Latest news with #SouthmeadHospital
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bristol hospital is now one of seven specialised pandemic centres
A hospital in Bristol has become a designated treatment centre for patients who catch dangerous airborne infectious diseases such as avian flu. Southmead Hospital is now one of seven sites in the country now designed to care for adults with airborne high consequence infectious diseases (HCID). It means that if someone requires inpatient or critical care for monkey pox or avian flu they can be treated in a dedicated isolation unit or space in the intensive care unit (ICU).Consultant in intensive care medicine at the hospital, Dr Scott Grier, said: "If and when there was another pandemic we are now well placed to admit some of those patients early on." The hospital has developed processes for the isolation of HCID patients to ensure the safety of staff and other patients. The processes were recently tested in a training exercise which involved South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust transporting a fake patient with avian flu through basement corridors in the hospital. Dr Grier said they were now better prepared for future pandemics and would share that knowledge across the country. He explained they had customised a part of the ICU to look after a highly infectious patient saying it was now "even safer" than it was before in terms of ventilation and are rare in the UK so the number of patients likely to require treatment at Southmead will be low. Dr Ankur Gupta-Wright, one of the HCID lead consultants at Southmead Hospital, said: "Day to day, if we do get cases, it will be helpful because it means we can manage patients closer to home if they're in the South West or the Midlands. "And if and when there is a pandemic we'll have a lot more resilience through this unit."He said there had previously been five centres to manage infectious diseases in the country but they had been in London or the North. "There was a big geographical gap so NHS England commissioned two new HCID centres including our one," he said. Chief nursing officer, Professor Steve Hams, added: "This achievement reflects the significant growth and development of our infectious diseases team at North Bristol NHS Trust in recent years, and highlights our emergence as a true centre of excellence for expert, compassionate care."
The Independent
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Parents of autistic teenager who died hail ‘milestone' NHS training guidance
The parents of an autistic teenager who died after being prescribed medication against his and his parents' wishes have hailed the publication of guidance they hope will safeguard others as a 'significant milestone'. A report in 2020 found 18-year-old Oliver McGowan's death four years earlier was 'potentially avoidable'. He died at Southmead Hospital in Bristol in November 2016, after being given the antipsychotic Olanzapine and contracting neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) – a rare side-effect of the drug. An independent review later found that the fit and healthy teenager's death was 'potentially avoidable' and his parents, Paula and Tom McGowan, said their son died 'as a result of the combined ignorance and arrogance of doctors' who treated him. The learning disability mortality review (LeDeR) into the death concluded there had been a 'general lack of understanding and acknowledgement of Oliver's autism and how Oliver presented himself when in seizure' and that there had been a 'body of written evidence – alongside verbal requests from Oliver and Oliver's family – not to prescribe' Olanzapine. After the Olanzapine was administered, Oliver's temperature rose and he showed signs of NMS. The medication was stopped on October 28 and a CT scan two days later showed Oliver had sustained a serious brain injury. He died on November 11. His parents have campaigned since his death for improvements in the system and, on Thursday, the Government published new guidance it said will ensure safer, more personalised care for people with a learning disability and autistic people. The teenager, from Emersons Green, Bristol, had contracted meningitis twice during childhood and lived with epilepsy, learning difficulties and autism as a result. The Government said the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice on statutory learning disability and autism training aims to ensure staff have the right skills in providing care and better understanding of the needs of autistic people and those with learning disabilities. The guidelines for health and care providers to train staff set out the standards expected from care providers to be compliant with the law and help make sure patients are kept safe. Mr and Mrs McGowan said they hope the guidelines will bring 'meaningful change' and have a 'lasting impact'. They said: 'The publication of the code of practice marks a deeply emotional and significant milestone for us and will ensure Oliver's legacy will continue to make a difference by safeguarding people with a learning disability and autistic individuals from the same preventable failings that he tragically endured. 'The code establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the delivery of the training, promoting consistency and a deeper understanding across health and social care services. 'We are profoundly grateful to cross-party politicians for their unwavering support and especially to Baroness Sheila Hollins, whose leadership has been pivotal in advancing this important work. 'Our heartfelt thanks extend to everyone within the NHS and social care sectors, to our expert trainers, and to individuals with a learning disability and/or autism, along with their families and carers. 'This is a true example of what meaningful change looks like, giving a voice to those who are not always seen or heard, creating a lasting impact that will continue to transform lives for the better.' Paying tribute to the McGowans, care minister Stephen Kinnock said they had been behind an 'incredible campaign to improve the care of people with a learning disability and autistic people after the tragic death of their son, Oliver.' He added: 'Through their work, they have shown admirable dedication, commitment and passion – Oliver's memory and legacy lives through them. 'This Government recognises the appalling health inequalities faced by people with a learning disability and autistic people. 'Everyone deserves to receive high-quality, empathetic and dignified care but this cannot be achieved if staff do not have the right training. The Oliver McGowan Code of Practice published today will be a boost for anyone with a learning disability or autistic people, their families and loved ones.' The Government said training will be backed by funding as part of the learning and development support scheme for adult social care this autumn. Tom Cahill, national director for Learning Disability and Autism at NHS England, said: 'We know that often the quality of care and support for people with a learning disability and autistic people has not been good enough and we are determined to make this better. 'This code of practice – a result of Paula and Tom McGowan's tireless dedication – will mean all NHS staff have the training and support they need to reduce inequalities and give people with a learning disability or autistic people the care they deserve.' Learning disability charity Mencap's executive director of strategy and influence, Jackie O'Sullivan, said the new guidance has the 'potential to transform care for people with a learning disability' and cut the number of avoidable deaths. Ms O'Sullivan said: 'After two years of waiting, we're pleased to see the Oliver McGowan mandatory training code of practice launched today. 'It has the potential to transform care for people with a learning disability and reduce the number of avoidable deaths. 'Whilst we have seen improvements in recent years, the life expectancy of people with a learning disability is still a shocking 23 years less than everyone else and people die of conditions which are entirely treatable.'
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cyclist get 3D printed face after bike accident
A cyclist left with devastating facial injuries after being knocked off his bike by a drunk driver is one of the first patients to benefit from a unique NHS body parts printing Bristol 3D Medical Centre covers the whole of the South West and is believed to be the first in the UK to have 3D imaging and printing all in a single provides scientific and technical support to trauma patients through state-of-the-art digital technology and specialist reconstructive Richards, from Devon, said following his accident that the centre helped to make him "feel a lot more comfortable in myself". In July 2021, Mr Richards was cycling in Meare, Somerset, with two of his friends when they were hit by a drunk 75-year-old from Devon said: "He [the driver] came up behind us and was on his phone."My two friends were knocked clear but suffered multiple fractures."I, unfortunately, got trapped underneath the vehicle so I got severe burns down one side of my body and face and suffered crush injuries, ribs on my right hand side."After multiple operations for reconstruction at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and rehabilitation with numerous medical specialties, Dave has begun to get his life back continues to visit the the Bristol 3D Medical Centre where he has just been given facial prosthetics. A large orbital prosthesis and neck scar splints have been made with the aid of the centre's Richards can also have a 3D scan to capture his face digitally to develop replicas of him and then design the moulds for these told the BBC: "Most times people don't notice. I have had to live with this for four years. Most of this is in my head. A lot of the time people don't notice or don't say anything or accept the way I am. He added: "If I want to socialise a lot I feel a lot more comfortable in myself if I look in a mirror and look reasonable." The Bristol 3D Medical Centre Opened in April on the old Frenchay Hospital site on the outskirts of the centre consolidates a new science and technology service into one space and was one of the first NHS Hospitals to receive a PEEK printer which makes bespoke items at temperatures as high as 200 degrees celsius.A scanner tool can digitally map an individual's body whilst sat in a specifically designed planning room which is sophisticated enough to scan moving centre is also finding many new applications, such as a 3D model of a damaged kidney showing surgeons not only the area to be removed but nerves and blood vessels to avoid. It is believed to be the first in the UK to have this all in a single majority of the equipment was funded by the Southmead Hospital Charity, the official charity of North Bristol NHS Trust.
BBC News
01-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Yate group lugs gym equipment to Pen y Fan summit for charity
More than 200 people from a fitness group and their families have taken part in a charity challenge to lug 1680kg of gym equipment to the top of Pen y Fan and back from Commando Bootcamp, based near Bristol in Yate, South Gloucestershire, took part in the ascent with family members on Saturday in aid of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Bristol's Southmead have previously taken part in several challenges, including a half marathon while carrying white goods in aid of the homeless in member Sian Donoghue said the latest challenge had raised more than £5,000 for the unit, which had helped look after her son Jack when he was born at 23 weeks old. "He was quite premature and it was quite a shock to everybody," she said of her son, who spent two months in the NICU before being allowed home, but sadly later died."That was out of everyone's control and since [then] everybody has been so supportive," she Donoghue said raising money for the unit had been "emotional", especially as other women in the bootcamp had also spent time with their children there."Everything that goes on, it's incredible because I don't think people see, unless you've been in there, you don't see what NICU does for people."She added: "It's not just the fact that they are incredible to your child."They're incredible to any family member that's in there. The nurses and doctors become your family," she said."All the little things that you never see, so all the things that comfort a baby, they've got it all and that all has to come from somewhere and the only way they really get it is by fundraising," she added. Ms Donoghue said she had joined the group after the Covid-19 pandemic and they had since raised about £46,000 for local charitable causes over the past four the weather being "horrendous" for their challenge, Ms Donoghue said it had been "amazing" to see everyone come together."The amount of people that were donating, it was really lovely," she said.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- BBC News
Crewkerne pedestrian hit by lorry
A pedestrian has been seriously injured after a collision with a lorry, police and Somerset Police were called at 11:50 BST on Thursday morning to Crewkerne Town Centre, to reports of a collision between a lorry and a pedestrian has serious injuries which could be life-changing, police South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust attended the incident and brought the patient to Southmead Hospital with an air ambulance.
