news BARNSLEYHOSPITAL
Ward wedding – ‘a moment of humanity’
One of Barnsley Hospital teams received a Cavell Star award for organising a ward wedding for a terminally-ill patient.
Ward 35 Surgical Ward Nursing Team, Selina and Hannah from SDEC, and the end-of-life care team were presented with the award.
The group was nominated by Matron Leanne Battley, CBU2 Surgery, for their extraordinary compassion, teamwork, and dedication in organising the wedding for a 38-year-old newly-diagnosed, terminally-ill patient.
With only two days’ notice, the team
united to create an unforgettable day for the patient, his bride and their families.
One staff member styled the bridal party’s hair, while her colleague gave her own bridal tiara for the bride to wear.
Local businesses gave donations and a beautiful balloon arch.
A staff member’s grandmother baked a two-tier wedding cake while another colleague organised the music.
Presenting the award, Sarah Moppett, Director of Nursing, Midwifery & AHPs, said: “The wedding was not just a ceremony, but a moment of humanity, care, and joy made possible by the unwavering dedication of the team.”
Festive footie fun at hospital
Patients and hospital colleagues had a nice surprise just before Christmas when the Reds’ players and guests from Barnsley Football Club visited wards to give out gifts.
A group of 12 players popped into Ward 18, Ward 21/22 and the children’s ward. They also made time for a quick visit to the Emergency Department and were on site for over an hour, much to the delight of all involved.
The lads spent time chatting, signing autographs and posing with fans for selfies.
Among the fans was Patricia Wroe, 90, from Barnsley. Speaking from her hospital bed, she said: “It was a lovely
surprise for the players to pop in. It’s a special day for me anyway as my son is 70 today. I also grew up with football. I even remember Tommy Taylor!”
Alan Whiteley was another patient who got a visit and photo with the players. Alan was joined by his visitor Yvonne Nunn. He said: “I started going to see the team when I was five with my dad, and now I’m 80. I’ve got lots of memories of some good games – and some bad ones!”
Alan has managed a couple of pub teams in the past and his son and grandson still go to matches regularly.
Matron Hannah Ryan said: “It was lovely seeing the patients’ faces light
up when the players came on the ward. It was really good for us too.”
One of the players, midfielder Davis Keillor-Dunn, said: “We want to give back to the patients because it’s difficult being in hospital any time but especially at this time of year.”
His team-mate Corey O’Keeffe added: “It is hard for people who love to be watching or playing sport when they’re in a hospital bed.”
The visit was arranged by Bethany Grainger (Ward 18) and Christopher Ridyard, First Team Operations Lead, from the club. Christopher planned to return to ward 18 on Christmas Day afternoon to spend more time with patients.
Here to help every step of the way
Welcome to the spring edition of Barnsley Hospital News.
I hope you and your families had a chance to rest and recharge over the festive period.
This time of year feels like the right time for many to reassess their habits, and the NHS is here to help every step of the way. You may have already been giving Dry January a try – going alcohol-free for a month – or you may have quit smoking. Quitting is one of the most important things you can do not just for your own health, but also for your family.
We have been working hard across the Trust to improve our own health and wellbeing offer to hospital colleagues, and we have resources including a network of Inclusion & Wellbeing Champions and mental health first aiders.
There are also some exciting health projects for the Barnsley community which are due to progress further this year. Among them is our partnership with other local organisations to transform some parts of the Alhambra Shopping Centre into ‘a health and wellbeing hub’. Watch out for news on this later in 2025.
Our work with various partners is growing, and this trend of collaboration with other organisations is set to continue as we endeavour to overcome challenges to the NHS including financial pressures. The Trust has already done much to improve its financial position as well as its transparency and accountability. We’re proud that we, along with colleagues throughout the region, have continued to deliver crucial services in the face of ever-growing demand.
We thank our colleagues for their exceptional dedication to healthcare, and you in our community, for your continued support and respect.
Dr Richard Jenkins
Barnsley Hospital News readership survey
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Barnsley Hospital CEO Dr Richard Jenkins
Barnsley FC players visited tBarnsley Hospital before Christmas and met patients and staff.
Ward 35 Surgical Ward Nursing Team, Selina and Hannah from SDEC, and the end-of-life care team were presented with the award.
From the Chair
Hello and welcome to the spring edition of Barnsley Hospital News.
I extend warm wishes for 2025 on behalf of our dedicated team of over 4,000 employees. It is with immense pride that I reflect on serving the Barnsley community for another year.
All our day-to-day care happens against an incredibly busy background in the hospital. We have also been more active than ever in the Barnsley community. Our Governors were out and about in December when they visited Barnsley Market
and talked to people about membership and the role of the Governors. They had some great conversations – and will be reporting on their experience so we can act on your feedback.
They also attended a wellbeing event in Mapplewell and are arranging a visit to Barnsley College so they can see the new academy which has been developed in partnership with the Trust.
This will help us in the future to recruit a diverse range of people with the right skills into the NHS.
Developing healthcare in the community is key in the government’s ten-year plan for the NHS. The plan is structured around three shifts: from a service treating sickness to one focused on preventing illness occurring in the first place; from delivering care in hospitals to delivering care closer to home, in communities and in primary care; and digital transformation of service delivery. Barnsley is ahead of the pack in several of these areas, including our Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in the Glassworks. The CDC has been
Giving new healthcare workers the best start
Stacey Corbett and Kim Swallow ensure that new Healthcare Workers and Maternity Support Workers get the best start.
The ‘dynamic duo’ from Barnsley Hospital Pastoral Support Team have already bagged a prestigious Chief Nursing/Chief Midwifery Officer Award for their work. The new role of Healthcare Support Worker Pastoral Support Worker (HCSW) was introduced in April 2023. There was a need for pastoral support for HCSWs to help retention and resilience of the workforce. The support
focuses on wellbeing needs, as well as training and development, particularly for those new to care.
Kim left school straight for the NHS 15 years ago, working on Orthopaedic wards before specialising in Maternity Services, then moving to the Workforce Development Team.
Stacey began on a surgical ward ten years ago, before specialising in the Breast Service for a number of years.
Kim and Stacey host the Care Certificate study days and have created a ‘Prepare to Care’ programme for new to Trust Healthcare and
Maternity Support Workers. It aims to give staff the best start to their new roles, providing vital training and information in preparation for their clinical responsibilities. Since the Pastoral Support Worker role developed, the Care Certificate compliance for the Trust has risen from 74% in April 2023 to 93% in October 2024. Out in the community, Kim and Stacey play a vital role in school engagement sessions and Barnsley College industry weeks, sharing their knowledge and experiences with the young people of Barnsley.
Join in our Heart Awards!
Do you know someone at the hospital who deserves an award? Has their service to you been outstandingly compassionate or helpful? If so, you can submit them for a ‘Patient Choice’ award – and that applies to whole teams as well as individuals. Nominations will close towards the end of March before our glittering Heart Awards evening in May. Check our hospital website and keep an eye on our social media for details.
a real success and continues to expand. In a patient study conducted by Barnsley Council, almost 94% of all responses said the CDC was easy to find and almost 77% said their experience was better at the CDC. On a final note, I want to say a special thank you to our Barnsley Hospital Charity. They work tirelessly inside the Trust and out, providing support to our colleagues and raising thousands of pounds to enhance our care. You can see a sample of their great activities on Page 4.
Governors gather good feedback on hospital
Barnsley Hospital Governors have been out and about in the community, gathering feedback in order to improve hospital services.
Comments from the public covered a wide range of subjects including the Community Diagnostic Centre in the Glassworks, hospital staff and quality of care, car parking, time-keeping of appointments and the hospital charity.
Governor Malcolm Gibson said: “In general, the feedback was very good. Two members of the public actually told me the hospital had saved their lives. “A few people said how good the Community Diagnostic Centre was and the welcome they received when they got there.”
Governor Jenny Platts said: “Some points from the conversations I had were compliments about staff and the care and treatment they or their relatives received, with some about ongoing treatment.
“However, one person referred to someone they knew who had waited ten hours in A&E to be seen. This led to a conversation about people not being able to get an appointment to see their GP when they need one.”
Phil Carr, Governor, said most people he spoke to had ‘very good experiences with the hospital.’
He added: “There were some
comments about the length of time it takes to answer the phone in several hospital departments when trying to make appointments, and someone remarked on queues at pharmacy outpatients.”
Governor visits included Barnsley Market and Hoyland Library for one of Barnsley Council’s ‘Winter Wellbeing’ events.
Volunteer James beats his fear
Say hi to James Hall, who is 84 and one of Barnsley Hospital’s volunteers.
James has been with the Trust for two-and-a-half years and enjoys helping patients and staff.
After some challenging personal events, he decided he needed to do something. Before Covid, he sadly lost his wife and suffered his own personal health issues. He wanted to get ‘back out there’ – and volunteering at the hospital fitted the bill.
The Trust is where he and his late wife had received treatment. James started volunteering in a ‘meet and greet’ role, working every Tuesday afternoon.
The Trust developed a new pharmacy volunteer role and James felt this would be ideal. The role supports in delivering non-controlled drugs to inpatient wards. James explained that this helped hospital colleagues and saved time for patients waiting for medication. He said: “I love working with staff in the pharmacy and wards – and they are always grateful for the help.”
James is the first volunteer to work in the pharmacy role, and has also now supported training of two new volunteers doing the same job. He said: “Some afternoons I can do about 24 visits to different wards all around the hospital and I enjoy
having my Fitbit keeping track of my steps!”
James has also overcome a personal fear around attending ward 24 (Chemo Unit). This is where his wife was treated and sadly passed away. James initially felt too anxious to go to the unit, but after a few weeks wanted to face it head on. He felt highly emotional visiting the area, and so proud of overcoming his fears. James volunteers 12 hours per week and has made great friendships with some of his fellow volunteers. He made special mention of Julie and Anne who always offer a listening ear and support him in any way they can. Thank you, James!
BARNSLEYHOSPITAL
Hospital Chair Sheena McDonnell
Governors at Barnsley Market
Partner Governor Kieron Campbell (Barnsley Football Club Charity) and Non-Executive Director Kevin Clifford at Hoyland Library.
Pastoral Support Team: Stacey Corbett and Kim Swallow
New ‘game-changer’ knee service
Barnsley Hospital has a new service which is helping people with knee problems to stay active and working. We spoke to orthopaedic surgeon Vivek Balachandar.
What is the service?
Barnsley Soft Tissue Knee and Knee Preservation Unit started in December 2024.
Why did it start?
Knee problems are growing and place enormous pressure on the NHS.
Traditionally, the focus has been on treating arthritis through total knee replacement surgery. However, this can lead to poorer outcomes, especially for younger, active, working-age patients.
The new service aims to prevent knee arthritis and avoid major surgery by identifying and treating problems early. This involves prompt assessment, diagnosis, and management of knee injuries, along with techniques such as keyhole surgery. The service will help keep people active, enjoying their hobbies and sports, and in employment –particularly vital in Barnsley, where economic inactivity is a significant concern.
Who is it for?
Anyone with a knee injury or concern – whether young athletes, older adults, or active individuals.
n If you’ve injured your knee through twisting, changing direction, falling, landing awkwardly, or being tackled –it’s important to act quickly. Untreated ligament, cartilage, or meniscal injuries can cause further damage and lead to arthritis.
n Female athletes are up to eight times more likely to suffer knee ligament injuries. Young athletes requiring knee surgery have increased 29-fold in the last 20 years.
n Older athletes and active adults are also seeing an increase in injuries and require personalised, careful treatment to remain active.
The service is not limited to sports injuries – it is for anyone who wants to avoid long-term knee problems.
The unit offers:
1. Acute care: Fast assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of
Help to quit smoking for hospital patients
As a ‘healthy hospital,’ Barnsley Hospital continues to help inpatients stop smoking, and the Healthy Lives Team (HLT) QUIT service plays a vital role –offering support and information to enable lasting change beyond the hospital doors.
In October to December 2024, over 880 people admitted to the hospital were documented as having smoked during the previous two weeks. 380 of these were prescribed Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) within 24 hours of their admission, which is 50% more than the same time last year.
sudden knee injuries to prevent further damage.
2. Knee preservation: A range of expert treatments, surgical and non-surgical, to repair knee damage, delay arthritis, and prevent/reduce the need for total knee replacement surgery Studies suggest that up to 30% of patients who undergo total knee replacements could benefit from knee preservation. These procedures are shorter, less invasive, and offer quicker recovery times with fewer risks of complications.
How is the service
run?
Through weekly clinics at Barnsley Hospital, including: n An Acute Knee Injury Clinic for urgent assessment and care. n A Knee Preservation Clinic for long-term treatment options. Most day-case surgeries are at the Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence (MEOC)—a state-of-the-art facility with
high patient satisfaction, shorter waiting times, and reduced risk of cancellation.
More complex procedures will still be carried out at Barnsley Hospital.
Who works in it?
It’s supported by a dedicated team focussed on prompt assessment, diagnosis, and management. This includes Emergency Department staff, community and hospital physiotherapy, surgeons, specialist radiologists, musculoskeletal service, and hospital management.
New roles boost patient satisfaction
Barnsley Hospital has introduced two brand-new ‘Patient and Carer Experience Navigator’ roles. We asked Patient and Carer Experience Lead, Jane Connaughton, to tell us more…
1. Can you explain a bit more about the Patient and Carer Experience Navigator role?
The objective for these roles is to drive the Patient Experience agenda, and to provide the support to improve performance in relevant key areas where patient satisfaction is the measure.
The HLT QUIT service can arrange free community support for patients on discharge – and also hospital staff – through Barnsley’s stop smoking service, Yorkshire Smokefree. The team can provide 12 weeks of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and specialist support (with protected time away from work to attend) for any hospital staff wanting to stop smoking.
Dr Ceryl Harwood, Consultant in Public Health, said: “Providing NRT early in an admission helps prevent unpleasant nicotine withdrawal symptoms in our patients whilst in hospital, aids their recovery, and for some will start a journey towards quitting long-term by ensuring community stop smoking support post-discharge.”
The role came about following a review of the models used by top performing trusts in the national Care Quality Commission (CQC) Adult Inpatient Survey. The proposal was to recruit two Patient and Carer Experience Navigator roles as part of a six-month pilot supporting a number of wards in key patient experience improvement initiatives. These roles are a driver for increased patient feedback, allowing us to identify what further patient experience improvements are required.
2. How did the two current post holders get into the roles?
Both of them started in October 2024.
Innovations in patient discharge
The NHS in the North East and Yorkshire has introduced several initiatives to improve patient discharge processes and enhance the flow of patients through hospitals. This helps ensure timely and efficient care after the latest figures reveal that more hospital beds were occupied in week ending January 12 than at any other point this winter. Regionally, there were 16,974 beds in use representing 94% occupancy of adult general and acute hospital beds.. Nearly 1 in 7 of these beds (13,585) were taken up by patients who were fit to be discharged, highlighting the
critical need for effective patient flow solutions.
In Barnsley, the hospital has tackled delays in discharge by working with the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) to establish a pre-booked medication delivery service. This ensures timely discharge by delivering around 240 medications each month, helping avoid missed Discharge to Assess slots and nursing home cut-offs. The service has been extended to virtual wards, end-of-life care, and haematology and has received positive feedback from patients and families. Barnsley Hospital has also partnered with the charity
One of them, Mat, is on a study break from university, and was looking for a fixed-term contract. He said the job profile looked interesting and would allow him to gain a non-clinical view on the patient pathway. And he enjoys talking to and building rapport with patients!
Our other post holder Manoshi became interested in patient experience while working as a volunteer, and decided to apply after seeing the job advert.
Sharewear to provide clothing for patients being discharged, ensuring they return home comfortably and with dignity. Commenting on efforts across the region, Caroline Wood, Director of Operations and Delivery, said: “Our teams across the region have worked tirelessly to innovate and streamline patient discharge processes. These initiatives are not only reducing delays but also improving patient experience by ensuring people get home or to the next stage of their care more efficiently. This work reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional care while optimising resources to meet
3. What work do they do on a day-to-day basis in the trust? Primarily, the focus is supporting key patient-facing initiatives introduced with the aim of improving patient and family experience of care. This includes, but is not limited to projects called: ‘3 things about me,’ ‘Care Partners and Welcome Packs.’ In addition, we often find ourselves supporting patients by ensuring they know their voice matters.
4. Is there more scope in future for the Patient Experience Navigator role in Barnsley? What differences will it make for patients?
Since the introduction of the role, ‘Friends and Family’ response and satisfaction rates for the wards involved in the pilot have significantly increased. There have been a number of instances where the navigators have been able to help resolve concerns in real-time through appropriate signposting and support. At the end of the pilot, the Trust will review and consider a suitable patient experience model of support that continues to achieve the results we have seen so far.
increasing demand.” These initiatives highlight the dedication of NHS trusts in the North East and Yorkshire to
improving patient care, enhancing hospital efficiency, and meeting the needs of the communities they serve.
BARNSLEYHOSPITAL
Orthopaedic surgeon Vivek Balachandar
Manoshi Needham, Patient Experience Navigator
Dr Simon Enright supports the Tobacco Treatment Team
Meet The Alcohol Care team
Can you tell us about your team?
The Alcohol Care Team (ACT) started in Barnsley in November 2021. It’s part of the bigger Healthy Lives Team.
We help inform the public about how harmful alcohol can be and that drinking less can make a big difference to their health and wellbeing. Making even small changes to their drinking can help people feel better.
The ACT delivers a wide range of interventions to diagnose, treat and support people with alcohol problems.
What’s a typical day?
We start at 8am and have a staff handover of patients from the day before. We prioritise referrals and
any reviews of patients having complicated withdrawals on the ward, and update community alcohol services. We sometimes give the patient in hospital a community assessment appointment before they are discharged, to reduce the amount of time they are waiting to get support when home. Challenges we face include training hospital staff in safe monitoring of the patient with alcohol withdrawals. This is key in identifying complications early and we can treat quickly to prevent escalation.
Prescribing treatment can be challenging as we have one prescriber in the team and often rely on doctors to prescribe.
How does your work impact the community?
The team bridges the gap from hospital discharge to first assessment with community alcohol services by providing follow-up telephone support to patients.
Providing patients with the ACT mobile number has a positive effect for them and the hospital. We take calls from patients who may not have been in hospital for some time but are in crisis. Our expert advice and support often prevents the patient attending the Emergency Department. The telephone contact number provides a service for patients 8am to 8pm seven days a week.
What motivates the team?
Being passionate about helping people in our home town Barnsley – and providing them with compassionate, non-judgmental care. In some cases, it may be the first time a person discloses that they have
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR BREAST CARE UNIT APPEAL
Barnsley Hospital Charity’s latest Breast Care Appeal will support a transformation of the dedicated Breast Unit.
Patients are seen by our specialist doctors, nurses and radiology team for consultations, imaging assessment and biopsies.
Around 7,381 patients are seen annually in the unit with a variety of symptoms, including breast lumps, nipple changes and lumps in the armpit.
This equates to around 142 patients per week and, of those, an average of around 250 breast cancer patients are treated annually.
Ongoing appointments with Breast Care Nurses, prosthetic experts and doctors take place within this unit.
We envision a healing space where sensitivity is at the heart of every detail.
Imagine stepping into a serene waiting area, surrounded by calming scenes from nature. Comfortable seating will be arranged in small clusters,
‘We envision a healing space where sensitivity is at the heart of every detail’
creating a welcoming environment where patients can feel at ease, even in their most vulnerable moments. Privacy and dignity will be thoughtfully maintained. Our design will seamlessly blend art and functionality –with floor-to-ceiling nature prints, artistic ceiling tiles, and custom window films –transforming the entire space into a place of calm and support.
Please see JustGiving page to donate: Breast Care Appeal - JustGiving. The following events in this edition of BHC news will also support the appeal. We would love to hear from you and for you to get involved. Email barnsleyhospital charity@nhs.net or call 01226 432307 to get involved and help us reach our target of £100,000.
Heartfelt thanks
On November 27 2024, we illuminated our hospital and community with 45 sponsored stars as part of our ‘Shine Bright for Barnsley’ Christmas Appeal. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every sponsor who made this possible. We eagerly anticipate what we can achieve together in 2025. The feedback we’ve received from visitors and those passing by has been remarkable, and who knows, we may even expand our efforts next year!
alcohol issues, due to fear of embarrassment or being judged as ‘it’s their own fault’.
Our team are good listeners, warm, friendly, and caring. We treat the person not the problem.
We have several patients who have done amazingly well. Some have abstained from alcohol for years since their first intervention in hospital with our nurses. This makes the job so rewarding and we remain dedicated to delivering high quality expert care to all.
Shark Dive and Ziplining among 2025 events
Barnsley Hospital Charity is well-known for its brilliant and original events –and 2025 is no different. There is a spectacular range of fundraisers this year, with some that you may have never imagined… please sign up and join in the fun! This year, the charity has more than 20 events on offer throughout the year.
Not only can you have fun doing them, you can also raise a bob or two for a very good cause. Among the events are: n Lego Walk n Shark Dive n Cold water Plunge n Sky Dive n Golf Day n Barnsley 10K n NHS 77th Birthday n Ziplining n Dragon Boat Race ...and more!
and raise funds for our Breast Care Unit Appeal on March 22, 2025, at Barnsley Market. We are delighted to announce that this event is open to children from the age of five. So why not get together with your family and join us for our first event of 2025?
BARNSLEYHOSPITAL