Vital Signs

Transplants may seem common place now, with almost 70 years of successful organ transplant history in the UK but the processes and people involved with organ donation and transplant are complex and exact!

In this episode we take a deep dive into how it all works and hear about the intricate processes involved in liver transplantation, shedding light on the critical role of transplantation and the complexities of matching donors with suitable recipients.

Every day, someone will die waiting for a transplant. This urgent need for organs underscores their lifesaving potential. Listen to find out how a single donated organ has the power to save and transform up to nine lives.

In this episode, we’re looking at the next generation of Leeds teaching hospitals. With over 21,000 staff and the need to constantly develop talent but also push people in medicine forward, we wanted to see how Leeds was staying at the forefront of staff development and the latest technologies.

We had the privilege to meet three of Leeds's next generation of superstars:

Dr James Tibbott is a consultant gynaecologist who specialises in laparoscopic surgery and is leading that charge in robotics at Leeds.

Dr Fozia Saeed is in her sixth year of neurosurgical training and is also chief registrar for the 1100 doctors within the trust.

And finally, Carla Gibson, a maternity support worker who only months ago was offered a place on the brand new midwifery degree apprenticeship.

They all have very different roles within the hospital and are at different stages of their careers but they all have one thing in common, the drive to become the best, not only for themselves but for every patient they care for.

Come and hear their journeys with us.

In this episode, we’re at Leeds Children's Hospital, one of 27 across the country and the only one in West Yorkshire. As with any large hospital, it has state of the art facilities, world leading doctors and nurses and has specialisms in cancer treatment, transplantation, and congenital heart surgery.

All the staff here are dedicated to delivering the best possible outcomes for every child and it's clear that the aim here is to make the hospital feel less like a hospital with bright colours, murals and paintings covering the walls. There are playrooms on the wards with everything from play mats and toys for the younger children to games consoles and pool tables for the older ones. Leeds Children's hospital even has a fully fledged school under its roof so that Children who need to be in patients or have treatment frequently don't miss out on their learning.

There's so much to talk about that this hospital provides outside of just the medicine but in this episode, we wanted to find out more about a role we didn't know existed…

The Play Specialist.

Take a listen to find out more.

In the world of medical emergencies, Major Trauma is a term that carries immense weight. It refers to life threatening and life-altering injuries, caused by head trauma, chest injuries, abdominal damage, and fractures. More than half of the major trauma cases in the UK are caused by either road traffic collisions and falls. They happen unexpectedly and at any time of day or night - and the consequences can be truly catastrophic.

In this episode, Liz spends a day at the Major Trauma Centre (MTC) as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary - meeting the staff that are working under immense pressure to treat people who are severely injured. In the 10 years since it opened, it’s become the country’s second busiest MTC.

What sets this centre apart is its unique under-one-roof approach to patient care. As the first major multi-site hospital in the UK to adopt the model, it's created a seamless experience for patients and staff. No more running around to different locations for different services.

Here, everything you need is conveniently located on a single site meaning patients can be treated quicker and more effectively and when a patient is suffering from major trauma, speed is of the essence. 

Get ready to immerse yourself in the captivating stories that make up the heartbeat of Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Vital Signs launches on the 29th August 2023 and we look forward to sharing the highs, the lows and the bits in between.