Wye Valley NHS Trust

What is an aneurysm? The aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to the body. It runs from the heart down through the chest and abdomen. In some people, as they get older, the wall of the aorta in the abdomen can become weak. It can then start to expand and form what is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm, also known as an AAA or 'triple A'. The condition is most common among men aged 65 and over. Large aneurysms are rare but can be very serious. As the wall of the aorta stretches it becomes weaker and…

Your perineum Your perineum is the tissue between your vagina and your anus.  During birth you can experience perineal trauma/tearing.  This can be classified into four degrees of severity: 1st degree – these only affect the skin, they usually do not require any repair and heal quickly on their own. 2nd degree – these affect the skin and the perineal muscle layer, repair is usually needed. 3rd and 4th degree – 3.5% of women will experience a more substantial tear which involves the muscle that controls the anus. This degree of tear will need to be repaired in theatre. Episiotomy…

  You don’t need to bring too much for your little one, here are a few suggestions: Newborn nappies Cotton wall/wipes Baby grows and vests Muslin A couple of hats A blanket for the car seat when leaving hospital Any colostrum you have expressed, keep this in a freezer bag, named and with the date and time you expressed. On arrival at the hospital give it to a member of staff who will store it in the freezer for you If you have chosen to formula feed you will need to bring a formula feeding starter pack which includes the…

The third stage of labour is the time between when your baby has been born and the birth of the placenta. Your womb will continue to contract and will be reducing in size. As your womb becomes smaller the placenta will comes away from the side of the uterus and move down into your vagina. As this happens you will have some blood loss as the blood vessels that were connecting the placenta and the uterus will temporarily bleed. The blood loss reduces once the blood vessels constrict and close up the space where your placenta was attached. Physiological third…

What to do when you arrive at hospital Please go straight to the ward/department indicated on your admission letter. If you unsure of how to find the department/ward please ask staff or volunteers at the main reception (main entrance of the hospital). It is important that you arrive in plenty of time for your appointment. If you are delayed for any reason we ask that you telephone the relevant ward/department direct. Privacy and dignity We are committed to the delivery of high quality services, affording our patients the same privacy, dignity, respect and compassion that we would want for ourselves,…

Preparing for your hospital stay and what to bring with you

We strongly recommend that you continue your Rheumatology medication as normal, unless advised otherwise. Not taking your medication would mean you are at risk of having a flare-up, which puts you at a higher risk group than those on medication.  You should keep lateral flow tests at home.  You can use any lateral flow tests supplied by the Government. Please go to https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests  or call 119 to order a pack of lateral flow tests. Only use them if you develop symptoms. If you run out, you can order more. Please note that tests bought from a shop (including pharmacies) cannot be registered…

Registered charity number: 1058898 We are always very appreciate of any donations.   The Trust receives government funding for healthcare, and aims to provide the best possible facilities, equipment and environment for patients, services users, visitors and staff, but there is always more we can do to enhance the healthcare we provide.  We provide many healthcare services across Herefordshire and the surrounding areas; acute care, rehabilitation at community hospitals, and community services such as district nursing, school nursing and health visiting. Each year generous companies and individuals help us to raise much-needed funds and the Trust has benefited over several…