Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

15/12/2025

The British Medical Association (BMA) recently announced that resident doctors will be taking part in industrial action from 7am on 17 December until 7am on 22 December.

The BMA have confirmed today that the industrial action will continue to go ahead as planned, after its members voted in an online poll over the weekend.

Scroll to find out what the industrial action means to you ⬇️

15/12/2025

Derbyshire Healthcare would like to extend best wishes to our Jewish friends, partners, colleagues, and those in our care, as the celebration of Hanukkah begins.

May the lights of Menorah candles fill up your homes. Hanukkah Sameach to you and your families.

11/12/2025

As Christmas nears, the League of Friends at Derbyshire Healthcare is preparing donations for patients using its mental health, learning disabilities, and children’s services.

Find out more: https://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/about-us/latest-news/local-charity-spreads-christmas-cheer-donations-inpatients-ahead-christmas

11/12/2025

Christmas can be stressful for families affected by eating disorders due to food pressures and frequent gatherings, making anxiety and overwhelm common during this season.

There are several strategies that may help alleviate anxiety. Find out more guidance provided by our CAMHS Eating Disorders specialist nurses on our website: https://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/about-us/latest-news/managing-christmas-eating-disorder

08/12/2025

Samantha, Adrian and Dusty the Dalek were on the BBC Derby breakfast show this morning talking to host Becky Measures about their amazing fundraising efforts for our charitable fund.

Listen back on BBC Sounds – the first part of the interview starts at around 01:21:40…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mx3s

Learn more about our charitable fund here:

https://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/get-involved/make-donation

In the TV series Doctor Who, the Daleks are often portrayed as The Doctor’s great enemy. But in Derbyshire, a Dalek named Dusty is bucking the trend – by raising money for local NHS mental health services.

Dusty is the creation of Samantha and Adrian Kennedy, from Oakwood, who travel to events up and down the country, entertaining people for free and raising money for our Trust charitable fund.

In the last year, Samantha, Adrian and Dusty have raised over £430, which goes towards activities and equipment for Derbyshire Healthcare patients that can’t be provided through NHS funding.

James Sabin, Director of Finance at Derbyshire Healthcare, said: “We’re very grateful to Adrian and Samantha, and to everyone who chooses to raise money for our Trust charitable fund. These contributions can make a huge difference to people’s wellbeing – so, if you’ve received good care from one of our teams, please consider our charitable fund next time you’re looking for a good cause to donate to.”

You can read Samantha and Adrian's full story here - https://bit.ly/4pbbSi1

Or to learn more about Dusty, search for the group set up by Samantha and Adrian’s friends, ‘Daleks of Somerset’, on Facebook.

05/12/2025

📣Candidates from Derby City East and Derby City West needed!

Shape the future of mental health, learning disabilities and children’s health services: become a Derbyshire Healthcare governor!

We are looking for members of the public to stand in upcoming elections, to represent the area where they live on the Trust’s Council of Governors.

Are you passionate about the future of mental health, learning disabilities, children’s health and specialist addictions services in your area? Do you want to make a real difference in your community? Then please consider standing as a governor for Derbyshire Healthcare. We have vacant seats in six areas:

✅Amber Valley
✅Bolsover and North East Derbyshire
✅Derby City East
✅Derby City West
✅Erewash
✅High Peak and Derbyshire Dales.

Governors play an important role in influencing key decisions and ensuring our services reflect the needs and priorities of the people we serve. You don’t need specialist knowledge – just a commitment to improving services and a desire to be involved. It’s a rewarding opportunity to develop new skills, meet like-minded people, and be part of something truly meaningful. Whether you are someone who uses our services, a carer or local resident, your voice matters. Nominations are now open.

➡️To find out more, visit the Derbyshire Healthcare website:
https://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/governor

➡️To submit your nomination, visit:
https://secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/dhft2026/en/home?bbp=119781&x=-1

➡️Or email ftnominationenquiries@cesvotes.com. Or telephone: 020 8889 9203.

The deadline for nominations is 5pm on 9 December 2025

05/12/2025

We were delighted to be joined by NHS Providers Chief Executive, Daniel Elkeles, today (Friday 5 December) and welcomed him to our new Carsington Unit, Kingsway, Derby, for a tour.

The Carsington Unit, which opened to patients in May, provides 54 individual en-suite rooms and a range of therapeutic spaces designed to enhance patient experience and support recovery. The facility is part of the Trust’s Making Room for Dignity programme and commitment to removing dormitory-style accommodation and replacing it with modern, dignified environments for mental health care - https://bit.ly/3DcPBxC

Our Chief Executive, Mark Powell, led the tour alongside Vikki Ashton Taylor, Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Delivery Officer, clinical colleagues and representatives from our EQUAL Forum (patient voice) and Carer’s Forum.

02/12/2025

📣Shape the future of mental health, learning disabilities and children’s health services: become a Derbyshire Healthcare governor

We are looking for members of the public to stand in upcoming elections, to represent the area where they live on the Trust’s Council of Governors.

Are you passionate about the future of mental health, learning disabilities, children’s health and specialist addictions services in your area? Do you want to make a real difference in your community? Then please consider standing as a governor for Derbyshire Healthcare. We have vacant seats in six areas:

✅Amber Valley
✅Bolsover and North East Derbyshire
✅Derby City East
✅Derby City West
✅Erewash
✅High Peak and Derbyshire Dales.

Governors play an important role in influencing key decisions and ensuring our services reflect the needs and priorities of the people we serve. You don’t need specialist knowledge – just a commitment to improving services and a desire to be involved. It’s a rewarding opportunity to develop new skills, meet like-minded people, and be part of something truly meaningful. Whether you are someone who uses our services, a carer or local resident, your voice matters. Nominations are now open.

➡️To find out more, visit the Derbyshire Healthcare website:
https://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/governor

➡️To submit your nomination, visit:
https://secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/dhft2026/en/home?bbp=119781&x=-1

➡️Or email ftnominationenquiries@cesvotes.com. Or telephone: 020 8889 9203.

The deadline for nominations is 5pm on 9 December 2025.

01/12/2025

A short summary of the Board of Directors meeting held in public on 25 November 2025 is now available on our website 👉https://bit.ly/boardsummary

💙Service user story 💙

This month the Board welcomed Rosie, to share her experience of su***de prevention initiatives, linking into the new Su***de Prevention Plan included on the agenda for this month’s meeting.

Rosie spoke about the mental health difficulties she had experienced since her childhood, which escalated into adulthood when she could no longer keep herself safe and experienced the loss of two people close to her. At this point Rosie received support from one of the Trust’s acute inpatient units, which she identified as being a key turning point in her life, as she identified the unit as being a place that could make a significant difference to herself and others in similar circumstances.

Following this personal experience and her individual recovery, Rosie chose to retrain as a Mental Health Nurse. She is now two years into her course and enjoying her new career path. The Board discussed the value of people with lived experience of mental health services in supporting people, with Rosie sharing a number of examples of how this approach breaks down traditional barriers between staff and patients.

Full minutes of the meeting will be published on the website in due course.

01/12/2025

In the TV series Doctor Who, the Daleks are often portrayed as The Doctor’s great enemy. But in Derbyshire, a Dalek named Dusty is bucking the trend – by raising money for local NHS mental health services.

Dusty is the creation of Samantha and Adrian Kennedy, from Oakwood, who travel to events up and down the country, entertaining people for free and raising money for our Trust charitable fund.

In the last year, Samantha, Adrian and Dusty have raised over £430, which goes towards activities and equipment for Derbyshire Healthcare patients that can’t be provided through NHS funding.

James Sabin, Director of Finance at Derbyshire Healthcare, said: “We’re very grateful to Adrian and Samantha, and to everyone who chooses to raise money for our Trust charitable fund. These contributions can make a huge difference to people’s wellbeing – so, if you’ve received good care from one of our teams, please consider our charitable fund next time you’re looking for a good cause to donate to.”

You can read Samantha and Adrian's full story here - https://bit.ly/4pbbSi1

Or to learn more about Dusty, search for the group set up by Samantha and Adrian’s friends, ‘Daleks of Somerset’, on Facebook.

01/12/2025

Congratulations to our newly registered nurses and nursing associates!

We’re proud to celebrate our incredible apprentices who graduated on 12 November from the University of Derby. This achievement reflects their hard work, resilience and dedication – balancing clinical placements, university assignments and personal commitments.

These graduates are now stepping into their roles as registered professionals across our services, embodying our commitment to growing our own workforce and delivering excellent care.

Registered Nurses:
Jake, Lissa, Lauren, Sean, Jephin, Joanne, Peter, Sydney, Suzzanne and Viktorija

Registered Nursing Associates:
Sandra, Kimmy, Michelle, Hayley and Jiji

A huge well done to you all – we can’t wait to see what you achieve next!

(Not all photographed here).

01/12/2025

We are thrilled to welcome Chioma Akpom to Derbyshire Healthcare following her appointment as a new Non-Executive Director (NED).

Chioma brings with her 25 years of experience in digital transformation, audit, governance and risk and compliance, having worked across multiple industries as a Fellow of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

Chioma says: “I look forward to contributing to the Trust’s commitment to excellence in governance and innovation, and to supporting its vital work across the community. I’m excited to work alongside the Board and wider teams to help drive meaningful transformation.”

Read the full story here 👉 https://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/about-us/latest-news/trust-appoints-new-non-executive-director-bringing-expertise-transformation-and-governance