Last chance to have you say on quality of Harrogate hospital care

Time is running out for people in the Harrogate district to have their say on how they feel about the care they receive at local hospitals.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Harrogate District Hospital and Ripon Community Hospital, is carrying out a survey aimed at improving services and quality of care.

The survey runs until Monday and will be used to improve the experience for patients, highlight areas where the trust performs well and identify the areas where it needs to improve.

Matt Graham, the trust’s director of strategy said: 

“HDFT’s last strategy was created in 2014 and during this time the trust, the NHS, and our communities have changed significantly.

“The covid pandemic has meant that over the last two years we have had to adapt to the pressures we have faced and this has impacted upon the services we have been able to offer. It is important we now look to the future and create a strategy which delivers on our top priorities – to provide the highest quality of care for the people in our communities and the best possible experience for our patients.

“We need to get the perspective of our patients, carers and other members of the community so that we can understand what issues are important to them.

“We will then use this feedback to improve the care we offer over the next five years so that we are well placed to meet the opportunities and challenges of the future.”

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The trust has also conducted a focus group this month in collaboration with Healthwatch North Yorkshire.

The one-hour session gave people the opportunity to learn about why the trust is refreshing its strategy, comment on feedback received to date, and have their questions answered.

You can take part in the online survey here and for more information on attending a focus group email hdft.strategy@nhs.net.

Harrogate care boss: Vaccine mandate led to ‘significant’ staff losses

A Harrogate care home manager has criticised the government’s NHS vaccine review, which was announced this week.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the policy of compulsory vaccines for NHS staff would be paused while a consultation is held on the policy.

But the pause was announced after it became a legal requirement for health and social care staff to be double vaccinated.

James Rycroft, managing director of Vida Health Care, which is based in Harrogate, said the mandate had led to a significant number of staff leaving the care sector.

He said:

“The social care sector has suffered significant losses to our workforce due to the compulsory vaccine policy at a time when we were already experiencing a national staffing crisis.”

Mr Rycroft added that the care sector has had to deal with the fallout of the policy without any support from government.

He said:

“I hope that by allowing staff back to the social care sector, even if they’re unvaccinated, we’ll be able to begin combatting the ongoing recruitment crisis, although the safety of everyone remains our main priority so we would have to ensure precautions are in place.”

Hospital to continue to encourage staff vaccination

Meanwhile, Harrogate hospital officials have said they will continue to encourage staff to get the vaccine despite the review.

Of the 5,000 staff employed by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, 98% have had at least one dose of a covid vaccine and 97% are double vaccinated.

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Angela Wilkinson, director of workforce and organisational development at the trust, said staff had been encouraged to get a vaccine through a variety of communications including weekly online videos, emails and one-to-one conversations with managers.

Ms Wilkinson said:

“Vaccines save lives and are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. 

“Since the development of a vaccine for the covid virus, we have actively encouraged our staff to get their jabs. 

“We have provided staff with a wide variety of information including how they can get their vaccinations and what the benefits are. We have also engaged with staff who have not had the vaccination to support them, allay any fears and dispel any myths.”

She added:

“We await the outcome of the consultation on ending vaccination as a condition of deployment as this will determine whether staff in patient facing roles will need to be legally required to have the vaccination if they wish to work for our trust.

“Nonetheless, we will continue to encourage all of our staff to have the covid-19 vaccination.”

Harrogate and Ripon hospitals maintain visitor restrictions due to high covid rates

The NHS trust that runs hospitals in Harrogate and Ripon is to maintain visitor restrictions while coronavirus case rates remain high.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust imposed restrictions at Harrogate District Hospital and Ripon Community Hospital on December 23 amid concerns about the Omicron variant.

It means visitors are only allowed for patients on end of life care, patients with a learning disability or severe cognitive impairment such as dementia. Parents or carers of children and birthing partners are also permitted.

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At the time, the hospital said it would review the restrictions regularly and relax them “at the earliest opportunity”.

However, although the government removed all Plan B measures a week ago, the trust has yet to say when regular visits will resume.

A spokesperson for the trust said today:

“Visitor guidance has not changed since December 23, 2021, although it is regularly reviewed.

“While infection rates remain at the current levels, we need to maintain the current restrictions on visitors to our wards for the safety of our patients and staff.

“These restriction also still apply to those people wanting to accompany outpatients to their appointments.

“Anyone entering our hospital will also need to wear a mask, ensure they sanitise their hands and maintain social distancing.”

Another 339 covid infections were recorded in the Harrogate district yesterday, bringing the seven-day average to 1,305 cases per 100,000 people — the highest in North Yorkshire and considerably above the England rate of 1,048.

Number of covid patients at Harrogate Hospital increases sharply to 34

The number of positive covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital has increased significantly in the last seven days.

Currently 34 patients are confirmed to have covid — nine more than last week.

The figures come as the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 1,290 per 100,000 people. The rate has steadily increased since dropping to 1,171 on January 17.

The North Yorkshire average is 1,090 and the England rate is 1,082.

UK Health Security Agency statistics now include figures for reinfections.

Latest figures show that since January 24, the Harrogate district has recorded a total of 1,953 infections.

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Meanwhile, the number of deaths from patients who tested positive for covid at Harrogate District Hospital since March 2020 stands at 220.

Latest NHS England figures show that two patients died on January 28.

The government lifted Plan B restrictions, which included mandatory face coverings and vaccine passports for major events, last Thursday.

Harrogate nurse to raise money through 24-hour gameathon

A Harrogate nurse has pledged to game non-stop for 24 hours to raise money for Medecins Sans Frontieres, a charity also known as Doctors Without Borders.

Andy Masters will start his gameathon at 10am next Saturday, February 5, and hopes to raise £1,000 for the medical charity.

Mr Masters has worked as a nurse for 30 years and began working at Harrogate District Hospital seven years ago.

The charity offers medical assistance in areas affected by conflict, epidemics and natural disasters. Mr Masters said he’s known doctors who have worked with the charity and seen first hand how necessary its help is.

Mr Masters said:

“It’s a highly respected charity and they go and help those in real need in areas others don’t. I just want to do a little bit to help them.

“Last time I raised over £1,000 so if we can get close to that it would be great, but anything is amazing.”

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He is a keen gamer and said he will switch between multiple games to help keep him awake. The whole event will be streamed on his Youtube and Twitch accounts.

To donate, click here.

Harrogate hospital trust appoints new board chair

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Sarah Armstrong as the new chair of its board.

Current chair Angela Schofield announced she is retiring having been in the role since November 2017.

Ms Armstrong, a former director of operations at Healthwatch and chief executive of York Centre for Voluntary Service, will take up the role from April 1.

She is also a non-executive director at Harrogate Integrated Facilities, a wholly-owned subsidiary company of the hospital trust that looks after its estate.

Ms Armstrong said: 

“I am delighted to be appointed chair of HDFT. Being a non-executive director over the last few years has enabled me to understand the work that the trust does, and the difference it makes. I feel extremely proud to be part of HDFT and very much look forward to undertaking this new role.”

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Steve Russell, chief executive of HDFT, said: 

“Sarah’s vast knowledge and experience has been invaluable since she joined the trust’s three years ago and I am looking forward to working with her in her new role.

“The energy and enthusiasm she brings is infectious and her inquisitive, challenging nature keeps us on our toes and ensures we are always striving to provide the best possible healthcare for our community.”

Three covid deaths reported at Harrogate hospital

Harrogate District Hospital has reported another three deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus.

NHS England figures show that one death was reported on January 20 and a further two were recorded on January 21.

It takes the covid-related death toll at the hospital from covid since March 2020 to 210.

The Harrogate district reported another 270 cases in to today’s UK Health Security Agency figures.

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Latest government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average stands at 1,075 per 100,000 people, up marginally on yesterday’s figure of 1,073.

However, it remains above the county average, which is 981, and the England rate of 995.

The figures come as the government prepares to lift covid Plan B restrictions on Wednesday. It means mandatory face coverings will no longer be required and vaccine passports for large scale events will be removed.

Harrogate hospital covid death toll rises to 207

Harrogate District Hospital has recorded another death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

The hospital reported the death on Tuesday, according to NHS England figures. It takes the covid-related death toll at the hospital to 207.

Meanwhile, the number of patients who have tested positive for covid and being treated at the hospital has fallen to 20 – down by seven on last week.

Today’s figures from the UK Health Security Agency show that another 313 infections have been recorded in the Harrogate district.

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Government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average is 1,061 per 100,000 people, slightly down on yesterday’s figure of 1,078.

It remains above both the county average, which is 976, and the England rate which is 971.

The data also shows that 106,176 booster or third jabs have been given in the Harrogate district, as of today.

Harrogate covid rate stable as 285 cases recorded

The Harrogate district’s covid rate has stabilised after another 285 cases were reported today.

Latest government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average has dropped to 1,078 per 100,000 people, up on yesterday’s figure of 1,074.

However, it is above the county average, which is 992, and the England rate of 972.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

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The number of positive covid patients currently being treated at the hospital stands at 27.

According to government figures, 106,142 booster or third jabs have been given in the Harrogate district, as of today.

Harrogate hospital records covid death as rate declines

Harrogate District Hospital has recorded another death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

The hospital reported the death on Sunday, according to NHS England figures. It takes the covid-related death toll at the hospital to 206.

Today’s figures from the UK Health Security Agency show that another 282 infections have been recorded in the Harrogate district.

Meanwhile, government figures show that the district’s seven-day covid average is 1,074 per 100,000 people, down on yesterday’s figure of 1,087.

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It remains above both the county average, which is 984, and the England rate which is 966.

The data also shows that 106,105 booster or third jabs have been given in the Harrogate district, as of today.