Latest news with #KetteringGeneralHospital
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Trauma is every day here, says Kettering nurse deployed in Gaza
A nurse deployed in the Gaza Strip as part of the government's humanitarian response to the Israel-Gaza war described treating patients with "substantial" trauma. Mandy Blackman usually works at Kettering General Hospital in Northamptonshire, but is currently the nurse-in-charge of a field hospital in al-Mawasi run by the charity UK-Med. She said the hospital included "everyday things" such as GP services, an operating theatre and maternity care, but also dealt with emergency incidents."We have mass casualty incidents where we receive a number of patients in a very short space of time; not long ago we had about 34 people come in at 23:30 at night," she said. "A lot of families were separated, so we had a lot of children here whose parents or surviving members of their family had gone to [another] hospital," Ms Blackman added. "We spent a good week trying to reunite families, so that was particularly pleasing after something so horrific had happened to them."This is her third deployment to the Gaza Strip and she said she felt "lucky" her employer allowed her to volunteer as "there is a need". "I am able to come and therefore I choose to come," she said. "I don't think you'd be human if you weren't affected by the cases that came in," she added."At home, yes, I do see trauma, but it's not on the same level that I see here, where it's pretty much every day." Ms Blackman added that in al-Mawasi she was treating patients who had experienced significant weight loss. "There's evident malnutrition in children, so we do our best to get them on a targeted food programme."But it's also just trying to giving people some dignity while they are receiving the care here." The nurse has previously volunteered with UK-Med to care for patients with Ebola and diphtheria around the world. "My family have their concerns, because of what you see on the news," she said. "I have to reassure them that if something has happened that it isn't where we are. "I do everything I can to keep myself safe, and my family say they are proud of me, which is lovely."She said the field hospital in al-Mawasi was situated in a locked compound which was guarded and there were safe places for staff and patients to go if necessary. "People ask me 'does it make you cross when you come back [to England] and people are always demanding things?', but not really."Actually, we should all have the right to fresh water, healthcare and somewhere to live."It's trying to ensure people can access the healthcare they so desperately need," she said. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Level 2 baby care status reinstated at Kettering General Hospital
A neonatal unit has regained approval to care for some of the region's most premature babies, following improvements in staffing and a downgrade in September 2023, the unit at Kettering General Hospital has now been fully reapproved to operate as a Level 2 Local Neonatal Unit. This meant staff can once again care for babies born after 27 weeks of gestation, or 28 weeks for multiple births, who weigh more than 800 Hogg, University Hospitals of Northamptonshire chief nurse, said: "We are committed to ensuring our neonatal unit delivers the best possible care to babies and families in our local community and ensuring that care is tailored to their needs." The unit was temporarily downgraded to Level 1 in 2023, which meant it could only care for babies born after 32 weeks. Babies born earlier or who were very sick had to be sent to specialist Level 3 decision was made after regular safety checks and staff feedback showed the unit needed more senior doctors and extra then, the hospital has made several important improvements, including hiring two neonatal consultants, a lead nurse for governance, a data analyst, and seven additional also took part in extra training sessions, including team-based practice for emergencies like resuscitation and managing breathing problems. 'Dedicated work' Leadership at the unit has also been strengthened, and links with regional neonatal care networks have been than 70% of the nurses were fully trained to care for very premature and unwell babies, meeting national standards set by the British Association of Perinatal Hogg added: "Once again, we are able to deliver intensive care, high dependency care, and special care to babies born after 27 weeks of gestation or 28 weeks if a multiple birth."I want to take this opportunity to thank our teams for all of the dedicated work and effort that has gone into achieving the improvements that have enabled us to start delivering level 2 care once again." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Police warn drug users of 'potential bad batch'
Police are warning of a possible "bad batch" of drugs after a town's emergency services were called to several incidents over Easter. Northamptonshire Police said users in the Wellingborough area had displayed "signs of drug-induced psychosis", with two men being taken to hospital. Det Insp Beth Warren said it "possibly pointed to a potential bad batch of drugs being in circulation". In a post by the force on X, she said it was not clear yet exactly which drugs may have been taken in the incidents. Det Insp Warren said: "We would never advocate anyone taking illegal drugs, but we acknowledge there are people in our communities with drug addictions. "It's vital that we put the message out around our concerns that there may be drugs in circulation which are causing really acute behavioural disturbance (ABD)." On Sunday afternoon, paramedics and police were called when a man in Wellingborough who had reportedly taken an overdose was showing signs of ABD. Early on Monday, there were reports of a disturbance at a hotel in Wellingborough. A 33-year-old male was also experiencing possible ABD and was taken to Kettering General Hospital. A 38-year-old man was later taken to the same hospital after police were called to a different property and found him hallucinating. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. In-demand substance misuse service looks to expand Overdose reversing spray helps 'save man's life' Northamptonshire Police
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital award for 'amazing' care of autistic woman
An intensive care unit has received an internationally recognised award after being nominated by a patient. Kirstie Pope, 31, is autistic and said Kettering General Hospital deserved a Daisy Team Award for the care she received. The scheme recognises medical staff worldwide who "go above and beyond the traditional role of nursing". Ms Pope, from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, said she woke from treatment to find she had her ear defenders on and her cuddly guinea pig by her side - which helped her overcome her fears. She said she was "normally very scared of hospitals" and would "do anything I can to avoid going to one". Ms Pope did not remember arriving at the intensive care unit (ICU) in August 2024 but woke to find the specific measures had been made to help her feel comfortable. "That's amazing," she said. "It helped a lot, because I was so scared, confused and overwhelmed when I woke up. "I also found that someone had put my hair in a plait at some point to stop it getting matted or in the way. That was kind of them." Ms Pope added that many staff had "clearly read" her Autism Hospital Passport, a document designed to help people understand her needs. Ms Pope explained that she normally hated the ward round in hospitals as she felt she could not understand what doctors were telling her and they did not seem to be listening to her. At Kettering, however, "all of the doctors in ICU were fantastic. The junior doctors were lovely as well. "Everyone treated me with so much care and compassion." Some staff even brought photographs of their pets for Ms Pope to look at. She named 12 individual members of staff who were particularly helpful. ICU matron Jo Snow said: "We were all very touched by her nomination and the way she didn't forget anyone who had helped her and recognised all of the efforts that had been made to support her. "Thank you Kirstie for bringing so much happiness and recognition for the team that looked after you." Daisy Awards were launched in America in 1999 following the death of a patient who had received outstanding care for diseases attacking the immune system, (Daisy). Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Thousands of pounds raised for intensive care unit Woman who is autistic praises crisis house design 'Valuable' premature baby support group launched Kettering General Hospital Autism Society Daisy Awards
