Latest news with #TeachingHospitalsNHSFoundationTrust
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Global NHS osteoarthritis study could lead to new treatments
More than 900 genetic links to osteoarthritis, including 500 which have never been reported, have been uncovered in a research study in Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the "landmark" global study into osteoarthritis was the largest of its degenerative condition affects around 595 million people globally, and is the leading cause of disability and chronic pain worldwide, according to the hospital genome study used genetic information from nearly two million people, and was published in the journal Nature. Led by Helmholtz Munich, the largest scientific research organisation in Germany, genetic codes and DNA of almost half a million osteoarthritis sufferers globally - including 1,000 volunteers from Sheffield - were compared with that of 1.5 million people without the disease, the trust team identified 962 genetic variations more commonly found in those with osteoarthritis; more than 500 of which had not previously been identified, it number osteoarthritis sufferers was predicted to rise to a billion people by 2050 and despite the impact "no disease-modifying treatments are currently available", researchers the new work "paves the way for potential new drug treatments and personalised therapies," they continued. 'Repurpose existing treatments' Prof Mark Wilkinson, Honorary Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the trust and the University of Sheffield, said the findings were "hugely important" and would "open up exciting new avenues" for millions."As well as identifying potential drug targets and opportunities for us to repurpose existing treatments that already target these genes in other conditions, this research has also significantly advanced our understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms associated with the disease," Prof Wilkinson biological processes which regulate the body's internal systems and cell function were found, "shedding light on the disease's biological mechanisms", the trust of these genes contain proteins already targeted by drugs approved for other conditions, which could accelerate treatment development, it added. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Lancashire surgeons celebrate 1,000th robotic prostate surgery
A team of surgeons at a hospital trust are celebrating performing their 1,000th prostatectomy using robotic Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been using the Da Vinci Xi robotic system for complete or partial prostate removals since 2017. Surgeons at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital conducted the milestone surgery on patient James Smolski, his consultant urologist, said he was pleased to say "it all went as planned". The Da Vinci Xi system was largely funded by a £1.25m donation from Rosemere Cancer consultant urologist told BBC Radio Lancashire: "Compared with the previous ways of doing surgery robotic surgeries have got significant advantages."Procedures could be quicker, but the main aspects are that we can do it through only tiny few incisions of the abdomen."He said that "meant less pain, less blood loss, quicker recovery" and patients being discharged within 24 hours. "In the longer term we know the patient will have a better rate of continence and often erectile functions as well," he said. He added more than 90% of patients will have a very good continence rate after surgery. Mr Goggin said he was pleased to have the procedure using the technology, "particularly as... the old way sounded quite awful in terms of recovery time". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Doctors mistook my baby's brain tumour as teething' - Preston mum
A mum has told of her "living hell" after she was told her daughter had a life-threatening brain tumour which doctors had previously dismissed as from Preston, said her daughter Poppy began having unusual episodes in 2019 after she had turned one, which included staring into space, clicking her tongue and passing now six, was taken to A&E several times, but her parents said they were turned away by doctors who put the behaviour down to Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it was "always sorry" if patients felt concerns over any of its care, but added that some complex conditions were not always diagnosed immediately. Katie, 36, said: "I felt completely helpless because we kept being sent home, but my gut told me there was something seriously wrong."Eventually Poppy was given an MRI scan at Royal Preston parents, Katie and Colin, were told she had a shadow on her brain and "doctors weren't sure if it was a tumour or an infection".Katie said: "I felt like I was living in hell, uncertain about what was happening and terrified that my baby might die."She said it was a "frightening chapter" for the family and for Poppy's brother Jack, 10, adding: "He was deeply affected witnessing his sister's seizures." After further tests and scans, Poppy was transferred to Manchester Children's Hospital for a biopsy. Doctors told the family she had a ganglioglioma - a rare type of brain tumour that's often slow-growing and benign. While it was not cancerous, it was causing her to experience as many as 10 seizures per day. Katie and Colin made the decision to send Poppy for surgery. Katie said they felt as though they were waiting "years" for Poppy to have the 11-hour operation after her initial scheduled appointment was cancelled due to "a lack of high dependency beds".But in November 2019 Poppy was wheeled into the theatre and had the tumour removed. "We were beyond ecstatic, she bounced back so quickly and to see her running around just days after surgery was nothing short of miraculous, " said Katie. Poppy has since been given the all-clear, five years after her diagnosis."Not a day goes by when we don't feel incredibly lucky," Katie family wants to help others and have been fundraising for Brain Tumour Research.A Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: "If any patient has ongoing concerns about their or their child's health, their first port of call should be their GP who can refer them into the most appropriate place for assessment or treatment, which often isn't A&E."We are always sorry if patients or parents have any concerns about any aspect of their own or their child's care at any of our hospitals."We would strongly encourage them to get in touch with the Patient Advice and Liaison team who can ensure that an investigation takes place as quickly as possible." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Twelve-hour trolley waits at Scarborough Hospital "very high"
The number of people waiting on trolleys for more than 12 hours at a North Yorkshire hospital has been described as "absolutely appalling" by the boss of one NHS trust.A report has revealed 1,057 patients waited on trolleys for more than 12 hours at Scarborough Hospital in December, during an '"incredibly tough" winter Morritt, the chief executive of the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, praised hospital staff for "working tremendously hard to provide safe care".It comes after the planned opening of Scarborough Hospital's new £47m urgent and emergency care centre (UECC) in November was delayed until spring this year, due to a malfunctioning boiler. Alternative pathways Speaking at an NHS Trust board meeting this week, Mr Morritt said it was "impossible to ignore the increased activity coming through the doors of our emergency departments"."The usual increase in flu cases and other seasonal viruses arrived earlier than last year, adding to the pressures," he report, presented to the board on Wednesday, acknowledged the number of 12 hour-plus trolley waits last month was "very high".Simon Barkley, chair of the York and Scarborough NHS Trust, described the number of people waiting on trolleys for more than 12 hours as "absolutely appalling".He noted, however, that the figures showed a 10% improvement compared to a year ago. Figures released by NHS England confirmed 2024 was the busiest year ever for emergency departments and ambulance services in England, while December saw the highest number of ambulance incidents recorded in a single Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Norovirus have impacted hospital admissions across the region - and, more widely, across the number of patients in hospital with Norovirus was up by 50% compared with the same period last year, and the number of children in hospital with RSV was up by 47%.To help "manage and maintain flow" at the hospital, Mr Morritt said the Trust had been "focusing on discharge... ensuring discharge planning starts as early as possible following an admission".He added: "We are also supporting teams to optimise alternative pathways, such as the virtual wards, the Urgent Treatment Centre, and the assessment areas - to make sure that we only admit patients if we absolutely must.""In addition, we are continuing to encourage staff to have their flu and Covid vaccinations," he concluded. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
