University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

09/10/2026

💙 “I’m just really grateful that I did take part. They may not find anything, but if they do find something, it gives you the information that you need to look after your child.”

When Elaine Hess joined the Generation Study at UHDB during her pregnancy, she hoped to support research that could help future generations. What she didn’t expect was that the study would help identify a rare genetic condition in her newborn son, Aidan, just weeks after he was born.

The early diagnosis meant Aidan was able to access specialist advice, treatment and support sooner, helping his family understand how to keep him safe and well.

UHDB has recruited more than 3,800 local families to the Generation Study, which is exploring whether whole genome sequencing can help identify rare genetic conditions in babies earlier and improve outcomes for children and families.

Read Elaine and Aidan’s story below 👇
https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/latest-news/baby-boy-receives-life-changing-treatment-after-mum-says-yes-to-gene-study-21396

02/10/2026

"Their willingness to listen, and help to 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 shows just how important staff networks can be." 💙

We recently marked World Childless Week (14-20 September) - and heard from Kate, an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) in UHDB Respiratory services, who shared her personal experience of being childless not by choice.

💡➡️✅ Kate's story shows how our colleague networks can listen, support, and help turn someone's lived experience into real, positive change.

🫂 We are proud to be the first NHS organisation to become a World Childless Week Advocate - as part of our ongoing commitment to being an inclusive, diverse, and supportive place to work.

📝 Read Kate's story, and find out how 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/latest-news/external-uhdb-colleague-kate-shares-her-story-for-world-childless-week-2026-1420-september-21328

30/09/2026

"The energy generated and the money saved on bills can ultimately go back to 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞." ☀️

🙌 The installation of solar panels across our hospitals could lead to more than one million kilowatt hours of renewable electricity being produced each year - and the team leading this work have been recognised for the part they are playing in powering care for our patients.

♻️ The Renewable Energy Project team won the Value and Sustainability category at the recent annual Making a Difference Awards, and also received a CEO Award for their important behind-the-scenes contributions.

🌍 As well as reducing UHDB's impact on the environment, the 5,200 square metres of panels across Queen's Hospital Burton, Florence Nightingale Community Hospital, Samuel Johnson Community Hospital and Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital are projected to save around £250,000 per year on energy bills - meaning more of our resources can be used where they really matter.

🌟 "This award is a great showcase for the fantastic work that the whole team does - it's just that this bit is very visible, for colleagues, patients and visitors. 𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺," said Jared Lodge, Deputy Director of Estates and Facilities Management.

28/09/2026

We've got our fingers crossed for our 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 incredible UHDB teams that have been shortlisted in the national HSJ Patient Safety Awards, taking place this evening. 🤞🌟

Good luck to our three teams, who have all been nominated for their work going above and beyond to enhance patient safety...
👉 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘆𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲
👉 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺
👉 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺

Read the full story we shared back in June this year, which shares more information about how the three teams are saving lives and improving outcomes for our patients: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/latest-news/external-commitment-to-patient-safety-recognised-with-three-national-award-shortlists-20986

25/09/2026

💗 Monday 21 to Sunday 27 September is this year's 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 - and we're pleased to take this opportunity to encourage everyone in our communities across Derbyshire and Staffordshire to confirm their organ donation decision.

⏱ More than 8,600 people across the UK are currently waiting for a transplant - with many waiting for an organ that could save, or transform their life. By taking just 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨 to register as an organ donor, you can save up to 𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙚 people's lives. This is one of the simplest things you can do to help.

🩺 Our Royal Derby Hospital site has been lit up pink every night to show our support of this important awareness week - and you may also have spotted Dr Greg Fletcher, Anaesthetic and Intensive Care Consultant as well as our Clinical Lead for organ donation, appearing on advertising across Derbyshire during this week.

Confirm your organ donation decision today, by visiting the NHS Organ Donor Register 👇
https://register.organdonation.nhs.uk/start/

24/09/2026

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐔𝐇𝐃𝐁 ✨

"I 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 knowing that I've made someone's day just a little bit easier" 💙

🚗 Meet 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞, one of our new Volunteer Transport Service drivers at Royal Derby Hospital. Steve helps patients and visitors who need assistance travelling from the recently-constructed multi-storey car park to different areas around the hospital.

🗣️ After retiring from a career as an electrical engineer, Steve said he wanted to find a "different way of helping people", explaining: "You don't have to give up a lot of time to make a difference to people here."

Steve says: "I love the variety, and meeting so many people. It's only a small thing, but I find it really rewarding when someone just says 'thank you' after a journey. It can be quite a trek getting around a hospital, especially if you have mobility issues or you're recovering from treatment, so in that moment you know you really have helped someone." 🏥

📍 The new Volunteer Transport Service operates from Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm - and patients and visitors arriving from the multi-storey car park (car park 6) who require assistance can head to the 'pick up point' outside the entrance to the Maternity and Gynaecology building, facing the car park's pedestrian entrance.

18/09/2026

🏆 We are proud to celebrate and recognise colleagues from across our Trust this evening at our annual Making a Difference Awards, kindly funded by Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity.

👏 We had 1,409 nominations this year from patients, their loved ones and colleagues - thank you to everyone who took the time to do this.

💙 Our 40 shortlisted teams and individuals showcase our UHDB values of compassion, openness and excellence, and have gone above and beyond to either directly or indirectly provide exceptional care to our patients and our communities.

📈 Whether this is through improvements to quality and safety, supporting colleagues or making positive changes across our sites, the local NHS system or even nationally - this evening we are saying thank you to our valued teams and colleagues.

🌟 Good luck to all of our shortlisted colleagues!

18/09/2026

🤝 "It reflects the hard work, care and commitment of the whole Skin Cancer multidisciplinary team, and I'm really proud of what we've achieved together for our patients."

📊 The Skin Cancer team at UHDB have developed a new patient tracker tool to improve the surveillance and treatment of melanoma and high-risk squamous cell carcinoma - two common types of skin cancer - helping patients have a clearer understanding of what to expect throughout their cancer journey from an early stage.

🔎 The tracker is improving patient safety and providing greater assurance, while giving specialist colleagues clearer oversight of patients on the skin cancer pathway and help them manage complex surveillance plans.

📅 By helping patients understand when their appointments are due, the tracker also aims to reduce the number of missed appointments, known as ‘do not attends’ (DNAs). This could help release capacity in specialist cancer clinics and support quicker access to care for patients.

🌟 You can find out more about this 'Right Follow-up, Right Time' project - which was shortlisted for a prize at the recent Excellence in Patient Care Awards - by heading to our website: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/latest-news/team-behind-skin-cancer-safety-improvement-tool-receive-national-recognition-21339

11/09/2026

Learn more about your local hospitals 🏥

It’s our Annual Members’ Meeting on Tuesday, an open event for our local community.

If you’d like to come, please register by emailing: [email protected]

In three weeks from today, we will be hosting our 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 for 2026 - where you can learn about your local hospitals, plus much more.

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?
🗓️ Tuesday 15 September 2026, 4.30pm - 6.30pm
📍 Lecture Theatre, Royal Derby Hospital

📧 If you’d like to join us, please email: [email protected]
🎟️ Everyone is welcome - you don't need to be a member to attend.

ℹ️ The event starts at 4.30pm with colleagues across the Trust hosting a range of stalls to showcase different areas of UHDB - including free blood pressure checks, patient experience team colleagues, and our Pets as Therapy volunteers.

Learn more 👉 https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/annual-members-meeting/

03/09/2026

🌟 "By showing 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 care at a time when someone was frightened, Louise has given us a wonderful example the difference our actions make to our wider community."

🏥 Louise Holness, a Theatre Practitioner at Royal Derby Hospital, was on her way in to work when she witnessed a road traffic collision between a car and a cyclist, who was also on the way to work at the hospital himself.

💙 Demonstrating exceptional professionalism and compassion, Louise supported the cyclist through an understandably frightening situation, with her calm and reassuring approach helping to ensure he was escorted safely to the Emergency Department.

🙏 Reflecting on her caring actions, which saw her recognised with an Excellence Award as part of our Making a Difference Awards, Louise said: "I was very shocked but nicely surprised to receive the award. I feel I was just doing my job, as any nurse would try to help."