A Harrogate mum has shared how her daughter overcame a brain tumour after being diagnosed aged two.
Marnie Downie-Keally, now seven, was diagnosed with a type of brain tumour called low-grade pilocytic astrocytoma in March 2017.
She underwent surgery to decompress cysts that were causing a build-up of pressure in her head, and also to do a biopsy.
In late 2018 after an MRI scan, Marnie began a course of chemotherapy that lasted 18 months.
Marnie having fun
March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month, which raises money for research to find a cure for brain tumours.
Sally Downie said:
“There had always been something that wasn’t quite right and we had been back and forth to the GP with various things from swollen gums to strange jerky movements, but it always got put down to a virus.
“Marnie had never been a great sleeper, waking every couple of hours and then towards diagnosis, she was waking saying her head hurt and being sick. Finally a CT scan was done and that was when we found out she had a brain tumour.”
Enjoying life
Marnie is now doing well after finishing her treatment in June 2020. She is back at school and enjoys playing sports including football, gymnastics, paddle boarding and swimming.
Ms Downie said:
“Marnie’s last six-monthly MRI scan in January showed all is stable, and the doctor was very pleased with her progress. If all is well at her next scan in July, Marnie will move to yearly scans.
“She’s really happy that, now that her portacath is out, if she gets a temperature she doesn’t have to go to hospital to be checked. She’s doing really well, and is really enjoying being at school. She’s doing lots of activities, including football, gymnastics, paddle boarding and swimming.”
Marnie enjoys paddle boarding.
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Vital support
Marnie and her family have been supported by Candlelights, a Leeds-based charity that works with child cancer patients and their families across Yorkshire.
Candlelighters supported Marnie and her family right from their stay at the hospital, providing them with practical support and entertainment on the wards, wellbeing therapies, trips out and a holiday, as well as financial support.
Ms Downie added:
“There are far too many things to list that Candlelighters have done for us since Marnie’s diagnosis and unless you are being supported by them I don’t think you can ever fully appreciate what they do.
“The support provided by Candlelighters has been amazing for our wellbeing. There’s always a friendly face offering a cup of tea and a chat as well as endless entertainment and support for the children.”
To donate to Candlelighters visit this page.
Starbeck nurses to embark on mammoth charity cycle rideStarbeck nurses Andy Dennis and Tracey Hill are to embark on a mammoth 2000km charity cycle ride from Amsterdam to Gibraltar.
The trip is to raise money for a charity close to their hearts, which offers vital medical care for those who need it around the world.
The couple hopes the journey will raise £30,000 for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
An impressive £115,000 has already been raised for the charity to reach their overall target of £200,000, which was set in 2010.
It’s the third major fundraising effort they have undertaken for MSF. In 2011, Mr Dennis walked from Amsterdam to Barcelona and in 2016, the couple cycled across the USA.
Ms Hill said:
“We are raising money to give to MSF so they can use it to help people who are desperately in need of healthcare. That’s relevant right now as MSF are in Ukraine. We’re trying our best to get the word out to raise as much money as we can.”
Ukraine crisis
MSF’s medical teams act fast to save people’s lives in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics and go to where they are needed most.
MSF works in over 70 countries and has health workers in Ukraine at the moment.
Mr Dennis has worked in Uganda, South Sudan and Sierra Leone for MSF
Specialist teams are in hospitals in the war-torn country treating wounded people, providing surgical care, emergency medicine and mental health support.
Mr Dennis said donations big or small are greatly appreciated.
“There’s no such thing as a small donation, it impacts someone somewhere.
“£3 can pay for an oxygen mask, for example. We can’t change the world but you can change the life for the person sat in a clinic and bring them healthcare access they wouldn’t normally have.”
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‘All about grit’
The trip will take three months, which they will break up so they have time to rest and connect with local media outlets to promote the fundraiser.
Mr Dennis is an ICU nurse at Harrogate District Hospital and Ms Hill is a dermatology nurse at York Hospital. Both of their employers have supported them by giving them time off with some unpaid leave.
Ms Hill said the endurance trip will be “all about grit”.
“You find out the core of you, you peel back so much and you know how determined you are. It’s all about grit, can you tolerate being dirty every day? If you find a river, you go for it.”
The couple cycling in the USA in 2016.
Mr Dennis added:
“What Tracey described is the every day life of the people we are raising money for. We are choosing to do this to make a bit of difference.”
Proud Starbeck man
Mr Dennis has a reputation in Harrogate as a caring and compassionate member of the local community.
The proud Starbeck man said, “I’m not Bob Geldof”, but wants to show how anyone can make a difference in the world.
He said:
“I was no achiever but I was interested in biology at school and it was the only subject I was good at. Combine biology with compassion you find nursing at the end. It’s an incredible job, it might not look attractive with jaded looking nurses on the TV during covid, but I’ve travelled the world.”
All money raised for the trip, which they have called Ride To The Rock, will go to the MSF and the couple will pay for all expenses themselves. It will start in May.
They are also looking for corporate sponsors too. You can email Andy at andy4msf@pm.me for more information.
Their websites are www.andy4msf.com and www.thecyclingnurse.co.uk
To donate, visit the JustGiving page.
Covid rate falls from 1,300 to 344 in Harrogate district over last monthLatest figures reveal how dramatically the covid rate of infection has fallen in the Harrogate district over the past month.
Data published by North Yorkshire County Council shows the seven-day rate of infection was 344 per 100,000 people on March 1.
On February 1, when the Omicron variant was rampant, the rate was 1,300 per 100,000 people.
Although the rate continues to fall, there have still been covid-related deaths reported at Harrogate District Hospital.
NHS England figures show that one death was recorded on February 28 and another on February 25.
There have been 232 covid-related deaths at the hospital since the pandemic started almost two years ago.
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From Tuesday, the rules for people visiting patients in Harrogate and Ripon’s hospitals will be relaxed.
Since December 23, visitors have only been allowed for patients on end-of-life care, patients with a learning disability or severe cognitive impairment such as dementia. Visits to parents or carers of children and birthing partners are also permitted.
But from Tuesday, patients can have one visitor, by appointment, between 2pm-4pm for 30 minutes. Only two visitors will be allowed in each bay at any one time.
Harrogate hospital trust appoints new board chairHarrogate 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.”
A man is recovering in hospital after being struck by a van driven by thieves at a Ripon supermarket.
The incident happened at 6.40pm last night at Morrisons.
According to North Yorkshire Police, a white utility van failed to stop after striking the unnamed man, who is in his 40s.
The extent of his injuries us now known.
A police statement said:
“The van did not stop at the scene and so we are appealing for information to help identify the vehicle and its occupants.
“Anyone who was in the area of Morrisons between 6.20pm and 6.50pm and has any dashcam or video footage, is asked to contact police.
“Dial 101, press 1 and pass information to the force control room, quoting reference number 12220012344.”
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‘Positive’ feedback from stroke patients sent outside Harrogate for emergency treatment
Feedback from stroke patients sent outside the Harrogate district for emergency treatment has been “largely positive,” an NHS official has said.
Under major changes introduced in 2019, ambulances began taking patients to specialist units at Leeds or York hospitals rather than Harrogate after evidence showed they had a better chance of survival – even if travel times are increased.
Simon Cox, director of acute commissioning at North Yorkshire’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, said there are now “early indications” that the changes have had a “positive impact” on patients, although he added a full review would be carried out.
He said in a report:
“We have carried out a qualitative survey of those patients who have been through the direct transfer stroke pathway to gather feedback on their experiences which have been largely positive.
“It is timely now, as part of the integrated care system-wide review of hyper acute provision, to conduct a thorough review of the outcomes of the changes.”
The changes were introduced following a national review which found larger, more specialist stroke units were better equipped to increase survival rates and improve recovery times.
Around 300 people in the Harrogate district fall seriously ill with a stroke each year, with two thirds being taken to Leeds and the other third to York.
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Once patients have received treatment at the specialist units, they are either discharged home with support from a rehabilitation team or transferred to Harrogate District Hospital for ongoing care.
Mr Cox previously said figures on survival rates had been “significantly skewed” by the pandemic and would be published at a later date.
He explained the figures were “skewed” as fewer patients had presented at hospitals with stroke symptoms due to Covid fears – something he added was “concerning”.
In his report to a meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s scrutiny of health committee on Friday, Mr Cox provided some examples of the positive feedback.
One patient said:
“The doctors and staff in the stroke unit of York Hospital were fantastic – so kind and caring and I will always be indebted to them for literally saving my life.”
However, not all feedback has been positive with some residents in Scarborough raising concerns over similar changes introduced in the area.
Mr Cox said in his report that questions over transport times and staffing levels had been raised during public consultation events held in November.
He said:
“There was a vocal minority who challenged the move to the new stroke pathway, despite the clinical benefits.
“Although some anxieties remain about the new stroke pathways for the east coast and Harrogate areas, particularly from residents on the east coast and mainly related to travel and transport times, those who experienced the new pathway were very positive about the care that they received.”
An annual event held in remembrance of an avid golfer has raised over £1,200 for Harrogate District Hospital’s Intensive Treatment Unit.
Golfers from across the region descended on Knaresborough Golf Club to compete in the 12th annual Lee Flintoft Memorial Trophy Golf Event.
Mr Flintoft died after being stabbed aged 37 in 2009. He worked for SB Utilities in Knaresborough, which would hold frequent golf days to increase networking opportunities for the company.
Lee Flintoft (left), pictured in 2008 with Andrew Cooke and Robert Harris.
After his death, the corporate event became a charity fundraiser in his memory and has raised over £6,000 to date for local charities.
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This year’s competition was won by Gordon Dunn, who took home the coveted trophy.
Mr Flintoft’s sister, Tina Harris said:
Number of covid patients in Harrogate down to seven“As a family, we think it is wonderful that everyone involved is fundraising for such a fantastic cause.
“Lee meant so much to his family and friends that they have continued to fundraise in his name for the last 12 years for the care he received at HDFT.
“This year we raised £1,200 at the golf day. Darren Swales, commercial manager at Knaresborough Golf Club, puts a lot of time and effort into this event every year and I would like to thank him for his help.”
The number of covid patients in North Yorkshire’s hospitals has fallen — with just seven now in Harrogate District Hospital.
A press briefing today heard there are now 109 patients in the four main hospitals serving the county – down from 131 last week.
The latest figure includes six patients in Scarborough, seven in Harrogate, 27 in York and 69 in South Tees. Harrogate had eight patients last week.
Patient numbers had been climbing steadily since the end of June but did not reach levels seen during previous waves thanks to vaccinations weakening the link between infections and serious illness.
Despite this, Richard Webb, director of health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council, said the wider health and social care sector was still facing “pretty exceptional” pressures.
Speaking at a meeting of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, he said:
“The level of demand for both hospital and primary care, as well as community health services and social care, is pretty exceptional at the moment.
“This is not on the scale that we have seen during previous waves of covid but it is still something we are keeping a very close eye on.”
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Mr Webb also said weekly covid infection rates across the county had now plateaued after falling from record levels last month when the North Yorkshire average peaked at 590 cases per 100,000 people.
The latest figure now stands at 269 – just below the England average of 299. The Harrogate district rate is 289.
Secure 48-bike rack proposed for Harrogate hospitalPlans have been submitted for a 48-bike rack at Harrogate District Hospital.
Harrogate And District NHS Foundation Trust has submitted proposals to Harrogate Borough Council to build the new secure cycling storage.
It would be built to the right of the main entrance to the hospital next to the disabled car parking bays.
The rack would give staff and visitors a safe place to park their bikes following a spate of thefts at the hospital last year.
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Last summer, the Stray Ferret reported that there had been seven bicycle thefts at the hospital in three months, which North Yorkshire Police called “clearly outrageous”.
Some of the thefts affected key workers who found their bikes missing after long shifts.
The force offered hospital staff and local residents the option to have their bikes security marked in an effort to discourage the crime.
Harrogate hospital completes second jabs for frontline staffToday is the last day of second vaccine appointments for frontline healthcare and social worker staff at Harrogate District Hospital.
Meanwhile, Public Health England has announced that only one more case of covid has been confirmed in the district, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 7,643.
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The district’s seven-day rate has declined slightly to 20.5. This is lower than the Yorkshire and the England rate, which both stand at 23.9.
No more deaths were reported in the district today.
The covid death toll at the hospital is therefore still at 179 in total.