Lastchancetonominate NominationsclosethisSunday
has already taken the time to make a Heart Award nomination.
Nominations close on Sunday (22 Feb) so there’s still time.
This is your chance to shine a light on their work and bring the recognition they truly deserve. It only need take a few minutes to share someone’s story.
Nominations don’t need to be long. A heartfelt write up between 300 and 800 words is perfect.
Use Copilot to help structure your nomination if you can’t think how to start. Nominate today!
SupportingstaffobservingLent
Lent is a significant period in the Christian Liturgical Calendar, observed by many Christian Denominations. It is a time of Repentance, Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving, that lasts for 40 days.
To mark the start of the season, our Hospital Chaplaincy team held a special Ash Wednesday service for staff and patients.
Our chapel is open
To support those who choose to observe Lent, the Chaplaincy and EDI team have created a Lent Guide offering: An overview of the meaning and traditions of Lent Guidance on fasting, prayer, and reflection Tips on supporting colleagues who may be observing Lent Information about quiet spaces and chapel access
Read our Lent Guide for info on how you can support staff and patients This resource is designed to help staff and patients feel supported, understood, and included throughout the Lenten period.
“I’mjustasupportworker.” “It’sonlyaBand2role.”
“These words are said casually, usually without intent of harm or insult, but language shapes perception. When we repeatedly attach “just” or “only” to our roles, whether we use them to describe ourselves or they are used by others, we unintentionally minimise the complexity, responsibility and impact of what we do as a nonregistered workforce.
There is nothing “just” about providing intimate personal care to someone at their most vulnerable. There is nothing “only” about being the consistent presence during a 12-hour shift. There is nothing “just” about noticing the subtle change in a patient’s condition because you
Kim Swallow MSW Pastoral Support Worker
know their normal presentation so well, having been the continuous, warming presence for a person most in need.
In our ever-changing NHS, support workforce delivers fundamental care — and fundamental does not mean basic. It means foundational. It is the care upon which everything else is built, now more than ever, as support workers are the frontline of direct patient care while
registered colleagues take a less direct role with reduced patient contact.
Without support workers, observations are not completed in a timely manner, patients are not mobilised safely, nutrition and hydration are not encouraged and monitored as closely, emotional reassurance is not as readily available. The registered workforce relies upon skilled, competent support colleagues to enable safe and effective care delivery. That reliance is not accidental; it is recognition of value. Yet when we describe ourselves as “just,” we shrink that value.
In my pastoral role, I often gently reframe this language when I hear it. Not to dismiss ambition, but to reinforce identity. You are not “just” anything. You are a trained, accountable member of the healthcare team. You hold responsibility. You uphold standards.
Although you may not hold the senior responsibilities of your registered colleagues, you represent the NHS as much as any other professional group, in some ways more so through the eyes of the patients and loved ones who you are directly present for.”
Extract from article by MSW Pastoral Support Worker
Kim Swallow
ImprovedManagementof SuspectedVTEfromED/MSDEC
The team aimed to decrease the number of tinzaparin stat and TTO doses from ED and MSDEC by 50% (both inpatient and TTO doses).
They did this by replacing tinzaparin sub-cutaneous injections with the tablet apixaban for suitable patients.
Outcomes showed stat doses of tinzaparin reduced by 39% and TTO doses by 56%, with 100% of surveyed patients preferring the tablets. 79% of patients on apixaban did not have to return hospital to collect a TTO from pharmacy, and the medication change represents a cost saving of £4,834 over 10.5 months.
Louise Gough, Lesley Castle (pictured) & Rob Jones (Nov 2025) With thanks to Adele Finley, Lauren Clarke & Umar Patel
Read more about this and other QI projects on the Hub
Be part of improvement. Call the QI team on 5643, or click to email
‘TechTown’ismakingcaremorehuman atBarnsleyHospital
Last Friday, we were visited by The Times’ Science Editor, Rhys Blakely, who wanted to cover the innovative work behind our Tech Town programme, which uses AI and digital tools to enhance patient care.
The reporter met with Director of ICT Tom Davidson and Chief Innovation, Improvement and AI Officer Dr Jamie Miles who highlighted the steps the hospital has taken to improve patient care and experience through AIpowered tools.
These tools are already supporting clearer electronic notes, faster clinical decision‐making and smarter patient tracking. In clinics, ambient voice technology captures conversations and produces notes automatically, allowing clinicians to focus fully on their patients.
Thank you to all colleagues who supported the visit and made it a success.
Our Appraisal cycle of 1st April to the 30th June is approaching, hear about what some of our colleagues had to say following their positive experience of appraisals last year.
Kyle Pearce, Specialist Physiotherapist at Active
Together, said: “Overall, I found the experience for praising colleagues very positive and fulfilling. One particular example is that I'd helped a certain colleague identify a certain pathway that he wanted to follow in his career to help him progress and further his specialism. It really just made me feel really positive.”
Maria Graham, Community Midwifery Leader, said: “This was a way to get to know my colleagues and my colleagues to get to know me as the lead. We had some lovely, meaningful appraisals. Some were quite emotional, but we had lots of giggles along the way. I found it very beneficial.
Hear more about Kyle’s, Maria’s and Roya’s experience of appraisals in this video
Roya Pourali, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, said: “When both parties are contributing and setting up objectives that create more ownership, it creates better communication and team work. Appraisees feel part of the plan and of their own development.
Supported by regular 1:1’s throughout the year, annual appraisals are an important and valuable part of the employee lifecycle, enabling colleagues to recognise the value of their role and how they contribute to team and Trust objectives.
Details of appraisal training for appraisers and appraisees, along with other appraisal resources are available on the L&OD page of the Hospital Hub.
For further assistance please email bdg-tr.appraisalqueries@nhs.net or call extension 2016
This week we visited Ward 35 where colleagues continue to shine as a team going above and beyond for patients and families. Their compassion and strong teamwork create a warm, supportive environment where people feel genuinely cared for. Whether responding to complex needs, offering emotional support or working together during busy periods, the team always demonstrates the values we’re proud of.
Thank you to everyone on Ward 35 for your dedication, positivity and commitment to patient care.
You make a real difference every single day.
