Latest News

Patients are still being asked to play their part in helping reduce infection rates when they attend New Cross, Cannock or West Park Hospitals or any community health settings despite the Government announcing its Living with COVID-19 strategy that lifts restrictions.

There’s a lot of attention in the media at the moment around wellbeing of healthcare professionals and I want to write about a development programme for matrons that we’re starting across The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust. I’m a firm believer in developing staff through education and development. Our senior members of staff can benefit from this as much as anyone else.

More than 50 staff have been recruited by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) to support the mental wellbeing of their colleagues. Professional Nurse Advocates (PNAs) have been introduced to equip staff to listen and to understand challenges and demands of fellow colleagues, and to lead support and deliver quality improvement initiatives in response.

A patient whose heart stopped has praised staff at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital for both saving and improving his life after he had a pacemaker fitted. Wayne Devaney, 59, collapsed while out shopping last October, and was taken to the Heart and Lung Centre at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, where he had a heart loop recorder fitted, spending four days on the Cardiology ward.

“Breastfeeding is a normal and natural way to feed a baby, and breastfeeding in public can help society to develop this view gradually over time.” Amanda Costello is supporting the first ever World Breastfeeding in Public Day today (Tuesday 22 February 2022), and as Specialist Midwife - Infant Feeding and Public Health for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust she is committed to helping women feel empowered to do so.

A mother has praised “phenomenal” midwives and maternity staff for their help and support during the birth of her daughter – despite events taking her away from her original birth plan. Sarah Maxfield gave birth to Ava at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton and was full of anxiety prior to the birth. The 34-year-old said the midwives and staff were aware of her concerns and did everything they could to keep her calm.

A treatment for jaundiced babies which reduces hospital stays for new-born babies has been used for the first time at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital. Himmat Singh Uppal – the first child of mum Kiranjit Kaur Uppal, 29, and her husband Verinderjit Singh Uppal, 30 – was the first recipient of phototherapy after he was born at New Cross on Wednesday, February 2. Jaundice is almost universal in new-born infants, causing yellowing of the skin and eyes from the build-up of bilirubin in the blood, a yellow substance produced when red blood cells are broken down.

During periods of restricted visiting, we are aware that there may be some circumstances where visiting may be facilitated if: the patient is receiving end-of-life care, the patient has had an extended hospital stay, the patient has dementia, a learning disability or autism, where a visitor not being present would cause the patient to be distressed, when refusing a visitor will negatively impact the wellbeing of the patient and or the family.

A study monitoring a common winter disease in small children is up and running at two NHS Trusts in the Black Country. The BronchStart study at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (WHT) is helping medics to understand when the virus that causes bronchiolitis is coming to the UK, who it will affect and if it will be more severe. It is led by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

Health Education England (HEE) recently launched a new strategy for embedding research and innovation into allied health and this opens up a host of opportunities for our Wolverhampton and Walsall colleagues. The strategy was driven by the recognition in the NHS Long Term Plan that patients benefit enormously from research and innovation. This is about highlighting the critical importance of research to drive advancements in care.

Cardiologists in Wolverhampton will be the first in the Midlands to use innovative, digital diagnostic technology for heart disease, helping to combat the world’s biggest killer among local communities. This hi-tech improvement could drive faster and earlier detection of heart diseases improving diagnosis and treatment times. It may also increase the number of available appointments.

A generous Walsall couple with the help of family and friends have made a donation to help patients who are receiving dialysis treatment. Tim and Karen Dhesi have donated 22 Samsung tablets to the Renal unit at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust in memory of a special family member. The couple made the donation in memory of Tim’s grandma, Swaran Khera, who died aged 73 last year from kidney failure.

At The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust we are proud to support International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The day recognises the role of women and girls in science, not only as beneficiaries, but also as agents of change. In order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and empowerment, the United Nations General Assembly declared 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015.

Ten members of staff at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust are putting their best feet forward after securing places to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon (LLHM) 2022, raising at least £3,350 for its charity. The LLHM is the first half marathon (13.1 miles) to take runners through the heart of the capital on a closed road route that showcases the city’s iconic landmarks.

Meet Matt Palmer, a Specialist Therapy Assistant working within the Acute Occupational Therapy team at New Cross Hospital. This National Apprenticeship Week, Matt would like to share his story on how he completed an apprenticeship alongside his day-to-day role. The 31-year-old is currently studying Occupational Therapy at Coventry University – attending once a week.

A Facetime call from his family proved to be just what the doctor ordered for New Cross Hospital patient Gerald Williams. The 90-year-old, who is on Ward C21, Stroke Unit, said it was “wonderful” to see his loved ones as he’d been worried about them! Gerald’s call was booked through The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s new Virtual Communication Hub which was set up by its Patient Experience Team last week.

An innovative new role has been created to help patients with cancer and those who are suspected of having the disease in Wolverhampton. Miriam Langschova has become the The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s first Referral Support Care Navigator, providing personalised support for patients who are waiting for their first out-patient appointment or diagnostic testing.

Meet Edward Lee, Clinical Lead for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, who provides leadership to therapists who work at New Cross, West Park and Cannock Chase Hospitals. As part of National Apprenticeship Week, Edward would like to share his story on completing an apprenticeship alongside his usual busy role. Edward (33) joined RWT as a student occupational therapist in 2008, successfully qualifying in 2010.

Cancer patients are benefitting from a host of support, guidance and advice thanks to dedicated Cancer Care Navigators at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital. The team knows that dealing with a cancer diagnosis can be daunting and while many people may turn to their friends and families, others don’t have this support network. While World Cancer Day was highlighted last Friday, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) is reminding patients that Cancer Care Navigators are here for them. Here we feature just a few of them.

National HIV Testing Week is a great opportunity for you to get tested and encourage others to do the same, particularly those from groups most affected by HIV, including gay and bisexual men and black African men and women. This year’s campaign ‘GIVE HIV THE FINGER aims to promote the easy to use HIV finger-prick tests and encourage people to get tested.

Bricklayer Gregg Casserley is supporting World Cancer Day today by sharing his story and urging people to seek help “if something just doesn’t feel right.” The 61-year-old, who is receiving “fantastic support” from Macmillan Care Navigators in the urology department at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital, was diagnosed with prostate cancer last December.

A talented colleague from The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has been successfully chosen to join a highly competitive and prestigious programme. Internal Medicine Trainee Doctor (IMT2) Emily Audet has been offered a place on the National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellow Scheme 2022/23.

In order to keep patients safe, and care services running normally, you may be aware that our physical, in person patient visiting is restricted. RWT is keenly aware of the negative impact that visiting restrictions have on patients and their loved ones. Although some patients can use smartphones and tablets to contact family and friends, there are many who cannot.