Academic Respiratory Team and Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre recognised at Golden Hearts Awards

The Academic Respiratory Team and the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre being awarded a Golden Hearts Award

The Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre at Hull York Medical School, University of Hull and the Academic Respiratory Team at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust were awarded the University Partnership Award at a ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Hull.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s annual Golden Hearts awards seek to recognise the innovation, achievements and success of staff within the Trust. Over 400 people attended the event to celebrate those colleagues within the trust who go above and beyond to provide care to patients. This year saw a new category introduced - The University Partnership Award – which sought to recognise those partnerships which combine strengths and expertise in order to make a real difference to patients.

Dr Simon Hart, Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at HUTH NHS Trust and Reader at Hull York Medical School  and Professor Miriam Johnson, Professor of Palliative Medicine at Hull York Medical School and Director of the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre at the University of Hull led the hugely successful collaboration, in response to a global need for people living with chronic non-malignant lung disease to have appropriate, timely and integrated palliative care.

The Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre brings together researchers, health and social care professionals from a range of disciplines, patients, families and members of the public to find and help deliver the best palliative care services and treatments. Professor Miriam Johnson, Director of the Centre says:

‘Although the UK has one of the most developed palliative care services, we know that many people are still not getting the support they need. Compared to those patients with lung cancer, patients with non-malignant lung disease have had less access to palliative care services. However, services such as the breathlessness service at Dove House hospice, and the hospital palliative care team can make a big difference to individuals and their families, helping with symptom control and providing holistic support, including support for families during the advancing disease and into bereavement.

The Academic Respiratory Team at HUTH NHS Trust is based at Castle Hill Hospital and comprises clinical academics and researchers, a busy clinical trials unit, research fellows, PhD students and support staff. The team undertake research into respiratory diseases with a view to improving diagnosis, treatment and care of patients within the region.  Dr Simon Hart says:

‘Our research partnership means that our patients with life-limiting lung conditions are offered the opportunity to be involved in clinical trials to better understand how chronic breathlessness affects patients and carers, improve access to care, and develop new treatments. We have developed assessment tools and guidance for clinicians, as well as interventions that patients can use themselves to help alleviate symptoms. We are delighted and privileged to continue working in partnership with the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre to help our patients have access to the care they need and advance knowledge for the wider research community’.

So far the partnership has resulted in:

• the development of an integrated palliative care clinical pathway for people with chronic lung disease under the care of the Trust
• cumulative research evidence for the hand held fan as an easily accessible tool patients can use to help alleviate symptoms *
• a Needs Assessment Tool: Progressive Disease Interstitial Lung Disease (NAT:ILD) which has been endorsed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and is now being used by clinicians across the UK**
• a number of successful grant applications - from NIHR HTA, NIHR RfPB, Hull York Medical School and Marie Curie plus a UK wide NIHR Programme Grant
• six publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• established links between the Trust and the Methods Hub and Hull Health Trials Unit at the University’s Institute for Clinical and Applied Health Research which will help facilitate further research into this area

As a result of the collaboration between HUTH NHS Trust and the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre the Trust is now an international leader in palliative respiratory care and in collaborative research leadership and participation.