North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

25/04/2026

This week the simulation team, led by Dr Katherine Williamson ran a simulation and skills High Acuity, Low Occurrence (HALO) course.

The HALO course covers procedures like chest drain insertion, resuscitative thoracotomy, and pericardiocentesis to improve patient safety and team performance.

The course was also supported by the MELISSA bus and over 40 regional emergency resident doctors attended.

Feedback from trainees was excellent:
"Discussion after resuscitative hysterectomy case was amazing and so well prepped."
"Good range of challenging procedures that aren’t very commonly encountered. Faculty very engaging and enthusiastic."
"Excellent session. Would definitely recommend to other Resident Doctors."
"High quality instruction and materials. Well ran."

25/04/2026

Congratulations to our paediatric diabetes service on receiving the prestigious Investing in Children Membership Award!

The independent evaluation, carried out by Investing in Children, gathered extensive feedback from children and young people aged 8 to 18 receiving diabetes care at the hospitals.

The review highlighted a culture of listening, shared decision making and genuine service change driven by the needs of the patients.

The evaluation showed young people say they feel “listened to” and supported
across both sites. Young people described staff who not only take their concerns seriously but actively involve them in decisions about their care.

One nine year old said simply: “I feel listened to” while another young person added: “If I take a suggestion to clinic, they always listen.”

The team was also praised for how clearly they explain treatments and the choices they offer such as sensors and insulin pumps.

Kerry Camara, paediatrics diabetes specialist nurse, said: “We are delighted to receive such recognition and this prestigious award.

“It means a lot to the team that our patients feel they have a voice and say in how we deliver their care; with choices, options and shared decision making.

“This is vital to promote patient empowerment and protect future engagement of our service users."

To find out more: www.nth.nhs.uk/news/children-say-they-feel-listened-to-as-local-diabetes-team-secures-respected-award

25/04/2026

An estimated 175,000 people in England have Lynch syndrome, but just 5% are aware they are living with the condition.

People with Lynch syndrome have a higher risk than the average person of getting bowel cancer with around 1,100 bowel cancers caused by the condition each year in England.

People diagnosed with Lynch syndrome are invited for a colonoscopy to check for signs of bowel cancer by the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

If you have Lynch Syndrome and receive your invite, please act on it straight away.

24/04/2026

Our this week is for our maternity team - from delivery suite right through to post-natal. 💙

Remember, our patient experience team is here to listen to any stories or comments you have. If you have a story you would like to share with our patient experience team, please get in touch via nth-tr.patientexperience@nhs.net or 01642 624719.

23/04/2026

Do you want to quit smoking?

Our friendly team of expert advisors at the Hartlepool stop smoking service team are on hand to help you quit for good. The service, commissioned by Hartlepool Borough Council, offers free ni****ne replacement therapies and create bespoke quit plans which are tailored to you and your lifestyle.

Our teams work across Hartlepool in local centres and can also offer advice over the phone.

If you want to stub out the ci******es forever, give us a call on 01642 383819.

www.nth.nhs.uk/services/stop-smoking-service

22/04/2026

22/04/2026

Thank you so much to the residents and staff of Hartfields Retirement Village's for their generous donation to our North Tees special care baby unit.

Some of the ladies in their 'knit and natter' group created and donated these beautiful hats and blankets for babies on the unit who need a little extra care. 🥰

21/04/2026

“Volunteering has helped me when I have felt down, during my search for employment. It makes me feel like I'm actually helping and contributing to how the hospital works.”

“Volunteering has had a massive, positive impact on my mental health. When I was medically retired at quite a young age, I felt useless. Volunteering has made me realise that I do still have something to offer and I get as much out of it as the people that I am helping.”

"Volunteering helps me with my mental health as it gets me out of the house and socialising with other people. I also really enjoy helping people and taking care of them.”

Those are the views of just a few of our volunteers about the mental health benefits of volunteering. Volunteering significantly enhances wellbeing by increasing social connections, providing a sense of purpose and fulfilment, and also boosts self-esteem and confidence.

If you want to find out more about volunteering with us, come along to our open afternoon on Thursday 14 May, between 2 to 4pm, at the Tees Meeting Room, at the back of the Tees Restaurant at the University Hospital of North Tees. It’s a chance to meet our volunteer support team and some volunteers to find out more about the opportunities within the hospital.

You can also call the volunteer team on 01642 383933 or visit our website to find out more about volunteering with us.

www.nth.nhs.uk/about/community/volunteering

21/04/2026

This spring people at greatest risk from COVID-19 will need extra protection.

You are eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine if you are:

• aged 75 years and over
• aged 6 months and over and are immunosuppressed

Your GP may contact you to arrange a vaccination, or you can search NHS COVID-19 vaccine, or book through the NHS App from 7 April for appointments starting 13 April. If you can’t get online, call 119 for free to make an appointment.

Some places may offer community COVID-19 vaccination sites, available to book online: www.bewiseimmunise.co.uk

Make sure you get your vaccination as soon as possible to get fully protected.

20/04/2026

Congratulations to Radio Stitch volunteer Linda Dooks on receiving an International Impact Book Award for her novel Land of Opportunity!

As if presenting a Radio Stitch show with daughter Emma, called ‘Emma’s Afternoon Tea’, wasn’t enough, retired Linda also has a side line in writing novels.

Her debut novel, ‘Land of Opportunity’ is set in the late-1800s. It tells the story of 15-year-old Rose Watson who lives on a farm on the Yorkshire Moors only to escape her brutal life to New York where her tale truly begins.

Linda said: “It all started as short story. I joined Stockton Scribblers a few years ago. During lockdown, we all used to meet online we’d read each other our work.

“As we shared our work, someone said they thought I could expand my stories into a novel.

“The idea took hold about life on a farm - it might have been linked to my farming days as a child! I sat down and Rose’s story poured out. With the encouragement of the club, I developed it into a novel, writing a chapter a fortnight.

“I was chuffed to bits to win the award. I was so excited. When the email arrived, I wasn’t sure it was real and I sent it to the publisher to check it was legitimate! Being recognised for the book is so rewarding."

Linda also some advice for any budding authors out there: “Anyone can write a book!

“I’d say to anyone, ‘follow your dream’. Whatever it is, you can do it. It took me until retirement to fulfil my ambition of becoming a novelist and that still included nine rejections from publishers before I got a ‘yes'. I danced about the kitchen when I got the call.

“You can do what you dream of. Just give it a go.”

www.nth.nhs.uk/news/literary-award-for-hospital-radio-volunteer

20/04/2026

We still have a limited number of guaranteed spaces to represent our hospital charity at Great North Run this September. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝘁: You don’t need to work for us to be part of our team – entries are open to anyone aged 17 and over on the day of the event. We will ask you to pay a non-refundable £68 registration fee.

For more information, please get in touch with our fundraising coordinator Suzi on 07517 829331 or suzi.campbell@nhs.net

19/04/2026

Congratulations to Dr Odet Mark Aszkenasy, consultant community paediatrician, on his latest publication, ‘The Genetics of Autism’. The book, written primarily for parents, explores the genetic factors that shape our understanding of autism.

As clinical lead for autism services in the North East, Dr Aszkenasy writes from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective. The book offers support and answers to questions parents may have after their child has received an autism diagnosis, and it also addresses the quiet revolution in genetic testing that has taken place within the NHS over the past few years.

Dr Aszkenasy has also published child-centred story books, preparing young patients attending hospital for various medical procedures.