University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

24/03/2026

"A modern-day 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤" 🦸✨

💙 A registered nurse at Royal Derby Hospital has been recognised for the outstanding end of life care they provided to a patient and their family - who wrote to us to thank him for demonstrating exceptional compassion, and holistic nursing care, during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

🍃 Alex Newby works in the Nightingale Macmillan Unit (NMU) - a specialist palliative care unit providing care to patients approaching the end of their lives - and during his care of the patient, their family said that his calm professionalism and extensive knowledge helped them feel safe and comforted at an incredibly distressing time.

🏆 Following their heartfelt letter to the Trust, Alex was paid a surprise visit by our Executive Chief People Officer, Amanda Rawlings, to present him with a 𝓟𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓸 Making a Difference Award in recognition of the impact he made on the lives of the family.

🔗 Read the full story on our website: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/latest-news/external-nightingale-macmillan-unit-nurse-recognised-by-patients-family-for-outstanding-end-of-life-care-20733

20/03/2026

"In a word? 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭." 💖

Former patient John Birds and his family recently returned to Royal Derby Hospital to praise the outstanding and compassionate care he received from UHDB Stroke consultant Dr Karavadara: known affectionately to patients and colleagues as "𝐃𝐫 𝐊". 🩺

Dr K cared for not only John, but also his two brothers, in the space of just 15 months - supporting the family through life-changing strokes and complex recovery journeys. 👪

📝 John's daughter, UHDB colleague Claire, wrote to us to share her family's story and express their gratitude for Dr K's "𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 care" and the pivotal role he played in their recovery.

🎖️ After reading this letter, we arranged for the family to make a surprise visit to Dr K - alongside our Executive Chief People Officer, Amanda Rawlings, who presented him with a 𝓟𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓸 Making a Difference Award - to have the chance to say a heartfelt thank you in person.

💙 You can read more about this emotional reunion, and how Dr K demonstrates exactly what 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 looks like, on our website: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/latest-news/external-patients-family-makes-surprise-return-to-royal-derby-hospital-to-recognise-magnificent-stroke-consultant-20716

19/03/2026

Eid Mubarak to all of our Muslim patients, colleagues and communities who are celebrating this joyous event ☪️

We wish you a blessed day alongside your community and loved ones.

13/03/2026

"𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬."

The Neuro-Oncology team at UHDB has been awarded Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence status, for its commitment to delivering the best standard of treatment, care and research for patients with a brain tumour and their loved ones following diagnosis.

You can find out more about the incredible work of the team, including the story of Bhupinder Soor, who was supported by the team, alongside his relatives, following his recent diagnosis, here: https://neti.uhdb.nhs.uk/homepage-main-news/team-described-as-reallife-angels-awarded-centre-of-excellence-status-for-delivering-best-standard-of-care-to-patients-with-a-brain-tumour-20685

09/03/2026

👶When supporting your baby to sleep safely think, 'keep it simple to keep it safe'.

If you have any questions, or you'd like advice or support, you can always talk to your midwife or health visitor, or healthcare professional.

09/03/2026

𝓒𝓪𝓷𝓭𝔂 is a Senior Sister in the UHDB Critical Care Outreach team and our 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 service, which supports the national Martha's Rule initiative. 📞

Call for Concern is a phoneline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: giving patients and families the opportunity to raise urgent concerns about someone in our care, if they are worried that their condition is getting worse.

While our hard-working clinical colleagues work extremely hard to deliver quality care to all of our patients, we recognise that sometimes, a patient or loved one can see that something is wrong before we can. 🤍💙

🔗 Read more about the service, and when patients and families can use it, on our website: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/call-for-concern

06/03/2026

🔬 "This scanner represents a real advancement in the service we provide, delivering detailed images that support faster diagnosis. This allows us to 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀' 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, while helping our teams work more efficiently."

A new state-of-the-art scanner that can support faster diagnosis for osteoporosis is being introduced at Queen's Hospital Burton (QHB), helping advance the service provided and reduce waiting times for University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) patients.

UHDB has received funding from the Department of Health and Social Care to purchase one of 20 new DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) scanners, which are used to measure bone density and can diagnose fragile bones earlier. This can prevent painful, life-changing fractures - particularly among older people and women, who are disproportionately affected by osteoporosis.

The new scanner, which will replace an older model at QHB this summer, will enhance the existing service at that hospital and support the expansion of the Fracture Liaison service across the Trust, ensuring patients receive more equitable care, wherever they receive it - with a DEXA scanner already in place at Florence Nightingale Community Hospital.

Find out more about this advancement to the service at UHDB 🔎 https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/latest-news/new-stateoftheart-bone-density-scanner-to-support-faster-diagnosis-for-uhdb-patients-20660

28/02/2026

A skiing enthusiast who lost part of his stomach and oesophagus to cancer is urging others with persistent heartburn or swallowing issues to get checked as Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close today.

Dad of two, John Hatton, now 57, from Leicestershire survived stage 3 oesophageal cancer after undergoing aggressive chemotherapy and life-changing surgery at Royal Derby Hospital two years ago.

He was fit, active, and had no major health concerns except the occasional heartburn which came and went over the years.

Now, two years on from his surgery, he is urging others not to ignore persistent heartburn or difficulty swallowing, symptoms he now knows could be signs of something far more serious - after a trip to the doctor in September 2023 with a suspected chest infection led to an urgent hospital referral.

You can read more about John's story on the UHDB website ▶ https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/latest-news/skiing-fanatic-john-urges-people-with-persistent-heartburn-or-swallowing-issues-to-get-checked-this-oesophageal-cancer-awareness-month-20635

28/02/2026

We are sorry that Pride Pharmacy in the Kings Treatment Centre at Royal Derby Hospital is closed today (Saturday 28 February), this is due to essential power works taking place.

The Pharmacy will re-open on Monday 2 March 2026.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

27/02/2026

🏃🏁 With just under two months to go until the London Marathon (26 April 2026), we're throwing all our support behind all 16 runners flying the Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity flag - each with a personal connection to UHDB hospitals, whether that's as colleagues, or patients and families who experienced our care first hand.

Meet the marathon runners, and learn their inspiring stories, here: https://bit.ly/teamDBHC-londonmarathon

The countdown is on - just 2 months to go until the London Marathon! 💂🏃‍♂️💨

This is the very first year our charity has secured London Marathon places and we’re proud to have 16 amazing runners representing us.🏃‍➡️🏅

Every member of Team DBHC has a personal connection to our hospitals - from NHS staff who care for our communities every day, to patients and families who’ve experienced that care first-hand. Each runner brings their own story, motivation and reason for giving back.💜

Meet Team DBHC and uncover the inspiring stories behind each runner here: https://bit.ly/teamDBHC-londonmarathon

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

27/02/2026

🔬 "If successful, this approach could significantly improve the quality of life for people receiving haemodialysis, as it would be the first intervention that could benefit the memory and thinking in those people."

Researchers at UHDB are leading a new study to examine whether cooling the fluid used in dialysis can help preserve memory and thinking functions for patients undergoing the treatment - ultimately improving their long-term quality of life.

More than two thirds of people undergoing haemodialysis experience problems with thinking and memory as their treatment progresses, which may ultimately lead to dementia. These issues tend to worsen more rapidly than in people who are not undergoing haemodialysis, and such decline in brain function can make it harder for people to do everyday tasks, increasing their reliance on others and lowering their overall quality of life.

With research showing that blood flow to the brain can drop during dialysis - which, if happening regularly, can harm the brain over time - one potential reason for the decline in thinking and memory for patients could be the dialysis treatment itself.

That has led Dr Tarek Eldehni, Consultant Nephrologist at Royal Derby Hospital, and a team of researchers from the UHDB Renal department and the University of Nottingham, to begin an innovative study which will examine whether lowering the fluid used in dialysis to 0.5 degrees Celsius below the individual's body temperature could help to preserve cognitive function.

"We are excited to conduct this important study. My interest in cooling the dialysis fluid goes back to my doctoral research work where we found that cooling the fluid by 0.5 degree below a person's body temperature can help protect the brain when they are undergoing haemodialysis, which we saw through brain MRI scans," he explained of the COOL-HD trial, which is receiving funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research for Patient Benefit Programme, and is supported by the Derby Clinical Trials Support Unit.

📲💻 You can find out more about this innovative research on the UHDB website: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/latest-news/uhdb-researchers-aiming-to-discover-if-cooling-dialysis-fluid-can-help-preserve-memory-and-brain-function-for-patients-20619

24/02/2026

"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙗𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝, 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚."

Congratulations to UHDB Physiotherapist Emma Bamford who has been named 'Hand Therapist of the Year' at a prestigious award ceremony.

Emma, who is an Extended Scope Practitioner in the Pulvertaft Hand Centre at Royal Derby Hospital, was nominated for the award in recognition of her commitment to delivering the Flexor Injury Rehabilitation Splint Trial (FIRST), a study which compares three different splint treatments for finger flexon tendon repairs.

As part of the trial, which saw patients randomly assigned different splints, Emma advocated for hand therapists to act as principle investigators, instead of traditional leads such as surgeons and more senior members of staff.

You can read more about this research and Emma's award here: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/latest-news/uhdb-colleague-emma-bamford-named-hand-therapist-of-the-year-at-prestigious-award-ceremony-20628