Under a new three-year contract starting on 1^st May 2012, Yorwaste will collect all the domestic waste* generated by the Trust with a view to increasing recycling and ultimately ensuring that no waste is sent to landfill.

This is in line with the Trust’s policy to improve its environmental performance and lower its carbon footprint.

Yorwaste, which was appointed following a competitive tendering process, has vast experience of delivering total waste management solutions for its clients. It offers a comprehensive zero waste to landfill service and confectionery giant Nestle is just one of the companies it has helped to achieve this important milestone.

Sue Scholefield, waste and sustainability manager, at the Trust, said: “The Trust has an excellent track record in recycling and saving energy  and this partnership takes that even further so we ensure we recycle all of our domestic waste.

Staff are very committed to being a “green” trust and this we can now move forward and work towards zero waste to landfill.

This will be an exciting time for all within the Trust and we look  forward to reducing our C0² emissions and lowering our carbon footprint to zero which will be an excellent achievement and reflects this Trust’s commitment to the environment.”

Zero to landfill is the latest initiatives by the Trust which include:

• installing panels on the roofs at HRI to convert daylight into energy
• sending aluminium cartons from the kitchen for recycling into metal for the German car industry
• appointing staff as  “waste champions” in all areas of the Trust.

Steve Grieve, Managing Director of Yorwaste, said: “Working in partnership with the Trust we are looking forward to helping the organisation meet the requirements of its waste policy, which is to increase the recycling of waste and to avoid landfilling.

“With our knowledge and expertise, state-of-the-art processing facilities and excellent partnerships within the waste sector, we are able to offer a zero waste to landfill outcome from day one. Not only is this the best environment option, it is also the most cost-effective.”

Previously most of Trust’s waste went to landfill but this material, including glass, plastic bottles, paper, plastic, cans and food waste will now be segregated on site before being collected by Yorwaste and sent for processing.

Yorwaste has a full range of local facilities that will be used to service this contract.

The waste, which will be collected from sites such as Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital, will initially be taken for bulking to Yorwaste’s transfer station and recycling facility at Low Moor, Bradford.

It will then be transferred to the company’s commercial and industrial recycling facility at Harewood Whin in York, where recycling rates of over 80% will be achieved.

Any waste that is still remaining after this process will then be turned into a Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) that can be used in energy recovery. Food waste will be transported to an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) processing facility, thereby ensuring a 100% diversion from landfill of the Trust’s waste.

* Domestic waste – includes paper, aluminium, glass and plastic - accounts for about 65% of the Trust’s waste. Plans are underway with existing contractors make the remaining 30% zero to landfill.

• The Learning Centre at Calderdale Royal Hospital on Tuesday, May 15 from 5.30pm.

• Board Room at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary on Wednesday, May 23 from 5.30pm. 
  

There is one vacancy covering Batley East, Batley West, Birstall and Birkenshaw, Cleckheaton, Dewsbury East and West, Heckmondwike, Mirfield, Spenborough and Thornhill.
A further vacancy is available in Calder Valley, Luddenden Foot, Todmorden, Ryburn.
A further two vacancies are available in Bingley rural, Clayton, Great Horton, Hipperholme, Lightcliffe, Illingworth, Northowram, Shelf, Odsal, Queensbury, Thornton, Tong, Wibseyand Wyke.
The final vacancy covers Colne Valley West, Golcar, Holme Valley North and South and Lindley.
If you would like more information and to book a place email membership@cht.nhs.uk or contact the membership office on 01484 347342

The team is visiting all the milk banks around the country in a sponsored cycle ride to raise funds for the Bloodbikes charity which make emergency collects and deliveries between hospitals – including transporting milk for new mums and their babies.

Locally, for the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust,  the Whiteknights service – founded by former cancer patient Vic Siswick – organises the free motorbike deliveries between NHS hospitals.

The milk bank at CRH  based in the neo-natal unit is one of just a handful in the country  which pasteurises and stores breast milk  in chillers for emergencies.

Sister Kath Barnes from the neo-natal unit, said: “We will be delighted to welcome the cyclists. We know how important the milk reserves are for new mums and babies who may be going through difficult times during the early stages of life.”

Vic Siswick, said: “The milk bank provides an absolutely wonderful service and means young babies get the best start in life and we are proud to be a  part of that help.”

The cyclists start in Leeds and hope to visit the country’s 14 milk bank in 14 days in  the relay charity event covering 840 miles. Around 15 came to Calderdale.  

For more information go to www.milkbank.org.uk

Zoe Russell, a midwife for 10 years and with three young children aged eight, six and three,  was running for research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. She completed the race in 5hrs 17mins without stopping once – apart from 50 yards from the end when she spotted her son in the crowd and went over for a cuddle.

Zoe,  38, based at Calderdale Royal Hospital, said: “It was amazing. Would I do another? Yes! There were two million people along the way and to hear them shouting your name is astonishing.

“ My son was in the grandstand near the end and when we spotted each other we had a cuddle. I think he thought he had missed me so when we saw each other it was very emotional.”

Zoe developed a massive blister at around 18 miles, lost half a stone during the race itself and her feet were so swollen she only managed to put her boots on  four days later!

She had been set a target of £1,500 but raised around £5,300 through sponsorship and events such as an auction and a zumba workout supported by friends and family.

A huge Take That fan, she trained to their hits and added: “As I was crossing Tower Bridge  “Greatest Day” came on and I thought “This is what it is all about” and  knowing that it is going to raise money for research to help save babies’ lives is just brilliant. I would like to say a big-thank-you to everyone who has supported me and sponsored me.”

400 very special children and their parents joined in the fun at a  party with the staff on Sunday April 22,  as latest figures show  conception rates are up to a record high of 38%.

The figure has risen steadily from  25.5% in 2000 and around 120 babies a year are now born as a result of the care from the unit.

Unit head consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician Martin deBono, said he believed the rising rates were due to teamwork and  the "individualisation of care" for every family.

He said: "We have experience in depth and a professional and caring team which  treats each family as a special case with their own special treatment needs. There is no set course of treatment, it has to be tailored to each family and  I believe this is why this unit is helping more and more people to become parents ."

The annual get-together was held at North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax. A bouncy castle, face painting and a raffle were among the attractions at the event paid for by charitable donations to the unit.

Clinical nurse lead Helen Marvell, said: "The unique camaraderie between our staff and patients means this event is always very popular. We are very proud of our reputation and the fact parents continue to come to us to help them become families and it is always a pleasure for us to see them again."

The team now is extended to include more specialist nurses in all key areas including sperm donation and egg donation

Helen added: "We now have such a wide range specialist knowledge in all areas  which puts patients at ease and reduces stress when they are going through difficult times.

"This party is a celebration for them and us and a highlight of our year."

Pictured: Tripets Ava, Sidi and Lilu Dempsey with their mum Jessica joining the fun of the party

They have come from the Zalau Emergency Hospital in Transylvania and will be looking at aspects of privacy and dignity and respect in caring for patients at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital.

Previously staff from the Trust have been there to share expertise in infection prevention and control. One trip featured on Romanian television news. The exchange trips to the UK has been funded by Medical Support in Romania www.msr.org.uk

Director of nursing Ramona Marincas, said: "It is fantastic that we are able to come here and sample hospital life and working procedures with our Huddersfield and Halifax colleagues. We can take the learning from it back with us and share around colleagues in Romania."

Senior nurse Carole Hallam, said: "Healthcare is very different from country to country and we are proud to be able to show off the work here and thank our  colleagues across the Trust for helping us make this exchange such a success. "

With Ramona are Ela Osvath, Antonia Martos, Eniko Peto, Gabriel Vanci and Aura Bora.

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust is due to start a new endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) service caring for around 100 patients every year.

New £160k state of the art equipment has been installed in the endoscopy unit at HRI and the first tests will be carried out shortly.

EBUS uses an ultrasound probe on the tip of a thin telescope, via the mouth, to look around inside the chest cavity and to locate key lymph nodes outside the air tubes using ultrasound. Once located a biopsy needle can then be directed into the node and a sample taken.  If the nodes are clear the chances of a cure for the lung cancer are vastly improved.

Prior to the introduction of EBUS, sampling these lymph nodes would have required a three-day stay at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and required a general anaesthetic and invasive chest surgery.

HRI is one of only four centres in the Yorkshire Cancer Network to offer the service at local level along with Leeds (who had been providing a regional service), Mid-Yorkshire and Bradford. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended the technique be available in new guidance on lung cancer last year. The EBUS machine can also be used for other procedures.

Dr Alan Hart-Thomas has headed up the project to introduce the test to HRI. He said: “This is a great development for the Trust as it will increase quality of care by delivering the service locally as a day case, and will help to keep waiting times down for cancer patients. The ability to provide care like this closer to home is important for our patients and their families.”