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The Perinatal Loss and Trauma Team offers psychological interventions to people. It helps those who have experienced loss, distress or trauma during their pregnancy or birth.

According to NHS statistics, up to 20% of women have poor mental health in pregnancy and during the first year after having a baby.

Approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss and a high proportion of birthing people experience birth as traumatic.

With suicide in the year after childbirth a leading cause of maternal deaths in the UK, the service is vital addition for the county.

The Perinatal Loss and Trauma Team is a part of the Community Perinatal Mental Health Service. The service celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2023.

The new sub team offers evidence based mental health interventions to people who have experienced moderate to severe mental distress relating to pregnancy and or birth. This can include post traumatic disorder or depression.

The team can also help people who have a severe fear relating to pregnancy or birth. In addition, the team can provide psychological therapy to those experiencing severe mental distress following the loss of a pregnancy at any stage.

The team also work closely with local partners to explore how it can support those who are separated from their babies at birth.

“The journey to pregnancy and parenthood is not always straightforward.

“For many people, pregnancy and birth are often associated with excitement and joy. Unfortunately for others it can be a time filled with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.

“Not all birthing experiences go to plan. Some pregnancies end in devastating loss. Some births can be experienced as traumatic. This can cause significant ongoing distress and impact on someone’s ability to cope and function.”

“We aim to provide a safe space for people to share their experiences. We work together to make sense of what has happened. We look at ways of coping and consider what interventions might be useful moving forward.”

Emy Snell, Perinatal Loss and Trauma Clinical Psychologist, working for the Trust

The team includes many skilled practitioners. This includes psychological practitioners and mental health workers.

Vicky lost her baby, Anna, 4 years ago when 18 weeks pregnant. She was treated by the team using eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is just one of the ways in which the team can help someone process and recover from traumatic past experiences.

“4 years ago I lost Anna who was born at just over 18 weeks. I had flashbacks, nightmares, and bad anxiety, especially through my next pregnancy. I felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. I had never heard of EMDR, but I was excited to try anything that might help.

“I am lost for words when I try to explain how EMDR works. I do not have flashbacks anymore. I can go to places I avoided for years. I feel happy and the world does not feel dark. Now when I think about my baby Anna, I feel blessed to have had her. She is loved and she is mine. I can talk about her without distress and panic. I feel like I have been given my life back.”

Vicky

People who use the service can also benefit from the support of a specialist perinatal mental health midwife. The team are also looking to welcome peer support workers, who are people with lived experience, into their team.

Emy explains further: “Having a mental health midwife in our team means that we can draw on specialist midwifery knowledge when delivering psychological interventions. This helps us to work more holistically when supporting someone in distress.”

“Our midwife provides a key link between mental health services and midwifery services.”

Find out more about the team or make a referral.

Read A brand new maternal mental health team has launched in Cornwall…

A new relocatable MRI unit at Bodmin Community Hospital is now up and running.

The state of the art unit is part of the recently completed community diagnostic centre. It is staffed by clinicians from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and will be able to deliver around 7,000 scans a year.

The unit will help achieve our ongoing aim of more care closer to home. It will also support efforts to reduce the backlog in elective care left by the pandemic.

Steve Williamson, Chief executive of Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust explains how the unit will benefit patients:

"We recognise that receiving as much of the care they need closer to home is really important for our patients. It means less time travelling and less stress.

"Being able to provide a wide range of services from the community diagnostic centre here in Bodmin not only makes that possible, but also helps us to reduce waiting times and to relieve pressure on our main hospitals in Truro and Plymouth.

"It is an outstanding example of teams working together across our organisations to improve patient care."

A formal ribbon cutting was held on Monday 29 July. Steve and Debbie Richards, Chief Executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust led the event. They were joined by NHS colleagues and local councillors.

Debbie says this builds on the success of joint working. That includes the soon to be opened elective surgical hub in St Austell.

This is another really important milestone of our partnership with the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, but also the work that is being enabled by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.

"It means that people in the Bodmin community and residents in north and east Cornwall will be able to access more diagnostics on their doorstep. It will also provide some additional capacity that means, as a system, we can continue to drive down waiting times across the county."

Funding for the £2.5m unit was secured by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.

"The new MRI unit is a welcome addition to the broad range of health and care services available at Bodmin. From the community diagnostic centre to the primary care hub.

"We are committed to caring where it matters. It is a delight to see this new service up and running. Well done to all the teams involved."

Kate Shields, Chief Executive of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board

The relocatable MRI unit will operate 363 days per year. It has already welcomed its first patients.

Read New MRI unit to deliver thousands of scans a year…

We have received the Silver Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) award from the Ministry of Defence. The award recognises how the Trust supports the armed forces community.

The Defence ERS offers awards at 3 levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Employers also need to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Trust signed the Armed Forces Covenant in December 2021. It achieved the Bronze award in 2022.

Chief Medical Officer, Adrian Flynn is the Trust's armed forces network executive sponsor. He said:

“The achievement of the Silver award is a positive step forward for the Trust. We are working hard to always offer prompt access to the right treatment and support to people from the armed forces.

"Through our involvement with the scheme, we have made positive changes to how we recruit. In response to feedback, we now offer assessment days and guarantee interviews for candidates from the armed forces who meet a role's core criteria. We have improved links with reserve and cadet units. We also offer paid leave for training. I hope this helps us retain colleagues with past or present links to the armed forces and allows us to benefit from the wealth of experience and expertise they bring to the NHS.”

The Trust employs almost 70 people with a connection to the armed forces. This includes veterans, reservists, volunteers, or family members.

The Silver award builds on the wider work of the Trust to support this unique community. Both Camborne Redruth and Helston community hospitals proudly display Veteran Aware plaques. This demonstrates how they are going above and beyond to support the armed forces community. Falmouth and Newquay community hospitals are now working towards accreditation. The Trust intends to build on these achievements across all its community hospitals.

The Trust is now working towards the Gold ERS award.

Read Trust recognised for its support of armed forces community…

Junior doctors are set to strike from 7am on 27 June to 7am on 2 July 2024. 

Regardless of any strikes, it is vital that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening situations.

You should attend planned appointments unless contacted by the NHS.

Self-care is key

A well-stocked first-aid kit or medicine cabinet could help you avoid a trip to the pharmacist, GP or hospital. Useful items include:

• paracetamol and aspirin plus the equivalent for children if you have them
• mild laxatives to relieve constipation
• re-hydration mixtures for diarrhoea or vomiting
• indigestion remedies
• antiseptic cream
• antihistamines for allergies

6 steps to help you choose well

1. Visit your local pharmacy for help with urinary tract infections like cystitis, minor ear or eye infections like conjunctivitis as well as emergency contraception. Pharmacists can also provide an emergency prescription when your GP is closed. Find a pharmacy
2. If you need urgent care advice visit NHS 111 online or call 111. Expert clinicians can direct you to the best service for your needs. 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
3. Our minor injury units can help with accidental injuries like sprains and broken bones.
4. If you are worried about your own or someone else's mental health call our 24/7 mental health helpline on 0800 038 5300.
5. Only call 999 or visit the emergency department if your illness or injury is life-threatening. This includes trouble breathing, chest pain, severe bleeding, stroke, and loss of consciousness.
6. Follow us on Facebook for the latest news and updates.

Discharge from hospital

We and many NHS trusts are asking families, friends, and neighbours to work with us to get patients home from hospital when they are fit for discharge. If you have a loved one in hospital, please be ready to help them home as soon as they are well enough.

Fast access one-off grants are also available. If you could support someone in your home, or in their own home, with a little extra help, please contact the ward directly.

Links and information

Visit the NHS England website for more information about the strikes, including answers to frequently asked questions.

Industrial action is a national dispute between the Government and Trade Unions about terms and conditions of employment.

Read Industrial action update…

Service user champions and the Trust are celebrating Learning Disability Week 2024, by urging colleagues and the public to make sure all those with learning disabilities feel seen, heard and valued.

We have been speaking to Anthony Dunn from Citizen Checkers and Sam Edwards from our Community Adult Learning Disability Team about this year's theme, 'do you see me?'

Citizen Checkers work with services to help make a fairer, safer and kinder society. This includes Anthony, who supports patients with learning disabilities in hospitals. He tells us how encouraging leadership from people with lived experience is vital:

"I think people with learning disabilities have got more to say. We know each other. We know how to communicate with each other. I think professionals need to learn to understand people with disabilities.

"It is very important that people out there are listening to the people with disabilities. We have got the power. We have got the power to speak. We are the champions. We have got to celebrate around Learning Disability Week.

"I am speaking to everyone in my county in Cornwall. Children with learning disabilities and also adults with learning disabilities. We have to celebrate 2024".

Sam Edwards is a nurse consultant with our Community Adult Learning Disability Team. He sees first-hand how working with lived experience mentors can make a difference.

"There have been some really important steps that have been taken. For example, the Oliver McGowan training that is being rolled out. That is a great chance for people to really pause and think about the needs of people with learning disabilities and autistic people. To think about how we maybe need to do things differently for that group of people. To make sure they are included, and their needs get met.

"Having teams of people like Anthony, the CHAMPs and Citizen Checkers working and being visible within our services is really important. However, we need to do more. Learning disabilities is the responsibility of all staff, the whole community and all of society. It is not just the learning disability team that would need to be meeting those needs.

"Someone with a learning disability could be accessing any of our health services or any of our general services. They are using our transport system, they are using our shops, they are using our banks. It is really important that there is a greater awareness of what the needs are of people with learning disabilities. They have a right to be included, the same as all of us".

The Trust is involved in lots of work to support people with learning disabilities. Our Adult Learning Disability Service recently became the first community team in the UK to receive QNLD status (Quality Network for Learning Disabilities).

We are also celebrating the work of our research teams, including the Cornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research Team (CIDER).

Read Trust celebrates Learning Disability Week by asking 'do you see me?'…

As part of National Learning Disabilities Week, the Trust is proud to celebrate the work of its research teams.

They work across a number of projects which aim to improve the lives of those living with learning disabilities.

One of those is Cornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research (CIDER). This is a partnership between the Trust and the University of Plymouth. It was launched in 2018.

This October marks 6 years since it was launched. It is led by Professor Rohit Shankar. He is a director of CIDER.

“It is now well recognised that people with intellectual disabilities die prematurely and have significantly worse health and social outcomes. What is missing is this has arisen due to a lack of suitable research. Involving people with intellectual disabilities in research has not happened. Or it is an afterthought.

“CIDER’s primary goal is to empower people with intellectual disabilities. We also want to give them a research voice. Getting it right has significant benefits for society as whole.

“Finding solutions to the complex health and social problems of people with intellectual disabilities can pay significant dividends to all of us. Thus, we should make them the vanguard of research not the back waters. This is what our patients want and are also keen to give back to society.”

Professor Rohit Shankar

The team work all year round on projects which aim to help people with learning disabilities.

One of their most recent projects looked at inclusion in commercial research.

As a result, the project raised awareness of this in research with commercial organisations.

It also allowed them to raise awareness of this issue in the intellectual disability population. Some of whom were not aware of this exclusion from research.

Another aspect is that commercial organisations are asking for support. The Research Team have been able to develop specialism in this area.

It has also led to an increased confidence from advocacy groups to talk about and take part in research.

“Over the past year we have grown as a team, working with a variety of collaborators across England and Wales. But most importantly, we have been working for people with intellectual disabilities.

“We have been developing research questions that matter. We have learned from our collaborators at Cornwall People First and CHAMPS about what matters. What we should be doing to enable more accessible research. And also designing exciting research questions from the ground up.

“The next 12 months will see applications for more research grants submitted. The implementation of our inclusion work, opening of groundbreaking research, sharing our knowledge, and working with our community. We want to spread the news that research is for all.”

Sarah Lennard, CIDER Lead and Assistant Research Manager for the Trust

Our Research Team deliver clinical research throughout Cornwall.

Research is a vital part of NHS care to find the best treatments and services to improve the nation's mental and physical wellbeing.

Our Trust is a research-active NHS Trust. This means that research and adding to the evidence base for healthcare form a key part of our services.

Read Trust research empowers people with learning disabilities…

The Quality Network for Learning Disability (QNLD) accreditation programme was launched this year. It is led by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. It aims to support learning disability services across the country. It looks to assess and improve the management processes and standards of care.

There are a number of parts which need to be met to achieve the status. This includes 130 standards set by the programme.

The awarding of this has been a team effort. It includes those working in transition, liaison, social care, mental health services, commissioning, and research. All have played a vital role in the success of the service.

The Trust received the good news last month. A statement from the Royal College of Psychiatrists says:

“Cornwall community team are the first community team to be given this status.

“We would like to congratulate you, and thank you for taking part in the programme. We know you and the team worked really hard to put together all of the evidence and make the committees requested changes.”

Professor Rohit Shankar MBE is clinical director of adult learning disability services for the Trust.

“We in the service are humbled by this achievement.

“It is a reflection of the trust our patients, their families and other collaborators put on us.

“It shows the passion our service clinicians and non-clinicians have to make a difference to a vulnerable cohort.

“It shows the role, research, high-quality evidence and involving patients and their families plays in developing and delivering services.

“It is important not only to sustain this but recognise that there is still room to improve and achieve more for our patients and community.”

The team have also met 90% of the College Centre for Quality Improvement sustainability standards. For this, they have received a sustainable mental health service commendation.

The service works cross-county with an east and west team. They are based in Bodmin and Redruth, supported by a county-wide Intensive Support Team based in Truro.

Read Learning Disability Service is first in UK to receive QNLD status…

Camborne Redruth Community Hospital has helped to send a unique poppy wreath on a special journey from Cornwall to France, to mark the anniversary of the D-Day landings.

On 6 June 2024, it will be 80 years since more than 150,000 British, Canadian and American troops landed in a combined assault on Nazi-occupied France.

The commemorative wreath began its journey on Armed Forces Day in Falmouth last year. Camborne Redruth is one of the many sites it has travelled to across the Duchy. It will finish in Normandy on Thursday, where it will be laid alongside seven other similar wreaths from across the UK, NATO and Commonwealth countries.

The wreath arrived in the hands of Iain Henderson, Trustee of The Veterans Charity. He explains why it means so much to so many people:

"Remembrance is any and every day for veterans. There are so many anniversaries that we remember, both locally and nationally. It helps many of us with a sense of purpose and duty still.

"For example, my own uncle landed on D-Day. This wreath will take a trip down the canal to Pegasus Bridge, which is exactly what he did shortly after D-Day. As they passed the bridge, they came under heavy machine gun fire and had to return to the safety of Allied lines. Thankfully, my uncle survived. However, we should remember the many amazing stories and individuals of D-Day and other campaigns.

"Cornwall is packed with its own, often hidden history of the build up to D-D-Day. Some are obvious but perhaps overlooked. You can still see the ramps in Falmouth and Trebah Gardens where the landing craft were loaded, whereas there are very few signs of the huge D-Day storage areas around Shortlanesend.

"We need to keep remembrance alive before the history is lost. This wreath visiting groups and venues hopefully plays its part in this endeavour".

The wreath was also part of celebrations to mark Camborne Redruth becoming the second hospital within the Trust to achieve Veteran Aware status.

Debbie Richards, Chief Executive and Sue Greenwood, Matron unveiled the special plaque just inside the main entrance. Sue said:

"We are immensely proud of our ongoing work to ensure we recognise veterans, their families and our staff who have served.

"The D-Day celebrations ensure we remember what our Armed Services have done in the past. This award demonstrates that we wish to do more to support future generations of our serving personnel and veterans, of which many are our own staff.

"Before the plaque was unveiled, I had the privilege to have a coffee and catch up with the many veterans and serving Army personnel to reminisce about past experiences. This made the event mean something very special for hospital".

What does Veteran Aware status mean?

The Veteran Aware accreditation means the site has demonstrated that it can offer a range of care services for the local Armed Forces community.

The status comes from the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance, which is a group of NHS providers. It includes acute, mental health, community, and ambulance trusts. The Alliance encourages providers to identify those patients with an Armed Forces background.

By doing this, the Trust can offer access to specific veterans' health services. These include mental health, hearing loss, limb amputation and wheelchairs.

Debbie Richards says the hospital and Trust have worked hard to achieve this, adding that it states our ambition to do even more to best support veterans and their families.

"This is an acknowledgement of all of our Armed Forces, their service and some of the unique challenges faced by all those who have served and their families.

"It is a demonstrable commitment to patients, staff and families that we truly care about veterans and that we value their service".

Camborne Redruth joins Helston Community Hospital as the first within the Trust to receive the status. The plaques at both sites are also among the first to include the King's crown.

Read D-Day and Veteran Aware celebrations at Cornish hospital…

The Trust’s Alan Jervis has completed his ‘Around Cornwall Challenge’ for charity after covering over 340 miles on foot.

Alan, Head of Education for the Trust, was greeted by family and friends in Porthtowan on Saturday, with a rendition of ‘Trelawny’ by Truro Male Choir.

The challenge took 2 weeks to complete as Alan walked and ran the entire Cornish coast path, covering around 25 miles a day.

Alan is raising money for 3 local charities. They are Penhaligon’s Friends, Cornwall Mind, and Touch Eldoret. He has already surpassed his £1,000 target, with over £3,000 now raised.

Speaking just moments after completing his challenge, Alan said:

“I am feeling quite elated for it all to be over. It is a really big relief to get it done. There were times, especially in the first week, I thought I was not going to finish. Each day was really tough.”

There were emotional scenes at the finish in Porthtowan as family and friends welcomed Alan back.

He added: “It was really emotional, actually. To have everyone here, having the choir here singing has just been fantastic. To see family and friends, it really does mean a lot.”

Alan also thanked all those who have made generous donations via his ‘GiveWheel’ page. Over 150 people have contributed so far.

“I really appreciate every donation that comes in. When I was feeling really low and feeling really tired, the donations coming in kept me going. The donations page is still open for another couple of months. They are 3 small charities and every donation, regardless of how small, has a massive impact on what they can provide.”

For 2 weeks Alan has carried a heavy backpack, weighing around 13kg while covering around 25 miles a day. He has camped out most evenings and stayed at friends on other occasions.

It is little wonder then that he was looking forward to some home comforts on Saturday evening.

Alan says: “I think I’ve got a steak dinner with some red wine. And I will just relax a little!”

If you still want to make a donation, visit Alan’s ‘GiveWheel’ page.

Read Alan completes gruelling coast challenge for charity…

Events are taking place across Cornwall to celebrate colleagues who have worked with the NHS for 25 years or more.

The events are being hosted by the Trust.

The Trust manages mental health and adult community services within the county.

“We have been working with our staff on how we can improve employee recognition.

“From this month we have started to celebrate and give recognition for the long service of our staff. We have held 2 events at the Lanhydrock Hotel and Golf Club and the Penventon Park Hotel. We have more events in the pipeline.”

Fiona Duguid, Trust Retention Officer

30 colleagues who have worked with the NHS for 25 years or more were celebrated. This equates to 750 years.

Trust staff enjoyed a lunch and were thanked by Chief Executive, Debbie Richards and Chair, Margaret Schwarz for their long service and commitment to providing quality healthcare to the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

“You are the epitome of the NHS. You are loyal, dedicated, and hardworking employees. You are the foundation of the NHS. Every one of you, no matter what roles you do, are important and we, collectively, cannot thank you enough.”

Debbie Richards, Chief Executive

Henry Cameron is a consultant psychiatrist for older adults. He joined the NHS in August 1998.

Alongside his role, Henry supports and supervises junior psychology doctors. He was nominated supervisor of the year in 2020.

Henry attended the 25-year celebration at the Penventon Park Hotel in Redruth.

Dr Sally Thomas is also a consultant psychiatrist for older adults. She works alongside Henry and her words were read out at the event.

“Henry is a highly respected colleague. He is valued for the compassion, kindness, energy, and wisdom he brings to the care of older people with mental health needs in Cornwall.

“Henry is an enthusiastic trainer and educator. He has successfully taken on a variety of extra roles with the medical school and as an educational supervisor.

“He is regularly described to others as the nicest doctor in the NHS. But the word ‘nicest’ does not describe the combination of the most humble, supportive, kind, generous, dedicated, and good-humoured colleague you could ever wish to have.”

Speaking of the celebration, Henry said:

“I would like to say thank you for the efforts made to mark the 25-year milestone.

“It was nice to hear from some of our colleagues and the positive feedback from our peers. These things can often go unsaid, and it helps with morale and purpose.

“It was a great opportunity to get together and talk with others about their careers.”

Sally Shenton is a tissue viability clinical nurse. Sally qualified in 1998 and this September will be celebrating 26 years of working in the NHS.

It was a privilege to be invited to the 25-year NHS service event and receive a beautiful award as recognition of my service to the NHS.

“The service was very moving and made me feel appreciated for the demanding work I do. It made me feel proud to have achieved 25 years’ service.

“I love being a nurse and really making a difference to my patients. Despite the challenges that working in the NHS brings, I would not want to do anything else. I am fortunate to work within a fantastic team in beautiful Cornwall and consider myself lucky to be doing something I love every day.”

Vanessa Whyte is a cognitive behavioural therapist in our Early Intervention for Psychosis Team. Vanessa also attended the Penventon Park Hotel event.

“It was nice to go along to the awards and share the celebration of our long service together with colleagues.

“Working in the NHS is a vocation. We do it because we care. It means a lot to have our work appreciated by the organisation."

Read NHS Trust celebrates over 750 years of staff service…