NHS England

Elliot is one of the first patients in England to be treated with a personalised cancer vaccine. The vaccines are being tested as part of a trial aiming to help patients with different types of cancer, and if successful, these vaccines might one day prevent a patients cancer from returning or spreading. Find out more. https://lnkd.in/ej9xuXiq #Cancer #Vaccines #NHSInnovation

Laura is a GP in the inclusion and homeless health service at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. She helps people overcome the barriers to accessing the care they need caused by homelessness. Working closely with the Somerset Homeless and Rough Sleepers Nursing Team, Laura helps provide key services like GP and nursing check-ins, which cover things from wound care and dressing to mental health first aid. There are more than 350 rewarding careers in the NHS – learn more at https://lnkd.in/di3P3Tnu #NHS #WeAreTheNHS

Every 58 seconds, NHS midwives like Anne, help to deliver a baby. ‘I treasure my role and I know that each shift, although challenging, is worthwhile.’ Anne became a midwife 14 years ago after being inspired by the care her own mother received. Now, she’s keen to inspire the next generation. 'Having supportive people around you, both colleagues and family, really helps you in the mammoth role that you are undertaking in being a midwife.’ If you’re interested in making a difference, visit https://lnkd.in/dvF2HT-8

An innovative virtual reality (VR) training program is helping healthcare professionals spot the signs that patients might need more support with their well-being. NHS staff are able to immerse themselves in the life of a fictitious 83-year-old patient named Peter, and are asked to consider symptoms, household clues and medical observations to make decisions on his treatment. Dr Brendon O’Leary, who leads the programme for the NHS in the East of England, said: ‘By blending cutting-edge VR technology and clinical science, while using old-fashioned storytelling, our learners are immersed in what illness really means to real people.’ The training is designed for VR headsets, but it can be used on all devices, including smartphones and laptops. It is available to all NHS staff via the national learning hub: https://lnkd.in/evYzVZb9. #NHSInnovation #VR

Specialists at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are using high quality medical photographs to assess and diagnose skin conditions, including cancer. This new approach aims to reduce waiting times and ensure quicker evaluation for patients. Rather than waiting for a face-to-face appointment, the team capture images which can be used to diagnose skin lesions and other conditions. These images are reviewed by a consultant, and patients are then contacted with details of the reviews, and what needs to happen next. Iosif Bakare, Senior Medical Photographer explained, ‘Early and rapid diagnosis of skin cancer is very important to improve people’s outcomes. And of course, many referrals for skin cancer turn out to be a simple skin problem that does not need further treatment.’ Since the service opened to patients in October 2023, over 1,000 people have been able to benefit from shorter waiting times for treatment. #SkinCancerAwarenessMonth #SkinCancer #Teledermatology

Thank you to everyone working across the NHS this bank holiday weekend. 💙 And to the public, if you need medical help, use 111, or for a serious or life-threatening emergency, please call 999.

‘If you are struggling, please don’t suffer alone. There are teams out there who can support you.’ After a complicated pregnancy and birth, Sobhia struggled with feelings of anxiety and depression when she returned home with her daughter. ‘I was so worried about being judged by others, especially since mental health can be a taboo topic, let alone postnatal depression. It seemed like everyone around me had it all together, while I was falling apart inside.’ After hearing from a friend about Acacia, a free mental health service that supports Birmingham residents, Sobhia reached out and received the support and kindness she needed. Now, Sobhia volunteers for the organisation that helped her, and works as a Peer Support Worker for the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health team at Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust. Over 57,000 new and expectant mums received specialist support with their mental health over the last year. If you’re worried about your own mental health, find out more information and the support available to you. https://lnkd.in/exmeqv6

Wishing a very happy Vesak Day to our NHS colleagues who are celebrating! 🪔💙

An innovative method of delivering intravenous antibiotics to patients is allowing Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust to treat people at home, helping them to avoid lengthy stays in hospital. By using an antibiotic pump, antibiotics are delivered over the course of 24 hours, meaning patients can go about their day as normal whilst receiving treatment. Many patients who are recovering from illnesses such as infections of the bone, chest, skin, heart, and brain have benefited from this method of treatment so far. Katherine, a team leader in the Trust’s Integrated Care Team, said: ‘The benefits of antibiotic pumps to our patients is huge. Apart from one daily visit from a nurse associate, patients can go about their lives as normal. As well as being better for patients, it frees up time for nursing staff and eases the pressure on wards by freeing up beds.’ This is a great example of NHS innovation benefitting patients and easing pressure on services. #NHS #NHSInnovation #Antibiotics

A groundbreaking wearable device is helping detect those at risk of a stroke and improve waiting times for treatment at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Stroke patients can wear the adhesive mobile electrocardiogram patch for up to 14 days to record their heart rhythm to reveal potential causes of stroke. The small, lightweight patch, pictured here held by Ward Manager Sanjula, is applied to a patient’s chest where it analyses their heart's electrical activity. After patients finish wearing the device, the data is overseen by cardiographic technicians. Within four days, a full report is supplied to the stroke team for final analysis, reducing the time patients would usually have to wait for investigation and treatment. This innovative patch means patients can continue their daily activities almost as normal — like exercising and showering — and even remove the device themselves without the need for a return hospital visit. By providing faster and more detailed data, the patch can identify atrial fibrillation more accurately. Early detection means treatment can begin sooner, potentially reducing the risk of stroke by two-thirds. #NHSInnovation #ECG #AtrialFibrillation #AI