Friarage NHS Hospital

03/11/2026

We will soon carry out an essential upgrade to our mammography imaging equipment at the Friarage Hospital.

The work is expected to take place from Friday 6 November 2026 and is anticipated to last for six to eight weeks. This investment is essential and will help us continue to provide a high-quality breast imaging service for patients across our communities for many years to come.

To maintain as much of the service as possible during this period, a temporary breast imaging mobile unit will be located at Friarage Hospital. However, as this unit is designed primarily for breast screening services, it does not offer the full range of imaging services available within the hospital's breast unit.

As a result, some patients who require specialised mammography imaging may need to attend the breast unit at University Hospital of North Tees for their appointment while the upgrade work is underway.

In addition, the mobile unit is accessed via steps and therefore may not be suitable for all patients. Patients with mobility issues, accessibility requirements or who are unable to use steps may also be asked to attend University Hospital of North Tees for their appointment.

We will advise any patient who we feel needs to visit University Hospital of North Tees directly and our team will discuss the arrangements with you and provide any necessary support.

While every effort will be made to minimise disruption, patients and visitors may notice a small amount of additional noise in the immediate area around the unit.

We appreciate that these temporary arrangements may cause some inconvenience and would like to thank patients for their patience and understanding while this important work is carried out. The upgrade will ensure we can continue to deliver safe, modern and high-quality breast imaging services for our local communities.

If you have any questions about your appointment, accessibility requirements or travel arrangements, please contact:

• Friarage Hospital Northallerton on 01609 763060
• North Tees Hospital on 01642 624281

Thank you for your understanding and support.

02/11/2026

Side effects - don't ignore them, report them.

Today marks the start of the eleventh annual .

There are many different types of side effects and if you think you're experiencing a side effect, do not suffer in silence - report it.

We all have the power to make healthcare products safer. Help others by reporting a problem using the Yellow Card scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ by discussing it with a healthcare professional such as your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

02/11/2026

👁️ Need urgent eye care? Call first 👁️

From Tuesday 3 November, patients with urgent, non-sight-threatening eye conditions are asked to call our new triage telephone service before attending the emergency eye care department at James Cook.

Please call 01642 854096 if you have:

✅a suspected eye infection
✅new onset of flashes, floaters or a dark curtain over vision
✅red or painful eye/s
✅flashing lights and floaters (without blurring of vision).

The phone service is open:

✨Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm
✨Bank holidays and weekends: 8am to 12noon

A triage nurse assess your condition and choose the most appropriate care for your needs.

🚨Walk-ins remain available during these hours for emergency ,sight-threatening conditions only, including: chemical burns, sudden loss of vision with/without pain, new onset double vision and trauma to the eye 🚨

If you experience an emergency outside of these hours, please go straight to your nearest emergency department or urgent treatment centre.

https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/ophthalmology/eye-casualty-department/

31/10/2026

" When people say don't play with fireworks, listen."

That's the powerful message from 17-year-old Aleks Stasiukiewicz from Hartlepool who lost his left eye in a tragic firework accident.

When a firework failed to go off, Aleks went back to relight it. It exploded instantly, causing him life-changing injuries. He lost his left eye and part of his eyelid, suffered burns, and broke his front tooth.

He was rushed to James Cook where our team of specialist oculoplastic surgeons, inserted a ball shape prosthesis to replicate the movement of a real eye.

Now, Aleks, his mum Julie and the team of specialists who helped his recovery, are sharing his story to raise awareness of firework safety ahead of Bonfire Night.

He said: ""I know it can be tempting to break the rules and have a bit of fun but fireworks are incredibly dangerous. "They can cause serious, life-changing injuries."

❤❤️ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐤𝐬'𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/news/firework-safety/

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬:

✅ Attend organised displays
✅ Never return to or handle a lit firework
✅ Keep a safe distance at all times

A Hartlepool family is urging people to follow firework safety advice this Bonfire Night, after a firework accident left their son with life-changing injuries.

29/10/2026

🧠 Today is World Stroke Day.

Stroke can happen to anyone, at any age. In this short video, Kirsty Jones, consultant therapist, explains the importance of recognising the signs of stroke and raises awareness of the BE FAST campaign.

Balance problems, Eyesight changes, Facial weakness, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties - it's Time to call 999.

Knowing the signs and acting quickly can save lives.

28/10/2026

👀👀 The emergency eye care department is changing 👀👀

From Tuesday 3 November, the emergency eye care department at James Cook will introduce a triage telephone service to support patients with urgent, non-sight-threatening eye conditions.

Patients are advised to call 01642 854096 before attending the hospital if they experience conditions, including:

✅suspected eye infections
✅new onset of flashes, floaters or a dark curtain over vision
✅red or painful eye/s and
✅flashing lights and floaters (without blurring of vision)

Following an initial telephone call, a triage nurse, will assess the patient’s condition and direct them to the most appropriate care pathway.

⏰The service is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm, and weekends and bank holidays, 8am to 12 noon⏰

☑️Walk-in appointments will remain available during these hours for patients experiencing genuine sight-threatening, eye emergencies.

☑️Outside of the department's opening hours, patients with emergency eye conditions should attend their nearest emergency department or urgent treatment centre.

☑️Patients with acute eye concerns such as mild irritation, dry or sticky eyes or gradual blurred vision, should contact their GP or local optician.

➡For opening times, location details and guidance on what to do for your eye condition, visit: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/news/specialist-eye-care

28/10/2026

We’re inviting people who have used our maternity and neonatal services to tell us about their experience by taking part in The Big Maternity and Neonates Conversation.

We want to hear:

👶 What matters most to you when receiving maternity or neonatal care

💙 What helps you feel safe, supported and listened to

🗣 What we could do to improve the experience for you and your family

Whether your experience was recent or some time ago, we’d love to hear from you.

Please take part in our anonymous survey here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/TheBigMaternityandNeonatesConversation

Thank you

20/10/2026

“The support group has been great as chatting to other people makes you realise you are not alone. People who are going through similar things and are trying their hardest to manage their diabetes just like you instil a sense of confidence in you."

A specialist support group has been praised by patients for making them realise they are not alone in managing a condition that impacts their lives round the clock.

The Type 1 diabetes support group at the Friarage Hospital is a group for patients who would benefit from meeting individuals with the same diagnosis.

The sessions take place once every three months and the group recently celebrated its two-year anniversary since it was set up in September 2024.

Julia Brown and Anne Denise Fisher are two of the patients who have been regularly attending the support groups and have praised the team behind organising it.

Diabetes and endocrine specialist nurse Michelle Watson and the team run the successful support groups, which they organise outside their working hours.

Michelle said: “We decided to start the diabetes cafe specifically for Type 1 diabetes for the patients to meet with people who are dealing with the same things every day. It’s like a buddy system where they can talk freely and without judgment.

"This cafe is for them, and we never use it like a clinical setting. We find that this has been beneficial not only for their diabetes but their mental health too. We love doing this for our type 1 community and will continue as long as the patients want to come.”

Read more: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/news/diabetes-patients-praise-impactful-support-group/

08/10/2026

We are pleased to announce that our pilot transport initiative connecting North Yorkshire patients to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough from Friarage Hospital will now benefit from an extended service, with eligible patients being picked up directly from their homes.

In July, we launched a transport service for people living in North Yorkshire who are attending appointments or visiting a relative receiving care at The James Cook University Hospital.

The service provided an affordable travel option for people living in rural areas who may not qualify for free NHS patient transport or have a condition that makes using public transport difficult.

While the shuttle service was helping people travel to James Cook, some residents in rural communities still faced difficulties reaching Friarage Hospital to access the shuttle bus. The extended service aims to remove this barrier and make it easier for eligible patients to attend appointments.

This means patients who have an appointment at James Cook but are unable to travel to Friarage to access the shuttle service may now be offered free transport to and from their home in rural North Yorkshire.

The extended service will benefit patients living in areas such as Hawes, Northallerton, Richmond, Bedale, Leyburn, Thirsk and surrounding communities.

There will be strict eligibility criteria for the service, with each request assessed on a case-by-case basis by the in-house transport team.

Individuals will still need to pay the £10 charge for the shuttle journey between Friarage and James Cook. Home pick-ups and return journeys to and from the patient’s home will be provided free of charge.

For more information, including eligibility criteria, how to book, and a detailed FAQ section, visit here: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/news/rural-north-yorkshire-patients-offered-improved-transport-access-to-specialist-hospital/

02/10/2026

This Hereditary Cancer Awareness Week, start the conversation 💬

Knowing your family's history of cancer could help you better understand your own risk of cancer and access the right support if needed.

Our Macmillan cancer family history service is here to help. Find out more and refer yourself online: www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/cancer-institute/cancer-support-services/macmillan-family-cancer-history