Latest news

It is with great sadness we share the news of the death of Geoff Salt, Derbyshire Children's Hospital League of Friends Chairman, and volunteer at Royal Derby Hospital.

Geoff started work in NHS Hospital Finance in 1963 and retired in 1999. Geoff became involved with the Derbyshire Children's Hospital League of Friends and it was following a chance remark by a member of the nursing staff at North Street Children’s Hospital, who wondered if the League could perhaps supply drinks of orange juice for the children while they waited for their appointments, that the tea bar was set up.

A Senior Sister at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital has been recognised for providing outstanding support and care to her colleague with a Monthly Making a Difference Award.

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Jacqueline Fenney on 13 December 2021.

A beloved UHDB nurse who has dedicated herself to caring for thousands of people for nearly half a century has spoken of her pride at being able to do a job that she’s “always loved” for so long.

Known as a mentor, their work mum, or simply “Mrs B” to many of her colleagues, Gurjit Badhesha, was this week presented with her Long Service Award to celebrate both her 45th year in the NHS – and with us here at UHDB.

After starting her training as an enrolled nurse at the former Derby City Hospital back in 1976, Gurjit soon started working as a nurse in the old Receiving Room, which would go on to become the hospital’s Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) in 1997.

Dr Magnus Harrison, currently  Executive Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive, will become Interim Chief Executive from 1 February 2022.

A mobile breast screening van has been stationed at Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital as women in the Tamworth area are encouraged to attend their routine screening appointments.

A Royal Derby Hospital patient who suffered a cardiac arrest whilst being treated in A&E has praised staff in the department for saving her life with their quick actions.

Glenys Gallagher was rushed to hospital by her family after showing symptoms of a heart attack and this decision to not hesitate but to come straight to A&E ultimately saved her life. 

A married couple from Tamworth have revealed how vital their local Minor Injuries Unit is to their community after each had a fall and required treatment.

Peggy and Peter Thelwell found themselves in need of urgent medical assistance recently when both suffered nasty injuries following two separate falls. 

A UHDB staff governor has explained why she was anxious about getting the Covid-19 vaccine and what helped her to change her mind.

Lesley Hayes received her first dose of the vaccine yesterday morning – after deciding not to do so up until now over fears that this could lead to her experiencing serious side-effects in the future.

As someone with the hidden disability Epilepsy who has experienced previous vaccination contraindications in the past and whose children have also experienced serious long-term side effects relating to her medication, Lesley was understandably concerned about any adverse effects from getting the vaccine and so decided to hold off doing so until she felt more comfortable to make an informed decision.

Sunday 12 December marks the Workplace Day of Remembrance. Established in 2019 the day is a time to remember everyone who lost their lives.

Earlier this year, we unveiled two new heart sculptures to remember our colleagues we have lost throughout the pandemic and over the years gone by. 

Ward 405 were awarded with a monthly Making a Difference Award from Becky Warren, Modern Housekeeper, a member of the team who was considering leaving the NHS.

As part of the #OneYearOn since UHDB administered the first Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, we wanted to reflect on the success of our vaccination programme.

Andrea Jones, Community Palliative Care Nurse Specialist, is urging all staff to book their vaccinations as soon as possible if they haven’t done so already.

The lengths that UHDB teams have gone to during the pandemic to limit the spread of Covid-19 in our hospitals has been recognised on a national scale.

UHDB has been shortlisted for two awards at the Health Business Awards for the Trust’s ‘Redirooms’ project, which has helped to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in our hospitals and keep people safe.

Pop-up pods, known as Redirooms, have been used in different assessment areas across the Trust since last winter, including at Royal Derby Hospital’s Medical Assessment Unit – meaning patients suspected of having Covid-19 can be separated from others until their test results are known.

The number of patients in Derby receiving life-changing dialysis from the comfort of their own home has increased – thanks to improvement work carried out by UHDB’s renal team.

Today (Friday 3 December) marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities and in recognition of this, UHDB has joined the global movement to light up the Royal Derby Hospital and Queens Hospital Burton entrances in purple.

Porter, Jason Eccles and Senior Sister, Claire Eccles are celebrating 25 years working in the NHS – the roles that bought them together as husband and wife.

Jason has been a Porter at the Royal Derby Hospital for the past 25 years, joining the Trust in February 1996. Claire joined the Trust in September 1996, holding the post of Staff Nurse on Ward 5, Coronary Care after qualifying in March 1996.

Derby born brother and sister who hadn’t seen each other in over a year have been reunited after coincidentally being admitted on to the same ward at Royal Derby Hospital.

John Meakin, 78, from Chaddesden and Joan Sanders, 80, from Alvaston hadn’t seen each other in over a year due to the ongoing lockdown and health conditions, only to be reunited on the same ward on recent hospital admissions.

UHDB Parkinson’s team have released a new book about a multidisciplinary approach to Parkinson’s care for improved patient outcomes.

UHDB and the University of Nottingham are delighted to announce recent honorary appointments and promotions to Professor of a series of colleagues.

The main entrance at Royal Derby Hospital was lit up by the glow of people’s phones yesterday evening – as a show of Team UHDB’s ongoing support for people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide.

A Trainee Nursing Associate who helped a patient at the end of life write an emotional letter to her children has been presented with a Monthly Making a Difference Award.

UHDB has been formally recognised with a new accreditation that has strengthened the Trust’s position as an ally to the Armed Forces community. The Trust is proud to have such a strong working relationship with the Armed Forces and can count on veterans from the Military and reservists as valuable members of our workforce. After further emphasising this support by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant earlier this year, UHDB has now been formally recognised with ‘Veteran Aware’ status by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA).

Five wards have been awarded with their bronze accreditation for the Every Day Counts initiative to ensure all patients are cared for in a safe, smooth and are appropriately discharged.

Experts at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton and University of Nottingham have been awarded £1.2m from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) to improve the rehabilitation of patients following surgery for finger flexor tendon injuries.

Ward 801 at Queen’s Hospital Burton have received silver accreditation for the Every Day Counts initiative to ensure all patients are cared for safely and are appropriately discharged.

Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Judy Veale, after she sadly passed away last week.

A UHDB anaesthetist is aiming to help raise the profile of Speciality and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors at Trust level and on a national scale too after being appointed into a role that is the first of its kind in the NHS.

Dr Gauri Sankhe recently took on the role of UHDB’s first ever SAS Advocate, which is a position that has been created to improve support for the wellbeing of SAS doctors – something that is especially important right now in the midst of the pandemic.