We are a consultant led service, providing anaesthesia for over 15,000 surgical cases per annum. We strive to deliver the highest standards of care, working in close conjunction with other departments in the hospital. We embrace innovation and continually deliver care within clinical governance guidelines. Outline of the Department Our department has state of the art equipment to ensure that we provide the best clinical care to our patients. This includes ultrasound machines to facilitate pain relief blocks and Doppler monitors to assess patients under anaesthesia. Among our team of consultants who all deliver anaesthesia to surgical specialties, we have…

Podiatric surgery is foot and ankle surgery performed by podiatric surgeons. Podiatric surgeons are podiatrists who have had extensive post-graduate training in the assessment, diagnosis and surgical management of foot and ankle problems. For more information please click on the links below:  What is a podiatric surgeon? Read a leaflet explaining about the role of a podiatric surgeon.    What is podiatric surgery?View a video to find about about podiatric surgery.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilJ_YmPvt_0 Who we are The department of podiatric surgery has been located in its own day surgery unit based in Herefordshire since 1994 situated in the peaceful grounds of Belmont…

Continuation of Maternity Services during social distancing measures for COVID-19 We appreciate that this is a worrying time for you and your families. In Herefordshire the maternity services team has been working hard to plan how our services will continue to provide safe care during the COVID-19 outbreak.  Click here for more information on our maternity department page. For the latest information on visiting restrictions and birthing partners, click here.

The Neurology Department in The County Hospital consists of two Consultant Neurologists who visit The County Hospital from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Dr Clinton Mitchell (Clinical Lead) – works remotely for 5 weeks off-site then on-site face to face every 6th week Dr Shanika Samarasekera (Visiting Consultant from QEHB) – Wednesdays (twice monthly). Dr Aamir Ijaz – (Locum) - works remotely Monday & Tuesday. On-site Wednesday and Thursday.  

The Children’s Hearing Centre is a department that provides a friendly and approachable service for all children aged 16 and below. We work with families and carers to deliver an accessible service which aims to provide early identification, assessment and treatment for children of all ages and abilities. Our department consists of Senior Audiologists, Clinical Scientists, Audiology Assistants and Administrative Support who are here to answer your enquiries. We work closely with our colleagues in the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Department, Paediatricians, the Education Support Service for Hearing Impaired Children (ToHI/Hearing Support Team) and our…

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille please contact our patient experience team If you need an interpreter, please ask the ward/department Sister. We are committed to improving your experience of this website.  Information about the accessiblity of our website.   

Further reading  Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Induction of labour, information for patients https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/induction-of-labour---information-for-people-who-use-nhs-services/  NICE, Induction of Labour guideline   National Childbirth Trust https://www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/Newburn%20Induction%20of%20labour%20pp12-13.pdf  Why Induction Matters by Rachel Reed (Book - 2018)  MidwifeThinking.com - Rachel Reed   Inducing labour, making informed decisions by Dr Sara Wickham (Book - 2018)  In Your Own Time: How western medicine controls the start of labour and why this needs to stop by Dr Sara Wickham (Book - 2021)  Your human rights during your birth  Obstetric Cholestasis  Appendix  Risks associated with having a caesarean section include:  Higher than normal blood loss – haemorrhage Infection Injury…

The Haematology Department provides diagnostic (often on a one-stop basis) and treatment facilities for a wide range of benign and malignant conditions including acute and chronic leukaemias, myeloma, lymphomas, anaemias, bleeding and clotting disorders. The department runs anticoagulation clinics across the county in Ross on Wye, Ledbury, Leominster, Kingsland and Hereford using near patient testing and computerised decision support software (DAWN system). Clinics are staffed by nurses or Biomedical scientists with a specialist qualification in anticoagulant care. Urgent Suspected Cancer Referral – appointment and diagnosis within 28 days The Urgent Suspected Cancer(USC) Referral pathway is a referral pathway for patients…

Who can refer to us and how Access to the service requires a referral from the following: GP – Your GP can directly refer you to our service. This may be done electronically by “e-referral” or letter Practice Nurse – In some GP practices a nurse may assess you and refer directly to the department Podiatrist – We strive to work closely with our colleagues and they can directly refer into the service. Often you may see a musculoskeletal specialist Podiatrist before referred for surgery. Physiotherapist – Often you may be seen by a physiotherapist within your GP practice, within…

A stroke happens when the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly reduced by either a blockage of a blood vessel (clot) or bleeding (burst blood vessel).  No stroke is the same as another. People who have a stroke are affected in different ways. Symptoms depend on the part of the brain that is affected. Generally a stroke can result in a reduction or loss of strength and sensation in the face, arm or leg. Some people have specific problems with communication, balance, co-ordination, memory, concentration and vision. These difficulties can make everyday activities such as dressing,…