Don’t

Do not move around existing vocabulary cells – there is a lot of research behind where cells are placed. Moving cells also impacts on the motor patterns the AAC user has learnt.

Do not give out the guided access code (if the device has one) to a young AAC user or others who may not understand these guidelines around editing.

Do not delete words or phrases – your AAC user or someone who models on the device may still need access to these.

Do not duplicate words or phrases to another part of the vocabulary without a good reason – check this with your local SLT.

Do not have lots of different people editing the device – this can quickly make the vocabulary disorganised and confusing.

Do

Get your AAC user involved in suggestions of what words and phrases they would like on their device.

Ask for vocabulary suggestions from other places your AAC user spends time – family members, friends, day centres, clubs etc.

Have a system in place for reviewing your AAC user’s vocabulary and do this regularly – at least every term.

Ask for support from AAC WEST (if the AAC user is still being seen by them) or your local SLT.

Agree on a main device editor – others can still be involved in contributing, via email, a shared notebook, whatever works for you.

Understand the colour coding system for different word types on your vocabulary. Ask AAC WEST or your local SLT for more information. It’s important to stick with this system for new words you are adding to help your AAC user learn them.

Attend AAC WEST Software Training to help you learn/refresh your editing skills.

Attend AAC WEST Keeping Vocabulary Updated training for further resources and information about how to ensure your AAC user has access to words they need.

What is hypersensitivity pneumonitis? 

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a condition where your lungs develop an immune response (hypersensitivity) to something, often that you have breathed in. This causes in inflammation of the lung (pneumonitis).
 

What are the causes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

What are the symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

What tests will I have?

What happens to patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

How is hypersensitivity pneumonitis treated?

How can I help myself?

Resources

© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published June 2026. Review due June 2029. NBT002702

We run regular training days and facilitate peer supervision sessions. These are open to statutory professionals in the South West of England (independent and out of area professionals may express interest via the forms below). Click the links below for more information, dates and to book a place. 

Paeds/ALD  

• AAC Assessment  
• AAC Implementation 
• Peer supervision sessions 
• Accredited referrer training 

Adult Neuro  

• AAC Assessment and Implementation 
• Peer supervision sessions 

AAC Link Therapists 

Each Local SLT team has an AAC Link Therapist. We run biannual Link Therapy Days. Link therapists should join the RCSLT AAC WEST (South West Link Therapists) Professionals Network to find out about upcoming Link Therapy Days and resources. (Please turn on notifications so you don’t miss posts).  We also encourage Link Therapists to use the forum for peer discussion and resource sharing. 

Please see these frequently asked questions below to find out more about using North Bristol My Medical Record (MMR). 

Logging in

I have trouble accessing the login page, is there an easy way to access it?

The best way to access MMR is through the link provided on email registration. You can also access My Medical Record by clicking on this link My medical record or by scanning the QR code below:

How do I reset my password?

Can my family or carers log in? How do I do this?

Results

Will I receive notifications when my results are available?

Will I be able to view historical results on My Medical Record?

The dates of my blood results and scans are wrong, what should I do?

How do I book my follow up blood tests or scans?

Other

I have used the message feature, when will I get a reply?

I have changed my mind, am I able to delete my account?

What happens when I reach the end of the MMR protocol?

© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published January 2026. Review due January 2029. NBT003855 

Can't find what you're looking for?

We’re moving content to our new website. Visit https://www.bristolft.nhs.uk/about-us/our-board/board-meetings.

Members of the public and staff can attend our Trust Board meetings in public. If you would like to attend, please let us know by emailing trust.secretary@nbt.nhs.uk and we can provide details of the location, and print papers if required. If you wish, you can ask a question to the Trust Board.

Papers are available around one week before the meetings. These papers carry a general and press embargo until after the Board of Directors meeting has been held and no discussion concerning them will be entered into until that time.

2026/2027 meeting dates (meetings in common with the Board of Directors for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust):

• Tuesday 12 May 2026. This meeting will be held at The Park, Daventry Road, Knowle West, Bristol, BS4 1DQ
• Tuesday 14 July 2026. This meeting will be held at Lockleaze Sports Centre, Off Bonnington Walk, Lockleaze, Bristol, BS7 9XF
• Tuesday 8 September 2026. This meeting will be held at the Trinity Centre, Trinity Road, Bristol, BS2 0NW
• Tuesday 10 November 2026. This meeting will be held at Thornbury Active Lifestyle Centre, Alveston Hill, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, BS35 3JB
• Tuesday 12 January 2027. This meeting will be held in Seminar Rooms 4 and 5 of the Learning and Research Centre, Southmead Hospital, Southmead Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS10 5NB
• Tuesday 9 March 2027. This meeting will be held in the Garden Room at Ham Green House, Chapel Pill Lane, Bristol, BS20 0HH.

Download Meeting Papers:

Download Integrated Quality and Performance Reports (IQPR):

This page contains information about having a contrast-enhanced mammogram (CEM). The information will also be explained by your medical team so if you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

What is CEM?

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. CEM is a technique where a contrast medium (dye) is injected into a vein in your arm before the mammogram is taken. The dye highlights any areas of your breast that we might need to investigate further.

Why do I need a CEM?

CEM is part of your breast assessment. It gives us more detailed information than just using standard mammography as seen below. The image shows the lesions in the breast brighter on the CEM image than a standard 2D mammogram.

What happens during a CEM?

• When you arrive at the clinic you will complete a short questionnaire. This is to check you can have the test. The mammographer will then call you into the X-ray room and explain the procedure to you.
• When you are ready, a small needle attached to a flexible plastic tube (cannula) will be placed into a vein in your arm. The cannula will be used to inject the contrast. This may cause a warm sensation for a short while.
• You will then be asked to undress from the waist up.
  • Deodorant, antiperspirant, and talcum powder may affect the quality of the X-ray, so please do not use them on the day of your appointment. Or you can wash them off before the mammogram is taken.
• The mammographer will position your breasts, one at a time, in the mammogram machine. They will apply some compression and take the X-rays. The compression may be slightly uncomfortable but should not be painful, and is needed to get the best images.
• Mammograms will be taken of each breast from different angles.
• When the X-rays have been taken, can get dressed and return to the waiting room. You will be asked to stay in the department for around 30 minutes to make sure you are safe to go home. We will then remove the cannula from your arm.

How long will the test take?

The test itself should take no longer than 30 minutes. You will be in the department for about an hour.

Will I be able to resume my normal activities right away?

You can eat and drink normally and return to your usual activities straight away. You can continue with your normal medication as usual.

You are advised to drink plenty of fluids after a CEM test.

When can I expect my results?

The image will be reviewed by the radiology team, who may make further recommendations. You might need further tests, for example an ultrasound scan and/or a biopsy. Your consultant will tell you when you will receive the results of any tests you have, and if we need you to attend for any further investigations.

What are the risks of having a CEM?

• Radiation - All X-rays involve radiation. A mammogram uses very small doses of radiation but the benefit of detecting breast cancer at an early stage outweighs the risk of harm from the radiation exposure. The radiation dose from a CEM is slightly higher than a standard mammogram but is still well within the accepted safety guidelines.
• Allergic reaction - the contrast is safe and usually has no after-effects. A small number of people can have an allergic (anaphylactic) reaction or other side-effects. This can happen as soon as the contrast is injected or up to a day later.
  • Reaction to the contrast dye may include, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, headache, a rash, and itchy skin. You may also feel lightheaded or faint, breathing difficulties, wheezing, a fast heartbeat (tachycardia), clammy skin, swelling, abdominal pain.
  • The mammographers are trained to recognise these reactions. We will check whether you have had any allergic reactions in the past before we give you the injection. If you are concerned you are having a reaction after leaving the department, please seek urgent medical advice or attend A&E.
• The dye we use for the test can affect the kidneys. This is uncommon, affecting less than 1 in every 100 people. To reduce the chances of this happening, we will not offer you the test if you have any of the risk factors listed below:
  • You are pregnant.
  • You are allergic to iodine.
  • You have renal (kidney) failure.
  • You have diabetes and/or take metformin.

After CEM

• Please drink plenty of fluids.
• Be aware of signs of allergic reactions detailed above. If you are worried you are having a reaction after leaving the department please seek urgent medical advice or go to the Emergency Department.

Who can I contact for further information?

If you have any further questions about anything covered on this page, please contact the breast admin team on:

• 0117 414 7000 (09:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday)

They will be able to connect you with someone who can answer your question.

© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published January 2026. Review due January 2029. NBT003818

This information will help you prepare for your Pelvic Health Physiotherapy appointment. Thank you for your patience waiting to access this service. 

What to expect

Your appointment will be in a private treatment room. During your session, your physiotherapist will:

• Ask questions to understand your concerns, symptoms, and what matters most to you.
• Discuss your medical history, recovery, and daily life.
• Explore symptoms such as pain, leaking of wee, wind or poo (incontinence), or heaviness/ bulge.
• Decide if it may be helpful to check your pelvic floor and do an examination. You may need to undress for this, but you don’t need to wear any special clothing to your appointment.
• Support you to return to activity and exercise.

Internal (vaginal or rectal) examination

This is where we check the inside of the vagina or rectum (bottom). Your physiotherapist may offer an internal examination to: 

• Check healing of any stitches or tears.
• Assess how your pelvic floor muscles are working (by doing “squeeze” and “relax” exercises).
• Look for any areas that may need further support or treatment.

Important information

• You do not have to have an internal exam.
• You can say no or change your mind at any time.
• Your physiotherapist will explain everything clearly and answer your questions.
• You can attend if you are on your period (menstruating).

Chaperones and support

You can have a chaperone during any physical exam if you would like. 

Chaperones can:

• Provide reassurance and support.
• Witness ongoing consent – that you agree to each part of the exam as it happens.
• Assist the physiotherapist if needed.

Chaperones can be formal or informal:

• A formal chaperone is a trained health professional or member of staff. Please tell us in advance if you would like a formal chaperone.
• An informal chaperone can be a partner, friend, or family member you can bring with you.

Attending with children

Babies and children are welcome. If you have an internal examination you may need to bring another adult to support or look after your child during this part of the session.

How to prepare

To get the most from your appointment we recommend you:

• Think about why you were referred.
• Consider what’s important to you about your symptoms.
• Bring a list of current medications.
• If you have bladder symptoms, please complete a bladder diary (below) and bring it with you. Please tell us if you cannot print this yourself or need help understanding it. Some people prefer to write things down on paper or in a note on their mobile phone.
• Have a look at our information on the Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Service website including information and videos in other languages.

After the assessment

Your physiotherapist will discuss the findings and agree a treatment plan with you. This may include: 

• Advice and education.
• Exercises for recovery.

You will have time to ask questions.

If you need to cancel or reschedule

Your appointment is important. Please call 0300 555 0103 as soon as possible if you need to cancel.

• Note: If you cancel twice or don’t attend without telling us, you may be discharged from the service.

We look forward to seeing you and supporting your recovery. 

Date published: 31 January 2026 Review due: 31 January 2029 PI number: BFT003852

Bladder diary

The department of Clinical Biochemistry provide the Newborn Bloodspot Screening service for a large part of the South West Region. Testing is undertaken on filter paper bloodspots which are collected from babies when they are 5 days old. Our UKAS accredited laboratory currently screens approximately 35,000 babies each year for ten conditions:

• Sickle cell disease (SCD)
• Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
• Congenital Hypothyroidism (CHT)
• Inherited Metabolic Diseases:
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)
  • Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD)
  • Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD)
  • Isovaleric acidaemia (IVA)
  • Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1)
  • Homocystinuria (pyridoxine unresponsive) (HCU)
  • Hereditary Tyrosinaemia type 1 (HT1)

Early detection through screening and prompt treatment significantly reduces the morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions.
The newborn screening bloodspot programme is provided in close collaboration with health care professionals throughout the region.

Screening for SCD is provided with the department of Haematology at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and Cystic Fibrosis with the Bristol Genetics Laboratory

Information for public and professionals regarding the SCID evaluation.

The screening laboratory works very closely with the South West Regional Metabolic Biochemistry laboratory, co-located with the Newborn SCreening Laboratory, which provides diagnostic testing to support the newborn screening programmes and monitoring of patients identified though the Inherited Metabolic Disease screening programmes. Bloodspot testing for PKU, hypothyroidism (TSH) and a monitoring service for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (17-OHP) is also available.

All of our screening results are uploaded to the Newborn Blood Spot Failsafe Solution (NBSFS) on a daily basis. This is a national web-based solution which allows maternity units, child health record departments, and screening laboratories to verify the screening status of any baby registered in England. It enables easy early identification of those babies who have had no blood spot card received in the laboratory, making it less likely that any babies will miss screening, and also promotes timeliness of repeat sampling.

Laboratory Visits

We offer half-day training sessions to midwives, health visitors, dieticians, nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals involved in the collection of bloodspots. Please contact us to arrange a visit.

Please see below for responses to our most recent user survey

Key Contacts

Roanna George
Director of Newborn Screening & Consultant Clinical Scientist
Telephone: 0117 4148425

Maryam Khan
Principal Clinical Scientist
Telephone: 0117 4148418

Emma Smith-Thomas
Senior Clinical Scientist
Telephone: 0117 4148427

Dr Sophie Otton
Consultant Haematologist
Telephone: 0117 4148359

Grace VanDerMee
Lead Biomedical Scientist - Haematology
Telephone: 0117 4148356

Rebecca Whittington
Principal Clinical Scientist - Genetics
Telephone: 0117 4146175

Clare Le Masurier
Senior Biomedical Scientist
Telephone: 0117 4148430

Zuzana Miklankova
Senior Biomedical Scientist
Telephone: 0117 4148346

Katherine Carr
Senior Biomedical Scientist
Telephone: 0117 4148430

The Metabolic Biochemistry Laboratory (previously Biochemical Genetics) at Southmead Hospital provides a regional diagnostic and monitoring service for the investigation of inherited metabolic diseases. Routine analyses performed include urine organic acids (including quantitative methylmalonic acid, if required), bloodspot/plasma acylcarnitines (including free carnitine), plasma/urine/CSF quantitative amino acids, qualitative galactosaemia screening test, plasma free fatty acids and 3-hydroxybutyrate.

In addition, the laboratory provides specialist testing for the investigation of peroxisomal disorders (plasma very long chain fatty acid analysis, including pristanic and phytanic acids), Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (plasma 7-dehydrocholesterol and 8-dehydrocholesterol)

The Metabolic Biochemistry department is a Centre for Galactosemia investigations and offers a variety of tests for the diagnosis and monitoring of disorders of galactose metabolism including:

• first line galactosaemia screens,
• quantitative galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase activity for confirmation of classical galactosaemia;
• urine galactitol for screening and monitoring of galactokinase deficiency or screening for classical galactosaemia if infant has been transfused;
• galactokinase activity for confirmation of galactokinase deficiency;
• galactose-1-phosphate for monitoring treatment of classical galactosaemia.

The Metabolic Biochemistry Laboratory at Southmead Hospital is a member of the UK National Metabolic Biochemistry Network (MetBioNet). 

The Metabolic Biochemistry laboratory works very closely with the Southwest Newborn Screening Laboratory to aid in the diagnostic testing to support the newborn screening programmes and monitoring of patients identified though the Inherited Metabolic Disease screening programmes. Bloodspot monitoring for PKU (Phenylalanine and tyrosine) and CAH (17-OHP) for known patients and testing for hypothyroidism on bloodspot (TSH)

We provide a comprehensive advisory service and welcome enquiries to discuss appropriate patient investigation and result interpretation. Clinical and laboratory advice is available during working hours, via contacts listed.

Details of Sample Requirements and Transport can be found under “Requesting” and “Test Information” via the menu at the top of this page.

For any urgent analyses or additional testing on samples already received, please telephone the laboratory to discuss.

(Source: CSF amino acid reference intervals from the Cardiff Working Group, MetBioNet)

User Handbook

Request form

User Survey

Useful Links

National Metabolic Biochemistry Network (MetBioNet)
British Inherited Metabolic Diseases Group
Cardiff Porphyria Service

Information from the Breast CNS Team

This page is supportive information to back up a face-to-face session. This is ideally done 5 weeks after your operation. We are happy for you to come at a later date if you cannot make the original date offered. 

What's next?

Long-term follow-up

Personalised care and support planning appointment and Living Well Day

Breast pain

Lymphoedema

Exercise and energise

Fatigue

Menopausal symptoms

Self-assessment

Symptoms to report

Penny Brohn

Located in Pill, this is a great place with multiple treatment support programmes, or just to have a very tasty lunch!

• Regular group sessions/in person activities – Yoga, relaxation, nutrition support, QI Gong, creativity workshops, strength and stamina classes.
• Self-care resources
• Personal consultations
• Visit the grounds for a walk
• Go to the café. 

Penny Brohn UK – Cancer wellbeing for everyone

Maggie’s House

Maggie’s House centres offer support to anyone with cancer or their loved ones.  Support offered includes: 

• Cancer support specialist available.
• Pilates.
• Benefits advice and support.
• Choir.
• Tai Chi.
• Managing stress course.
• Fitness sessions.
• Relaxation sessions.
• Where now post treatment course.

Maggie's | Everyone's home of cancer care

Bosom Buddies

Other support groups

Macmillan Centre

My Medical Record

My Medical Record is a free and secure website where you can access information about your post cancer treatment follow-up, access to information resources and message centre.

If you would like access to My Medical Record or have any questions, please contact: BreastMMR@nbt.nhs.uk

End of treatment summary

Moving forward

© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published December 2025. Review due December 2028. NBT003834.