Wye Valley NHS Trust

Blood tests help us to ensure that the medication is being used safely and not causing any harmful effects. When you first start a DMARD, such as Methotrexate or Sulfasalazine, you will need 2 weekly blood tests for 6 weeks, then monthly thereafter. Once your condition is stable on the medication, your blood tests should be every 2 to 3 months, unless required more often. We also check your bloods when you are on a biologic drug, and we will let you know the required frequency for each specific biologic. Should there be any cause for concern, either your GP…

Herefordshire Tuberculosis Service

If you’ve ever dreamt of a place which brings together the convenience of living in a big city with the lifestyle associated with a home in a rural idyll, Herefordshire is the place for you. Herefordshire lies in the south west of the West Midlands, bordering Wales. It is a rural county with a population of around 178,400. Numbers are expected to grow to 193,600 by 2026. Just under half of the population live in villages and rural areas, just under a third (30 per cent) of the people live in Hereford City, and the rest (22 per cent) live…

Reasons you may be offered an induction of labour  The following circumstances in pregnancy may result in an induction of labour being offered to you: Post-dates pregnancy Advanced maternal age (40 years of age or more) Suspected big baby Suspected small baby Diabetes Pre-eclampsia Reduced fetal movements IVF If your waters break before tightenings start Obstetric Cholestasis Skip to the factsheet that is relevant to you, so you can start to make a fully informed decision on whether you would like an induction of labour.  Post-dates pregnancy A term pregnancy is classed as anything between 37 and 42 weeks. The…

Membrane sweeps A membrane sweep or ‘stretch and sweep’ is when the midwife or doctor inserts two fingers into the vagina, through the cervix (if it is open enough) and uses a circular sweeping motion around the membranes in order to try and stimulate your body to release the hormone prostaglandin and create tightenings. NICE guidelines suggest that a sweep can be discussed and offered to women from 39 weeks. Although a membrane sweep isn’t a formal stage in the induction of labour process, it is still classed as a method of inducing labour and is often thought of as…

An instrumental birth refers to the use of either forceps or ventouse (suction cup). An instrumental birth happens for 1 in every 8 births.   Forceps are metal instruments which fit together around your baby’s head to speed up the process of baby being born during the pushing phase.  The doctor will pull the forceps as you also push down during a contraction. Ventouse is a suction cup which is placed on baby’s head firmly and also pulled by the doctor while you push.   The choice of instrument will depend on the situation, how many weeks pregnant you are…

COVID-19 Osteoporasis information for public   What is Osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is the term used to describe bones when they become ‘porous’, when the struts which make up the mesh-like structure within bone start to disappear. This leads to a reduction in bone strength and an increased risk of fracture after injuries such as a low impact fall. These broken bones or ‘fragility fractures’ can occur in different parts of the body, although the wrist, hip and spine are most commonly affected. Osteoporosis is thought to affect 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men during their lifetime. It is…

If you had a planned caesarean section then you will need to stay in hospital for at least 24 hours after your baby is born. If you had an emergency caesarean then you will more likely stay in hospital for 48 hours. When you come out of theatre you will have a urinary catheter, this is a small flexible plastic tube which sits in your bladder and collects urine in a bag. This will usually be removed about 12 hours after the surgery, once you are able to mobilise to the toilet. Your midwife will ask to measure your first…

The Herefordshire Cardiac Rehabilitation service offers you a combination of exercise and education sessions. Our aims are to help you get back to as full a life as possible, to empower and support you to make healthy, sustainable lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of further cardiac events. Delivery mode The service deliver face-to-face sessions in groups, in various environments across Herefordshire. For individuals where group session attendance is not possible, we have a home programme. Group Sessions Please do not attend if you are Covid-19 positive or if you have the following symptoms: a high temperature a new, continuous…

Visiting restrictions check for Visiting restrictions  Information for patients and carers We have three modern and comfortable community hospitals. If you are a patient in an acute hospital, such as Hereford County Hospital, your doctors and nurses may now think you are well enough to be moved to a Community Hospital. We would like to tell you more about them, their modern facilities and the nurses, doctors and therapists there. This information may also be of interest to you if you are at home and due to be admitted for care. If you are a patient at the County Hospital it…