CUH in Brief: December 2024
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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In this issue of CUH in Brief, we explore how we’re managing safely during the winter months, the use of video technology to aid epilepsy diagnosis, the first anniversary of our surgical movement hub, advancements in making chemotherapy gentler for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and much more.
Winter special
We recently welcomed BBC Look East and ITV Anglia to our hospital to showcase how we are managing care safely during the busy winter period.
The visit highlighted some of the innovative steps we’ve taken to enhance patient care and manage winter pressures effectively. They saw our new discharge facilities, which have doubled our capacity and are helping patients return home safely and efficiently. They also visited our new acute frailty ward, a quiet, dedicated space where patients from the Emergency Department can be treated quickly and effectively by our specialist team of geriatricians and nurses. Additionally, we showcased our established virtual ward, which continues to provide high-quality care for patients in their own homes.
More information about our winter plan is on our website.
#SmallThingsBigDifference
How video technology helped diagnose two-year-old Cain’s epilepsy
A mother from Peterborough has described new video technology to investigate epilepsy as “life-changing" for her two-year-old son, Cain.
Consultants at our hospitals have introduced a video service known as vCreate, which allows parents to safely and securely upload videos of potential seizures.
The videos can be viewed remotely by consultants local to the patient, enabling a quicker, more accurate diagnosis, faster time to treatment and less additional travel.
Read more about Cain’s story on our website.
Making chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma kinder to patients
A simple change to the chemotherapy regimen for people with Hodgkin lymphoma could reduce the long-term health impacts that can result from treatment, according to researchers in Cambridge.
The findings could lead to the national guidance on chemotherapy treatment for these patients being revised.
Read more on our website.
Looking ahead to Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital
Cambridge is home to the largest life sciences cluster in Europe and one of the most productive communities of cancer researchers in the world, with a number of globally significant discoveries and innovations.
Located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus with its powerful trinity of academia, industry and the NHS, Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) will be uniquely placed to change the story of cancer.
CCRH will bring together the clinical excellence of Addenbrooke’s Hospital, the scientific expertise of the University of Cambridge and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and the translational power of industry partners like AstraZeneca under one roof.
Read more on the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital website.
Our surgical movement hub turns one!
We're celebrating a year on of our Surgical Movement Hub! The hub, which sits slightly apart from the main hospital, has treated around 2,500 patients needing orthopaedic or spinal surgery over the last year.
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The hub continues to make a big difference for patients waiting for routine orthopaedic operations. Congratulations to the staff who have supported patients to receive:
#SmallThingsBigDifference
Medicine for Members - CAR-T cells therapy
Join us on Wednesday 22 January, 6.30pm, for an informative session on the groundbreaking chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells therapy, a revolutionary approach transforming the treatment of some cancers and now tackling autoimmune diseases.
Guest speakers:
For more information and to register, visit the sign-up page.
Every patient in Addenbrooke’s over Christmas to receive gift thanks to Cambridgeshire firm’s fundraiser
Staff at Ely-based Cambridge Commodities will donate a gift for every patient staying in Addenbrooke's over Christmas.
James Stevens and his staff at Cambridge Commodities picked Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (ACT) – our hospitals' charity – as their official charity partner seven years ago. Since then they have been busy fundraising for the two hospitals throughout the year.
The firm’s Annual Christmas Ball focuses on giving back at Christmas – with proceeds from last month’s event raising money to buy a Christmas present for every patient who will be in hospital over the festive season. James and his team are also buying boxes of chocolates for staff to share on the day too.
We're incredibly grateful for their generosity!
The season's festivities
Supporters and staff at Addenbrooke’s are conjuring up a host of magical surprises for children in hospital this Christmas.
During the festive period patients will enjoy everything from a snap visit from a favourite superhero to tasty treats, a magician, and fun with one of Santa’s little helpers.
The fun began last week when Spiderman sprang into action on the children’s cancer ward before swinging over to the Paediatric Emergency Department to spread some more Christmas cheer.
More on our website.
If you've made it all the way to the end - thank you!
Four months ago, we launched CUH in Brief to keep you updated on the work happening here at CUH, and we’re delighted to have nearly 14,000 subscribers already.
We hope you’ve found the updates useful and informative, and we look forward to continuing to share our news with you.
Wishing you a joyful festive season and a Happy New Year!
PA to Dave Pearce and the Pathology Directorate at CUH (Addenbrooke’s Hospital)
2dI used to watch this every week when it was on Tuesday mornings but now the timing doesn't work for me and I don't have time to catch up on Connect during my working day. Shame.