Kettering General Hospital

30/04/2026

As month draws to a close, we are reminding people to complete and return their bowel cancer screening test when invited to do so.

Bowel cancer screening is offered every two years to all GP-registered residents aged between 50 and 74 years old.

The test detects traces of blood in your poo, which can be an early indicator of bowel cancer. Caught early, bowel cancer is highly treatable. 🙌

Watch our short video to find out more: https://orlo.uk/bowel-cancer-screening-information_AOENQ

If anyone, of any age, experiences the following symptoms for more than three weeks, please make an appointment with your GP:

💩 Blood in poo
💩 Changes in bowel habits such as diarrhoea or constipation
💩 Persistent abdominal pain
💩 Unexplained weight loss
💩 Fatigue
💩 Feeling as though you have not emptied your bowel properly

About bowel cancer screening

25/04/2026

Congratulations to Jada who won our poster competition on the dangers of va**ng. 🎉

Earlier this year colleagues on Skylark (Our children’s ward) challenged some of our younger patients to create a poster to highlight the dangers that va**ng poses to young people.

This was arranged by the team on Skylark, with help from local organisations Ngage with Aquarius, Hope UK and Public Health.

The team had a tough job looking through the entries to decide on a shortlist and the overall winner.

Jada won a first prize of a £50 voucher and a hamper. Coming in second was Tyannie winning a £30 voucher and the third runner up receiving a £20 voucher was Oliwia. Thank you to our sponsors for these prizes.

Our winners were presented with their prizes at a special celebration held in Atrium at KGH. In attendance was the Mayor of Kettering alongside Zoe from Ngage and Rebekah from Hope UK. Plus, families of the winners.

Congratulations to our three winners, to all of those who entered the competition for their hard work and creativity, and are amazing sponsors.

The poster is currently on display in Skylark ward. Read the full story on our website.

24/04/2026

"𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼" - 𝗟𝗶𝘇 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲

We've had a powerful and uplifting morning at Lutterworth Pavilion for the UHN and UHL Cancer Conference, which focussed on working together to ensure people in our communities have better cancer care.

Clinical and nursing colleagues from University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and University Hospitals of Leicester, alongside NHS England partners, came together with a shared purpose: tackling health inequalities and shaping a more joined‑up cancer strategy that improves patient experience and outcomes.

Across our two counties we serve 1.8 million people through five hospitals, with around 15,000 new cancer diagnoses each year. Collectively, our cancer teams care for more than 100,000 patients every 10 days – often supporting people at their most worried and vulnerable.

The morning blended bold ambition with practical solutions, supported by our Group CEO, Richard Mitchell, and UHN Medical Director, Hemant Nemade, with a clear focus on turning insight into action. Attendees also had the opportunity to hear a number of patient stories which formed a powerful reminder that people and families are at the heart of everything we do.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising such a meaningful event, and to all cancer colleagues across UHN and UHL. Thank you for everything you do – you are truly remarkable.

23/04/2026

A new patient space has opened at Kettering General Hospital 🎉

The Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) Day Room has been created to give patients and families a more comfortable place to sit, spend time together, and take a break from the clinical environment.

This welcoming space has been made possible thanks to the support of Northamptonshire Health Charity and Tesco, alongside the dedication of our hospital teams.

Small changes can make a big difference to patient experience, and this is one of them 💙

22/04/2026

Today is World Admin Professionals Day. 💙

This is a chance to celebrate all our all of those amazing admin and clerical colleagues who deliver crucial services, support colleagues and play a hugely important role in providing care to our patients.

We couldn't do what we do without them, so to all our admin and clerical colleagues - a huge thank you for the contribution you make.

21/04/2026

🌟 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 & 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 🌟
We are delighted to celebrate 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗻𝗮, 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲, who has won the Spotlight Research and Innovation Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹.

Darshna has consistently gone above and beyond in her role, proactively supporting research recruitment alongside her busy clinical workload. She regularly takes the time to speak with patients attending the Rapid Pathway with suspected prostate cancer, sensitively introducing the opportunity to take part in research and offering referral to a research nurse to discuss the PACIFIC trial in more detail.

Her initiative, organisation, and commitment have made a significant difference to the success of the study. She has successfully embedded research discussions into her clinics despite the additional time and workload, greatly improving our ability to identify and approach eligible patients. Her support has been instrumental in enabling patient participation in the trial.

Darshna is an absolute pleasure to work with. She brings a consistently positive, “can-do” attitude and is always willing to help. Patient feedback is consistently excellent, reflecting the compassionate and professional care she provides.

Her enthusiasm for research, combined with her dedication to patient care, makes her a truly deserving winner of this award. 👏

17/04/2026

We've been looking back at our KGH Easter celebrations on Skylark ward. Thank you to our Play team, the ward team and our local community for helping to bring some Easter fun to children in hospital.

Special thanks to those who dedicated their time and bought gifts for the children - JSC Mascots, Tony Macaroni, The Bikers Widows Sons Masonic, McKinley Court care home, Tesco's Wellingborough and the Charity Pot Corby and one of our long term patients and their family.

14/04/2026

We are raising awareness of testicular cancer and teenage and young cancer this month.

Join us at a drop-in session in our main hospital reception between 9.30am and 12.30pm on 22 April where you can ask questions and find out more about symptoms.

Here, you can speak with our teenage and young adults liaison nurse specialist, plus members of the urology and haematology clinical nurse specialist teams.

Our Macmillan Cancer Centre will also be open near Costa, where anyone diagnosed with cancer, as well as their friends and families, can access advice and support. Find out more: https://orlo.uk/KetteringMacmillanSupportCentre_ZYPgo

Around 2,300 young people aged 15-24 are diagnosed with cancer every year.

The five most common signs of cancer in young people are:

• Lumps, bumps and swellings
• Unexplained tiredness
• Mole changes
• Persistent pain
• Significant weight change

Having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer but if you are worried, speak to your GP.

13/04/2026

𝗔 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽! 💙

Our Urology Centre has received a brand‑new wheelchair, donated by the group to help staff provide even better care for our patients.

The chair was presented last week by Group Treasurer Tim Buffery. Tim, 66, a retired Royal Mail accountant, from Kettering, joined the group in 2019 after himself receiving 18-months of treatment for prostate cancer at KGH.

The Group meets on the first Tuesday of the month, 7.30-9.30pm, at the Midland Band Social Club in Hallwood Road, Kettering, and has guest speakers, quizzes, raffles and organise coach trips. It is also supported by our KGH urology nurses.

A big thank you to the group for their kind donation and continued support.

For more see: https://orlo.uk/aVdgf

11/04/2026

Please use local health services wisely this weekend. NHS111 can direct you to the right service and ensure you get the correct care.

10/04/2026

𝗣𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 - 𝗽𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀

Next week, essential investigation works will be starting on Rothwell Road and across parts of the Kettering General Hospital site to trace buried pipes and cables.

Some footpaths and pedestrian routes may be temporarily inaccessible.

If you are walking or using a wheelchair to access our site, please allow extra time for your journey and follow any diversion signs in place.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while this important work is carried out.

09/04/2026

There is due to be industrial action involving Resident Doctors until Monday April 13 at 7am.
We continue to provide all emergency services as normal.
Please attend all routine hospital appointments as planned unless we notify you otherwise directly.