Julia Jessell Steps Down, ‘Little Journey’ at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital
Written by Hitmix Local News on 14 February 2024
Staffordshire County Council Cabinet member Julia Jessel is stepping down after 40 years in politics.
The Conservative politician will continue to serve as a county councillor until the local authority election in 2025 but has stepped down from her role as cabinet member for Health and Care with immediate effect.
She will be succeeded immediately in the Health and Care role by Councillor Mike Wilcox.
County Council leader Alan White said: “I first met Julia 20 years ago and in all that time she hasn’t changed: there is still the same determination to ensure that promises are kept, standards are maintained and services delivered on behalf of the residents she serves.
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Young patients and their families can now take an online tour and experience what it is like to visit Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke thanks to an app designed to help reduce anxiety before coming to hospital.
The hospital, has launched ‘Little Journey’ – a platform that prepares, informs and supports children and families before, during and after healthcare procedures – all from the comfort of their own home.
The app is designed to reduce anxiety and improve patient outcomes by providing a 360 degree virtual tour with pictures of the surgical pathway at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital, including the ward, theatre and recovery, right through to going home.
Natalie Allen, Senior Staff Nurse at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke, said: “We are really excited to be able to offer this platform to our patients. We know that coming to hospital for an operation can be a worrying time for anyone, and for our young patients this can create a lot of anxiety and panic, so it is important that we can reduced these feelings early on and familiarise our patients with each step of their hospital admission.