Friday 5 December 2025
CHATTER BOX
Your fortnightly bulletin for SaTH colleagues and events
Christmas has arrived at SaTH
It started with the lights switch on at PRH on Thursday 27 November – the Estates Team put on a spectacular performance with the beautiful lights display, a Father Christmas grotto and a special visit from The Grinch, who was quickly captured and put behind bars!
A special thank you to the hardworking team, Santa (and Chief Elf this year) Jonathan Platt, Santa’s helper Claudia Price and The Grinch, Andy Bentley.
Helpers on the night included Paddy Mcalinden, Alfrido Sandamela, Mike Machin, Steve Benson, Chris Bilton and Daniel Churm and many other members of the team who worked tirelessly on
the preparation over the last couple of weeks. Jo Williams and Seb Gilbert, age 4, pressed the golden buzzer to switch the lights on.
Thank you also to Gareth and Jane Morgan, who for the past few years, have kindly donated two Christmas trees to PRH.
On Tuesday, we celebrated at RSH with the Christmas light switch on. We would like to say a huge thank you to our Estates Team for all of their hard work in creating such a festive display. Paula Gardner and Matt Neal were assisted by three of the DFN Project Search Interns who helped with the big switch on.
Elf on the SaTH shelf
Check the intranet page every day see where Claude and Maude have visited.
They will be popping up in places around our sites and if you guess all 12 locations, you could be in with the chance of winning a prize! You can see the pictures here
Bake Offs
RSH: Monday 15 December, 12.30-1.30pm
PRH: Tuesday 16 December, 2.30-3.30pm
Our Group Chief Executive, Jo Williams, will be heading up the judging panel, so please get your bake on and bring in your baked good masterpieces and take part in this festive competition. Obviously, there is no such thing as ‘too much cake’, but puddings, biscuits, brownies or even savoury snacks are worthy entries. This is a fun competition, so please bring in your home-baked creations and prizes will be given for the most fun, most festive and best tasting bakes.
Please be mindful that if your bake needs to be refrigerated on the day up until competition time, you must ensure that you have the facilities to keep it chilled at 4°C or below. Items are not to be distributed to patients or the public. Please familiarise yourself with the baking rules and code of practice, which can be found on the intranet and items must have an allergen sheet alongside.
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity Christmas Grotto
Make sure you visit the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity festive Christmas grotto which helps to mark the launch of their new Children’s Services campaign. The grotto has been created by our talented Estates Team and is sure to be a great hit with younger visitors.
At Christmas time, the hospital is always overwhelmed by the generous offers of gifts and toys from local businesses and communities. This year, working with the Children’s Services Team, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity is instead asking for financial donations to provide a lasting gift for the children we care for. Some of the exciting developments to contribute to include the creation of a sensory room for neurodiverse children and a Sky Garden in the new Children’s Ward opening at RSH, designed to enhance the hospital experience for our young patients.
Spreading Festive Cheer in the Phlebotomy Department
This Christmas season, the RSH Phlebotomy Team has truly embodied the spirit of sharing, caring, and bringing joy to others. Their festive enthusiasm has brought warmth and smiles to patients and colleagues alike - especially our brave little paediatric visitors.
With creativity, kindness, and a touch of Christmas magic, the team has been working hard to make each child’s visit a positive and unforgettable experience — particularly for those coming to us for the very first time. From cheerful greetings to festive outfits and uplifting interactions, their dedication has helped transform the department into a welcoming and comforting space.
To the entire phlebotomy team, your joyful spirit and commitment remind us what this time of year is truly about. Thank you for bringing light, laughter, and holiday cheer to everyone who walks through your doors.
Moving to Excellence Awards
The Moving to Excellence Awards shine a spotlight on colleagues and teams who are providing exceptional care for our patients, directly or indirectly, and those who are helping us to move to excellence by improving our performance and delivering value for patients. Nominations close on Friday 19 December 2025.
You can nominate here. Congratulations to our November Winners!
Nursing Support Workers’ Day
On 23 November, we shone a light on the sometimes unseen but essential care nursing support workers give to patients and their families.
Every nursing support worker plays a core part
of the day-to-day running of health and care services across all settings, supporting registered nurses to ensure patients get the best possible care.
Thank you for all you do.
Pre-Reg Roadshow raises awareness
This week, the Pre-Registration Practice Education Facilitator Nursing Team has been out and about delivering its Pre-Reg Nursing Roadshow across our clinical placement areas.
The team has been raising awareness of the Safe Learning Environment Charter, which supports the development of positive safety cultures and continuous learning across all learning environments in the NHS. It is underpinned by principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion. For further information please scan QR code.
During the roadshow, the team has also been highlighting its role in quality assurance, supporting practice areas to meet the NMC Education Standards, and answering a wide range of questions from staff and students.
We are incredibly grateful to all our clinical teams for the ongoing support you provide to our students in practice - your contribution and dedication is invaluable. Finally, a massive thank you to Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity for its generous donation of chocolate goodies, which were very much appreciated by all!
Grief Awareness Week
National Grief Awareness Week is an annual event held from 2-8 December to raise awareness of grief and loss, normalise conversations about it, and highlight support services.
Led by The Good Grief Trust, the week provides a safe space to discuss grief and emphasises that it affects everyone. This year’s theme is ‘Growing with Grief’.
• Bereavement Guide for Managers and Staff – This document aids to understand what grief is and the symptoms, ensure colleagues are supported at all times, provide tips for holding sensitive conversations, and covers a range of support systems and contacts available including bereavement cafés, in-house and national and local teams and help lines.
• Employee Assistance Programme Optimise for all colleagues - search for the specific subject you’d like information on in the search box and see what is available to you, some subjects include suicide, cancer, exercise, mental health, nutrition, sleep, smoking and more.
• HELP – 24/7 support phone number from Occupational Health for all colleagues with varying options depending on your needs.
• Occupational Health for managers and self-referral.
• PNA/PMA Support for nursing and midwifery colleagues.
• If you are registered to a Union, they may offer direct support, such as Unison or NMC.
• Chaplaincy - support for all.
• Our HWB brochure, with details of local men’s groups in Shropshire.
Shrewsbury Men’s Shed wins award for its link-up with Cancer Services
Congratulations to Shrewsbury Men’s Shed which won the UK Men’s Sheds Association Partnership Award for its collaboration with Cancer Services at our Trust.
Through its partnership with Cancer Services, the Shed has become a lifeline for men affected by cancer. The collaboration offers more than just a social outlet; it’s a space where men can come together to share their struggles, receive practical advice, and engage in therapeutic activities that promote well-being.
The Men Like Us group, facilitated by Katey Evans, has played a crucial role in bridging the gap between clinical care and peer support.
Katey attended the Houses of Parliament for the final with Merl Thomas, workshop manager. She said: “It was such a special day! I was absolutely honoured to represent SaTH at the Houses of Parliament for the work Cancer Services does with Shrewsbury Men’s Shed. It was humbling to be in a room with such inspiring people and a day I won’t forget.”
Katey is pictured with Merl, Mick, a shedder, and also part of ‘Men Like Us’ and a trustee from UKMSA.
New night bus for RSH
A new night bus trial started in Shrewsbury on Monday 24 November with free travel for the first week. The N11 bus will stop at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital during the trial. More information can be found here
DFN Project Search update
Our students have been getting on brilliantly during their rotations and it’s great to hear how much they’re growing in confidence and enjoying their experiences. Well done to everyone - you’re doing a fantastic job!
Please see below the feedback provided from the hospital departments:
RSH
Henry on Ward 28 is doing really well with his communication.
Ashley in Portering has been given a main task of being re-sponsible for cardboard collection. He has carried out the task well, and shown initiative by asking if he can do other tasks when he has finished the cardboard.
Jared in Pathology has picked up tasks great. He can now independently book in urine samples for us.
Freya on Ward 22 goes about her work quietly and efficiently, works hard and does a thorough job. Thank you.
PRH
For the second year in a row, Ward 6 is hosting a Telford College intern through the Supported Internship Programme. The intern helps with
White Ribbon Day
housekeeping, keeping areas clean and stocked, and also assists with serving lunch. This provides practical experience and helps build valuable workplace skills.
The interns also learned why wearing masks is important during flu season, and they are now more focused on keeping themselves and patients safe.
This year, the Pharmacy department is also offering a placement for one of our interns. During the placement, the intern helps with Pharmacy Technician Assistant tasks, including organising stock, preparing trays, and keeping the workspace tidy. He also supports basic paperwork and shadow staff to learn how medicines are handled safely. This gives the intern valuable experience in a busy pharmacy setting.
White Ribbon Day, 25 November, is annually recognised as the day men show their year-long commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
The day inspires individuals and organisations to take positive action to challenge harmful cultures and behaviours that lead to violence against women and girls.
Teresa Tanner and Sally Burns from the Safeguarding Team ran a stand in the Women and Children’s Atrium at PRH to raise awareness about the day and shared resources available to colleagues and patients.
HSJ Awards
Colleagues from the Trust attended the prestigious HSJ Awards in November, after being shortlisted for two national awards.
These national industry awards attracted more than 1,250 entries and celebrate the best talent, commitment and impact across the NHS and wider healthcare landscape.
Chaplain Kevin Place was one of the colleagues who attended the ceremony, representing SaTH and our Armed Forces Improvement Programme who were finalists in the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Award.
Kevin said: “As a military veteran with almost 36 years of RAF service, now serving as a hospital chaplain, this was a deeply meaningful occasion for me.
“The event was inspiring, with 27 award categories showcasing the incredible work happening across the NHS. Hearing about so many innovative projects reminded me of the power of collaboration and commitment in healthcare.
“Although we didn’t win, being a finalist in such a competitive category is an achievement for all at SaTH to be proud of. For me, it was an honour to see our work acknowledged on a national stage and to share this journey with colleagues who share the same passion for making a difference.”
SaTH was shortlisted for the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Award, recognising the efforts
of so many people across SaTH to improve care and support for the Armed Forces community.
Through initiatives such as veteran awareness training, supportive policies, and the introduction of a veteran passport, SaTH continues to make a real difference for those who have served and their families.
Shona Baugh, Senior Capital Project Manager for Sustainability, attended the ceremony representing the Trust after being shortlisted in the Towards Net Zero Award.
Shona said: “It was an honour to attend the HSJ Awards on behalf of the Trust. Thank you to everyone who continues to embed sustainability in all that they do across our sites. From really big projects, such as the new energy centre currently under construction at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, to the little projects that also add up to have a huge impact.
“Although we didn’t win, we’ve made incredible progress so far and we have big ambitions and plans to continue our fantastic progress – we see this as only the start of our journey.”
With one of the largest Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding awards in the country and continued investment in infrastructure, renewable energy, digital transformation and greener ways of working, the Trust has made exceptional progress - making SaTH a worthy finalist.
Triathlon success at SaTH
Lydia Hughes, part of the Communications Team here at SaTH, has triumphed this year in a busy triathlon season.
After placing third at the British Sprint Championships held at Blenheim Palace in June this year, she has been selected for the GB Age Group team. She will be heading to Tarragona, Spain in June next year to compete at the European Triathlon Championships to test herself on the international stage.
Later in the year, Lydia set her sights on a new challenge – the half Ironman distance. This involves a 1.9km open water swim, 90km bike and finishes with a half marathon (21.1km). She completed her first race in September in Poznan, Poland and finished in 4:58:20, placing 7th in her age group.
From this result, she qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships taking place in Nice, France in September next year. During training for this event, she also saw local success where she won the Shropshire Triathlon which takes place annually at Ellesmere Lake.
Congratulations Lydia and good luck in your 2026 season.
National Improvers Learning Network Session
Earlier this week, James Wright, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, presented at the National Improvers Learning Network Session on our planned care improvements. Well done James!
FOSATL success
Many congratulations to the latest FOSATL Cohort group who have recently completed their programme.
The Foundations of Supervision & Team Leadership – primarily aimed at those aspiring to be a future team leader/supervisor.
5 days development covering many topics to set a foundation for increased self-awareness and effective leadership skills.
All delegates once again gave their endorsement of confirming they would recommend the programme to their colleagues and huge takeaways learnt from the programme.
2026 cohort is now being filled, please get in touch if you are interested in finding out more information and applying marie.mason6@nhs. net
Topro Taurus Walker for PRH
We are pleased to announce the purchase of a Topro Taurus walker for the Princess Royal Hospital, which was a £1,300 investment by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity for the Trauma and Orthopaedics Team.
The Taurus frame gained popularity in elective orthopaedics by improving nursing confidence to mobilise patients on the day of surgery.
However, in practice therapy colleagues have also found it to be an extremely beneficial rehabilitation tool with traumatic injury patients, particularly those with hip fractures.
This Topro Taurus Walker was purchased to aid the enhanced recovery programme on elective orthopaedics. It allows patients to mobilise sooner following elective surgery which in turn can reduce length of stay and improve patients’ overall satisfaction.
This walker is already proving to be a great asset on the ward, giving additional support to patients so they feel more comfortable getting up and moving around which is helping in their recovery.
Thank you to all our supporters for making this happen.
Shrewsbury Rotary Club recruits new corporate member
SaTH is the newest corporate member to be inducted into the growing ranks of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club.
Inducting SaTH into corporate membership, the president Johnathan Callwood, said it was an ‘amazing coup’ in the Rotary Club’s history. He said: “I am so pleased because this is truly amazing for the club and our future. I am looking forward to a long and happy relationship through which we shall be helping each other. One of the objectives of Rotary is supporting each other. And helping each other care is something which you do all the time.”
SaTH and Shrewsbury Severn Rotary’s first major fundraising event was announced earlier this month - a unique project they are confident will benefit people for many years to come.
The two organisations have agreed to establish a unique sky garden as a key feature of the new £312m Hospitals Transformation Programme.
Through the introduction of an innovative 100 sqm sky garden in the new 3,200 sqm critical care unit, which will open in 2028, both the Trust and Rotary are confident the feature will enhance the experience of patients during their stay.
Christmas stickers for clinical areas
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity IPC-compliant Christmas stickers are still available to order for clinical areas.
If your area would like to receive a pack of Christmas stickers, please complete this form. When filling out the form, you will have the option to select a small, medium, or large pack of stickers depending on the size of your area.
24-hour cycling Santas for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity
Our construction partners for the Hospitals Transformation Programme will be undertaking a festive cycling challenge to raise money for the Children’s Oncology Ward (Rainbow Ward).
The team, brought together from several companies working on the new healthcare facilities at RSH will be taking on the challenge on Tuesday 16 December. Each team member, whilst dressed as santa, will each cycle for one hour for 12 hours. The final member of the team, Jim from MPB, will jump on the bike for the final leg – a solo 12-hour indoor ride from 8pm to 8am, again fully suited up as Santa. A true festive endurance hero!
Thank you for supporting Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity and good luck! You can donate to challenge here
IHP winter challenge
Our hospital construction partners Integrated Health Projects (IHP) and and Dalkia have taken on a winter challenge.
On Thursday 27 November, the awesome teams at IHP and Dalkia completed a nine-mile winter hike up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) - all the way to its 3,200ft peak! They are not just chasing views… they have raised £3,000 for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity.
Iwan Lewis, Operations Manager at IHP/VINCI Building, said: “The hike was intentionally scheduled during winter to experience challenging conditions, testing resilience and adaptability in a harsher environment, while raising funds and awareness for the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity - a cause close to the hearts of IHP and Dalkia teams.”
Thank you to IHP, Dalkia and all the people who donated in support. The money donated will go towards building a ‘SkyGarden’ and Sensory room for Paediatric patients.
Colleague Notice Board
to face
British Sign Language Awareness
Explore communication methods and technology available to Deaf people and practice how to fingerspell the British Sign Language Alphabet. You can also explore everyday BSL words.
• Turn lights o if they do not need to be on
• Switch lights o at the end of the working day
• Close all doors and windows to keep the heat in
• Switch o air conditioning and heating units when you are not using the room and when you leave at the end of the day
• Switch o any non-essential electrical equipment when it is not being used
Did you know?
Let us know your energy busting ideas – together we can save costs and the planet. Gain an awareness of the issues, language, culture and needs of the Deaf community
Colleague Notice Board
STAFF LOTTERY
This
month’s winners...
1st £650
Tracie Pell, Radiology 2nd £325
Kerry Rushton, Women and Children’s 2nd £325
Katie Ward, Maternity 3rd £175
Lee Wyatt, Estates 3rd £175
Amy Harmsworth, Corporate Nursing 4th £125
Heidi van Duivenbooden Phlebotomy 4th £125
Lynne Jones 5th £75
Katie Ford, Pathology 5th £75
Becky Holland, Undergrad Med School 6th £60
Thomas Tanner, ED PRH 6th £60
Becky James, Quality Governance 6th £60
Kate Weston, Paediatric Haem/Oncology 6th £60
Rob George, IT Service Desk
JOIN THE STAFF LOTTERY AND BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN
13 CASH PRIZES EVERY MONTH!
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
On the 21 December I fell in a neighbours garden and was taken by ambulance to RSH Emergency department at 9.45pm. To avoid a long wait I was sent home to return in the morning. I returned in the morning at 8.30am, I was seen promptly and had an X-Ray at 9.10am - I left the department at 11am and so I was pleased with the time I waited.
I received a follow-up appointment to ensure my wound was healing correctly. I was seen promptly in clinic, everyone was incredibly efficient and very courteous. The whole experience couldn’t be improved upon.