Latest news with #LeedsTeachingHospitalsNHSTrust
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Baby boy died just hours after being born when ‘doctors failed to carry out basic life-saving tests'
Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead less than eight hours after he was born 'UNACCEPTABLE' Baby boy died just hours after being born when 'doctors failed to carry out basic life-saving tests' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BABY died just hours after birth when hospital staff missed signs of a collapsed lung, a coroner has ruled. Little Benjamin Finch Arnold was born prematurely at St James' Hospital in Leeds in 2022. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Benjamin Arnold died just eight hours after his birth at St James's Hospital in Leeds in 2022 Credit: Getty Soon after birth, he developed serious breathing problems, which is not uncommon among babies born early. But crucial, basic life-saving tests were not carried out in time, an inquest into his death has found. It heard Benjamin could have survived if doctors had acted sooner to diagnose and treat a pneumothorax - a condition where air leaks into the chest and causes the lung to collapse. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), which runs the hospital, said it was "extremely sorry that Benjamin died whilst in our care". Last month, coroner Oliver Longstaff ruled Benjamin's death was avoidable. Around three hours after he was born, Benjamin underwent a procedure to help his underdeveloped lungs breathe, during which his lungs collapsed. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead less than eight hours after he was born. Mr Longstaff said staff "missed opportunity to consider the possibility" of a pneumothorax as the cause of his breathing problems early on in the process. This is because procedure policy "did not mandate a chest X-ray", which he said would probably have revealed it, the BBC reports. A further opportunity was also missed when the medic performing the procedure did not discuss it with the neonatal consultant involved, the coroner added. One sip of my porn star martini and I was in utter agony – my lung collapsed and I was gasping for breath The consultant would likely have asked if a pneumothorax had been ruled out as a cause of Benjamin's condition, the conclusion read. Mr Longstaff said: "No thought was given to the pneumothorax being a potential, and potentially reversible, cause of the collapse. "If they had been treated he would have, on the balance of probabilities, survived." Mr Longstaff has since issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report, aiming to prevent similar tragedies. He sent this report to the Health Secretary, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and other relevant bodies. He said maternity services in Leeds are dangerously split between two hospitals, with St James' lacking proper medical and paediatric support. Plans to bring all services under one roof have been delayed until at least 2030. There was also confusion over how the St James' unit is classified, with staff describing it as operating at a higher level than officially recognised. What is a collapsed lung? A pneumothorax - also known as a collapsed lung - happens when air has leaked out from the lung in to the chest cavity and chest wall. This causes the lung to collapse down and peel away from the inside of the chest. When someone who doesn't have any known lung problems develops a pneumothorax, this is called a primary pneumothorax. Usually the air has leaked from a blister on the surface of the lung which has been present from birth. A lung can also collapse as a result of conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema, as well as injuries to the chest wall that cause damage to lung surfaces. The condition most commonly occurs in smokers. The most common symptoms are sudden shortness of breath and chest pain, which may be sharp and worse with coughing and breathing. You may also experience a dry cough. If air has leaked out into the muscles and skin in your chest wall, you may notice a swelling and a 'bubble wrap' sensation if you press on your chest. Occasionally, if the leak of air has been very large, you may feel faint or light headed. A pneumothorax is usually diagnosed through an X-ray. Source: NHS The coroner warned that NHS guidelines for a breathing procedure called LISA are inconsistent, and questioned whether national rules for treating cardiac arrest in newborns are good enough. Finally, he said changes made by the Trust after Benjamin's death need to be properly explained. All organisations involved must respond by July 28. 'This cannot wait any longer' Earlier this year, Benjamin's parents described the care their son received as 'unacceptable'. "We are devastated by Benjamin's death," they said in a statement sent to the BBC. "The standard of care he received was unacceptable. "We urge Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust to take the prevention of future deaths report seriously. "We ask the government to urgently provide the funding for the new hospital building in Leeds. "This would allow all maternity and neonatal care to be provided from a single site and improve patient safety. "This cannot wait any longer." Dr Magnus Harrison, Chief Medical Officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'I am extremely sorry that Benjamin died whilst in our care and I cannot imagine how difficult the last three years have been for his family. 'We have already made important changes, including ensuring a consultant neonatologist is available on each hospital site and involved earlier in complex procedures. 'While these changes do not undo the loss of Benjamin, we will continue to review and improve our services to provide the best possible care for our babies and their families. 'We appreciate the coroner's thorough investigation and are preparing a response to the recommendations to provide the assurances he is seeking.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trust praised for 'excellent' brain tumour care
A Leeds hospital trust has been recognised for its outstanding treatment of brain tumours. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been announced as a Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Centre of Excellence - one of 14 nationally. The award recognises centres that provide excellent treatment, care and research opportunities for patients with brain tumours, with services measured on several criteria. The trust was originally recognised in 2021 but had to reapply last year. More than 12,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour in the UK every year, according to the Brain Research UK charity. Ryan Mathew, associate professor and honorary consultant neurosurgeon at the trust, accepted the formal accreditation in a London award ceremony on Thursday. "Our patients walk into this hospital and are given an awful diagnosis, but know the care they are going to receive is the very best," he said. The trust was singled out for streamlining its procedures to decrease the time from when a patient is diagnosed to when they have surgery. The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Centre for Excellence was established in 2020 to help ensure the best standards for patients. Dame Tessa, who died in 2018 aged 70, played a major role in securing London 2012 as culture secretary and later campaigned for the availability of further cancer treatments through the NHS. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. New cancer care approach 'tip of iceberg' - researcher Keyhole op used to remove head tumour in UK first Brain cancer treatment trial led by uni experts Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
MND projects for earlier diagnosis to launch at Rob Burrow Centre
Two "ambitious" projects to provide an earlier diagnosis of motor neurone disease (MND) are set to launch in work will use artificial intelligence (AI) and less invasive procedures to detect signs of the debilitating condition in ways that are more "fit for modern times" and lead to better outcomes for patients, experts projects will launch at the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease, a facility set up after the Leeds Rhino player died from the disease aged 42 in June lead Dr Agam Jung said the projects would give patients a better chance to make the most of their lives and to "live in the now". The first technology - called magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) - aims to detect upper motor neurone signs in multiple areas of the brain at once, and measure any abnormalities in underlying brain the second project plans to use AI on videos of patients' limbs and tongues to identify small muscle twitches that are a key sign of the condition. Currently, most people with suspected MND undergo a specialised test using painful needles and electricity, called electromyography (EMG).Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said the aim was to develop a simple test to help doctors recognise the signs of MND earlier, using AI applied to input from an ordinary camera, for example in a Jung, consultant neurologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and director of the Leeds MND Centre, said: "Time and again, I bear witness to anxiety and fear during the diagnostic journey."There is an urgent need to identify diagnostic tools fit for the modern times we live in."Harnessing technology, machine learning and artificial intelligence will help us alleviate our patients' suffering significantly." Leeds Hospitals Charity has invested £230,000 in the CEO Esther Wakeman said: "After reaching our fundraising target for the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease, we knew we wanted to continue to support the Leeds MND Service to ensure we can support the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust in setting this centre apart from anything else."Building the centre is just the start of our journey."The new Rob Burrow Centre for MND is expected to open in autumn 2025, and it is hoped the research will get under way in early 2026. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists find first new antibiotic for gonorrhoea since the 1990s amid rise in ‘super' strains
Scientists have found the first new antibiotic treatment for gonorrhoea since the 1990s amid fears over the rise of 'untreatable' strains of the sexually transmitted infection. Gepotidacin, an antibiotic currently used to treat urinary tract infections, can also treat gonorrhoea, experts have found. It comes after researchers in antibiotic-resistant infections. The research, published in the Lancet on Monday, compared the treatment of 622 patients for gonorrhoea with the current standard injected antibiotic, called ceftriaxone, with a new treatment using an oral antibiotic pill called gepotidacin. They found the pill to be as effective as the current standard treatment and also found it worked against the strains of the STI, N gonorrhoeae, that are resistant to existing antibiotics. An editorial published in the Lancet alongside the study warned that global targets to reduce the number of new cases of gonorrhoea among people aged 15–49 years old from 82.3 million per year in 2020 to 8.23 million per year in 2030, might not be achieved due to the resistant strains. It added: 'There is the risk that soon gonorrhoea will be impossible to treat in the absence of new drugs or strategies to curb the burden of disease… What we are seeing with N gonorrhoeae is a challenge that could extend easily to other bacteria with worsening of the antimicrobial resistance landscape.' The study was carried out by researchers from Birmingham University Hospitals, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Emory University, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Sydney Medical School, and pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) which manufactures gepotidacin. Authors note that resistant trains are prevalent in several Asian countries, and have been increasingly confirmed across Europe. Last month the UK Health Security Agency published an alert over the rise in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases and 'extensively' drug-resistant strains. Since 2015 there have been 42 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea and fifteen of those were extensively resistant meaning they were also resistant to second option treatments. From January 2024 to March 2025, nine cases of the super-resistant strain were recorded, compared to five cases in two years prior. Cases of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea come after a record 85,000 cases were reported in England in 2023, and a rise in STI diagnosis more broadly in the UK. Researchers said: 'Cases of drug-resistant gonorrhoea have increased rapidly in recent years, reducing the options for treatment. There is an urgent need for new treatments for gonorrhoea with no new antibiotics since the 1990s.' 'The new treatment could be an important tool in combating the rise of gonorrhoea strains that are becoming resistant to the standard treatment. Additionally, treatment as a pill alone without the need for an injection would likely improve patient experiences and reduce healthcare resources.' However, researchers advised the study results must be treated with caution as the majority of the participants, 74 per cent, were white men and so said more research would be needed for the impact in women, adolescents and other ethnicities. In a comment piece authors, also warned that strains resistant to the new treatment, gepotidacin, will develop and said the development of additional treatments remains important. They said: 'In conclusion, gepotidacin is promising for the treatment of gonorrhoea, but the challenges to retain gonorrhoea as a treatable infection will continue. As emphasised by WHO, five key priorities crucial for effective management and control of gonorrhoea include improved prevention.'
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Overseas staff 'invaluable' at hospitals in Leeds
Overseas staff working for hospitals in Leeds are "invaluable" in the day-to-day running of health services, according to the trust's chief medical Magnus Harrison described international recruitment as a "two-way street" that helped to fill gaps in the organisation but also offered good career one in five Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust staff are non-British workers, which is broadly in line with the NHS average in government said recruiting talent from around the world made the NHS "stronger", but added it was also committed to developing "home-grown talent". In total, about 22,000 members of staff work across seven hospital sites in Leeds, representing at least 129 different vast majority are British, with about 4,500 from other Sidique, who moved to Leeds from Pakistan three years ago, works on an urgent care ward at St James's University 32-year-old charge nurse described his job as "superb" and said he partly chose the UK because he wanted to work for the NHS."It was very difficult to decide which country to go to, but in the end I decided for the UK because there are more learning opportunities here," he said."If somebody is coming from a different country, different culture, different tradition, different people, it's difficult – but I haven't faced any problems as people are wonderful."NHS England has about 1.5m staff, according to workforce data, with more than 311,000 non-British. While many overseas staff are recruited to fill vacancies, others come to the UK for training opportunities or Mohammad Yousef, 31, was sponsored by the King Hussein Cancer Centre in Jordan to spend a year at St James's University Hospital for anaesthetics training."Back In Jordan they trust the NHS," he said."They send doctors to get the experience and to get that experience back and practise it on our patients." Dr Harrison said it would be "really difficult" to run some of the trust's services if it didn't have international staff."We have areas where we struggle to recruit, and our overseas colleagues help fill those gaps for us," he said."It's a two-way street – we benefit but hopefully our overseas colleagues benefit as well."Sarah Dodsworth, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) regional director, said international nurses played a "vital and valuable" role but the NHS had become "over reliant" on overseas workers."The route to adequate staffing is to ensure that nursing is an attractive profession," she said. "This can only be achieved by ensuring fair pay, addressing staffing shortfalls and attracting students."The Nuffield Trust think tank echoed the RCN viewpoint and asked the government to look for "bold solutions to shore up our domestic supply of healthcare workers".Immigration explained: Migrants, refugees, and visas definedA Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "The NHS has always drawn on talent from around the world. "The service is stronger for it and millions of patients are grateful for the skilled and compassionate care they have received from staff from overseas."They added: "This government is also committed to developing our own home-grown talent and giving opportunities to more people across the country to join our NHS by training thousands more doctors and nurses."Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
