Celebrating National Estates and Facilities Day in Barnsley...
In this edition, we celebrate National Estates and Facilities Day, and look at the great work our estates and facilities colleagues do all year round.
We’re proud to celebrate the often-unsung heroes behind the scenes – and today we give a huge shoutout to our brilliant BFS Admin Team.
From managing the busy Estates and Portering Helpdesk to coordinating car park operations on and off site, their calm professionalism and friendly approach make a huge difference every day.
Whether supporting colleagues, contractors, or callers, they go the extra mile with a smile.
Thank you for everything you do – your support helps keep our services running smoothly and our patients and staff moving.
Rob McCubbin
Managing Director of Barnsley Facilities Service
HugeThanks totheBFS AdminTeam!
A big shout-out to the BFS Admin Team for their outstanding support across all BFS Clusters!
They expertly manage the Estates and Portering Helpdesk, welcoming every caller warmly and ensuring requests are recorded accurately and passed on swiftly.
They also handle the busy onsite and off-site car parks, a challenging role they approach with patience and a positive attitude.
Despite the pressures, the team remains friendly, helpful, and ready to assist wherever needed.
Thank you, BFS Admin Team, for your dedication and excellent service!
HospitalGreenPlan gatherspace
National Estates and Facilities Day 2025 is an opportunity to celebrate the Trust’s major environmental gains driven by the Sustainability Steering Group, leadership and Board.
Recent years have seen the Trust cut over 660 tonnes of CO₂ emissions through upgrades including a nearcomplete LED lighting rollout, the removal of desflurane in theatres, and smarter energy monitoring funded by national grants.
Chaired by an executive sponsor, the Steering Group has embedded climate risk in governance, aligned policy with NHS Green Plan goals, and helped secure over £1 million in decarbonisation funding.
Read the Green Plan
Staff-led initiatives such as active travel schemes, digitalisation, and zerowaste practices have also taken root. Looking ahead, the Trust will install 1,000 solar panels, decarbonise its IT building, and publish a refreshed Green Plan by October. Despite infrastructure challenges, the Trust remains committed to leading NHS sustainability efforts.
Backtothefloor
The BFS management team have been getting a glimpse of what hard work is really like this week as they’ve been “back to the floor”. It was an opportunity for them to see firsthand the day-to-day challenges our estates and facilities teams face, and to find out more about the people in these roles.
LinenRoom
This week we celebrated Estates and Facilities Day, and we would like to draw attention to our amazing linen room team—an award-winning group that recently received a Heart Award for their outstanding contribution. Working separated from the busy hospital wards, they often go unrecognised despite their vital role.
They were exceptionally busy throughout the pandemic, responding frequently to rapid changes. They help ensure patients stay clean and warm during their stay at the hospital.
Thank you for your hard work and care you make a huge difference every day.
Celebrating EstatesandFacilitiesDay2025 MeetMelSwann
On Estates and Facilities Day 2025, we are shining a light on the dedicated professionals who keep the site running smoothly behind the scenes – and few embody that commitment better than Mel Swann.
As Parking Clerical Officer, Mel plays a vital role in keeping the hospital accessible for everyone. Balancing limited parking spaces with high demand, her work is about
far more than tickets and permits – it’s about fairness, safety, and supporting staff, patients, and visitors alike.
Mel is particularly passionate about accessibility, ensuring Blue Badge holders receive the free parking they’re entitled to. Mel says,“It means a lot when someone says thank you – sometimes a small change can lift a huge burden.”
Under Mel’s careful management, the permit system has become fairer, more sustainable, and better understood across the site.
Her efforts were recently recognised by NHS England during a visit that praised her proactive and peoplefocused approach.
As Barnsley Hospital looks ahead to expanded outpatient services and reduced
congestion, Mel remains a steady hand at the wheel. “Even small things – like displaying a permit or using EV bays properly – help everyone,” she says.
Today, we celebrate Mel and all our estates and facilities colleagues – the unsung heroes who keep Barnsley Hospital running, every single day.
FlissMason
Fliss Mason is a vital member of both the BFS Finance Team and the wider Trust Finance Team. Colleagues report Fliss often goes above and beyond. Some recent examples include how she supports budget holders, leading the smooth Agresso Cloud transition, and contributing to the Trust Finance Level 2 Accreditation.
Her dedication and proactive approach recently earned her the Outstanding Individual Non-Clinical Award in 2025's Heart Awards.
Fliss’ teamwork, positivity, and commitment to Trust values including her role as Wellbeing Champion—make her an invaluable asset. Thank you, Fliss, for all that you do!
PorteringTeam
This award-winning team recently received the Chief Executive Award at the Heart Awards.
The Portering team have delivered outstanding performance over the past twelve months. From safely moving patients, to coordinating with clinical teams, they’ve tackled challenges like reducing elective backlogs and hospital upgrades while maintaining high standards. The MyPorter system highlights their commitment to seamless patient care. Handling over 150,000 tasks annually, their resilience and professionalism truly embody excellence.
Thank you for all you do!
