HeartAwards2025:NominationsOpen
The much-anticipated Heart Awards return in May, once again hosted at The Holiday Inn at Dodworth.
As always, they will celebrate the incredible work of Barnsley Hospital colleagues over the past year.
The 2025 awards are now open for nominations and include categories like Volunteer of the Year, Patient Care Award, and Outstanding Achievement Awards for clinical and nonclinical teams and individuals. Executive and Governor Awards will pay tribute to those embodying our Trust values.
So if you know anyone who is making a difference and deserving of recognition, please take a look at the categories and make a nomination.
Emma Parkes
Director of Communications
Find out more and make a nomination
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Respiratory handover:QIproject boostssafetyand efficiency
A new Quality Improvement initiative supported by Sebastine Gbadegesin has significantly improved the handover process for patients transitioning from Respiratory HDU to general medical wards. The project aimed to raise perceived effectiveness of the handover from 66.7 per cent to 80 per cent, but actually achieved 85.72 per cent!
A digital handover template (developed through surveys, stakeholder feedback, and iterative design), prepopulates diagnoses and streamlines communication.
Respondents praised it for continuity and clarity, with 42.86 per cent rating it “excellent”.
The tool has bolstered team communication and enhanced patient safety.
Read more about this and other QI projects on the Hub
GuardiansoftheHospital
When Mike stepped away from a 30-year career in the police, he didn’t leave his commitment to protecting others behind. Transitioning into security at Barnsley Hospital, he brought unparalleled expertise from disaster response and emergency planning. His work on major national incidents made safeguarding the hospital— a vital part of Critical National Infrastructure—a naturalised progression.
Lisa’s path was different but equally as compelling. After leaving a career in banking, she joined the NHS in 2005 and quickly found her passion in emergency preparedness. A rarity in the field, she is one of only 7 per cent of women working in security management.
Lisa has made it her mission to pave the way for others while driving innovations in hospital safety.
Together, Mike and Lisa lead a team that does far more than patrol corridors. They respond to crises, like the time their officers saved a man who had climbed a tree outside the hospital and was moments from tragedy. They also manage lighter challenges, such as a marauding squirrel that almost left a ward area in upheaval.
For them, security is deeply personal. “It’s about making staff and patients feel safe,” Lisa says. With innovations like body-worn cameras and high-visibility patrols, they’ve built a culture of trust and care with both staff members and patients alike.
At Barnsley Hospital, Mike and Lisa are more than security leaders they’re guardians of the hospital community.
Barnsley’sWallofHope:
ACelebrationofStrengthand MilestonesinCancerTreatment
At the trust, the Wall of Hope stands as a testament to courage, resilience, and triumph over adversity. Inspired by the national initiative of the end-oftreatment cancer bell, the Wall of Hope was born from the realisation that some patients hesitated to ring the bell, fearing it
symbolised a cure rather than the completion of a grueling chapter in their journey.
The team wanted to redefine this milestone, showing that every step, whether toward remission or symptom management, is worth celebrating.
Lining the wall are photos of patients who have completed chemotherapy, each pinned with a heartshaped clip. These images form a collective story of perseverance, offering strength to new patients.
Seeing others who endured and emerged stronger brings hope to those just starting their journey. A heartfelt message displayed prominently offers comfort to families and patients: “You are braver than you believe and stronger than you seem.”
The Wall of Hope also uplifts the medical staff, who cherish the cheers and celebrations when a photo is added. While space grows scarce, its spirit thrives, inspiring new ways to honour patients.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
BehindtheScenesinProcurement: EnsuringSmoothOperations
The procurement process in a hospital is a finely tuned operation, vital to maintaining patient care and operational efficiency.
Stacey - a Senior Category Manager for Non-Clinical Procurement, shares an insider's view of how it all works.
The process begins with identifying the type of purchase.
Every day consumables are managed by the materials management team, who monitor stock levels weekly and place orders as needed.
For new items, the procurement team steps in to source suppliers and negotiate for the best value, often securing multiple quotes or arranging supplier meetings to ensure the Trust's needs are met.
Once orders are placed, the stores team receives deliveries, while procurement resolves discrepancies and ensures accurate invoicing.
Larger purchases are typically handled through competitive tenders or preapproved public sector frameworks, ensuring compliance and value.
Stacey recalls a recent challenge when the procurement system migrated to the cloud, leading to a week-long downtime. The team prepared by processing orders early, stocking contingency supplies, and establishing emergency protocols.
From IT systems to surgical packs, procurement underpins hospital operations, delivering cost efficiencies and mitigating risks while upholding fairness and compliance across the team.
To find out more about the procurement team or to make any general enquiries please contact: bfs.procurement@nhs.net.
The team are located within the BFS building ground floor and welcome visitors Monday to Friday during the working day
MoLeadsOur GreenRevolution
Under the leadership of the ‘one man sustainability team’ Mo Sajard, a passionate advocate for NHS sustainability, the Trust is now one of the region’s leading hospitals in this arena, becoming a beacon of green innovation. Mo spearheaded the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging points, enabling staff to transition to cleaner cars, electric vehicles, and improving local air quality.
Mo is humble about his achievements, but these include securing £3.72m to upgrade infrastructure for sustainable technologies, sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity, and eliminating single-use plastic cups and cutlery.
Mo’s efforts aim to make the hospital carbon neutral by 2040 five years ahead of the NHS target.
CAVELL STAR
ClareSmith
Clare has recently completed her Master of Science in Stoma Nursing, a significant milestone in her career, and has further distinguished herself through the publication of her ground-breaking study, “Ostomy Care Nurses’ Knowledge and Practice Related to Prevention and Management of Parastomal Hernias in Adults: A Nationwide Survey of UK Stoma Care Nurses” in the prestigious Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing (JulyAugust 2024).
Clare’s research fills a crucial gap in understanding the role of stoma care nurses in the prevention and management of parastomal hernias, a common yet underexplored complication in ostomy care.
Clare is a deserving candidate for the Cavell Nurses’ Trust Award, as she continues to impact the lives of both patients and professionals in the field of stoma care. This nomination recognises Clare not only for her academic excellence but also for her unwavering dedication to the well-being of her patients.
nursing, and we re confident she will continue to make remarkable contributions to stoma nursing.
Jane Parker, Lead Colorectal Stoma Care CNS
Nominate a colleague for a Cavell Star Award today
PUBLICLY BRILLIANT
Dr.AnnaHanley
From the nomination:
“I attended Barnsley
Accident and Emergency in agony with limited vision.
From the moment Dr Hanley saw me her calming attitude put me at ease.
Dr Hanley was assuring, positive, and spent a lot of time with me making sure I was ok. After being admitted she promised to see me and follow through.
Dr Hanley has restored my trust in Drs and consultants
by making sure I knew the next steps and risks and what I need to do.
It all shows she cares for her patients. Dr Hanley is a credit to her profession, the team and the hospital. Her staff and colleagues within ophthalmology are just as caring.”
Nominate a colleague for a Brilliant Award today
BRILLIANT TEAM
Dr.PaulHudsonandDr.PeterClayton
The Oral and Maxillofacial Service (OMFS) was predicted to have over seventy 65+ week RTT breaches by the end of the 2023/24 financial year.
Paul and Peter worked tirelessly to ensure patients had been operated on and they supported the department to ensure breaches were avoided.
In one four-week period, the combined effort of Dr. Hudson and Dr. Clayton resulted in the successful completion of over 80 paediatric surgeries.
With the implementation of the planned theatres and support from these two doctors, the goal is to eliminate any instances of patients waiting more than 65 weeks for treatment and significantly reduce those waiting between 52 and 65 weeks.
A huge thank you to both Dr Paul Hudson and Dr Peter Clayton for their outstanding contribution.
Nominate a colleague for a Brilliant Award today
