Welcome to the latest edition of Link magazine
In September it was Organ Donation Week, and in this edition we highlight some of the remarkable stories of donors, recipients and colleagues that make life-saving transplants possible.
We also look at the launch of our new Connect EPR, and the work we are doing to ensure we get the most out of the new system.
The Staff Survey is now live, and this is your opportunity to have your say about where we are getting things right and where we need to do more. Please do take the chance to make your voice heard as we want to capture the views of as many colleagues as possible. All the details of how you can complete your survey are on page 3.
I would also like to welcome our new Chair, Mahmud Nawaz. Mahmud brings with him a wealth of experience from the NHS and financial sectors and will be a great asset to the Trust.
Also in this edition, we celebrate the opening of Horatio’s Garden by HRH The Princess Royal at the Spinal Cord Injuries Centre. This spectacular garden provides a peaceful and therapeutic space for patients recovering from spinal injuries.
There are also some fantastic examples of research and innovations that have been happening, including the development of SNORE SAFE which is helping to reduce delays in the surgical pathways and freeing up intensive care beds.
Finally, congratulations to chefs Martin Spray and Chloe Millis-Poole from our catering team on reaching the final of the NHS Chef of the Year competition.
I do hope you enjoy reading this edition of Link. Best wishes Kirsten Kirsten Major, Chief Executive
Your chance to make a change –please complete your Staff Survey to make your voice heard
The annual staff survey has now dropped into inboxes, or it will be winging its way in the post to those colleagues who have a paper copy.
Please take the time to complete the survey and let us know where we are getting things right and where we need to do more. We want to hear from as many staff as possible to get a wide range of views, so make sure you take the opportunity have your say,
Lat year was our best response rate to date and so much positive change has come as a result. Look out for examples on our staff Facebook group, email bulletins, posters and the intranet hub over the coming weeks.
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide this important feedback.
The email will be titled: NHS Staff Survey 2025 Invitation: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. It only takes 15 minutes to have your say. If you are struggling to find time or a computer, please speak to your manager who should be able to support you.
As a small gesture of thanks for giving your time to express your views you will
again receive a voucher for a drink and/ or snack which can be redeemed in our Trust dining outlets. Staff who do not have a base on site will receive a Costa voucher. The voucher will be sent out by our survey provider Quality Health (who are completely separate from us) a week or so after you complete your survey.
There are also four prizes (of £2,000) to support staff wellbeing for the clinical directorates with the best response rates and one prize (of £2,000) for the most improved corporate directorate.
For more information about the Staff Survey you can:
• Visit our intranet page via the homepage or Staff Survey SharePoint site at: https://nhs. sharepoint.com/sites/RHQ_Dept_SEStaffSurvey
• Speak to your Local Staff Engagement Lead
• Call the Quality Health (IQVIA) Helpline on 0800 783 1775 (9am-5pm Mon – Fri) or email helpline@quality-health.co.uk
• Contact the Staff Engagement and Wellbeing Team by emailing sth.staffengagement@nhs. net or calling ext. 66495
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide this important feedback.
New Chair appointed for the Trust
We are delighted that Mahmud Nawaz has been appointed by Governors as the new Trust Chair.
Mahmud has been Chair of Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Royal Primary Care NHS Foundation Trust since February 2024. He is also a NonExecutive Director at Westfield Health (sponsors of the annual British Transplant Games) and is on the Stakeholder Board to bring the British Transplant Games to Sheffield in 2026. Previously, Mahmud has had a 20 year career in financial services with Lloyds Banking Group and has also been a Non-Executive Director at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, a member of the Organ Donation Committee for both Mid Yorkshire and Leeds NHS trusts, a Charity Chair at Relate Bradford and Leeds, a School Governor and a Multi-Academy Trust Director and brings varied and rich experience from the public, private and
third sectors. He has been recognised at the end of 2023 by his peers as one of 75 national ethnic minority health leaders by both the Seacole Group (BAME NHS Non-Executive Directors Group) and APNA NHS (South Asian NHS Leaders Network), and most recently in September 2024 he has been named as one of Europe’s Top 50 Influential Muslims in Europe by Equality X. He takes over from Annette Laban, who has provided exemplary Board leadership for the last four-and-a-half years.
Mahmud said: "I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to join such a fantastic team working across our hospitals and community health services. I am passionate about improving healthcare services as well as working with our partners to improve the general health and wellbeing of our local communities.”
Building on the launch of the Connect EPR
In July we implemented a new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system across our hospitals. Our decision to implement the system was driven by the considerable benefits it will bring to patients and how we deliver their care - benefits we are already starting to see.
For example, the new system brings together many aspects of our patients’ information into one place rather than being stored in different systems which were not always visible to every member of their care team. It also enables a record to be instantly updated so that all staff involved in a patient’s care can make decisions based on the latest information available. The new system is more clinically advanced than our previous system and our inpatient and emergency care colleagues have shared some of the benefits they are already seeing since its introduction just a few weeks ago. It also brings the potential for other Trusts in South Yorkshire to have the same system so that we can deliver truly joined up care with a single patient record.
There has been considerable planning and oversight prior to and since the new system’s introduction but as with any change of this magnitude it takes time to fully embed not only the system but also new ways of working.
I know that at this early stage, colleagues are having different experiences with Connect. Many staff have told me how fantastic it is to have the whole of a patient’s record in one place and are noting many other clinical advantages Connect has brought, but on the flip side other colleagues are concerned by some of the administrative and workflow processes not working as we want them to.
Our priority in this post go live stabilisation phase is to resolve the issues we have either in the short or longer term and then begin to build on the functionality we know Connect can deliver for us. Thank you to everyone, clinical and non-clinical who is working really hard to manage this transition so we can get the most out the new system to support our collective aim of delivering high quality, timely patient care in as efficient a way as possible.
Kirsten Major Chief Executive
Our teams using the new EPR system
HRH The Princess Royal opens Horatio’s Garden
In July we were thrilled to officially open an incredible garden which has been built by Horatio’s Garden specifically for patients with spinal cord injuries to enjoy as part of their ongoing rehabilitation.
HRH The Princess Royal opened Horatio’s Garden Sheffield & East at our Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre at the Northern General Hospital and spent time with patients with spinal injuries and their families along with staff. She met Horatio’s Garden founders Dr. Olivia and David Chapple, observed a gardening session with Head Gardener Ruth Calder and spoke to its designers Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg.
Horatio's Garden Sheffield & East started its life two years ago as a show garden which won Best in Show and gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023 and was the first garden at Chelsea designed for people with mobility needs. It is
now one of eight extraordinary gardens in the heart of NHS spinal injury rehabilitation centres, where people can spend many months and up to a year after a life-changing spinal injury.
Chief Nurse, Professor Chris Morley said: “There is no doubt that this incredible garden will play an important part in the rehabilitation of so many of our patients and provide a lovely space for them to enjoy with their family and friends. It was a pleasure to welcome back HRH The Princess Royal to see the garden and to have the opportunity to hear first hand what it means to our patients and staff. We are very grateful to the Horatio’s Garden team and their supporters for bringing the garden to life.”
Trust awarded £1.13m for solar panels
The Trust has secured £1.13 million in funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as part of a national £100 million initiative to support solar and battery storage projects across the NHS. This investment will fund the installation of 1,500 solar panels across the Northern General Hospital, Jessop
Wing Hospital, and three community sites. Construction will begin in 2026. The project is forecast to save the Trust approximately £153,000 annually, contributing to an estimated £8.6 million in savings across the NHS each year. These savings will be reinvested into frontline patient care.
Walking pilot
The Northern General Hospital is one of five pilot areas across the region to be awarded funding for active travel routes. The pilot provides us with the opportunity to work closely with Sheffield City Council on designing local cycle and pedestrian routes to bolster the numbers of staff, patients and visitors choosing to walk, which also becomes a preventative health measure.
Bin the Bin leads to 50% reduction in waste
The Bin the Bin initiative, which replaces individual desk bins with centrally located household waste and recycling bins, has been rolled out Trust wide. The initiative, which was initially trialed in a few areas, has already resulted in a 50% reduction in waste.
HRH The Princess Royal meets garden users
Family speak of pride in teenager whose organs saved four lives
The family of a popular teenager who was tragically killed in a car collision say they take great solace from the fact that his organs have helped to save the lives of four other people.
Josh Atkins, who was a big Sheffield United fan and a keen fisherman, died in November 2023 aged 17 after the car he was a passenger in crashed.
When Josh was in the Northern General Hospital and it was clear that his injuries meant he had no chance of survival, his family made the decision to donate his organs. His heart, liver and kidneys have subsequently saved the lives of four other people.
His aunt, Claire Chapman, said: “We’ve lost Josh and that has been devastating for our family, but we take huge comfort that his organs have helped others and that his heart is still beating.”
Josh’s heart went to a man in his 40s, his liver to a man in his 50s and his kidneys to a man and woman in their 20s.
All have subsequently been in touch with the family through the organ donation service.
Claire said: “Although we will grieve Josh for the rest of our lives, the fact he has saved four lives is a positive that has come out of this tragedy
and reading the letters it makes you realise what an amazing thing he’s done.”
She said that the care Josh and the family received during an extraordinarily difficult time was exemplary.
“Paramedics at the scene managed to restart his heart and we are very grateful for that because it gave us the opportunity to say goodbye and donate his organs. The treatment he received in hospital was outstanding, with such care and dignity. Because has was donating organs he stayed on life support for longer than he would have done otherwise, and all his friends and family were able to say goodbye. His death was really peaceful and very respectful.”
Josh, who lived in Stannington, Sheffield, was described by his family as a friendly, happygo-lucky boy who was a supportive and caring friend. He was an avid Blades fan and a keen fisherman, who had many friends.
Claire said they hoped their experience would encourage others to become organ donors and discuss their wishes with their family and friends.
“Please talk about it. We are so glad that Josh was able to help others. We are so proud of him. He is our hero.”
For more information about organ donation and how to register your decision, please visit: Home - NHS Organ Donation
Transplant surgeon reflects on remarkable career
A transplant surgeon who started his journey in medicine with a five-day trek through a monsoon has reflected on his remarkable career.
Badri Shrestha is still working full time and performing kidney transplants at the Northern General Hospital.
He was born in a remote village in Nepal, which had no school. During his childhood frequent abdominal and foot pain kept him and his mum awake at nights, but there were no doctors available outside major cities. It was this experience that inspired to want to become a doctor.
His parents established a village school, where he was educated until he was 14, before he travelled to the capital Kathmandu, to continue his education. This entailed a solo five-day trip through a monsoon by foot, bus and train in 1969.
He said: “I made that journey with nothing at all, in the middle of the monsoon season. The rivers were flooded, and I had to walk for two days, then get various trains and buses via India until after five days I reached Kathmandu.”
This enabled him to attain the qualifications
he needed to attain a scholarship to medical school in India, as Nepal had no medical schools at the time. He then completed surgical post-graduate training in Sri Lanka, again after achieving a scholarship.
It was in Sri Lanka that he began to develop his interest in kidney transplantation, as the country had just started a transplantation programme.
A chance meeting with a professor of transplant surgery from Cardiff led to him moving to the UK 1991 to pursue training opportunities in kidney and pancreas transplantation before he moved to Sheffield in 2002.
During in his career he has performed hundreds of transplants as well as procedures such as living kidney donation and auto-transplantation (where the kidney is removed for repair and then transplanted back into the patient).
In 2006 he performed a kidney transplant on an 85 year-old man who lived for another seven years with an excellent quality of life. This is a record for the oldest patient to have a transplant from a deceased donor.
Mr Shrestha said: “It is a wonderful job because you are making a huge difference to somebody’s life. A lot of surgery involves
taking something out, whereas as this involves putting something in and transforming that person’s life.
“Kidney transplantation can give the recipient a much better quality and longer life, with more independence, freedom from dialysis and ability to resume normal activities.
“Being a donor is a wonderful thing to do.”
Josh (right) with parents Tracy and Gavin and sister Olivia
Badri Shrestha
Kidney transplant gives young patient with rare illness a new lease of life
A young man who was rendered bedbound by a rare kidney disease has been given a new lease of life by a kidney transplant.
Suleman Zia, 26, of Sheffield, was stricken by an illness called C3gn where the immune system attacks healthy body tissue in the kidneys and can lead to kidney failure.
In Suleman’s case, symptoms came on very quickly and left him unable to function.
He said: “I hadn’t been in hospital before or had any medical problems or family history, so it was quite shocking. I had headaches, vomiting and blurred vision suddenly came on. One night I was in the gym, and the next day I was on a hospital ward.”
Suleman was diagnosed with kidney failure and the illness left him unable to leave the house.
“I had no energy, couldn’t move or get out of bed. I had to go to hospital three times a week for dialysis and my dad would have to take me. It was really awful.”
He was put on the list for a kidney transplant
and on February 12th 2025 he received the call to say that a suitable match had been found. He underwent the transplant on February 14th.
Following the transplant, Suleman is now recovering and gradually getting back to a more normal life.
He said: “I am building up my activity again and things are much better than the life I had before the transplant. Now I can drive again or catch the bus, I can take myself to hospital appointments and go out on short walks. There is a shop about ten minutes away from my house and before there was no way I could make it there, whereas now I can do it easily.
“Although I don’t know who the donor was, I pray for them every day. It is about humanity – for a stranger to do everything for you for nothing, then that is a time when you have to be thankful to others.
“I am taking the best care of it that I can, eating in moderation and doing walks and exercise that I can. I am very grateful for what I have received and I always keep that person in
mind in my daily life.”
To find out more about organ donation, please visit Home - NHS Organ Donation
SNORE SAFE enables rapid assessment for sleep apnoea
An innovative new pathway enabling rapid pre-assessment screening for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in patients scheduled to have surgery is avoiding unnecessary stays in critical care and enabling patients to have the operations they need more quickly.
Known as SNORESAFE, the pathway means that patients at risk of OSA are screened as part of their pre-operative assessment. The Trust is the first centre nationally to establish this type of service.
Around six million people in the UK are affected by OSA, a common condition which stops them from breathing normally while they sleep due to an obstruction of the airway. However, the condition remains undiagnosed in 80% of people.
Patients with OSA are at a significantly increased risk of complications following an anaesthetic, and prior to the launch of SNORESAFE those at risk would either have had a post-surgery stay in critical care for monitoring, or a referral to sleep medicine for
testing prior to surgery with a waiting time of about six months.
With SNORESAFE, at-risk patients are now provided with a wrist-worn overnight oximetry device by the pre-assessment team that can be used at home to reliably track overnight oxygen saturation and pulse rates. Patients that do have OSA can be identified rapidly before surgery, and those that don’t (about 60% of those screened) can avoid an unnecessary stay in critical care.
This approach is saving 12-14 critical care beds per month on average, and made financial savings of £50,000 in the first three months. It is enabling teams to discharge patients home on the day of surgery who
previously would have had to stay overnight in critical care, thereby providing a better patient experience and freeing up vital critical care beds.
SNORESAFE was granted £7,100 in funding by the Trust’s Dragons’ Den scheme, a collaboration with Sheffield Hospitals Charity which enables teams to pitch for funding to develop improvement ideas.
Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Kristy Wagstaff, who led the team that developed SNORESAFE, said: “It seemed like a simple idea, but it has had a really big impact. It is better for patients, as they are not having unneeded hospital stays or interventions, and a better use of our valuable resources.
“It is also helping to reduce delays for elective surgeries such as hip replacements, gallbadder removal and hernia repairs sooner. It provides an all-round better and more efficient patient experience.”
Applications for this year’s Dragons’ Den are now open. See the intranet for details.
Nominations now open for the 2026 Thank You Awards
We’re delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 STH Thank You Awards.
Over the past year, we’ve seen remarkable commitment, innovation, and teamwork across the Trust, and this is your opportunity to recognise and celebrate those contributions and to shine a spotlight on the outstanding individuals and teams making a difference. Every person nominated will receive a certificate in recognition of their efforts, so make sure that you take a moment to say thank you.
If you would like to nominate a colleague or team, make sure to enter by the end of October 2025. Any member of staff can nominate (it does not have to be a manager) and anyone can be nominated if they work or volunteer for the Trust. Please visit the intranet homepage to make a nomination.
Could you be a
Change Maker?
Do you have an improvement idea that you’d like to bring to life? Why not check out the resources on the Proud Improvement section of the intranet. This has information on how to get the advice, training or support you need to get your idea off the ground. You can also peruse our Change Makers showcase, highlighting some of the fantastic work that has happened across the Trust.
Cancer Doesn’t Wait
Every day matters when it comes to cancer care. Quicker tests, faster results, and timely treatment gives our patients the best possible chance of recovery and helps reduce the anxiety that comes with waiting for answers.
It is a top priority for the Trust to make improvements to ensure we are meeting all the national standards on cancer waiting times, and expedite actions to reduce the time it takes to see, diagnose and inform patients if they have cancer or not.
That is why we have launched our Cancer Doesn’t Wait improvement drive. This will look at all areas of the cancer care, from booking appointments, to running tests and supporting patients, to identify how we can do things better and implement and embed improvements.
We have already brought colleagues together from across specialties to identify process that can work better, delays that could be removed or opportunities to do things differently which will form part of our improvement plans.
Kirsten Major, Chief Executive, said: “Sadly, there are very few of us who won’t have been touched by cancer in some way and
know how much difference it can make to have a timely diagnosis and treatment. We have been among the best performers before, and we want to get back there for our patients."
Dress code policy updated
We have recently updated our dress code policy which supports patient safety, infection control and a professional image.
Please see the full policy and poster on the intranet.
Jessop Wing enhanced with calming artwork and staff wellbeing garden
Sheffield Hospitals Charity has funded the installation of landscape artwork and the creation of a dedicated wellbeing garden at the Jessop Wing Operating Theatres, offering meaningful support to both patients and staff during critical moments.
The new installations are designed to transform the clinical environment into a more calming and therapeutic space. Large-scale landscape
art featuring views of Derwent and Ladybower reservoirs at sunrise now adorn the operating theatres, helping to reduce patient anxiety and promote a sense of calm. Research has shown that exposure to images of nature can lower stress levels and even reduce blood pressure, benefits that are especially important in this type of setting.
The impact extends beyond patients. A new garden which has been thoughtfully designed with raised flower beds, vibrant plantings,
comfortable seating, and meaningful artwork provides a space for staff in the operating theatre multidisciplinary team to pause and recharge during demanding shifts.
“These spaces are about more than aesthetics, they’re about emotional care,” said Fleur Roberts, Consultant Anaesthetist at Jessop Wing.
“We want every family, and every member of our team, to feel supported during life’s most vulnerable moments.”
Patient assessment kitchen transformed at the Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre
Thanks to the generosity of Sheffield Hospital Charity supporters, the patient assessment kitchen in the Spinal Injuries Centre at the Northern General has been completely transformed.
The kitchen allows staff to assess spinal injury patients in a realistic setting and gives them and their loved ones an idea of what specialist equipment is available when they return home.
Kim Bateman, Occupational Therapist at the centre, said: “The updated kitchen is a huge asset to our therapy department. It enables us to educate patients on what kind of adaptations they can have at home and offers a safe environment for them to practice ready for their discharge home.”
Shasta Ashraf, Director of Grants at Sheffield Hospitals Charity said: “We’re proud to be able to adapt and develop spaces like these to be more accessible to all patients and staff. Supporting patient centred experiences is one of our four priority areas where we invest to have the greatest impact for the people of Sheffield.”
Researchers recruit first UK patients into groundbreaking radiotherapy trials
Researchers at Weston Park Cancer Centre have recruited some of the UK’s first patients into two new groundbreaking radiotherapy trials – including a UK first.
The trial teams from the Cancer Clinical Trials Centre were the first to recruit a UK patient into SCC-AFTER, a £3.4m National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) trial run by the Centre for Trials Research at Cardiff University, which could change the way a common skin cancer is treated.
The trial is evaluating if postoperative radiotherapy can prevent the recurrence of highrisk cutaneous squamous carcinoma, one of the most common types of skin cancer.
Another team also successfully recruited one of
New fullbody imaging collaboration boosts national research into complex diseases
The Trust, together with the University of Sheffield, has been named as a key partner in an innovative total-body PET imaging collaboration, supporting national research into complex diseases.
The ANGLIA network includes three universities - the University of Sheffield, University of Cambridge and UCL - each paired with local NHS trusts.
It will host a new total-body PET scanner in Cambridge, as part of a £5.5m national investment to enhance care and enable cutting-edge research and drug development.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scans are used to create in-depth images of the body and are used to inform diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. The collaboration will particularly benefit research at the University of Sheffield’s Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITran).
the UK’s first patients into the TOURIST trial – the first trial in 20 years to look at how radiotherapy could benefit late-stage metastatic lung cancer patients. This trial, which is also being funded
by the NIHR, uses a technique called ‘VMAT’ (volumetric modulated arc therapy) – a form of radiotherapy that uses multiple beams of varying strengths – to treat cancer.
Richard Hardingham, 83, from Ecclesall, the first patient in the UK enrolled into the SCCAFTER trial at Weston Park Cancer Centre, said he volunteered to give back to the NHS after receiving the “double whammy” of a skin cancer diagnosis late last year just 18 months following his prostate cancer diagnosis.
“I might never know the outcome of the trial, but if I don’t directly benefit then someone else will. The staff have been brilliant. If people didn’t volunteer; nothing would get done - I thought it would be churlish not to do my bit.”
Innovative 'pill-on-a-thread' mobile cancer screening trial arrives in Sheffield
An innovative trial of a 'pill-on-athread' test which could lead to a new screening programme for oesophageal cancer has arrived in Sheffield.
The BEST4 Screening trial will find out if the new test could be used to screen people with heartburn for Barrett’s oesophagus – a condition that can lead to oesophageal cancer. The trial is being led in Sheffield by Gastroenterology Consultant Professor Andrew Hopper and is backed by £6.4 million of funding from Cancer Research UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
A capsule sponge test takes ten minutes to do and can be done by a nurse – making it much faster and less expensive than an endoscopy. The capsule sponge starts off as a small, coated pill attached to a piece of thread.
When a patient swallows the pill and it reaches the stomach, the coating dissolves and the sponge inside it expands to the size of a cherry tomato. The sponge collects cells from the oesophagus as it is gently pulled out from the stomach. The cells are then sent for testing for two proteins which tell doctors if someone has Barrett’s oesophagus or oesophageal cancer.
Linda Harding, 73, from Beighton, developed a persistent cough five years ago and started to experience problems with food regurgitating. She's been on indigestion medication twice a day ever since.
She said: “Any new development which makes it cheaper and less intrusive for these kind of tests is a real breakthrough. The pill on the thread sounds fascinating and it’s exciting to be involved in something which could help create a future screening programme.”
Duo cook up a storm to reach national NHS Chef of the Year final
Two of our chefs have been named as finalists in the NHS Chef of the Year competition run by NHS England.
Martin Spray and Chloe Millis-Poole, who both work in the catering team’s central production unit, are one of just eight teams from across England who will take part in the contest's final this October. Teams were challenged to produce a low-carbon, three-course meal within a budget of £6-£8. One course was allergen free, and another was plant-based. The main course had a minimum requirement of 26g protein per portion and was to be served hot. The dessert had to have 50% fruit content. Teams also had to provide a breakdown of the cost of all ingredients and the nutritional value of the dishes. All dishes had to be nut-free.
The NHS Chef of the Year competition, now in its fifth year, aims to showcase the talent, skills and creativity of NHS chefs in preparing nutritious, quality food for patients and staff.
Emma Wilson, Head of Catering, said: “Martin and Chloe excelled in fine-tuning what we do every day for hundreds of patients to create three amazing dishes in front of the judges.”
Survey results show good standards of inpatient care
Thanks to everyone’s hard work we have maintained consistently high standards of care in the 2024 National Inpatient Survey, with the majority of patients reporting positive experiences during their hospital stay. The results, published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), show that the Trust’s performance is in line with the national average across almost all areas surveyed.
Key highlights from the results include: Kindness, compassion and dignity remain strong - patients rated the Trust highly for the respect, dignity, and compassion shown by staff, with scores of 9.2 out of 10 for kindness,
9.3 for respect and dignity, and 8.4 for overall hospital experience.
Better communication and informationpatients reported improvements in the quality of information provided while on waiting lists and a better experience regarding privacy during examinations and treatment.
Improvements in nursing and discharge information - questions relating to having enough nurses on duty, receiving clear discharge instructions, and involving families in decisions about leaving hospital all showed improvements.
One area identified for further focus is improving patients’ ability to rest and sleep during their stay.
Professor Chris Morley, Chief Nurse said: “The survey results reflect the dedication and compassion of all our colleagues, who work tirelessly to provide the best possible care to our patients during their stay. The consistently high scores for kindness, dignity, and respect are a credit to their efforts. At the same time, we know there are always areas where we can improve. Ensuring patients can rest and sleep comfortably while in hospital and making further enhancements to the ward environment are key priorities for us. We will be working with our teams and patient representatives to address these areas over the coming year.
Chefs Martin Spray and Chloe Millis-Poole are presented with their awards
Chief Nurse, Prof Chris Morley
Can’t go to Specsavers? They’ll come to you
We caught up with Kejal Shah who has been an Optometrist with Specsavers Home Visits for 8 years. She explains to us how this much-needed service works.
So, tell me more about the Home Visits service…
Our at-home eye test is very similar to what you would have experienced in-store, just with a few adjustments and specialist equipment to make it home-friendly.
Optometrists, like myself, carry out the eye test, adjusting it to your individual needs. If glasses are needed, experienced colleagues will help with frame selection and then return to fit them. And, it goes without saying, all customers are supported with ongoing aftercare.
In response to demand, we’ve also now launched a new audiology home visits service. So far, we have home hearing services in 24 locations in the UK, with plans to expand this nationally over the coming months. Who is able to benefit from a home eye test?
Put simply, it’s about bringing the service to your door, if you can’t get to one of our stores. So if you, a friend, or loved one, are unable to leave your home or care home unaccompanied, due to a physical or mental illness or disability, we can come to you.
There are a wide range of conditions and reasons why someone might not be able to leave their home. You can speak to us about your situation and we can help you understand if you or your loved one qualifies. What if someone is bedbound, or struggling with communication? Can you still help them?
The Home Visits service is designed to provide eyecare which is as individual as our customers are.
Some customers might be clinically vulnerable or they might be non-verbal or living with dementia. Depending on the situation, we might use pictures instead of letters for example. Even with a customer who is bedbound, we can change the position of the chart so we’re still getting completely accurate results. All the tests are adapted to fit the customer’s environment and comfort level. We can also speak to the customer or their loved one ahead of the visit, to address any questions or talk through the process.
Given that you provide such a personal and tailored service, does your care go beyond just an eye test?
Every colleague I know sees our services as something beyond just a job. Whether it’s sharing stories over a cuppa, popping something in the post for them, or passing them something out of reach, going that extra mile is such a rewarding part of our role. I only need to see a customer’s smile to know I’ve made a difference.
That’s a big part of what we do. Provide a personal service, tailored care and expertise, right to people’s homes, no matter what their situation – in homes, care homes or sheltered housing.
How do I find out whether someone is eligible?
You can head to our website at www.specsavers.co.uk/home-visits which features a simple step-by-step guide to eligibility and a wealth of information. Alternatively, you can call 0800 0890144
30 Broomgrove Road
Sheffield S10 2LR
Telephone 0114 266 1311
www.broomgrove-trust.co.uk
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print on paper sourced from sustainable forests
Hop to it be green!
Brainstorm are a friendly and experienced graphic design company which specialises in the creation of printed media including magazines, brochures, annual reports and exhibition materials. We provide a comprehensive graphic design service, starting from the initial concept, to the actual delivery.
Brainstorm combines innovative design and attention to detail, to offer you a service like no other.
customers
Advertising opportunities available in our staff magazines, care directories, and independent living guides
CARE DIRECTORIES
County, City and Borough Council care directories are comprehensive guides to nursing care, residential care and independent living support. Created for individuals and their families exploring the possibility of moving to nursing/ residential care or seeking advice and support to continue living independently at home.
NHS STAFF MAGAZINES
NHS publications are circulated throughout hospitals to staff, patients and visitors on a regular basis. Advertising within the publications enables companies to promote their services to NHS employees and are an excellent way to Increase their customer base within this very targeted audience.
OPTIONS CARE AND INDEPENDENT LIVING GUIDES
Options provides older people with important information from health organisations such as CQC, ICB and the NHS. Circulated through various healthcare professionals including Council social work teams, NHS hospital discharge, community nurses, and various age related charities.
We’re here to help key workers get moving
Get up to £15,000 toward your deposit
We greatly appreciate the dedication key workers have in their role and in our communities. It’s why we’re launching an exclusive deposit contribution scheme, in which they could get £15,000 towards their new home, just for them.
To find out if you’re eligible and see our range of Arts & Crafts inspired, energy efficient homes, book an appointment today at Poppy Fields in Rotherham.
Book an appointment today.
Poppy Fields Or Visit
Rotherham, S65 4QQ
Call: 01709 264198 redrow.co.uk
