Latest news

Colleagues at a ward established at Florence Nightingale Community Hospital (FNCH) to provide care for those awaiting discharge recently came together to celebrate one year supporting our patients and colleagues.

Ward 5, a 23-bedded ward at the Derby-based community hospital, was set up to support effective patient flow and overall capacity at UHDB and the wider health and social care system within the Midlands - providing care to medically fit patients who no longer require acute hospital care but are yet to be discharged.

In doing so, this frees up valuable bed space at acute hospital sites, helping to maintain the flow of patients across the system - particularly during times of high pressure on NHS services, such as the winter months.

A member of Royal Derby Hospital's Renal Unit who has created an extensive activities programme to help patients feel more at ease and to improve their experience while undergoing dialysis has been recognised for the difference she has made to patients and colleagues alike.

Rheumatology patients at UHDB are set to benefit from national best practice after colleagues successfully applied to be a part of a national 'Aspiring to Excellence' programme to improve treatment and awareness of axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA).

The team at Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital's Andrew Ward has been praised for implementing learning following a patient fall to help drastically reduce the frequency of incidents and improving patient safety.

We would like to invite you to directly influence our strategy for the next five years, as we develop Our Way to Exceptional Care Together. 

The team behind the use of a state-of-the-art new robotic surgery which is improving the experience and outcomes for patients undergoing knee and hip replacements at UHDB, while also reducing costs for the NHS, has had their pioneering work recognised by Chief Executive Stephen Posey.

This week (22 January - 28 January) is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which aims to raise awareness and increase the number of women getting screened for the preventable disease.  

Cervical screening is a free NHS test that helps to prevent cervical cancer, however in some areas, one in three eligible people across England do not attend when invited to go for screening.

Colleagues, patients, and members of our communities can benefit from free bicycle maintenance at Royal Derby Hospital on Wednesday 7 February.

A brand-new rapid response therapy service, which aims to reduce the length of stay in hospital and improve patient experience for people living with Parkinson's disease, is now in place at UHDB.

A multi-disciplinary team went 'above and beyond' to support a patient admitted to hospital with complex health issues and are being recognised for their hard work with the 'Team UHDB' Making a Difference Award.

A pioneering study involving clinicians at UHDB which aims to develop an effective screening programme to identify head and neck cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) has featured on national television. 

A porter at UHDB has been presented with a special Derbyshire Constabulary award to commend him after his quick-thinking actions helped to save the lives of members of the public in Derby.

Keith Watson, who typically works in the A&E department at Royal Derby Hospital, was walking his two dogs on the way to care for a relative when he spotted some distressed individuals and acted quickly to ensure their safety.

Dr Kathy McLean OBE has today (9 January) been announced as the new Chair of NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board. The Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for meeting local health needs, managing the local NHS budget, ensuring services are in place to deliver against ambitions and overseeing the delivery of improved outcomes for the population.  

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) recently welcomed Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director for NHS England, to meet colleagues from across the Trust and visit departments at Royal Derby Hospital.

A University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) Specialist Physiotherapist has been awarded an MBE for Services to Physiotherapy as part of His Majesty The King's New Year's Honours in recognition of their tireless commitment and contributions to enhancing the lives of patients living with Parkinson's disease

Join us from 6.30pm - 7.30pm on Thursday 15 February 2024 for our latest Health and Information Talk on blood pressure and health advice on reducing your risk of strokes.

A Stoma Nurse at Royal Derby Hospital has been praised by a patient for being her "NHS Angel" while they undergo extensive treatment for a cancer diagnosis.

In a letter, the patient lauded Lisa Cockram for her holistic support to both themselves as well as their family, amid what they described as "devastating" diagnosis for which they are undergoing extensive treatments and surgeries.

This included following the patient's treatment journey; providing information on support networks and tips on how they can manage their concerns and access resources - including mental health support; and holding difficult yet compassionate conversations with the patient's immediate family, including very young children.

A patient has thanked colleagues at Royal Derby Hospital for their ongoing care after reflecting on his journey following a sudden illness which resulted in him having both legs amputated below the knee in December 2022.

Young patients who may not be able to celebrate Christmas at home this year were treated to a special festive visit over the weekend (Saturday 16 December) by bearded bikers dressed as Santa Clause.

This winter, NHS organisations in Derby and Derbyshire are calling on our communities to "think which service" is right for their needs, as pressure on the NHS increases.

The #ThinkWhichService campaign aims to help people get quicker care in the most appropriate place, providing over one million residents with the information they need to make the right choice of NHS service when they are not well.

Patients at Queen's Hospital Burton were treated to a surprise visit from Burton Albion Football Club players and staff yesterday (14 December).

First team players including Joe Powell, Sam Hughes, Deji Oshilaja, and Steve Seddon, were joined by academy staff Shaun Barker and Keith Gilroy, and captain John Brayford, as the Brewers paid their annual Christmas visit to wards and departments.

The team in Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital's Philip Ward is celebrating a year since welcoming its first patients, after undergoing a dramatic transformation from an unused ward area to a "loving, friendly" ward. In the six weeks prior to the ward opening for the first time on 28 November 2022, a new team of colleagues was created, with many of them rolling up their sleeves to turn what was an unused ward space into a fully functioning 24-bedded ward ready to provide patient care.

A Healthcare Assistant (HCA) at Royal Derby Hospital's Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) has been described as "an asset to the ward" following glowing feedback from the relatives of an elderly patient. Amy Howe was singled out by the patient's daughter, who described Amy as "friendly, helpful, and very caring", stating that she helped to brighten her mother's day.

Players and staff from Derby County Football Club met patients, their families, and staff at Royal Derby Hospital as part of their annual Christmas visit this week (8 December). Club captain, Conor Hourihane and Head Coach, Paul Warne, were joined by member of the men's and women's teams as they spent time speaking with patients and their loved ones in Neonatal Intensive Care, Sunflower, Dolphin, and Puffin Wards, and the Paediatric Critical Care Unit.

We have carefully reviewed our mask wearing guidance and, from Friday 8 December, masks will be a personal choice rather than a mandatory requirement for staff, patients and visitors inside our hospitals.

This updated guidance applies to all areas of the hospitals including clinical and non-clinical spaces. Masks will still be available at all entrances for anyone who chose to wear one.

After undergoing an extensive refurbishment, Clinic M at our Derby community hospital site has been transformed into a purpose-built space, which for the first time has allowed all clinical and non-clinical members of the team to be housed in the same area.

UHDB was honoured to recently invite the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Theresa Peltier, to Royal Derby Hospital - as part of a visit to a number of our teams and departments where action is being taken to address health inequalities, and promote a culture of openness, diversity, and inclusion. 

As part of her ongoing theme for the year, 'Unity is Community', Theresa's aim is to gain insight into areas across Derbyshire where changes have been implemented to improve service delivery for marginalised groups.

The Lead of our Age Positive Staff Network, Evan Blackwood-Pitter, is a personal friend of Theresa, and made contact with her to explore a visit after learning of this theme. Following this, in collaboration with Harinder Dhaliwal - our Assistant Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) - and our EMBRACE Staff Network, we organised several department visits for Theresa to reflect this theme.

UHDB pharmacy technician Gail Hall won the Katherine Miles poster category at this year's Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK conference in Bristol.

Facing strong competition from her peers nationally, Gail produced a thought-provoking poster based on her doctoral research.