Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS FT & Royal Primary Care

07/08/2026

Memory Boxes helping families remember their loved ones

💙 Here at our Trust, we know that hospital is not where many people hope to spend their final days, yet it is a reality some families face.

🫶 To offer comfort at an incredibly difficult time, Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity supports the palliative care team to provide memory boxes containing keepsakes, giving families a meaningful way to remember their loved one.

ℹ️ This support forms part of the SWAN model, an evidence‑based approach used across the UK and within our Trust to guide compassionate, personalised end‑of‑life and bereavement care.

🫂 It’s about delivering individualised care every time, supporting families when someone is approaching the end of life, and ensuring every person is treated with dignity, compassion and respect.

🎁 As part of this approach, our charity funds memory boxes containing a variety of keepsakes, made possible through generous donations. These include items such as journals, fleece blankets and other comforting resources for patients and relatives at the end of life.

🙏 Thanks to your support, we’re able to provide this service and fund initiatives like this, which go beyond the limits of NHS funding.

🗣️ Beth Clarke, Macmillan End of Life Lead Nurse here at the Trust, told us about the importance of these boxes for families: “Memory boxes are a valuable resource in End of Life care as they provide families with something tangible to hold onto during an intensely emotional and often overwhelming time. When a loved one dies, families can feel frightened that memories will fade. A memory box helps preserve precious connections and creates a lasting legacy of the person who has died. The items we are able to provide help families remember not only how their loved one looked, but who they were and the role they played in their lives.”

🔗 To learn more about your hospital charity and support initiatives like this, please visit our website:

https://www.chesterfieldroyal.nhs.uk/our-charity

07/08/2026

🟡The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow heat health alert for our region.

⏰The alert is currently in place from 9am on Saturday, 8 August until 9pm on Tuesday, 11 August.

💬Is this not just Summer? What can we do?

☀️Severe weather conditions, like heat can, and often do, have an impact on our services and lead to a rise in attendances in ED which is why we share guidance with our community.

✅There are additional ways in which you can keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather, such as:

🏠keeping your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
😎if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing, such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, and seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly
☀️keeping out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm
🏃‍♂️if you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercising or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler, such as the morning or evening
❤️knowing the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them

🔗You can find a helpful checklist to help 'beat the heat' here: https://www.gov.uk/.../beat-the-heat-hot-weather-advice

06/08/2026

🩺Are you living with HFpEF (a form of heart failure)?

💉Would you like to support research into the condition which may support treatments and improve the quality of life for yourself and future patients?

🧑‍⚕️If the answer to both of the above questions is yes then would you consider supporting our research colleagues with a trial which may support future care of patients with this condition?

👉If you are interested in taking part, or would like further information, please speak with our research team here at Chesterfield Royal via email [email protected] or telephone 01246 516534.

🩸The trial would involve you giving a blood sample and completing a questionnaire. We’d also ask you to agree that your medical information can be collected and used as part of the trial.

❤️Thank you for your support in making a difference.

05/08/2026

✉️ YOU'RE INVITED!

📆 This year's Annual Members' Meeting is on Wednesday, 16 September, 5pm to 8pm.

🎉 It gives our Trust Members a chance to celebrate the amazing work and improvements taking place across the Trust every year, and to ask questions of our leadership team.

🌟 Our marketplace will be returning, giving colleagues a space to showcase their department, and will be open before the meeting begins for browsing and the opportunity to ask questions and find out more.

👏 We would love to see you there!

🎞️ The event will also be live streamed on our page for those who are unable to attend in person. This will take place from 7pm.

🔍 https://fb.me/e/4B1cFeRO3

04/08/2026

Here's how breastfeeding can help your little one...

We're supporting 💜

It’s World Breastfeeding Week!

Breastfeeding provides the perfect nutrition for babies and a healthy beginning - with benefits that last for life.
From maternity leave to trained counsellors, let’s ensure every mum gets the breastfeeding support she needs!

04/08/2026

⚠ Today, our ED remains busy and we continue to prioritise our most poorly patients.

⚠We are asking you to help us:

⚠Please bare in mind that if you are feeling under the weather ED is not always the best place to be. If you have a life threatening or emergency condition, or if you have deteriorated rapidly, then you should absolutely be in the department and being seen by our clinicians.

💊However, if your condition is less urgent, you’d probably be better off being seen by clinicians in one of the other places, faster.

➡️Please consider using alternative services for non-emergency health issues:
✅ Self-care: Manage minor ailments at home.
✅ Pharmacy: Get expert advice and over-the-counter treatments.
✅ GPs: Schedule an appointment for ongoing health concerns.
✅ NHS 111: Call or visit online for urgent medical advice.
✅ Urgent Treatment Centres: Urgent medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency.
🔗 For more information, visit our website: https://bit.ly/crhftrs
💙 Please - it could help you get the treatment you need, in a place that is right for you.
💙Thank you for supporting us to priortise care for those who need it.

04/08/2026

💙Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity has launched its first-ever corporate volunteering programme, creating a new way for businesses and organisations to support their local NHS while helping improve the hospital environment for patients, visitors and colleagues.

💙The new initiative will provide structured volunteering opportunities throughout the year and beyond including gardening, litter picking and environmental improvement projects across the hospital site. The programme represents a significant milestone for the Charity, creating new partnerships between the NHS, local businesses and the wider community.

💙Leading the way is Auto Windscreens, which has become the first organisation to sign up to the programme, demonstrating its commitment to supporting the community it’s been headquartered in for more than 55 years.

💙The Charity is also pleased to announce support from Spear & Jackson of Sheffield, who have generously provided equipment free of charge to support volunteers carrying out activities across the hospital grounds. The Charity has expressed its sincere thanks for these early contributions and is inviting other businesses and partners to consider how they may be able to support the programme through donations, expertise, equipment or volunteer time.

💙As well as corporate opportunities, the Charity is also encouraging members of the public interested in volunteering to get in touch and find out more about its wider volunteering opportunities.

💬Jayne Stringfellow, Non-Executive Director and Chair of Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity, said: "This is an exciting and important moment for our Charity. For the first time, we're creating dedicated opportunities for businesses to support Chesterfield Royal Hospital through practical volunteering projects that will make a visible difference to our environment and the experience of patients, visitors and colleagues.

"We're incredibly grateful to Auto Windscreens for becoming our first corporate volunteer partner and to the supplier who has kindly provided equipment free of charge to help get the programme off the ground. Their support demonstrates the strength of community spirit across our region and what can be achieved when organisations come together to support their NHS.

"We hope many other businesses, organisations and individuals will follow their lead. Whether you can offer volunteers, equipment, expertise or fundraising support, there are many ways to help us make an even bigger difference."

💙The programme forms part of the Charity's wider commitment to strengthening community partnerships and creating new opportunities for people to support projects and initiatives that go above and beyond NHS funding.

💬Julie Cobb, Contact Centre Manager at Auto Windscreens, said: "We are delighted to be the first company to join Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity's new corporate volunteering programme. Having been based in Chesterfield since being founded in 1971, we’re proud to support our local hospital in a practical and meaningful way, as it plays such an important role in the lives of people in our business and across our region.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for our colleagues to give something back, work together as a team and support a cause that touches so many people. We hope our involvement encourages other businesses to get involved and support this excellent initiative."

💙Volunteer sessions will take place throughout the year, with opportunities available across the week. In addition to gardening and environmental projects, volunteers may also have opportunities to support fundraising activities such as bag packs and bucket collections.

💙Volunteering is already underway with several colleagues from Auto Windscreens working with DSFS (Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services) colleagues to support the maintenance and tidiness of some of our courtyards around site, using tools that were kindly donated by Spear & Jackson. Andrew Tomlinson, Deputy Head of Estates, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to build strong foundations throughout the local community that we care for. Thank you to Auto Windscreens - I am glad that we here at Estates have been given the opportunity to be involved in this initiative and hope all the volunteers enjoy themselves and feel great sense of pride knowing they are helping both DSFS and the NHS. I’d also like to thank Spear & Jackson for the tools they donated to support us.”

👉Get involved
Businesses, organisations and members of the public interested in volunteering or supporting Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity can find out more by visiting: https://www.chesterfieldroyal.nhs.uk/our-charity. Alternatively, people can contact the Charity team directly to discuss volunteering opportunities, corporate partnerships and ways to support the hospital.

💬Jayne added: "This programme is about more than simply volunteering. It's about creating lasting partnerships, building pride in our local NHS and giving people the opportunity to make a tangible difference. We're hugely grateful to those who have already stepped forward, and we'd love to hear from others who want to join us on this journey."

Pictured are DSFS colleagues, along with volunteers from Auto Windscreens.

04/08/2026

⚠We are seeing a high number of patients in our ambulatory area of ED today and our services are very busy. We are doing everything we can to see patients but we do prioritise on clinical need so, we're asking you to you really need if you need treatment today.

👀ED is not always the best place to be. If you have a life threatening or emergency condition, or if you have deteriorated rapidly, then you should absolutely be in the department and being seen by our clinicians.

💊However, if your condition is less urgent, you’d probably be better off being seen by clinicians in one of the other places, faster.

🩺Here in ED, our most poorly patients will be seen by a clinician in one of our specialist areas: Majors, Resus or in our Ambulance Assessment Area. Children have a specific paediatric area, designed to keep them entertained and as calm as possible whilst they wait to be seen.

🚑These areas are behind the main waiting area so, even when the initial ambulatory (walk in) area does not look busy, it is likely that, behind the doors, there are patients needing specialist care having suffered a medical episode or trauma and our clinicians will be supporting them to ensure that they are stabilised and treated as quickly as possible.

⏰So, if your condition doesn’t need emergency treatment you may wait longer to see someone – and get back home.
➡️Please consider using alternative services for non-emergency health issues:
✅ Self-care: Manage minor ailments at home.
✅ Pharmacy: Get expert advice and over-the-counter treatments.
✅ GPs: Schedule an appointment for ongoing health concerns.
✅ NHS 111: Call or visit online for urgent medical advice.
✅ Urgent Treatment Centres: Urgent medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency.
🔗 For more information, visit our website: https://bit.ly/crhftrs

💙 Please - it could help you get the treatment you need, in a place that is right for you.

💙Thank you for supporting us to priortise care for those who need it.

03/08/2026

🩺We are pleased to announce that we have been named as one of the most improved NHS Trusts in England for reducing diagnostic waiting times, following new analysis published by the Health Service Journal (HSJ).

👉The analysis, which examined performance against the national standard for diagnostic tests, identified Chesterfield Royal Hospital as the fourth most improved trust in the country over the past year for reducing the proportion of patients waiting more than six weeks for a diagnostic test.

👉The recognition comes at a time when many NHS organisations continue to face significant pressures on diagnostic services, including workforce shortages, increasing demand, capacity constraints and ageing equipment. The HSJ analysis highlighted substantial variation in performance across the country, making Chesterfield Royal Hospital's improvement particularly notable.

💙The achievement reflects the dedication and commitment of colleagues across the Trust who have worked tirelessly to improve patient access to vital diagnostic tests, helping more patients receive investigations sooner and begin treatment or receive reassurance more quickly.

💬Sarah Roberts-Morris, Divisional Director for Clinical Support Services at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, said: “Diagnostic services are often the starting point of a patient's journey, so reducing waits can make a real difference to people's experience and outcomes. While we know there is still more work to do, this recognition reflects the progress we have made together and the determination of our teams to keep improving.

“This recognition is a credit to the teams who deliver across our Trust every day. From radiographers, sonographers and clinical staff to administrative, support and operational colleagues, everyone has played a part in helping improve access for patients. Thank you.”

💬Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I’m incredibly proud to see Chesterfield Royal Hospital identified nationally as one of the most improved Trusts for diagnostic waiting times.

“Specifically, between July 2025 and June 2026, the proportion of patients receiving their diagnostic test within six weeks increased from 64.79% to 87.24%. This means the proportion waiting longer than six weeks has fallen by almost two-thirds.

“This progress has been achieved during a period of significant operational and financial pressure. Financial recovery must not mean lowering our ambitions for patients. It means making the best possible use of our resources, improving productivity and ensuring that high-quality services are sustainable for the future.

“There is still more to do, but this result demonstrates what colleagues can achieve through focus, collaboration and a shared commitment to improving care. I would like to thank everyone involved.”

👉The improvement supports the Trust's wider ambition of ensuring patients receive timely access to high-quality care and forms part of ongoing work to improve performance across elective, cancer and diagnostic services.

👉While challenges remain nationally and locally, the Trust is committed to continuing its programme of improvement, investing in services and working with partners to reduce waits and improve outcomes for patients across North Derbyshire.

03/08/2026

⚠️ An amber Heat-Health Alert has been issued for the East Midlands region by the Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

⏰The alert is currently in place from 9am Monday 3 to 9am Wednesday 5 August.

💬Is this not just Summer? What can we do?

☀️Severe weather conditions, like heat can, and often do, have an impact on our services and lead to a rise in attendances in ED which is why we share guidance with our community.

✅There are additional ways in which you can keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather, such as:

🏠keeping your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun

😎if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing, such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, and seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly

☀️keeping out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm

🏃‍♂️if you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercising or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler, such as the morning or evening

❤️knowing the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them

🔗You can find a helpful checklist to help 'beat the heat' here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/beat-the-heat-hot-weather-advice