We know how important it is for patients and families to be able to see visitors. Please help us keep our patients and staff as safe as possible by checking the guidance below before you visiting.
Read more on visiting times...
We recognise the impact that a long stay in hospital can have on families and the importance of maintaining strong communication. Our ward staff are keeping in touch with patients’ next of kin directly and our Voluntary Services team can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.
After suspending visiting earlier in the year, we are now able to offer limited visiting to some wards at the discretion of the nurse in-charge.”
Read more on visiting times...
We recognise the impact that a long stay in hospital can have on families and the importance of maintaining strong communication. Our ward staff are keeping in touch with patients’ next of kin directly and our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.
The Queen Alexandra Hospital is located just on the hill slopes of Portsdown Hill overlooking Portsmouth. It is conveniently situated for both the M27 and A3M.
Family members and carers play an important role in supporting patients during an episode of ill health. We are committed to the active involvement of family members, friends and carers during a hospital stay. Family members and carers play an important role in supporting patients during an episode of ill health.
More information on visiting hospital for an appointment.
If you've had experience of using our services and would like to make a comment then please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). Your views are very important to us and we would like to hear where you think improvements are needed or where things have gone so well that you would like to share your thanks or gratitude with the staff involved. When things have not gone so well then you can be sure that we want to hear from you, so please get in touch with PALS.
Our Strategy – Working Together, Improving Together
Our strategy sets out our vision, values, strategic aims and most importantly, how we will deliver against these ambitions for our patients, communities, and people in the future.
It is not just a document, it is for and about everyone at PHU, building on what we have achieved with a renewed focus on continuous improvement and the need to continue to work together and improve together to achieve our goals.
A full copy of the strategy can be downloaded here.
For more information, please visit our strategy webpage.
There are lots of opportunities for you to get involved with the Trust, from volunteering to attending our public meetings, our Annual General Meeting or our hospital open day which is held every year.
We welcome and value your feedback and use the views you share with us in a number of ways to learn and make improvements as well as sharing best practice. Feedback can be provided in a number of ways.
Date: 31 August 2023
A highly specialised treatment, giving lung cancer patients an alternative to surgery, has treated its 100th patient.
Morag Wootton was the 100th patient to receive high dose targeted curative radiotherapy at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, which aims to target lung tumours in the early stages with high doses of radiotherapy delivered over a shorter period of time.
Morag was diagnosed in March after a CT scan, for another health issue, picked up the tumour in her lungs.
The 82-year-old said: “I originally came in for a deep vein thrombosis issue back in March and during the CT scan they found the tumour. No one wants to find anything in their lungs, but I was really lucky this was found so early.
“The treatment is really easy for me. I just come in and lie down. I had no idea that this treatment was so new to the Trust and that I am the 100th patient, fame at last I guess!”
The treatment, which started at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust two years ago, was implemented by a multi-disciplinary team in Oncology for those who are unable, or choose not to have an operation.
Lead consultant Dr Hannah Bainbridge said: “This is a treatment that we have been wanting to provide at Portsmouth for a while and we are thrilled that, with multi-disciplinary teamwork, we are able to bring the benefits of this treatment to our patients. For patients this means we can treat them locally, and we have improved outcomes versus conventional radiotherapy.”
Advanced Radiotherapy Practitioner Rowan Child added: “In the simplest of terms this treatment , which is usually done across 3 treatments a week with a maximum of 8 in total, is like a continuous boxing match with no time for the tumour to rest and grow any further. It can only be done with certain patients due to the high dosage, but it has proved really effective for those who are suitable.”
One such patient is 64-year-old Charlie Fletcher. His lung cancer was picked up in October last year after he took up the offer of a free lung check as part of the Targeted Lung Health Check in Portsmouth.
After his CT scan, which is offered as part of the programme to current and former smokers aged 55 to 74 year olds, he was referred to the lung cancer service at Queen Alexandra Hospital and received the high dose curative radiotherapy in January this year.
He said: “Every staff member throughout the whole process has been brilliant and the aftercare I have received has been really good.
“Since my radiotherapy treatment I have had two 3-month scans and they have both shown good news.”
Charlie had no symptoms of lung cancer prior to his free lung health check.
He said: “The check really did save my life as I had no symptoms with my lung cancer and without it, the cancer would not have been caught so early.”
“It is a fantastic service and I would encourage anyone who gets a letter to go and get their free check.”
More than 9,000 residents across the city have had their free lung health check so far.
Of those scanned throughout the last 12 months, 100 have been referred to the lung cancer service and 80% of those diagnosed were found at Stage 1 and 2.
Prior to the programme only 38% were found at this earlier and more treatable stage.
All those invited have also been given support to stop smoking.
Dr Bainbridge added: “Having help to quit means you’re three times more likely to succeed.
“Anyone, whatever their age, can cut their risk of lung cancer by stopping smoking.”
For Portsmouth, call the Wellbeing service on 023 9229 4001, or for the surrounding areas call Smoke Free Hampshire on 01264 563 039 or text Quit to 66777.
