Chatterbox - 250815

CHATTER BOX Your fortnightly bulletin for SaTH colleagues and events Friday 15 August 2025

Welcome to our new resident doctors We have welcomed a new cohort of 167 resident doctors, who will continue their training and work across a wide range of specialties, including Medicine, Surgery and Women and Children’s Services.

Senior clinicians and other staff at the Trust delivered an induction programme to the resident doctors covering a number of topics to help the doctors become familiar with their new working environment.

and ward-based learning which, supported with an extensive teaching programme, will help them to progress in their chosen field of medicine.

Dr John Jones, Medical Director, said: “I am delighted to have welcomed a new cohort of 167 resident doctors to the Trust. The doctors range from straight out of university, to final year before becoming a consultant. With them they bring experience and passion to help us to continue to provide excellent care to the communities we serve.”

The resident doctors will now move on to practical

Help us raise £5 million to develop cancer services at Princess Royal Hospital Click here for more information

‘Outstanding Contribution’ award for Angela Congratulations to Angela Parkinson, Senior Financial Accountant, who has won the Outstanding Contribution award at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) West Midlands Awards.

Angela has worked at SaTH for over 40 years and is responsible for the Trust’s capital and treasury management functions.

She began working at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in 1984, where she worked in general administration roles before moving into the Finance Department in 1989.

With the support of the Trust, Angela was able to complete her professional qualification as an accountant whilst working part-time and bringing up a family.

Department of the Year last year. Catrin Price, Trainee Financial Accountant, was also highly commended in the Finance Excellence category.

Adam Winstanley, Acting Director of Finance, said: “It’s great that Angela has been recognised with a regional award for her hard work and many years of dedicated service - it is a huge achievement and thoroughly deserved.

“I’m really proud of our finance colleagues who are working really hard, often behind the scenes, to support teams and add value for our patients.”

Angela was unable to collect her award in person, but was later presented with it by Andrew Morgan, Chair, and Jo Williams, Chief Executive (pictured).

Angela said: “It is very nice to receive an award in recognition of my long and dedicated service to the Trust, especially as I head into my final years of service.

“My role can be challenging, but it’s also very satisfying to be a part of a team which is making improvements across the Trust, from which our staff and patients benefit. I’m really pleased that our Finance Team has been recognised for its achievements over the last few years.”

SaTH’s Finance Department also won the award for Finance Team of the Year, having won the HFMA National Award for Finance

From Insight to Impact In 2021, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) faced a cultural crossroads.

care and staff wellbeing, SaTH launched a strategic, Trust-wide cultural transformation journey.

Results from the NHS Staff Survey revealed belowaverage scores across key areas, including staff engagement, appraisals, morale and support for work-life balance.

The foundation of this journey was a commitment to listening to staff, using data meaningfully and embedding inclusive, compassionate leadership at all levels.

Scores around compassionate leadership, flexible working, and bullying and harassment placed SaTH amongst the lowest in the sector.

Recognising that culture is central to high-quality

To read the full journey, click here.

Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month We are recognising South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) from Friday 18 July until Sunday 17 August.

People of South Asian heritage are a significant part of the British population, with about one in every 20 people in the country being of South Asian heritage. The countries that are included in this celebratory month are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. The theme for 2025 is “Roots to Routes”.

The website www.southasianheritage.org.uk highlights a number of themes that resonate with the South Asian community and embody the spirit of the “Roots to Routes” message.

REIN network If you would like to find out more about the Race, Equality and Inclusion Network (REIN), please visit their intranet page. Email sath.reistaffnetwork@nhs.net to find out more. The next REIN network meeting is being held on Wednesday 27 August on MS Teams, from 11am to 12 noon.

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance engagement and connectivity within the Race, Equality and Inclusion Network (REIN), an informal WhatsApp group has been created for REIN members. If you would like to join this group the WhatsApp link is available through sath.edi@nhs.net, sath.reistaffnetwork@ nhs.net or any of the REIN co-chairs.

If you are a member of one of the SaTH staff networks – DAWN, REIN, PRIDE or the Multi Faith and Belief Network, please take the time to fill out this survey.

Schwartz Round: Do you have a story to share?

Calling all colleagues! Do you have a story to share?

The SaTH Schwartz Round Team would like to invite you to its next event on Wednesday 10 September from 12.30-2pm.

The event will be hearing and sharing stories about times when we’ve struggled to be open at work. The round will be held in two places – SECC (RSH) and at the Education Centre (PRH).

In order to make this event happen, the team is looking for colleagues who may like to share their stories - maybe you have had an experience where you have wanted to say something at work, but for one reason or another haven’t felt able to?

This could be in relation to patient care or

with our colleagues. Or perhaps it was about something personal that was on your mind but just didn’t feel possible to share with anyone at work?

If this strikes a chord with you, please register your interest by emailing the team via sath. schwartz@nhs.net.

All storytellers receive several preparation sessions where the team can help you to shape and craft your five minute Schwartz Round story so that you will be well supported.

Long service awards If you are nearing an NHS milestone of 25, 40 or even 50 years, our next Long Service Afternoon tea to thank you for your hard work and dedication is on Wednesday 22 October at the Wroxeter Hotel, starting at 2pm.

You can nominate yourself, be nominated by a colleague or by your line manager.

Please email sath.awards@nhs.net with your full name, department and NHS start date.

Pride march Saturday 27 September 2025 is the Shrewsbury Pride March.

Our PRIDE Network is marching in a group on the day, so if you want to join them please email sath.edi@nhs.net or sath.lgbtqiastaffnetwork@nhs.net for more info.

Sound bath discount for SaTH colleagues The team at Serenity Waves has kindly offered a special SaTH discount for a floating sound bath session on Saturday 23 August in Shrewsbury Quarry.

A sound bath is a meditative experience where those in attendance are “bathed” in sound waves. These waves are produced by various sources, including healing instruments such as gongs, singing bowls, percussion, chimes, rattles, tuning forks and even the human voice itself. The benefits of sound baths include stress reduction, pain relief, improved sleep and increased self-awareness.

If you are interested in attending, head to www. serenitywaves.co.uk and click on the ‘Book Now’ page. The date/time that this discount is eligible for is Saturday 23 August at 6pm. Please select this date/time when booking then applying the discount code SATH20 at the checkout/basket.

Have your say on mental health services We’re shaping the future of adult mental health inpatient services in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin – and we need your voice.

Whether you’re a patient, carer, professional or volunteer, your experience matters. Help us: • Provide earlier support • Improve inpatient care • Reduce avoidable admissions • Keep care close to home Take the survey by Tuesday 4 November 2025: https://tinyurl.com/ yant6wkh. Need help or a different format? Call 01952 580300 or email stw.getinvolved@nhs.net.

Shrewsbury half marathon SaTH Charity is thrilled to announce that is has secured several charity places in this year’s Shrewsbury Half Marathon, which is taking place on Sunday 28 September 2025.

One of our fundraisers who has bravely accepted the challenge despite not being a seasoned runner is Stephanie Kitchenham-Laing. Her determination to support SaTH Charity is inspiring, as she embarks on this journey to raise funds for our Bereavement Team. She has already smashed her target and has raised £275.

Stephanie said of the fundraising challenge ahead of her: “I’m excited that I’ll be running in support of SaTH Charity, raising funds for the incredible Bereavement Team at the Women’s and Children’s Centre at Princess Royal Hospital. This team goes above and beyond to provide care, compassion, and support during the most difficult times, and their work has made a real difference to so many of us. As someone who isn’t a runner, taking on a metric half marathon is a big personal challenge, but one I’m proud to take on for such a meaningful cause.”

To donate to Stephanie’s JustGiving page, click here.

Emily Lovell and her husband Jonny Roberts are also taking on the challenge.

Both work within the NHS - Emily in the Communications department for SaTH and Jonny for the West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Following the birth of their son in January 2024, Tomi was admitted to the Children’s Ward after falling ill. Inspired by the exceptional care they received during this challenging time, Emily and Jonny were compelled to give back to the community that supported them.

Emily said: “In a moment of madness we decided to take on Shrewsbury Half Marathon to raise money for a cause close to our hearts - the Children’s Ward at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.

When our little boy, Tomi, was two weeks old he began having seizures and scans showed that he had blood clots on his brain. This was an incredibly worrying and uncertain time for us as a family. Tomi stayed on the Children’s Ward at Telford for a couple of weeks and the care he received was fantastic.

“Tomi has made a brilliant recovery and at 18 months old he is now thriving. We will forever be grateful to the staff on the Children’s Ward for helping us through such a tough time.”

To donate to their JustGiving page, click here.

Another enthusiastic participant is Kerry Johnson who has taken on this challenge despite a previous running injury that led her to give up distance running. Her determination to support the SaTH Charity is truly inspiring as she embarks on this journey to raise funds for our X-ray department where she has worked for 11 and a half years.

Kerry Johnson said “A few years ago, I injured myself running a marathon and vowed I would never do distance running again... yet here we are! The recovery has taught me patience, resilience and the power of small steps at a time. I’m fundraising for SaTH Charity, supporting the incredible staff, patients, and services that care for so many in our community. Every donation helps improve patient care, fund state-of-the-art equipment and support health and wellbeing across the Trust.”

To donate to Kerry’s JustGiving page, click here.

Charities unite to enhance patient mobility with hospital transport buggy A buggy to transport patients from the Treatment Centre to the Outpatient’s Department at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) has been bought by SaTH Charity and the League of Friends of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital.

In a collaborative effort to improve the experience of patients, the charities have joined together to purchase the hospital transport buggy.

The initiative aims to assist patients who may find it challenging to walk long distances within the hospital, particularly since the closure of the

Outpatients Entrance in July 2024.

The buggy will be operated by a team of dedicated volunteers who are being recruited and trained by the volunteer team from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SaTH), which runs the county’s two acute hospitals.

Once their training is complete, the buggy will run from September so that patients can be picked up by our buggy during the weekdays (when in operation) and collected after their outpatient appointment at our designated “bus stops”.

Student midwife raises over £700 for maternity unit Paige Turton a dedicated third-year student midwife took on the Shakespeare Half Marathon in April to raise funds for the Maternity Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH).

She successfully ran the half marathon in an incredible 1 hour and 51 minutes and raised over £700 for our maternity services.

& MLU Service, said: “We are grateful to Paige for taking on the half marathon to raise funds for the maternity unit. Paige’s effort not only highlights her dedication to her field but also sets a remarkable example of how students can contribute positively to their communities, even amidst the pressures of academic commitments.

We wish Paige well in her career, she has been a great asset to our team during her training.”

Paige said: “The Maternity Unit at SaTH go above and beyond for every family in receipt of maternity care which I feel honoured to be part of. By raising funds, it will really help our lovely Maternity Unit to continue to provide excellent care to women and their families.

“SaTH Charity supports the hospitals to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment as well as provide additional training for staff.”

Tasha Simmons, Interim Matron for Community

Elegance Dance School raises over £1,000 for the Neonatal Unit In early 2024, Lydia Brenton’s son Max was born prematurely at 29 weeks and was admitted to the Neonatal Unit and subsequently spent just over 12 weeks on the unit before being discharged.

The experience left a mark on the family and they wanted to do something positive for the unit. Lydia is the owner of Elegance Dance School based in Shropshire and Powys, which recently celebrated 15 years of success with a dance spectacular at Theatre Severn. Lydia used the event to raise funds for SaTH Charity.

Lydia said: “We are incredibly thankful for the care that all the staff provided, my husband and I wanted to ‘give something back’ to the unit.”

“I own Elegance Dance School and we are celebrating 15 years this year. To mark the occasion, we put on a huge show at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury in June. I donated all profits from the sales of the show programmes to the Neonatal fund of SaTH Charity. We want to thank all of our generous supporters who purchased a programme, bought a raffle ticket or made a donation.

The sale of the programmes from the innovative dance show raised £1,013.34 for the unit. Lydia and her son Max came to the unit to hand over the cheque and meet with staff who treated her son whilst on the unit. Max is now a healthy 17 month old who loves cars and playing with his brother.

Jo Demers, Neonatal Matron said “On behalf of the entire Neonatal Unit at Princess Royal Hospital, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lydia Brenton and everyone at Elegance Dance School for your generous donation. Your support is invaluable in helping us provide the highest level of care to our tiniest patients.”

Colleague Notice Board

09:00-17:00 Friday 26th September, SECC & SERII

Severn Diabetes Conference

Come and join us for our joint conference to celebrate all of our national and international recognition days this year.

Key speakers, treats and surprises throughout the day.

An educational event focused on the management of diabetes and its associated complications

Nursing, AHP and Midwifery Conference

FREE to healthcare professionals within Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales

Thursday 11th September Key speakers include:

Also included:

+ Professor Brian Dolan

+ Shrewsbury College beauticians providing free treatments + Sim Bus

+ Hospital Transformation Programme

+ various stands from different areas including unions, chaplains, simulation etc

+ and more

08:30 - 16:30 full or half day Albrighton Hall Hotel, SY4 3AG REGISTER NOW !

Scan the QR code or visit https://bit.ly/43U9bcI to book your free ticket

Book via Eventbrite

For more information email:

sath.severndiabetesconference@nhs.net

For more information please contact: sally.childs5@nhs.net The hospitality of the conference has been sponsored by pharmaceuticals but the agenda and educational content is non promotional. All lectures are on an unpaid honorary basis. ai174773471817_SchwartzRound_A3Poster_May25_PRINT.pdf 2 20/05/2025 10:52:02

Listen, Share & Connect with your colleagues at a...

Health and Wellbeing Champions Join our team of Health and Wellbeing Champions!

We’re looking for....

People who are passionate about supporting the Health and Wellbeing of their colleagues People who are willing to get involved with Health and Wellbeing initiatives across the trust

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All staff are invited to attend our Schwartz Round events (regardless of role, banding, profession or department) Schwartz Rounds are a multidisciplinary forum designed for staff to come together once a month to discuss and reflect on the emotional and social challenges associated with working in healthcare. Rounds provide a confidential space to listen, share and connect with others.

For more information visit www.pointofcarefoundation.org.uk or email sath.schwartz@nhs.net.

Scan me for the 2025 meeting dates

What we’re asking...

To be engaged with Health and Wellbeing initiatives To listen to colleagues and signpost to resources To volunteer a minimum of one hour a month

We can offer....

Bespoke training to support you as a Health and Wellbeing Champion Network with other likeminded Champions Link in with the Health and Wellbeing Lead for resources and support

Interested?

Contact sath.ahealthieryou@nhs.net for more information or to apply!

STAFF LOTTERY This month ’s winners...

JOIN THE STAFF LOTTERY AND BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN 13 CASH PRIZES EVERY MONTH!

1st £600 Medheeha Ajmal, Surgical Assessment RSH 2nd £300 Emma Parker 2nd £300 Colette Bueno Smith, AMU 3rd £150 Fiona Boddy, Hospital at Night 3rd £150 Sherrie Nuarin, Children’s Outpatients 4th £100 Andrew Graham, Sterile Services 4th £100 Becky Wyld, A&E PRH 5th £75 Melissa Ellis, Haematology Lab PRH 5th £75 Louise Stevens, Library Services 6th £50 Lauren Dorsett, Patient Flow 6th £50 Alison Swaine, Respiratory 6th £50 Lucie Price, Renal Unit 6th £50 Samantha Russell, Ward 16

Tickets only £1 Payment will be deducted from your salary; winnings are paid into your salary the following month.

Why join our staff lottery?50% of profits are given out in prizes and the other 50% is adding to our Small Changes Make a Big Difference Fund which is all spent on items for staff.

The SaTH Small Things Make a Big Difference Fund aims to improve the working environment and amenities for all employees.

Click here to download the T&C’s and enter the staff lottery

Thank you

I was admitted for general surgery at the start of the year for open mesh repair of bilateral inguinoscrotal hernia. I would like to thank all concerned for making what was for me quite a stressful day a lot more pleasant than I could have imagined.

From the initial booking in at the front desk to being discharged all members of your team were polite, friendly and professional. I found that both surgeons and anaesthetists were especially friendly and put me at ease and even the porters who fetched my thing when I was in recovery was very helpful, like I said every team member I encountered was on the ball and the day was a lot better than expected.