Face mask wearing in the hospital has changed in accordance with national guidance from May 15th 2023.
Visitors only need to wear a face mask when visiting a patient with a known or suspected respiratory viral infection or if visiting a patient who is severely immunocompromised e.g. Sir Robert Ogden Centre or haematology patients on Oakdale Ward.
Masks do not need to be worn in the hospital corridors. They will continue to be available at the entrance to the hospital and on wards for those who need to or wish to wear one.
28 October 2022 Visitor Guidance for Nidderdale
Routine visiting will resume on Byland Ward from Friday 28 October 2022 .
24 October 2022 Visitor Guidance for Byland
Routine visiting will resume on Byland Ward from Tuesday 25 October 2022 .
21 October 2022 Visitor Guidance for Byland and Nidderdale wards
Byland and Nidderdale ward have restricted visitation to members of the public at present, except when visitors are attending due to the end of life of a patient, a patient needing assistance with feeding, dementia care and compassionate reasons (left to the Nurse in Charge’s discretion).
1 July 2022 Visitor Guidance for Maternity Department
Guidelines for Covid 19 have been reviewed by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust this morning and with immediate effect we now ask that staff, patients and visitors wear a face mask. This is in response to increasing local levels of Covid 19 and to reduce the potential risk of transmission of asymptomatic Covid 19 within our care settings.
The revised visiting and the ability to have a second birth partner remains unchanged (as below).
Masks :
Women, partners, visitors and staff in ANC, MAC, Delivery Suite and Pannal are all required to wear a face covering (women birthing are not required to).
Antenatal Clinic:
Children are now able to attend the appointment with you, if attending in your GP surgery please check their surgery guidance as this may differ to HDFT.
As previous, if requiring a scan at your appointment children are not able to come into the scan room and need to be supervised by someone else in the waiting room.
Birth Partners:
2 birth partners are now allowed on Delivery Suite to support you, if having Induction of Labour then 1 birth partner can stay overnight until labour establishes, at that point your 2nd birth partner may join you (as pre Covid regulations).
Postnatal visiting:
Your own children/ stepchildren are able to visit (as pre Covid no other children can visit).
Partners can visit 9am-9pm and are not able to stay overnight at present.
Visiting is open 2-4pm and 6-8pm for 1 additional visitor (alongside your birth partner) – one visitor per slot and we cannot accommodate ‘swopping over’ of multiple visitors.
We kindly ask that you organise with your family/friends and assign the additional visiting slot so that we are not having to turn anyone away as you already have a visitor for that slot in addition to your birth partner.
Swabbing process for elective caesarean section and admission on labour:
This remains unchanged and we will continue to gain consent to swab for asymptomatic Covid so that we can both plan your care and management of other patients already in our care.
Please can we ask if partners/ visitors are either Covid positive or symptomatic of possible Covid not to attend the unit. As local or national guidance updates further amendments may be required to visiting in Maternity at HDFT.
Thank you to everyone for your patience and understanding in review of the guidelines.
1 July 2022 General Visitor Guidance
Please wear a mask on our inpatient wards.
Due to rising COVID-19 rates in the community, please can visitors wear a mask on our inpatient wards to protect our patients and staff, and prevent the spread of the virus.
Thank you for your understanding.
17 June 2022 Visitor Guidance for Maternity Department
Visiting guidelines in maternity have been reviewed and are as follows with immediate effect:
Masks
Masks are no longer required in Anti-Natal Clinic, Maternity Assessment Centre, Delivery Suite and Pannal Ward for women and birth partners/ visitors. If attending in your GP surgery please check their surgery guidance as this may differ to Harrogate District Hospital.
Staff have the personal choice as to whether they wear a mask for their own protection so you may see some with and others without a mask.
When attending the maternity ward, labour nursing staff providing close contact care will continue to wear a mask until the result of your Covid swab is back and proven negative.
Anti-Natal Clinic at HDFT
Children are now able to attend the appointment at Harrogate District Hospital with you. If attending in your GP surgery please check their surgery guidance as this may differ to HDFT
If you are requiring a scan at your appointment, children are not able to come into the scan room and need to be supervised by someone else in the waiting room.
Birth Partners
Two birth partners are now allowed on the Delivery Suite to support you. If you are having an induction of labour then one birth partner can stay overnight until labour establishes, at that point your second birth partner may join you (as pre Covid regulations).
Postnatal visiting
Your own children/stepchildren are able to visit (as pre-Covid no other children can visit).
Partners can visit 9am-9pm but are not able to stay overnight at present.
Visiting is open 2-4pm and 6-8pm for one additional adult visitor (alongside your birth partner) – there can only be one additional adult visitor per slot and we cannot accommodate ‘swopping over’ of multiple visitors.
We kindly ask that you organise with your family/friends and assign the additional visiting slot so that we are not having to turn anyone away as you already have a visitor for that slot in addition to your birth partner.
Swabbing process for elective caesarean section and admission on labour
This remains unchanged and we will continue to gain consent to swab for asymptomatic Covid so that we can both plan your care and management of other patients already in our care.
Partners/visitors who are either Covid positive or symptomatic of possible Covid should not attend the unit.
As local or national guidance is updated further amendments may be required to visiting in Maternity at HDFT.
Thank you to everyone for your patience and understanding in the last two years.
13 June 2022 General Visitor Guidance
Visiting restrictions have been eased further. Visiting hours at Harrogate District Hospital and Ripon Community Hospital are now 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm. Up to two visitors can visit a patient at any one time. Booking is not required. Please do not visit if you have symptoms of a respiratory illness (cold/flu-like illness) or you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days.
Visitors/patients to the hospital no longer need to wear a mask (unless they wish to) in many areas of our hospitals. However, visitors/patients should continue to wear a mask in the following departments/areas:
ED (Emergency Department)
MDU (Medical Day Unit)
Minor Injuries Unit, Ripon / Urgent Treatment Centre, Selby
Dermatology
SROMC (Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre)
SDEC (Same Day Emergency Care)
Radiology (Xray, CT / MRI Scan)
Oakdale Ward (if visiting haematology patients)
GP Out of Hours Service
For all other departments and wards not listed above, it is your personal choice if you wish to wear a mask.
18 May 2022 Visitor Guidance
Please be aware this affects all opening times for all wards listed below
Visiting restrictions have been eased further at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s (HDFT) hospitals in Harrogate and Ripon in line with national guidance.
Inpatients may have two visitors, between the hours of 2pm-4pm, for a duration of up to one hour. Booking to visit a loved one in hospital is no longer required.
Patient visiting guidance
Please do not visit if you have symptoms of a respiratory illness (cold/flu-like illness) or you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days.
Symptoms include:
High temperature, fever or chills
New, continuous cough
A loss or alteration to taste or smell
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual
Diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick
Muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
Runny/stuffy nose, sore throat
Visitors – please help keep patients, staff and other visitors safe by doing the following:
Anyone visiting the hospitals will be required to wear a mask provided by the hospital.
Wear your mask over your nose and mouth during your visit, do not put it under your nose or lower it to talk. Please discuss with staff if lip reading is required.
Wash or sanitise your hands on entering the ward and the bay.
Do not sit on the patient’s bed.
Do not walk around the bay, please just stay with your relative.
Patients may have two visitors for 1 hour between the hours of 2:00pm and 4:00pm.
On leaving the bay and the ward, wash or sanitise your hands.
Visiting may change at short notice if a bay requires temporary closure for an infection or due to changes in national guidance.
Visits to patients who have COVID-19 may occur in exceptional circumstances, as agreed with the Ward Manager.
Our hospital is still extremely busy and staff are working as hard as they can to care for our patients, so please help them by adhering to this guidance. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Outpatients
Outpatients visiting one of our hospitals for an appointment may have one person accompanying them if required.
4 March 2022 Visitor Guidance
Visiting restrictions are to be eased from Tuesday 8 March at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s (HDFT) hospitals in Harrogate and Ripon following a decline in COVID-19 infection rates in the Harrogate district.
From Tuesday 8 March, inpatients may have one visitor, by appointment, between the hours of 2pm-4pm for a duration of 30 minutes. Only two visitors are allowed in each bay at any one time.
Visitors will be able to call to book an appointment from Monday 7 March. Bookings should be made directly with the ward on which the patient is staying by calling Harrogate District Hospital on 01423 885959 or Ripon Community Hospital on 01423 542900 between 10am and 4pm and asking to be put through to the relevant ward. At the time of booking, visitors will be asked to answer screening questions so we can maintain the safety of our patients and staff.
Visitors must not have any COVID-19 symptoms, such as a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, and must not have tested positive for COVID-19 or had contact with someone who has had the infection in the last 10 days. We would strongly recommend that visitors perform a lateral flow test before coming to our hospitals.
Visits to patients who have COVID-19 or who are currently in isolation due to contact with COVID-19 may occur in exceptional circumstances, as agreed with the Ward Manager.
From Tuesday 8 March, outpatients visiting one of our hospitals for an appointment may have a maximum of one person accompany them if required.
Anyone visiting the hospitals will be required to wear a mask provided by the hospital, wash and sanitise their hands on entering and leaving the hospital/ward they are visiting, and stay with their relative whilst on the ward.
23 December 2021 Visitor Guidance
The new variant of Covid-19 (Omicron) is highly transmissible; for this reason, we need to restrict the number of visitors to the wards at our hospital to maintain patient and staff safety. From Thursday 23 December, routine visiting to wards will no longer be possible and visitors will be allowed to visit the hopsital in exceptional cases only, which the ward manager/Nurse in Charge will agree.
These exceptions include:
• Visitors of those patients who are reaching end of life
• Carers of patients who have a Learning Disability or Severe Cognitive Impairment such as Dementia
• Parent/Carer of Children
• Birthing Partners
Please speak to the Nurse in Charge if you are unsure.
These restrictions also apply to those wanting to accompany outpatients to their appointments.
We hope you understand the importance of protecting both patients and staff and therefore why we have had to take this difficult decision. We appreciate this will be disappointing and upsetting for many people, however this decision has not been taken by the staff caring for your loved one so please do not express any frustration toward them. Our staff do an incredible job on a daily basis and any type of violence and aggression toward them will not be tolerated.
19 July 2021 Advice
Following national advice published on 15 July, as Covid restrictions are lifted in many places from 19 July, please remember the safety of our patients & staff continues to be our highest priority. We will be continuing to maintain our strict Covid-19 protocols for patients and visitors.
Dr Jacqueline Andrews, Executive Medical Director at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“The safety of our patients and staff is our highest priority. We must continue to do all we can to look after some of the most vulnerable members of our community as well as our staff who are providing care.
“We are still in this together, and we will be continuing to maintain our strict Covid-19 protocols for patients and visitors, even if guidance is changing in other settings. We are continuing to ask people to wear a mask at all times when in our hospitals, sanitise their hands and keep 2 metres distance from others.
“We must stay cautious and vigilant.
“Our colleagues are here to keep everyone safe and we ask that people continue to be kind and considerate.
“Patients and visitors have generally been fantastic at following our guidance throughout the pandemic, and we know that they will appreciate why we’re continuing with what’s already in place.”
Visiting arrangements – updated 12 April 2021
All inpatients may have one visitor, by appointment, between the hours of 2-4pm for a duration of 30 minutes. Bookings should be made directly with the ward on which the patient is.
Only two visitors are allowed in each bay at any one time.
Patients who are end of life, have dementia or a learning disability or have been in hospital for a long time may continue to have open/flexible visiting as before.
All visitors will be asked a series of questions at the time of booking about their Covid-19 health, travel and requests to isolate.
If the booking is made the day before they visit, the visitor must contact the ward on the day of visiting to ensure the information is still correct.
We thank you for your understanding.
Guidance for visitors
Visitors must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) – a mask and a visor. These will be provided on arrival at the hospital. There is no need for visitors to self/household isolate for 14 days after visiting (because a mask and visor is worn and good hand hygiene is followed).
Visitors to the hospital will not be admitted onto wards to see relatives if they are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19, as well as flu or diarrhoea and vomiting. This will allow us to maintain patient safety at all times and prevent the spread of infection.
If visitors are waiting for the results of a Covid-19 test, they will need to return on receipt of these results, provided they are negative. Equally, if visitors have been contacted by Test and Trace to inform them that they are required to isolate at home, they will need to wait for the isolation period to be finished before being allowed to visit a relative.
We will also not be able to admit any visitors who have returned from international travel to countries with a 14 day quarantine period, until that period is finished.
Emergency Department
No accompanying visitors are allowed in the ED, with the exception of child patients who can be accompanied by one adult. Exception also includes the above instances in the bullet point list. This will be at the discretion of the shift lead.
Paediatrics
We are able to facilitate a parent on Woodlands Children’s Ward and both parents on our Special Care Baby Unit. If difficult conversations are unfortunately needed or a child is critically ill, then both parents are welcome on Woodlands.
Outpatients
Patients attending outpatient appointments should visit alone unless they need a carer, for example to support with visual, hearing or mobility impairment, dementia or other carer needs.
Maternity Services – updated 12 April 2021
In line with the lifting of some national lockdown restrictions, we have changed some of the restrictions in Maternity Services.
The health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities, individuals and teams continue to remain our absolute priority.
Antenatal and postnatal admissions (and Maternity Assessment Centre)
Only one person is permitted to visit. At the moment, a four hour visiting slot between either morning or afternoon will be allocated to you by the midwife in charge.
If you are being discharged home you will not be allocated a visiting slot on that day.
We will be providing further information on extension of visiting in the next two-three weeks (day time only), this information will be updated at this time.
If you are attending for an induction of labour your partner can attend with you.
No children will be permitted to visit.
Please could we kindly ask that face masks and visors be worn for the entirety of your visit on Pannal Ward and that these are not removed. If you have any concerns regarding this please speak with the midwife in charge.
Thank you.
To ensure that we can maintain our levels of safety for everyone, it is important for everyone to follow the expert national guidance on social distancing and self-isolation to help limit the spread of Covid-19, protect the most vulnerable people in our communities and our NHS.
If you have any of the following symptoms you should not visit, even if these symptoms are mild or intermittent, due to the risk they pose to others:
High temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
New, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
The two metre social distancing rule should be adhered to throughout the hospital wherever possible. Please may we ask that you adhere to this during your visit, including all communal areas and lifts. You may witness that this is not possible for staff when caring for patients.
Delivery Suite
One birthing partner can stay during labour and delivery up until discharge/transfer from delivery suite. The swapping of birthing partners is not permitted. If a named birth partner develops symptoms of Covid-19 then women can bring a different birth partner who is symptom free and in a position to self-isolate for 14 days.
Maternity outpatient areas
Partners can attend for all maternity outpatient appointments in the hospital.
Ultrasound appointments
As from Monday 12 April, we are allowing partners at all 12 week, 20 week scans and all other scans.
What to expect when you visit our hospital for maternity services
Please enter the hospital via the Main Entrance or the Strayside Wing ground floor entrance. Whichever entrance you use, please sanitise your hands and put on a mask (we will provide one). The mask must not be touched once applied/removed while in the corridors, communal areas and when visiting on the ward.
Clean your hands using the disinfectant hand sanitiser provided or soap and water where available:
on arrival to the hospital on entering the ward/department
when putting on or taking off any personal protective equipment (PPE) or face coverings
on leaving the patients bed space
on leaving the ward or department
on leaving the hospital building
as soon as you get home
Please bring as few belongings as possible to minimise the risk of infection.
Please go straight home after your visit, do not visit any other areas of the hospital.
You will not be required to self-isolate following your visit, as your risk from virus transmission will have been minimised by following the visiting guidance.
In the community, colleagues are aiming for a minimal number of visits, instead using technology to facilitate remote appointments. We know that many teams are doing this already and that is much appreciated.
Wearing of masks when coming to hospital – new on 15 June 2020
This is an update about the use of face coverings when coming to Harrogate District Hospital and/or Ripon Community Hospital.
People infected with Covid-19 can have very mild or no respiratory symptoms (asymptomatic) and can transmit the virus to others without being aware of it.
In line with recommendations from the World Health Organisation, we introduced measures to keep visitors, patients, and staff safe.
You will need to wear a face mask when you come to hospital as a visitor or patient. Surgical face masks are available for patients and visitors at all entrances, and must be worn at all times while in hospital. If worn on arrival, please remove your own face covering and store safely in your bag/pocket and put on a fresh mask. There is no need to wear gloves.
We can all play a role in reducing the spread of Covid-19 and keeping our hospitals safe. If you are coming to hospital as a visitor or for planned outpatient care, it is important that you wear a face mask at all times. This is for your safety and the safety of other patients and staff.
To keep the numbers of people coming into hospital to a minimum, please come alone if possible. If you need to come with a carer/relative, please ring the department you’re visiting before the day of your visit to discuss your requirements.
All visitors will be expected to comply with existing social distancing and hand hygiene measures in addition to the face mask while in the hospital setting.
If you have any questions or queries please speak with a member of staff.
Share this page
The audiology team at Harrogate District Hospital.
Following a necessary change of practice as a reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic and how well that’s been received by patients, the Audiology department at Harrogate District Hospital will not be reverting back to walk-in hearing aid repair clinics.
This service will not be available, even after the planned easing of restrictions from 21 June 2021 onwards.
Patients are asked to continue to use the postal service to order batteries and/or tubing or have aids repaired or replaced wherever possible. Please call 01423 553320 or email [email protected] to contact the team if support is required.
The team have had this arrangement in place for many years in Ripon, York and Scarborough and this brings Harrogate into line with the wider service.
If the team are unable to resolve an issue by phone/post/email then a short repair appointment will be offered. This must be a booked appointment – unfortunately anyone who chooses to attend without a booked appointment will not be able to be seen.
Christine Brindle, Lead/Specialist Audiologist, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic meant we had to change our working practices for the walk-in hearing aid repair clinic because we couldn’t see people face-to-face. This change has actually been well-received by the majority of patients.
“We’ve chosen to move in line with our wider service across the county and switch to a postal service first and foremost. This helps reduce the number of people coming into the hospital who don’t have to – before the pandemic we’d often see queues of 30 to 40 people, which isn’t now appropriate. It also means patients don’t have to make the journey to come in.
“We do ask that people who use our hearing aid repair clinic use the postal service available, first calling us or emailing us to make arrangements. We are now unable to see walk-ins. Thank you for your understanding.”
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Paul Widdowfield, Communications and Marketing Manager, [email protected] and 01423 557470.
Kate Moore, Communications and Marketing Assistant, [email protected] and 01423 557732.
Share this page
Doctors and the wider team at Harrogate District Hospital are reminding people to think carefully before going to the Emergency Department for their care.
The hospital’s Emergency Department has seen a significant increase in patient numbers over the past couple of months, and people with less urgent issues are experiencing longer waiting times.
The department was seeing around 130 patients per day in March 2021, this has grown to over 160 per day in May 2021.
Unless it’s a life-threatening illness or injury, people are being urged to contact NHS 111 first. The NHS will help you right away and if you need urgent care, the NHS can book you in to be seen quickly and safely.
Contacting NHS 111 first will help NHS urgent and emergency care services maintain social distancing and ensure that patients receive the right care in the right place, in a timely and safe way.
NHS 111 is accessible via the 111.nhs.uk website or by calling 111.
People with life-threatening illnesses or injuries should continue to dial 999 and anyone who arrives at A&E without calling NHS 111 will still receive medical care, with those needing emergency treatment prioritised.
Dr Matt Shepherd, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Director Long Term & Unscheduled Care, said: “Over the past couple months the number of patients seeking treatment at our Emergency Department has increased considerably. We are now seeing approximately 8% more patients attending our Emergency Department then were doing so before Covid-19 began, which makes it very difficult to ensure we can safely keep social distancing measures in place.
“Colleagues in the department – and the wider hospital – are working incredibly hard to provide care but we do ask that people think about other healthcare options available to them.
“The most urgent and life-threatening cases take priority, which means that unfortunately people coming in with less urgent issues are experiencing longer waiting times. Our Emergency Department is for emergencies only, such as severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, significant head injuries and broken bones.
“Using an alternative to the Emergency Department when you aren’t seriously ill, such as calling NHS 111, consulting your GP or visiting your community pharmacist, could mean that you end up waiting less time to receive care.
“You can also check any symptoms and find out what to do and when to get help using the NHS website – nhs.uk. It can find services near you, such as local pharmacies, who can offer advice for common health problems such as sore throats and headaches, aches and pains, bumps and bruises or sickness and diarrhoea.”
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Paul Widdowfield, Communications and Marketing Manager, [email protected] and 01423 557470.
Kate Moore, Communications and Marketing Assistant, [email protected] and 01423 557732.
Share this page
Deadline extended to 21 June 2021!
The Covid-19 pandemic thoughts, experiences, anecdotes and photos of local people from the past year are wanted for a new ‘Focus on the Good’ book being created to raise much-needed funds for Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity (HHCC).
HHCC is the hospital charity for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, and they have specially commissioned a book called ‘Focus on the Good’ and anyone is welcome to contribute, be they NHS staff, volunteers, patients, service users, families and members of the community.
HHCC are interested in hearing experiences of the last year; what have you missed? What were your biggest challenges? What have you appreciated the most about this time? If you have visited Harrogate District Hospital or used a HDFT service, how was your experience? Have you or a loved one experienced Covid-19? What would your message be to NHS staff? How did your community pull together? What do you remember about the doorstep claps?
Did you get involved in supporting your local NHS, perhaps you donated hand cream to NHS staff, took part in fundraising, made scrubs, or had your photograph taken as part of ‘The Doorstep Portraits Project for Harrogate Hospital’? Share your photographs from this last year, why did you take them, what do they mean to you?
From the information submitted, HHCC will work collaboratively with author Leah Knight to develop a book ‘Focus on the Good’ – to not only remember how Covid-19 affected individuals, but how communities, NHS staff, volunteers and families came together to support each other and those in the NHS in a time of need.
If you would like to contribute please download a Focus on the Good template on HHCC’s website here: https://hhcc.co.uk/events/focus-on-the-good-book/. Alternatively, to submit your contribution please contact the team by email [email protected] or call 01423 557408.
Sammy Lambert, Business Development, Charity and Volunteer Manager for HHCC, said: “We want to be able to remember these unprecedented times especially what was gained and not just lost throughout the past year. This is an incredible opportunity for our supporters to share their own unique experience. The aim of the book is to create a keepsake of a challenging time and provide an opportunity to look back in many years to come and reflect on how we all came together as a community during some of the darkest times.”
Leah Knight said: “I feel so privileged to write this book. To document the resilience, the compassion and the undeniable ability the NHS has to wrap their arms around us when we need them to most. I hope to deliver the stories just as they deserve to be told, with positivity and hope. Through poetry, I will write my book which will encourage you, the reader, to look back on 2020 and ‘Focus on the good’. I cannot wait to share it.”
‘Focus on the Good’ book will be available later this year with all proceeds from the donations received enabling HHCC to continue to make life-changing differences for the staff, patients, service users and families in hospital and the wider community across HDFT.
Submissions close on 21 June 2021.
Share this page
Almost £1 million has been invested in a complete refurbishment of the Intensive Care Unit at Harrogate District Hospital, increasing capacity and creating a much-improved environment for patients and staff.
The whole unit was stripped down to its structural shell and rebuilt. This has allowed for the creation of an additional side room giving a new total of five side rooms as well as six beds across two open bays.
New flooring, ceilings, doors and wall cladding has been installed as well as dimmable lights, engaging wall murals and LED ceiling panels featuring blue skies, clouds and trees in two of the side rooms.
There are two newly-refurbished relatives’ waiting rooms, and brand new televisions in each of the side rooms. Also featured are new wash basins throughout the unit, a new emergency lighting and fire detection system, fully integrated patient monitoring systems and upgraded medical gas pipework. Bespoke floor to ceiling medical columns providing medical gases and the electrical supply for each bed space have been installed, which now makes it easier for staff to move all around the bedspace as well as increasing the supply of medical gases and power points to each bed.
The work has been led by the hospital’s Capital Planning Team and members of the Intensive Care Unit team and has taken place over a comparatively short timescale over the past few months. The ICU had already moved to a larger ward within the hospital to facilitate the increase in demand for intensive care beds during the Covid-19 pandemic, which then allowed the unique opportunity for access to the old unit for refurbishment.
Intensive Care Consultant Dr Sarah Marsh said: “We had already begun to make plans to upgrade parts of the intensive care unit before the arrival of the pandemic so had given a lot of thought to what could be possible. So, when the opportunity arose for a more significant refurbishment, we were in a really good place to move forward quickly. A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this transformation happen so quickly.
“We are so pleased with the new unit – it has a completely different look and feel now. It’s given everyone on the team a huge lift and moving back in will hopefully help to draw a line under the pressures we’ve faced over the last 12 months. It is a really lovely location – modern, bright and airy. After an incredibly challenging year, this is a fantastically positive step forward.
“There are so many new changes to the environment that will make a huge difference to patients being cared for in the unit as well as for the staff working there too. Patients may be with us for many months so by improving the ward in which they will be cared for really does impact on their progress medically and as well as their overall wellbeing. We now have more natural light, illuminated ceilings and floor to ceiling vistas on the walls for example which can help to reorientate patients and provide a sense of the outside inside. The intensive care unit is a 24/7 service so we are always busy, but we believe we have created the best possible environment to help people feel as comfortable as possible, looked after and on the road to recovery.”
As part of the recent works undertaken to refurbish the ICU at Harrogate District Hospital, Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity were able to, because of the exceptional fundraising efforts of our local community, fund some of the works to improve and enhance the environment within ICU. These works included vital improvements to the lighting on the ward, providing patients with soothing scenes that they are able to view while receiving care. A relative’s room has also been updated to enable families to stay with their loved ones offering a space to rest and access facilities including a pull down bed and TV. The Charity would not have been able to provide funds for these incredible works without the amazing generosity and ongoing fundraising initiatives of its HHCC supporters.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Paul Widdowfield, Communications and Marketing Manager, [email protected] and 01423 557470.
Rebecca Huddleston, Communications and Marketing Assistant, [email protected] and 01423 557732.
Kate Moore, Communications and Marketing Assistant, [email protected] and 01423 557732
Share this page
Harrogate District Hospital has been awarded the very significant sum of £14 million for works to reduce the carbon footprint of the site by 1,100 tonnes per year.
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust and Imtech colleagues.
The works will be carried out by the hospital’s estates and facilities subsidiary company, Harrogate Integrated Facilities (HIF) in partnership Imtech and its specialist energy performance business, Breathe.
The funding is going towards an air source heat pump, which extracts heat from the air which can then be used to provide heating and hot water across the site, reducing the consumption of natural gas.
The money will also address some of the long-standing backlog maintenance matters relating to the hospital building including repairing and replacing flat roofs that leak and old windows, both of which have impacted on the experience of patients and staff.
As part of the roofing replacement works photovoltaic solar panels will be installed to provide a sustainable green source for electricity and reduce the reliance on grid electricity.
In addition to the benefits that this work will bring to the hospital and the overall climate change challenge, it is worth noting the benefits that it will bring to the local economy in terms of local businesses being involved in the construction phase of the project.
The grant is awarded by The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) via its Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Public sector bodies have to submit bids to the scheme. The scheme offers grant funding which aligns with BEIS’ new mission and priorities: fighting coronavirus, backing business, unleashing innovation and tackling climate change. The scheme will also encourage green investment, supporting the Government’s net zero and clean growth goals.
Jonathan Coulter, Chief Executive of Harrogate Integrated Facilities, said: “I know I speak for all Harrogate Integrated Facilities colleagues when I say how delighted we are to have received a grant of this size. It is brilliant news for us, everyone who works here and patients who access services here.
“We have a firm ambition to reduce the carbon footprint of Harrogate District Hospital by as much as possible, and as quickly as possible. The works that have been outlined above will set us significantly ahead of the required trajectory.”
HIF, on behalf of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust which runs Harrogate District Hospital, has in place a 25-year energy performance contract with the Carbon Energy Fund (CEF) and Imtech. This is already delivering guaranteed energy savings of approximately £680,000 per year. This new grant will allow for works to be accelerated and deliver energy savings more quickly.
Mark Chamberlain, Chairman of Harrogate Integrated Facilities, said: “This eight-figure grant is a really significant investment into Harrogate District Hospital. I’m so pleased we’ve been successful with our bid because it means we can deliver more savings in a faster timescale.
“We are going to be really busy over the next year or so delivering these works. I know my Harrogate Integrated Facilities colleagues, along with Imtech, will rise to the challenge and deliver these clear benefits for everyone who comes to the Harrogate District Hospital site, as well as the wider community.
“Thanks to our existing partnership with Imtech we are in a really strong position to move quickly and with a broad range of expertise in place to enhance the hospital environment and reduce our carbon footprint.”
Gary Parke, Managing Director, Breathe (an Imtech company), said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Harrogate Integrated Facilities. The new energy saving installations will enhance and accelerate the savings our team has delivered over the last few years. As well as ensuring further cost and carbon reduction benefits for the Trust and a better environment for staff, patients and visitors to the hospital.”
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Paul Widdowfield, Communications and Marketing Manager, [email protected] and 01423 557470.
Rebecca Huddleston, Communications and Marketing Assistant, on [email protected] and 01423 557732.
Share this page
From Steve Russell, our Chief Executive
Those who know me have often heard me say that what we put up with, we promote. So does that mean racism?
I talk through personal, painful experience of the impact on racism on me, my family and colleagues. I write as someone who has had the uncomfortable feelings of being unwanted, unwelcome and not understanding why. These feelings I still recall vividly.
My dad being asked on a bus where he ‘got me from’, and being told in school that I should get back in my banana boat and go back to where I came from still feel new.
Being asked if I’m the ‘on-call doctor’ because there’s an automatic assumption my White colleagues are in the position of authority. Despite my passion and determination to contribute, I often hear ‘Oh you’re Steve Russell’! Racism well and truly remains in society as we know it.
I have far too often in the past been the only BAME person at the decision-making table and now as CEO at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, and a senior leader for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP), I am in a position to influence this. With the support of other colleagues I can ground us in the experience of colleagues and I can be part of a positive process that actually changes people’s lives.
We are accelerating action; having introduced the WY&H HCP BAME Fellowship Programme, which gives BAME colleagues the opportunity to be leaders and have an equal chance – all with the influence and support of the WY&H HCP BAME Network.
In my career, two people took chances on me and without their belief I am sure I wouldn’t be where I am. It is my responsibility to ‘pay this forward’ and do the same for the next generation of leaders, but it takes all of us to do this to make a real difference.
We published the WY&H HCP Review Report on Thursday 22 October: Tackling health inequalities for Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and colleagues and know that understanding impact, reducing inequalities, supporting recovery is crucial. Our leadership will be reflective of our communities, where people have a voice at the decision-making table, where all are treated fairly. So our BAME colleagues can see people who look like us, who try to inspire and feel they belong and have a place. There’s no shortage of talent and we shouldn’t talk about needing a business case for diversity – it’s a moral case.
Working with HR colleagues, we are ensuring there is BAME representation on all senior recruitment processes and the way in which we recruit and select our workforce has been transformed. We’re determined to change the way we work, so our BAME colleagues don’t fight alone. We have developed bespoke training relating to Black Lives Matter and also White Privilege. It is not enough to say ‘I am not racist’. We need to fully support and engage with the anti-racism movement, and to listen to people’s experiences to learn.
We are having the conversations with our staff, setting out a new direction with firm confidence and clear determined action. Each of us as individuals takes this responsibility.
We have to be honest with ourselves: Black, Asian and minority ethnic people aren’t treated equally, and without ally-ship, and thinking about equality and diversity in everything we do, there will be another moment when we become outraged at an injustice because we haven’t made enough change.
The current virus presents disparities and different risks to our communities and the report sets out what we are going to do to address inequalities. It describes inclusive leadership standards which leaders pledge to personally uphold within their organisations, starting with recruitment and selection. The report recommendations include the development of independent discrimination panels with BAME representation to review all cases of racial discrimination in disciplinary and complaints cases.
Across WY&H HCP, health and care leaders are united with a commitment to stamp out racism, together.
The stark realities of the inequalities that exist ignite a call for the end to racism and injustice. But we are part of the solution.
I’m proud to be part of the WY&H HCP, where Black Lives Matter.
Steve Russell is Chief Executive for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust. He is also a leader within West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership. Steve was recently recognised as one of the most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) leaders in healthcare in the first Health Service Journal (HSJ) BAME power list.
Steve is also on the BAME taskforce across neighbouring Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership of which Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust is also a member. Steve has been spear-heading that work across the Partnership.
Share this page
As you will most likely be aware, access to parking at Harrogate District Hospital has been free to all patients, visitors and staff during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As more and more of our clinics and services at Harrogate District Hospital are re-established, there is a greater need for parking spaces for patients and visitors. For a few weeks now, we’ve been receiving feedback from patients and visitors who have told us about the challenges they’ve had finding a parking space on site.
Parking has always been a challenge for both patients and colleagues, and there is no easy solution to this. However, we do have to prioritise much of the limited parking we have for patients who need to come to hospital.
Therefore, from Wednesday 23 September:
We will be reintroducing car parking charges for patients, visitors, and staff, returning to the arrangements we had in place prior to the pandemic.
The car parks will be assigned as they were prior to the pandemic, in particular the top level of the main car park which will revert back to being for patients and visitors, with staff parking no longer permitted there.
All staff car parks on site will be available for colleagues with a permit at their usual monthly rate.
We know that this will be unwelcome, but we trust you understand the reasons for why we are reintroducing parking charges. Parking at hospitals will always be a challenge and there is never going to be one solution that everyone is happy with. But we have to do this to make parking as stress-free as possible for our patients and visitors, protecting spaces for them; and to make the benefit of staff car parking as fair as possible.
A range of different types of support for Gateshead families with children going back to school in September have been set up by an NHS team in the borough.
The Covid-19 pandemic has raised the levels of anxiety in a number of children and young people. The changes in routine, coupled with the potential health risks for themselves, family and loved ones brought on by the Covid-19 situation has meant that they may be reluctant or anxious to return to school.
A level of anxiety is normal in the current climate. However, some children and young people may experience levels of anxiety which have an impact on their emotional wellbeing and school experience.
To support children, young people and their parents, from Monday 7 September the Growing Healthy Gateshead 0-19 (which includes health visitors and school nurses) service will have additional staff to answer calls to its Single Point of Contact telephone 03000 031 918.
Gateshead schools return on Monday 7 September and for the first two weeks of the school term the Growing Healthy service has increased its virtual emotional wellbeing clinics held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of both weeks (8th, 9th and 10th, 15th, 16th and 17th). The extended hours are now from 2pm-5pm.
During the autumn term the service is also providing a virtual school drop in clinic that children and young people can access to speak directly to a school nurse. This runs every Wednesday 1-2pm.
Joanne Gill, Locality Manager for Growing Healthy Gateshead, said: “Over the past few months we’ve had to adapt how we work with families. For example, we’ve not been able to run group sessions, which we know were much appreciated by families. Back to school is a challenging time so we’ve put in place extra support, even if it has to be in a different way.
“Our message to families and young people is that we are here to support you. If you need help, assistance or guidance, please get in touch.”
Some of the ideas parents might want to consider and that they can do with their child or children at home are:
Practice going outside each day even if it is only for a few minutes
If you are taking walks walk to the school and walk around the school if you can
Remind your child of the things they enjoyed most about being in school
Liaise with the school to see if they will agree to a visit to the school out of normal school hours, this will help your child realise and visualise the protective measures that schools have put into place
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Paul Widdowfield, Communications and Marketing Manager, [email protected] and 01423 557740.
Share this page
Members of the public are being invited to ‘virtually’ attend Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s Annual Members’ Meeting later this month, where they can hear the Coronavirus pandemic experiences of staff and patients.
The formal meeting takes place on Tuesday 29 September 2020, and offers members of the public the opportunity to join the Trust’s governors and senior leaders in a Microsoft Teams Live session. The Meeting takes place from 5-7pm and is open to everyone – no special software is required as the meeting can be viewed in a standard web browser.
Complementing the live, formal business of the meeting will be a series of pre-recorded films from staff and patients across the Trust’s footprint (North Yorkshire and the North East) giving some insight into how the Coronavirus pandemic has impacted on NHS services and individuals.
Using the Teams Live Q&A function, there will also be an opportunity to ask questions of senior Trust colleagues, including Chairman Angela Schofield and Chief Executive Steve Russell. Questions can also be submitted in advance of the meeting.
Angela Schofield, Chairman of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: “While our Annual Members’ Meeting officially covers the financial year 2019/20, the topic on everyone’s minds will be the Coronavirus pandemic. I’m really pleased that colleagues and patients will be providing interesting insight into their experiences over the past few months.
“Our Meeting is usually a really busy event where we are able to meet in person to share our reflections on the past year, and speak with our Foundation Trust members and members of the public. Unfortunately, we’re not able to do that this year, but we would still be delighted if you were able to join us, albeit remotely.
“We hope there will be a lot interest in the meeting. Please book your place as soon as possible.”
Anyone who wishes to join the meeting is asked to book by contacting the Foundation Trust Office on 01423 554432 or via email at: [email protected]. A link to the meeting will then be shared, along with supporting information.
A copy of the Meeting agenda will be available on the Trust’s website in due course.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Paul Widdowfield, Communications and Marketing Manager, [email protected] and 01423 557740.
Share this page
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
