Excellence Award winners
Congratulations to some of our Excellence Award winners; Surgery Teams, Radiology Information Systems Team, Mark Saddington (Portering), Hannah Lindley (Fitzwilliam Ward), Sarah Knowles (Diabetes) and Lee Moran (Corporate Operations).
More stories inside including
Trust shortlisted for two HSJ Digital Awards page 8
Read more about our winners and how you can nominate a colleague on page 12
Introducing our new Falls Lead Practitioner page 5
How lung nurse specialists support cancer patients page 6
Your stories this week
Meet Hospital Liaison Worker
Bob page 4
Greenoaks is helping patients overcome anxiety page 5
LGBT+ History Month lunchtime lecture page 7
Step into Health strengthens Armed Forces commitments page 10
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The charity still have seven free entries to the Wickersley 10k on Sunday 8 March, exclusively for Trust colleagues!
This is a fantastic opportunity to challenge yourself, get active and support a great cause.
Maybe your team or department could take on the challenge together?
All we ask in return is that participants commit to raising a minimum of Ā£100 for our charity. Every pound you raise helps us continue our vital work supporting patients, staff, and local communities.
Spaces are limited, so donāt miss out āregister your interest today and join us in making every step count!
Meet Hospital Liaison Worker Bob
Bob Fynney, Hospital Liaison Worker, while not directly employed by the Trust, works closely with our Alcohol Liaison Service. He works for ROADS, a local alcohol and drug service delivering community services in Rotherham.
Bobās honorary contract with the Trust was established to provide a single point of contact for addiction services in the community. He works closely with our Alcohol Liaison Team to bridge a gap between hospital treatment and community recovery.
He meets patients on the ward and arranges support within 48 to 72 hours of discharge, then continues to care for them in the community. Working together, Bob and the Alcohol Liaison Team ensures that when a patient leaves hospital, they have a clear plan to continue their recovery, whether their aim is total abstinence or simply drinking more safely.
Hi Bob. How long have you been working with the Alcohol Liaison team?
āIāve been working with the team for just over a year and itās been great.ā
Can you tell us more about your role?
āMy role provides a single point of contact between the Trust and the services offered by ROADS. When I arrive on site the team let me know about anyone who might need my support. I meet with the patient and listen to them and their situation. This allows me to build a relationship with them to make it easier for them to consider the support services available to them when they leave hospital.ā
Does your role aim to help people stop drinking?
āNot really. Itās more about what they want to do. For some people, abstinence is what they need. For others, itās about making better choices in life. My job is to coach these individuals and show them that any progress is good progress.ā
How has your involvement helped improve patient care?
āThere used to be a delay between the support offered in hospital and the support offered to a patient when they have gone home. This was risky because if someone doesnāt seek support quickly, that motivation to change can be lost. Thatās where I help. As a team, the Alcohol Liaison Team and I let the patient know of the support available. Then through continued interactions we can maintain that momentum once the patient has been discharged.ā
If you are caring for a patient who may benefit from community alcohol or drug support, contact the Alcohol Liaison Team today to see how Bob and the team can support them.
How Greenoaks is helping patients overcome anxiety
A patient contacted our Facebook page to say how the Greenoaks team helped her feel safe and respected during a recent visit.
Jess, a local resident and aspiring nurse, recently visited Greenoaks for a routine gynaecological procedure. After a difficult experience in the past, she felt very nervous about the appointment, but unbeknown to her, all that would change.
Seeing Jessās apprehension, Sam Walton, Karen Kent and Helen Hawkins (pictured left to right) took time to explain every part of the process and gave her plenty of space to ask questions and voice concerns.
Having now used the service twice, Jess shared how the teamās approach changed her perspective on receiving gynaecological care:
āTheyāve really helped me overcome my trauma and worries. For something that is quite invasive, I felt my dignity was upheld. I was reassured at every moment and came away pleasantly surprised. I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the team I saw today from the bottom of my heart for all the advice, support and reassurance.ā
Helen Hawkins, Lead Nurse Colposcopist, said: āAs a team, we know how it feels to be a patient going through these procedures. Thatās why we want everyone to feel relaxed and safe in our hands. Although the clinical procedures are only a small part of the appointment, we spend most of the time talking to the patient. We explain every step so that no one is caught unawares and feels supported throughout.ā
Introducing our new Falls Lead Practitioner
Meet Adesola Yoloye (Sola) ā our new Falls Lead Practitioner.
Sola is a physiotherapist with extensive experience in falls prevention. She also has extensive experience in the care of vulnerable adults with complex physical and cognitive needs across acute inpatient and mental health settings.
As our new Falls Lead Practitioner, Sola will provide leadership in falls prevention and management. She will support teams to reduce avoidable falls, improve post falls care and strengthen our risk assessments, safety planning and patient outcomes. It will be her job to help our teams to embed evidence-based practice, NICE guidance and national falls strategies into day-to-day clinical care.
She will also drive quality improvement, staff education and MDT collaboration around falls. Sola said: āI am absolutely delighted to be joining as Falls Lead Practitioner. Iām passionate about reducing avoidable falls, improving patient safety and empowering staff with the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to deliver highquality, evidence-based care.
āIām really looking forward to collaborating with colleagues across services and learning from teams to reduce harm from falls and to help build a culture of safety, learning and continuous improvement that supports the people we care for.ā
Supporting patients through their lung cancer journey
Macmillan Lung Nurse Specialists help cancer patients through one of the most challenging times in their lives. They guide them through the lung cancer pathway, from pre-diagnosis treatment to follow up emotional and wellbeing support. The team consists of Macmillan Lung Cancer Specialist nurses Josie Roberts, Kate Lambert, Joanne Ellis, Danielle Spencer, Ellie Houghton and macmillan Cancer Support Worker Louise Humphries.
Josie Roberts (centre) is the Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist. She explains what the team does and how it impacts lung cancer patients.
āWe're very much involved right from the pre-diagnostic stage for all patients getting a diagnosis of lung cancer. Patients are referred from many different routes, GP, UECC admissions, internal referrals and more recently from the lung cancer screening programme. We are also alerted to the abnormal CXR (Chest X-ray) and CT (Computed Tomography) alerts and contact patients to attend the next available clinic.
āWe support patients at diagnosis, throughout their treatment for curative and palliative treatments offering support and advice to them, their family or carers.ā
The team play a huge role in helping patients understand a complicated journey.
Their support includes attending face-toface clinics, managing phone call queries, helping patients and families understand their options and providing emotional reassurance.
āI think what we do really impacts the quality of the patient experience. We offer an excellent service with a dedicated team so if patients have any concerns, they can contact us.
āFrom a patient's perspective, having a key worker throughout their pathway when they can be attending several different hospitals is really helpful for them to navigate the pathway. Having a trusted voice on hand to talk anything through with them makes such a difference. Itās always important to remember that it is about the patient not the disease.
As part of their service, the team run monthly lung cancer support groups at BreathingSpace. The groups are a place in which lung cancer patients are able to open up about their worries, whilst also taking comfort in the form of a laugh and a brew with a friend. Cancer Support Worker Louise Humphries (left) says a big part of her role is engaging with newly diagnosed patients and encouraging them through support groups:
āMy role is to support patients and families who have recently been diagnosed. One of the big objectives in recent years was to reestablish the lung cancer support group in 2023 which had stopped during Covid. Continued
āI think the support groupās a massive highlight of the job for me. Some of these people are not going out much, they really struggle after diagnosis. Engaging people and the families in the group here is so rewarding.ā
Danielle Spencer (right), Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist, is the newest member of the team having joined last September. Sheās enjoying being part of the dedicated team and emphasises the importance of designated time with patients.
āI love being able to spend time with patients because when you're on wards, it's really difficult to have that. That time to have a conversation and following them right through the journey is really rewarding.
āYou can really feel the impact we have, even as a small team. Itās all about teamwork in this role, within the team and with other services. I think it's a very fulfilling and satisfying role.ā
LGBT+ History Month lunchtime lecture
To mark the beginning of LGBT+ History Month, the EDI team organised a lunchtime lecture on Tuesday, focusing on how the history of LGBT+ communities continues to influence the health and safety of patients today.
Led by Jess Meakin from the People Experience and Development Team, the session highlighted that many patients still experience health inequalities because of historical medical mistreatment.
Jess pointed out that much of this history is not so distant - many events have occurred within living memory. As a result, older patients may recall times when their identities were criminalised or classified as mental illness.
The lecture highlighted how fear of judgement may cause LGBT+ patients to delay seeking medical help. For instance, a statistic shared during the session revealed that 20% of trans people avoid hospitals for maternity care, opting to give birth at home instead.
To support colleagues in delivering better patient care, Jess shared practical tips for building trust:
Use neutral language. Rather than presuming a patient has a āwifeā or āhusbandā, ask if they have a āpartner.ā
Ask, donāt assume. Use questions like āwho is here with you today?ā to include chosen family or partners in care.
Respect pronouns. If a patient corrects you regarding their name or pronouns, simply thank them and use the correct terms going forward.
Challenge bad behaviour. What staff say - even when patients are not presentcontributes to the overall hospital culture.
The EDI team are holding an LGBT Awareness Training session on Tuesday 24 February at 2pm on Microsoft Teams. If you would like to register, please email rghtr.edi@nhs.net.
The EDI team is also available to visit your department. If you would like them to deliver this training at a team meeting or development slot, please use the same email address above to get in touch.
Weāre shortlisted for two HSJ Digital Awards
Weāre a finalist for two awards at this yearās HSJ Digital Awards (taking place Tuesday 19 May in Birmingham).
These awards recognise NHS projects, services and teams that use technology to improve services for local communities.
Weāre shortlisted in the āDigital Literacy, Education and Upskillingā category for our Data Essentials programme and work with Multiverse on the Rotherham Data Academy.
This platform has created opportunities for staff to take apprenticeships to learn important data skills using Excel and Power BI. By teaching staff to use data more efficiently, the Trust has significantly reduced the time spent on manual tasks providing staff with more time to care for patients.
Weāre also shortlisted in the āDriving Change through AI and Automationā category. You can read more about the work weāre shortlisted for in the next article.
James Rawlinson, Director of Health Informatics, said: āItās great to be shortlisted for two awards. By enabling staff to build skills and increase confidence with our data and digital tools, we are seeing the learning applied, with more service level insights and more time for our staff to care for patients.
āMeanwhile, through the new AI system, patients can manage appointments and make it easier for them to communicate with us if there is a problem. These improvements mean that our patients are better able to access the care they need.
āWith better data and efficient systems, we can make quicker, safer decisions, reduce missed appointments, and help more patients sooner.ā
AI pilot drives improvements to outpatient attendance rates
Could artificial intelligence (AI) driven targeted interventions help more patients attend their planned appointment?
The results of one Health Informatics pilot exploring this suggests it could.
How it worked
Use of AI to improve appointment attendance was piloted in outpatient appointments over a three-month period between April and July last year.
AI for the pilot was built using historical data on services' did not attend (DNA) rates, the type of clinical service they offer, the time and date of appointments and a patient's demographic information and previous attendance behaviours. The AI was then built into Netcall Patient Hub.
Patients were classified as either very low, normal, high or very high risk of not attending their appointment.
Services these patients attended were classified into either a control or intervention group based on their historic DNA rate.
The pilot compared whether use of an additional text reminder the day before an appointment - in addition to the usual four and seven day reminders - would improve attendance rates.
The pilotās result
In the intervention group, patients considered a very high or high risk of being marked as a did not attend in the intervention group were sent the extra reminder.
In the control group, DNA rates saw an overall reduction of 28%.
But with the added text reminder sent one day before an appointment to patients most at risk of being coded as a DNA, this number increased to 46% (an 18% improvement overall).
Reflecting on success
Patient Engagement Portal ā Programme Head, Sally Atkinson, and Contact Centre Service Development Manager, Tracey Holmes, have been two of the key names driving forwards the work.
Reflecting on it, Sally said: āTackling DNAs is a big challenge throughout the NHS. They lead to inefficiencies, wasted clinical resources and poorer outcomes for patients.
āWe knew our traditional reminders had only made modest improvements in attendance rates. We felt it was time to try something different.
āThe trial proved an additional text reminder ā sent a day before the appointment ā can be a critical factor in ensuring patients with a high or very high risk of not attending to make it to their appointment. Thanks to the trial, we now have certainty AI driven targeted interventions could be a new tool to improve appointment attendance rates.ā
Step into Health strengthens our Armed Forces commitments
Since September 2025, weāve been a part of the Step into Health programme.
For employers, Step into Health offers support and guidance on how to review and enhance their recruitment practices to encourage members of the Armed Forces community to think about a career in the NHS.
Step into Health isnāt just useful for NHS employers. Itās also good for people who are looking to leave the armed forces and are thinking about an NHS career. It can help them find opportunities to train, learn and work in the NHS.
Recruitment Manager Keri Littlewood explained: āBeing part of Step into Health is really useful to us. We can use it to show the available vacancies and different career paths we offer, as well as advertise career or job fairs and answer any general questions.
āThe Armed Forces community is full of people with transferable skills that the NHS needs. If you know somebody thinking of leaving the armed forces, tell them to visit Step into Health or get in touch with us.
āWe can explain career options open to them, how their skills could transfer to different roles and how to apply for roles.ā
The Armed Forces community includes anyone serving in the British armed forces, any veterans or reservists, or family members of someone currently serving or who has served.
We joined Step into Health programme as part of our successful bid for a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver award last year.
Ramadan begins Tuesday 17 February
Muslims will celebrate the beginning of Ramadan - a time to fast, reset and reflect - later this month. Watch our Muslim chaplin, Imam Mohammad Sultaan Mehmood, tell us more about Ramadan and how we are supporting colleagues during the month.
National Apprenticeship Week: get involved! Research Roundup
The SINFONIA trial is a randomised control trial evaluating whether sugammadex is superior to neostigmine for reversal of neuromuscular blockade following elective or emergency major abdominal or noncardiac thoracic surgery.
The trial is led by Professor Anil Hormis (Principal Investigator), supported by the research team; Dr Katie Webb, Cheryl Graham and Riya Rose Mathew.
Each year, over 3 million patients undergo general anaesthetic in the NHS. Neuromuscular block agents (NMBAs) are routinely used during major surgery to facilitate intubation, ventilation, and surgical access. However, their use is a key anaesthesia-related risk factor for postoperative complications (PPCs).
The aim of SINFONIA is to determine whether sugammadex reduces PPCs and improves overall recovery compared with neostigmine in adults aged 50 years and over. Recruited patients are followed up on day 1, day 7, day 30, and day 180 postsurgery to assess hospital readmissions and mortality.
Recruitment began at Rotherham Hospital in July 2023 and a total of 126 patients were enrolled by the end of the recruitment period in December 2025.
The Research and Development department would like to extend their sincere thanks to all anaesthetists and patients who contributed to the successful recruitment for the SINFONIA trial.
National Apprenticeship Week 2026 begins next Monday. Hereās how you can get involved and how weāll celebrate the week.
Current apprenticeship opportunities
There are currently apprenticeship opportunities in:
Senior Healthcare Support Worker level 3
Business Administration level 3
Team Leader level 3
Project Manager level 4 and 6
Operations Manager level 5
Chartered Manager level 6
Online information sessions
Thereās a number of online sessions you can join next week to find out more:
Monday 9 February, 2pm to 3pm: Leadership and management webinar ran by CT Skills Wednesday 11 February, 11am to 12pm: MS Teams Apprenticeship session for managers with Graham Travis Friday 13 February, 10am to 11am: Leadership and management webinar ran by CT Skills
Nominate for the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards 2026
Nominations are now open for the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards 2026. If youāre a line manager who has managed an apprentice over the last 12 months, you can nominate your apprentice now.
Any new apprentice or existing member of staff up skilling through an apprenticeship programme is eligible. The deadline for these entries is Wednesday 11 March 2026.
Case studies
Weāll also be sharing the experiences of some of our current and previous apprentices. Look out for them on our socials and in next weekās Proud News.
Excellence Award winners
Excellence awards celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in the eyes of a colleague or member of the public. Our Chief Executive handpicks Excellence Award winners based on the nominations received each month.
Lee Moran, Corporate Operations Individual award winner (December)
Knowles, Diabetes Individual award winner (December)
Surgery Teams, Public award winner (December)
award winner (September)
Radiology PACS Team, Team award winner (December)
Nominate a colleague for an Excellence Award
Find out who our previous Excellence Award winners were
Sarah
Mark Saddington, Portering Individual
Hannah Lindley, Fitzwilliam Ward Individual award winner (October)
Rotherham Dementia Carer Support
Datesforyourdiary
LGBT+ History Month
All month
National HIV Testing Week
Monday 9 February - Sunday 15 February
National Apprenticeship Week
Monday 9 February - Sunday 15 February
Ramadan Iftar Event
Friday 20 February
You can find more upcoming events like these on the Hubās events calendar
