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The father of a man who left £81,300 to the N&N Hospitals Charity has returned to the N&N to meet the team who treated his son and see the equipment purchased thanks to the legacy gift.

Nicholas (Nick) Fuller was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a very young age, and his condition developed as he got older.

His parents were initially told that his lifespan would be around 35 years but he was 54 when he died, after enjoying life to the full, travelling around the world with his parents and making friends wherever he went.

Nick Fuller

His legacy was shared between the Cancer Care and Respiratory departments and used to purchase a non-invasive mechanical ventilation system which helps improve symptoms and the quality of life and survival of patients with prolonged neuro-muscular conditions for which there is no cure. It also paid for a trans-cutaneous CO2 monitor which is non-invasive and suitable to be used at home.

Nick’s father, George, said: “Nick was an amazing young man who never let his disability affect his approach to life. He made us proud parents and for that we will be eternally grateful.”

After leaving school at 16, Nick worked for the Ministry of Defence and served in Germany at the same time as George who was serving in the Royal Air Force.

On their return to the UK, Nick was stationed at an RAF base in Cambridgeshire until he died in 2020.

George said: “When the family moved to Norfolk in 2003, Nick was monitored by consultants from various departments at the N&N. Respiratory Consultant Philippe Grunstein was his favourite and he looked forward to his consultations.

“Not once in his relatively short life did I hear him moan or ask the question ‘why me?’

“During his later years, Nick was hospitalised with pneumonia twice and it was the expertise and professionalism of Philippe that brought him through those traumatic times and to whom we will always be indebted.

“A true gentleman and a credit to the NHS and NNUH and the main reason why we are sure that Nick would want others to benefit from his legacy.”

Julie Cooper, Head of Grants at the N&N Hospitals Charity, said: “Nick’s family are, rightly, very proud of their son, and we were privileged to hear his story, and to be able to help create a lasting legacy from the gift he has given in his will.

“We thank the family for their generosity which will help improve the lives and treatment of many more patients in the future.”

If you would like information about leaving a gift in your will, please contact nnuhcharity@nnuh.nhs.uk

Photo caption: Left to right: Director of Transformation Alex Berry, Respiratory Consultants Prasanna Sankaran and Philippe Grunstein and George Fuller.

A Norwich woman is preparing to walk 500 miles to support the oncology team at the N&N where her parents were treated.

Louisa Dye, from Norwich, will be clocking up the miles throughout March, inspired after losing her father, Stuart Clarke, to pancreatic cancer in 2006 and her mother, Christine, to breast cancer and its secondaries in 2021.

Alongside her, will be Cockapoo, Stanley, along with as many friends and family as she can encourage along to raise money for the N&N Hospitals Charity oncology fund.

Louisa said: “In 2020, I started including walking into my fitness routine, anything from 5 miles to 24 miles.

“Since losing my mum, walking has kept me occupied and filled a gap in my life that mum filled. On one of my many walks on route to Whitlingham in November 2022, I came up with an idea to use walking as an advantage, to raise money for the oncology fund.

“This supports patients at the Weybourne Day Unit where patients receive chemotherapy and Mulbarton ward – the focus is on the treatment and care of those suffering from and living with cancer, both close to my heart as both my mum and dad used these facilities.”

Pupils from Langley Prep School at Taverham Hall will also be joining in with a two-mile walk on 16 March. If you would like to support Louisa, visit her JustGiving page:

louisa Dye is fundraising for Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity (justgiving.com)

More information about the charity and how you can support us, go to nnhospitalscharity.org.uk/

A NNUH staff member has taken up her dream role of becoming a Consultant Radiographer after being sponsored through a Master’s Degree by the N&N Hospitals Charity.

Louise Cooper was working as a Diagnostic Radiographer in the Breast Imaging unit when she began her Master’s Degree in Breast Evaluation.

She passed her course with Distinction which trained her to report mammograms, perform breast ultrasound, carry out clinical examinations and undertake biopsies under stereotactic and ultrasound control.

Louise, who officially graduated last month, said: “Without the charity’s help and support I would never have been able to achieve this. My training has allowed me to work autonomously in clinics, enabling me to contribute to the ever-increasing workload in Breast Imaging.

“Having another trained consultant increases the department’s appointment capacity reducing patient waiting times and patient anxiety and I hope that my training will lead to a quicker diagnosis and treatment for some of our patients.”

Louise has completed a research project for her dissertation which she hopes to get published, and as part of the new role will continue undertaking research projects to make positive contributions to both the department and breast research in general.

She said: “I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to complete my post-graduate degree, I have been supported by an excellent team throughout my training and feel very lucky to work with such wonderful people.

“The patients are always at the centre of our care and I hope my training will make a difference to the patients I care for. I can’t thank the charity enough for this opportunity.”

Dr Arne Juette, NNUH Director of Breast Screening, said: “One really big difference this has made is that Lou will now be able to work as a consultant radiographer, thus helping the unit to providing excellent and more timely care to our patients.”

To find out more about the N&N Hospitals Charity and our ongoing appeals, please visit the Charity’s website https://nnhospitalscharity.org.uk/

If you would like to support the N&N Hospitals Charity, contact us at fundraising@nnuh.nhs.uk

Santa and a very special helper put smiles on the faces of youngsters spending Christmas in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals by donating chocolate and toys to patients in the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital.

Sofia Honey, 8, and her Mum Sammy Adcock delivered more than 100 selection boxes and “bravery” boxes to the children’s hospital on Wednesday afternoon and came back again today to deliver more. The bravery boxes contain toys and activities suitable for all age ranges from babies to teenagers. They will be handed out on Christmas Day to all the youngsters who have to stay in hospital.

Sofia Honey was treated for leukaemia in the Jenny Lind and wanted to raise money to buy toys and activities for inpatients because when she was in the hospital, she could not play with any of the toys.

Sofia Honey said: “When I came into hospital for my cancer treatment all the toys were for babies, and I didn’t want to play with them. These boxes are filled with Fidgets, Uno, colouring books and little bits and bobs, stuff they can just keep doing at any time of the day.”

Sofia Honey, who is one of the hospital’s Community Champions, and her mum raised the money by turning her celebratory cancer party into a fundraising opportunity.

She said: “I thought it would be a good idea to raise some money, so we did it at my party. We had little games like guess the name of the Teddy and I was asked if I wanted to do pin the tail on the donkey. I said could we do pin the port on a giant me instead.

“We raised £7,000. Last Christmas we gave some selection boxes and at Easter we gave Easter eggs. “I like doing it because I can see the smiles on their faces when they get a gift.”

Sofia Honey and Sammy were joined by Morgan Lewis, from Attleborough cakery, Bakeaholics, who was a patient at the hospital as a child. Morgan said: “I was in and out of the Jenny Lind a lot as a child and have never been able to come back until now, to say thank you and to be involved in this.”

Sammy said: “I am immensely proud of Sofia Honey and I remain eternally grateful to the hospital and know how hard it is for these youngsters to be in hospital away from their families on Christmas Day. It is lovely to be able to spread a little joy.”

NNUH Paediatric Emergency Matron Alice Cook said: “A huge thank you to Sofia and her mum Sammy. To continue to think of us after all that Sofia’s been through makes her a very special little girl. Her donation of selection boxes and bravery boxes makes such a difference to the children who have to be in hospital on Christmas Day.”

Julie Cooper, Head of Grants for the N&N Hospitals Charity said “Sofia Honey was one of our Charity Champions for 2022, and we are incredibly grateful for the support she and her family have provided for our Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital Fund. “

Donations to our Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital Fund have helped fund self-soothe toys for children undergoing treatment, additional training for nurses and fantastic artwork for the new Paediatric Theatres.  To find out more, or to make a donation, please visit www.nnhospitalscharity.org.uk

Picture caption: Sofia Honey Adcock, mum Sammy Adcock, Morgan Lewis and Alice Cook

Christmas arrived early for the babies on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital after 44 Jellycat toys were donated.

The toys, one for every baby who will spend Christmas Day on the unit, are kindly provided each year by a business or organisation via the N&N Hospitals Charity.

The Vivup team, who specialise in employee health and wellbeing benefits, stepped in at the last minute to source and deliver them to NICU, ready to hand out on December 25.

Kate McColl, Family Care Sister on NICU, said: “We can’t thank Vivup enough for going above and beyond to deliver these toys for our babies.

“This was going to be the first year we can remember without us distributing Jellycats for the babies, so to receive these the week before Christmas is wonderful. Thank you to Vivup on behalf of all our families.”

Simon Moyle, CEO of Vivup, commented: “We are thrilled to help. We work with NHS trusts throughout the UK and we see first-hand how their people go above and beyond for their patients every day. So, we were only too happy to jump in and help out for this very special Christmas delivery.

“On behalf of myself and the team at Vivup, we wish everyone in NICU a very Merry Christmas and we hope the Jellycats enjoy their new homes!”

To find out more about the N&N Hospitals Charity, how you can support us and ongoing appeals, please visit https://nnhospitalscharity.org.uk/

If you would like to support the N&N Hospitals Charity, contact us at fundraising@nnuh.nhs.uk

Pictured: Edel Brittle, from Vivup, hands over the Jellycat toys to NICU Matron Paula, Family Care Sister Kate, and the NICU staff.

A new café has opened at Cromer Hospital, funded by the Norfolk & Norwich Hospitals Charity, offering hot and cold food, to eat in or takeaway, and accessible without entering the main hospital building.

The café is called “Mardle”, a name suggested by Sharon Grimwood, Cromer MIU Receptionist, who has won a bottle of champagne.

It is run by the Balanced Food Co, with proceeds to be reinvested into further improvements at Cromer Hospital with staff offered a discount.

John Paul Garside, Charity Director, said: “We are really excited to have been able to provide this wonderful facility for Cromer Hospital and are keen to see the proceeds from the café go towards further developments for NHS patients in North Norfolk”.

To find out more about the N&N Hospitals Charity or to make a donation please visit www.nnhospitalscharity.org.uk

Notes to editors
Pictured from left: John Paul Garside, Charity Director; Anita Martins, Matron; Richie, Café Manager; Carol Edwards, Public Governor for North Norfolk; Ian Summers, joint owner of Balanced Food, Sharon Grimwood who named the café and Sam Higginson, Chief Executive.

The family of a boy who spent his first days on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at NNUH have raised more than £20,000 for the N&N Hospitals Charity, including £2,333 this year alone.

Jack Baker, from Norwich, was born by emergency caesarean section in September 2009 after mum Lucy suffered a placental abruption which meant that his heartbeat had slowed considerably.

The delivery team spent eight minutes resuscitating Jack before he was taken to the NICU where he took part in what was then a pioneering programme called TOBY which involved cooling his body to reduce any damage to the brain following oxygen deprivation.

Jack is now a happy, healthy 13-year-old, and to say thanks to the NICU which cared for him, Lucy and husband Simon, and grandparents Jane and Adrian, have held an annual coffee morning and crafts sale to raised thousands for the charity.

Lucy and Simon recalled their time on NICU: “When Jack was about eight hours old, Dr Roy, the consultant paediatrician, explained what had happened and that Jack had been deprived of oxygen at birth, and said that Jack was very poorly; he might experience fits and seizures, his liver wasn’t functioning properly and nor were his kidneys.

“Consultant Neonatologist Rahul Roy suggested the TOBY cooling mat.   

“The treatment involved cooling his body temperature by three or four degrees, thereby reducing any damage to the brain following his oxygen deprivation.

“During the next 72 hours, although we had a very poorly baby to think about, we were so impressed with and grateful to the whole NICU team.

“His recovery in the NICU was amazing thanks to the care and dedication of the staff and, during the 12 days we were there, we always felt welcomed.

“Had it not been for the treatment he received at the NICU, it would have been a very different story.”

Jack’s grandmother Jane, who hosts the hugely popular annual fundraiser in the garden of her North Tuddenham home, said: “People are so generous and we don’t charge for anything, just donations.

“Jack is 13 now and he loves the fundraising. Ever since he was little he has said thank you to everyone.

“The annual event is a lot of work but worth it and has become part of everybody’s life.”

Lynn Crombie, from the N&N Hospitals Charity, said: “Jack’s is such a fantastic story and it’s wonderful that all the family continue to support our NICU.

“The money they have raised over the years have helped to support many other families and we are so grateful for their continued support.”

To find out more about the N&N Hospitals Charity and our ongoing appeals, please visit the Charity’s website https://nnhospitalscharity.org.uk/

If you would like to support the N&N Hospitals Charity, contact us at fundraising@nnuh.nhs.uk

An appeal to help fund state-of-the-art imaging service and equipment at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has been launched by the N&N Hospitals Charity, marking the 250 years anniversary since the hospital welcomed its first patients in 1772.

The appeal is to raise vital funds to support the introduction of a thrombectomy service at the N&N, to enable the urgent removal of clots (thrombus) which cause strokes. Scans enable doctors to accurately locate and remove the clots, restoring blood supply to the brain. The technique is a major advance in the treatment of stroke patients, saving lives and reducing disability. 

NNUH Chief of Division for Clinical Support Services Dr Richard Goodwin said: “Our Imaging Appeal aims to provide more equipment, more services and more facilities where they are most needed at the N&N.  This could be another MRI or CT scanner or creating the associated facilities to accommodate a new thrombectomy service for stroke patients.  This will bring benefit to a wide range of patients – people with cancer, stroke, cardiac and kidney disease.”

Research suggests that every minute saved in the time from stroke onset to treatment grants the patient an extra 4.2 days of extra healthy life. Currently, only 1% of patients are treated with thrombectomy compared with the recommended 10%, and people in the East of England have the least access to this life saving treatment.  Universal access to the service in England could result in 1,600 more people becoming independent after a stroke each year.

One former patient, Sarah said: “I suffered a stroke in February 2019, while I was out running. I was brought into the N&N by ambulance, and after preliminary investigations including a CT scan, I was given thrombolysis and then transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for a mechanical thrombectomy.

“I have absolutely no doubt that having this procedure saved me from sustaining severe and permanent disability, and certainly saved my career. I am now back in full-time work, and able to do everything I did prior to the stroke. I count myself incredibly lucky, and obviously feel very strongly that thrombectomy should be available to everyone who warrants it, in a timely fashion. Having a thrombectomy service locally is vital if this hospital is to provide the best possible care for stroke patients.”

Director of the N&N Hospitals Charity John Paul Garside, said:  “Help us to help patients live their life to the fullest by supporting our appeal.”

Visit www.nnhospitalscharity.org.uk to find out more or donate at  https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/imagingappeal

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals are marking the successful establishment of the UK’s only gynaeoncology programme administering heated chemotherapy at the time of surgery (HIPEC- heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy) for patients with ovarian cancer.

Since establishing the service two years ago a multidisciplinary team has completed 40 cases, recording good outcomes for their patients. This has been achieved by the efforts of a vast multi-disciplinary team including consultants, senior ward staff, nurses, health care assistants, pharmacists, occupational therapists and admins and clerical staff across our surgical and medical division.

HIPEC is a procedure carried out following the completion of complex surgery to remove all visible disease in the abdomen and pelvis.  After the initial procedure has been completed, a 40-42°C solution is washed through the patient, in an attempt to kill off any remaining cells.

Patients have to meet very strict criteria to be eligible; their cancer must be advanced but not spread to other organs unless it is a different type of cancer and not linked to the first. They must also be assessed fit enough to undergo the gruelling major surgery.

NNUH Consultant Gynaeoncology Surgeon, Nikos Burbos, has led on this programme with collaboration from NNUH Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Adam Stearns, who already provides this service for colorectal cancer patients.

Mr Burbos said: “At the moment we are treating 20-30 of our most advanced ovarian cancer patients a year. These are people who have the most aggressive form of cancer, but who we feel benefit from this procedure.

“This is also a procedure which comes with a lot of risks and therefore needs a highly specialised team to be able to carry it out:

• We are bringing dangerous chemotherapy drugs into our operating theatres which then have to be washed around the patient’s abdomen
• We are heating up a solution to a very high temperature, but need to make sure that the overall body temperature doesn’t rise, which could be very dangerous
• Body cooling blankets have to be applied throughout the procedure along with ice fluids washed through intravenously to stop the patient over-heating
• Most importantly, HIPEC needs to be done by highly specialised surgeons, as removing all the visible cancer is the most important part of the procedure

“We require highly specialised anaesthetists to be alongside the patient throughout. These are trailblazing anaesthetists who we have on board here.”

The experience at NNUH means the Trust is the only established centre in the UK to offer this service to ovarian cancer patients as part of the standard care. Recently, two other centres in England have started treating patients with ovarian cancer– The Christie in Manchester and the Royal Marsden in London.

The development of this service has been more than 10 years in the making and requires a huge level of collaboration across multiple teams including nurses, HCAs, pharmacy, oncologists, anaesthetists, intensive care team and various surgical specialties.

Mr Burbos said: “We have been carrying out this procedure for nearly two years and we are extremely pleased with the outcomes we have seen. Research data from Europe suggest this procedure is extending patient lives by a year on top of their expected survival rates.

“This has been a very long time in development. First, we had to make sure we established a robust infrastructure for advanced ovarian cancer surgery before we could even entertain the idea of extending this to offering HIPEC.”

He added: “We would not have done this without having Adam Stearns here at NNUH. As our lead Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, his vision and drive to develop cancer services has allowed us to embark on this project – and we have been able to realise this project because of the huge efforts of all involved to learn about new procedures, understand the enormity of what we are trying and to visit other centres in Europe who are already well-established in this field. And then there is no easy way to learn this. It takes years of collaboration between colorectal, pancreatic, gastro, urologists alongside gynaecology to develop this into an established service.”

Mr Stearns said: “This has been an enormous team effort with everyone involved invested in developing a service which is demonstrating real benefits to our patients. It could not have been possible without the generous support of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity and the Friends of NNUH, who gave £50,000, as well as donations from Norfolk businesses, insurance specialists Alan Boswell, and charity supporter David Geiss.”

N&N Hospitals Charity’s Head of Grants, Julie Cooper, said: “The Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity are delighted to have been able to fund the purchase of the HIPEC, thanks to money transferred from the Friends of the Hospital when they closed their charity.  This is yet another example of our local community donating to support improvements at our hospitals, over and above what the NHS must fund, and we are very grateful to everyone who has made this possible.”

NNUH Medical Director Professor Erika Denton said: “This is an incredible example of extensive collaboration to provide better outcomes for our patients. This also means we can lead the way in developing these services for other trusts across the country.”

NNUH Chief Executive Sam Higginson said: “This is NNUH at its best. Our approach was that we wanted to be the best for our patients and being innovative is the best way to achieve that – and what makes this even more impressive is that we did this throughout a global pandemic.”

• Thanks to generous donations from our local community, the N&N Hospitals Charity is able to help the N&N, Cromer and Jenny Lind Children’s hospitals do ‘more’ for NHS patients.  To find out more about the N&N Hospitals Charity, or to make a donation, please visit www.nnhospitalscharity.org.uk

Patient story

Annette Mills, 65 who lives in North Norfolk, was the first patient at the Norfolk and Norwich to have the HIPEC treatment having been diagnosed first with breast cancer in 2019 and

then ovarian cancer.

The two cancers were not linked, and Annette was eligible for the treatment. The procedure was carried out while she underwent a 13-hour operation which involved a mastectomy, hysterectomy, appendectomy, omentectomy (removal of the fatty tissue around the internal organs), removal of her spleen and a small part of her bowel.

“It’s an experience I would rather not have had, but when you are offered something that could save your life you’ve got to do it,” said Annette.

She added: “Everyone went through everything with me before hand and, of course I don’t remember anything. I was talking to the anaesthetist and the next thing I knew I woke up and I was really quite well. The doctors and everyone were astounded by how well I was doing.”

Annette was in hospital for eight days and allowed home.

Her treatment continued with four chemotherapy sessions for the ovarian cancer and 15 radiotherapy sessions for the breast cancer.

“It took me a couple of weeks to get back to my usual self and the radiotherapy was quite tiring, but generally I have been really well.

“Of course, at the beginning I was a bit trepidacious, because this was a big operation, and I was the first one to have it at the N&N. Actually because of that there were a lot of people in the operating theatre. I said to Mr Burbos that this was my 15 minutes of fame, and I was going to be asleep!”

Annette added: “I am so grateful. I have not looked back. I wake up every day and think, great, here we go again with another day.

“Anyone offered this? Go for it.”

The N&N Hospitals Charity is delighted to announce the winners of the 2022 Charity Champion Awards.

Our annual award programme aims to recognise and thank members of our community, including schools, young people, businesses and members of staff for supporting our hospitals in their own ways. We are so pleased to announce this year’s winners.

Charity Champion Inspiration Award

Lead Clinical Educator for HCAs in Surgery Natasha Adams: Natasha has been involved with the charity since she was a staff nurse and is always looking for new ways to encourage staff and patients to raise money while having fun. Last year, she organised a 73-kilometre walking challenge, raising almost £1,500 for her ward, and a Great Easton Bake Off, raising hundreds of pounds more.

Young Person’s Charity Champion Award

Evie Youngs: Evie was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma earlier this year aged 15, and has been treated at the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital. Since then, she has raised more than £6,000 for the department, through fundraising events and inspiring others to do the same.

Sofia Honey Adcock: Sofia has successfully completed Oncology treatment at the jenny Lind Children’s Hospital, finally ringing the end-of-treatment-bell this summer. Sofia and her family and friends have raised more the £5,000 for Jenny Lind Hospital from a variety of events.

Charity Champion Staff Award

Richard Wharton: Richard has held a stall ball at the Assembly House, raising more than £2,000 for the charity and is instrumental in bringing music to the hospital, particularly talented young pianists and staff.

Charity Champion Director’s Award

The Forum: The Forum has supported us for a number of years, from the launch of the Boudicca Breast Cancer Appeal, sponsoring our Boudicca Christmas tree for two years in the St Peter Mancroft Christmas Tree Festival and hosting our Heritage Open Day exhibition celebrating 250 years of the N&N.

Charity Champion Community Award

Simon Game and Sainsbury’s Longwater:  Simon raised £4,548 for the £1m appeal to create a Norfolk and Norwich Orthopaedic Centre (NANOC).  Simon, who works as a personal shopper in the Longwater branch, dressed up as Santa Claus and collected donations from shoppers, while the store itself had charity buckets on each checkout.

Charity Champion Corporate Award

Fireworks Ltd: The company has organised a series of events over the past 12 months, including supporting our Christmas Snowflake Appeal, holding a summer fete and movie night among other activities, raising more than £5,000.

Charity Champion Schools Award

Town Close School: From a Christmas Fair to a French breakfast, the whole school went above and beyond to support the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital after choosing us as their charity of the year, raising more than £9,000.

Lynn Crombie, from the N&N Hospitals Charity, said: “The awards are very special to us as they allow us to highlight just a few of the amazing people and organisations who help us every day. With their support, we can do so much more for our staff and patients and the hospital.”

To find out more about the N&N Hospitals Charity go to https://nnhospitalscharity.org.uk/