Latest news

On World Breastfeeding Week 2022, we wanted to share with you more information about what is in breast milk.

We were delighted to celebrate the amazing UHDB and League of Friends volunteers recently, in a ceremony which recognised and commemorated our dedicated volunteers that have supported the Trust for many years.

A UHDB midwife who opted to have a waterbirth with her first child has told of the “beauty of being able to catch your child” and said she couldn’t imagine doing it without the water now.

Olivia Swaddle is a midwife at Royal Derby Hospital so when it came to the birth of her first child Annabelle, who better to deliver her daughter than her own colleagues.

She opted for a waterbirth and her baby girl was one of seven babies born in birthing pools across UHDB in May.

A cervical cancer survivor returned to thank staff at who cared for her at Royal Derby Hospital and to donate copies of her new book which documents her treatment journey.

As part of World Breastfeeding Week 2022 we have asked UHDB colleagues to share their stories and experiences. Here, Lucy, Imaging Tracker at RDH and QHB, tells us her breastfeeding story. 

Paul Brooks MBE, Director of Patient Experience, Estates and Facilities, is leaving University Hospitals of Derby and Burton at the end of October to take on a new role as Director of Estates and Facilities at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn.

A Dementia Key Worker who does her best to make her patient’s smile while they are on the ward has been presented with a Monthly Making a Difference Award.

Joanne Lloyd, a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) at Royal Derby Hospital, has been awarded with a Cavell Star – a nursing award created by the Cavell Nurses’ Trust for nurses, midwives and HCAs who show exceptional care.

We are delighted that our friends and charitable partners at Air Arts are hosting a special event entitled A Choral Forest.

The event will be held at Lichfield Cathedral on Saturday 8 October – featuring an artistic showcase of poetry, art and music collected from UHDB staff during the Covid-19 pandemic, as part of Air Arts’s Staff Voice project.

Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Mhairi Cooper who sadly passed away this month.

Our hospitals continue to be extremely busy and our teams continue to work exceptionally hard. We would like to reassure our patients and the public that despite the challenges faced, essential services remain fully open for anyone who needs them so if you require urgent medical help, you should continue to come forward.

UHDB has become the first NHS organisation within health and social care to become a strategic employer-partner with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)

The operating theatre at Ilkeston Community Hospital has this week reopened following £2 million of improvement works. The refurbishment, which was funded by Derbyshire Community Health Services (DCHS) includes major work to overhaul and improve ventilation and operational infrastructure.

A team of midwives who provide care and compassion for people in labour, have been given an award for making a difference.

The Maternity team at Queen’s Hospital Burton, were presented with June’s CEO Making a Difference Award by Interim Chief Executive Officer Magnus Harrison, who called the team “a credit to UHDB.”

A chemotherapy navigator who spends her days helping patients at Queen’s Hospital Burton, will be taking on a new role this Summer as a volunteer at the Commonwealth Games.

Wendy Ballington has been selected from thousands of applicants who offered to help out at the prestigious event, which starts on 28 July, and she couldn’t be happier.

Our teams continue to work exceptionally hard and we would like to reassure our patients and the public that despite the challenges faced and the changes highlighted, essential services remain fully open for anyone who needs them, so if you require urgent medical help, please continue to come forward.

UHDB was pleased to welcome representatives from two local maternity advisory groups to our Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital Burton earlier this month.

Due to technical issues as a result of the current weather M&S at Royal Derby Hospital will be trading with a significantly reduced chilled range for the next few days.  The team are working with their engineers to get all of the fridges back in operation as quickly as possible.  

The staff have apologised for any inconvenience this may cause.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton is leading a national trial to collect data on the benefits of using transparent face masks. Masks were reintroduced across our sites last week after an increase in Covid-19 infections in the community. Transparent face masks have the potential to improve communication between patients and clinicians, especially those within the D/deaf and neurodivergent communities.

Today (14 July) is International Non-Binary People’s Day, which aims to celebrate people across the globe who identify as non-binary. Non-binary is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’, but is used for those who identify with some aspects of both or who reject these identities entirely.

A Clinical Nurse Specialist whose hard work and passion for her patients has provided a ‘lifeline’ for women recently diagnosed with cancer, has won an award for her innovative work.

Sam Foster, Gynae Clinical Nurse Specialist at Royal Derby Hospital, has been awarded the Making a Digital Difference Award for her work that has seen her introduce and lead on various digital platforms that have improved communication and patient experience for ladies with Gynaecological cancer.

UHDB has been awarded a Gold Award by the Ministry of Defence as part of their Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) which recognises organisations that go above and beyond to support those who serve in the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

You are now required to wear a face covering in all areas of our hospitals.

From today, Wednesday 6 July, mask wearing will be mandatory for colleagues, patients and visitors across University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB).

A female security officer who comforted a distressed patient has been hailed a “true credit” to UHDB and has won a Making a Difference Award after being nominated by the patient’s mum.

Kayleigh Mellor was still training at Royal Derby Hospital when she encountered a young patient who was distressed. She took the time to comfort the patient and persuaded her to get the treatment she needed, much to the relief of the young girl’s mum, who nominated Kayleigh for the Patient Hero Award.

We are delighted to announce that, following a workforce review, our home birthing service will be available for women who choose to have their baby at home from 8am on Monday 4 July.

A couple who went through IVF in the dreams of starting their family say they will be ‘eternally grateful’ to midwives at Queen’s Hospital Burton, who helped them on their journey to becoming mummies.

Nikki and Lauren Hughes have told of their joy at finally having their miracle baby girl Harper in their arms and feeling ‘complete’ after enduring fertility treatment and a difficult pregnancy.

Staff and patients are being warned that resurfacing works that are taking place outside Royal Derby Hospital may disrupt their journey.

Resurfacing works are planned to be carried out on Uttoxeter New Road, between Drewry Court and Uttoxeter Old Road from Monday, 4 July.

The Lead of UHDB’s Pride Network, Dan Walton-Ashmore, and Interim CEO, Dr Magnus Harrison, have been reflecting on the positive impact our Reciprocal Mentoring Programme has had on them both and on the organisation during Pride Month.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton have appointed Garry Marsh as Executive Chief Nurse.

This week, 20-24 June is Dietitians Week. Georgia Dickenson, Community Team Lead Dietitian, who works at Florence Nightingale Community Hospital, explains how dietitians help patients and communities across Southern Derbyshire.

The role of a dietitian has a broad spectrum and dietitians play a vital role in helping patients get back to full strength, while also offering support to other healthcare professionals.