teaching Hospitals' CT department which has been recognised for the high quality of its images, winning a national award.

The CT department plays a key role in the diagnosis of complex heart conditions for patients across the region. Supported by both radiologist and radiographer-led cardiac sessions, the service is facing growing demand for cardiac CT referrals.

The Trust recently took delivery of a new, state-of-the-art CT scanner which has helped the team be recognised with a HeartFlow CT Quality Award.

CT Imaging Manager, Ben Ward, said: “As a tertiary cardiac centre performing over 2,500 cardiac CT scans each year, this achievement is especially significant, showcasing the high standard of imaging we provide.

“The new cardiac CT scanner has been truly transformative, with four times the resolution of our previous system and the ability to capture high quality images in a single heartbeat, even for patients who have complex heart conditions. This achievement is a direct result of the CT team’s commitment to maintaining high standards in the work they produce, which continues to make a real difference for our patients.”

Read the full story:
https://www.blackpoolteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/about-us/latest-news/ct-department-wins-award-image-quality

19/09/2025

Hello, Lisa Elliott Maternity Matron here until 4pm

18/09/2025

We are currently see a high demand for our services.

Our teams are doing everything they can to see and treat patients as quickly and safely as possible.

If you are feeling unwell and it is not an emergency there may be a more appropriate service that can help you faster than our Emergency Department.

💊 Find a pharmacy -
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
🏥 Can you visit an Urgent Treatment centre?
🥼 Ask your GP about out of hours appointments
🧑‍💻 Call NHS 111 or visit their online portal
📲 Call the Mental health Crisis Line on 0800 953 0110
👨‍👩‍👦 Parents can use the online Alder Hey Symptom Checker for advice on common illnesses in children
🦷 Call the Emergency Dentist 0300 1234 010 for Lancashire services

Whatever your plans are for the weekend, please make sure you enjoy it safely.

There is a yellow weather warning for heavy rain in place from Saturday, 20 September at 9am until Sunday, 21 at 6am.

📱 Advice for staying safe in heavy rain:
https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/stay-safe-in-heavy-rain

18/09/2025

❌ Please remember to cancel any unwanted appointments. ❌

If you have an appointment with a GP or other NHS service that you no longer need, remember to contact the service to cancel. Even if this is 30 minutes beforehand, NHS services will have someone to take the appointment

17/09/2025

🖌️ Ken's art supports hospital unit that cared for him 🖌️

The family of a local artist who was treated in Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Windmill unit have donated some of his watercolour paintings of windmills to the unit, as a token of appreciation.

Ken Weigh loved painting landscapes and when he died, aged 94, his wife and daughters thought it was fitting for the scenes he’d painted of windmills in Rhodes and in Staining, to provide a comforting splash of colour that others could enjoy. The paintings are now on display in the unit’s quiet rooms, in an area used by Ken’s stepdaughter Helen, who is a lung cancer nurse specialist at the Windmill unit.

Ken’s wife Gillian recalled how they’d met in 1980 as members of Blackpool Art Society. At that point, Ken was a retired signwriter but his burgeoning artistry went from strength to strength following Gillian’s advice and, in her words, “He became better at painting than me!”

Ken and Gillian enjoyed many years of painting together and often took their easels and paints on holiday to capture landscapes such as the medieval windmill at Mandraki harbour in Rhodes.

Ken’s daughter Sue said: “Dad would be delighted to know that some of his art is here to be enjoyed, it’s lovely that something so tangible is on display.”

17/09/2025

Good afternoon! Blackpool Health Visitors are here between 2pm-3pm. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments.