Find out why South Shields Town Hall was lit up red last night

South Shields Town Hall was turned red last night for International Stop Pressure Ulcer Day, part of the Stop The Pressure Campaign which took place around the country on Thursday, November 21.

The NHS campaign encourages people to wear a red dot in order to start a conversation on preventing pressure ulcers in hospitals and eradicating them completely.

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Norman Dick, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to support this campaign and raise awareness of this issue by lighting up our beautiful Town Hall in red.

"Seeing our stunning Town Hall lit up in this way gets people talking about the campaign and its aim of supporting the improvement of standards of safe care."

Pressure ulcers, caused by lack of movement, are key indicators of the quality of care and experience patients receive at a hospital and are a significant health issue, with 1,300 reported cases in UK hospitals every month, costing the NHS more than £1.4 million every day.

Town Hall chiefs showed their support by becoming a beacon of red, representing the campaign’s red dot symbol.

The ‘Stop The Pressure’ campaign was originally launched by NHS Midlands and East, and saw hospital staff achieve a 50% reduction of pressure ulcers in the area.

The campaign launched nationally in 2016 with the aim of increasing awareness of how to avoid pressure ulcers for bed ridden patients.