James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

20/04/2026

This week we're celebrating Admin & Clerical week!

We are showcasing some of our staff, finding out what it is they do, and how they got here. You'll find stories from Phil, Divisional Operations Director, Maureen, Paediatrics Business Support Manager, Rhia, Research and Development Administrator, Rachel an Executive Assistant, and a poem from our Medical Staffing and Recruitment team.

If you're interested in joining our admin and clerical teams, visit our vacancies here: https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/join-our-team/vacancies/ #!/job_list/s7/Administrative_Services?_ts=1

20/04/2026

PureGym Great Yarmouth are supporting our Colorectal Nursing Team by helping promote Bowel Cancer Awareness Month during April.
The team at PureGym have made use of our ‘Poo emoji’ costumes to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and to encourage everyone to take up screening when it is offered. We’d like to thank them for their support.
When diagnosed early, nine in ten people survive bowel cancer.
Symptoms can include:
• bleeding from your bottom
• blood in your poo
• a change in your pooing habits. You might be going more or less often, or have diarrhoea or constipation that might come and go
• losing weight but you’re not sure why
• feeling very tired all the time but you’re not sure why
• a pain or lump in your tummy
Having these symptoms doesn’t always mean you have bowel cancer, but it’s still important to find out what’s causing them.
If you have any of these symptoms you should talk to your GP and ask about an at-home test.
The earlier that bowel cancer is diagnosed, the more treatable it’s likely to be.
For more information please visit; https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/support-us/bowel-cancer-awareness-month/

17/04/2026

The James Paget has maintained its Veteran Aware status after an annual review of the services provided by our hospital Trust.
NHS Veteran Aware is an accreditation programme designed to support providers to improve healthcare access and outcomes for the Armed Forces community.
The accreditation was first awarded to the James Paget University Hospital in 2021 and is annually reviewed, with three-yearly accreditation.
The hospital has an Armed Forces Support Service and promotes a variety of events for veterans – including our popular Veterans Coffee Morning – as well as providing support to veterans during hospital stays and in the community.
For more information about the service please visit; https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/armed-forces-support-service/

17/04/2026

It’s just over a week until local cousins Mollie Titterington and Sophie Jackman undertake their marathon charity challenge.
Mollie and Sophie are in final training for this year’s London Marathon on Sunday 26 April, where they will be running to raise money for our Sandra Chapman Centre.
They decided to raise money for the Sandra Chapman as a way to thank the team at the centre for their ‘incredible care and compassion’ when they looked after Sophie’s mum - who was Mollie’s aunty - during her treatment for breast cancer.
Mollie and Sophie will be running not only in memory of Sophie’s mum but also Mollie’s grandad – and for all the families who have been supported by the team at the Sandra Chapman Centre.
“The unit is incredibly close to our hearts,” said Sophie. “Anyone local probably knows someone who has been helped by the Sandra Chapman Centre — their dedication and kindness touch so many lives.
“We’re training hard and can’t wait to take on this challenge in their memory, and to raise money for such a special cause. Any donation, big or small, means so much and will go directly towards supporting patients and families going through cancer treatment,” she added.
To support Mollie and Sophie with their fund raising, please visit:

Help Sophie Jackman raise money to support James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation

17/04/2026

If you have experienced a relative or loved one passing away while at our hospital, you can provide feedback that will help improve the care that is provided to people at the end of their lives.
You can provide your feedback through the National Audit of Care at the End of Life survey available here: https://surveys.nhsbenchmarking.nhs.uk/qsac/65972-248

17/04/2026

To mark Parkinson’s Awareness Month, our team have a stand outside our hospital Chapel today, Friday 17 April, where you can pick up more information about Parkinson’s and find out more about some of the support available.
You can take a look at the display and pick up advice leaflets if you would like these.
Parkinson’s Awareness Month runs during April and is dedicated to raising awareness of the progressive neurological disorder that affects more than 10 million people worldwide.
You can find out more about Parkinson’s disease on the NHS website here; https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/parkinsons-disease/
For support and advice Parkinson’s UK is the main Parkinson's support and research charity in the UK – please visit https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/

16/04/2026

The next meeting of our Robins group – a support group for anyone who has lost a loved one – will be held in the Louise Hamilton Centre, on our hospital site, on Monday, 20 April.
The group meets each month in the Centre, and offers a space for you to talk and remember a loved one.
The event, between 1pm and 2pm on Monday, is for anyone who has been bereaved who would like some support. It is organised by our Cancer Care Navigators but you do not have to have lost someone to cancer – anyone who has lost a close loved one is welcome. If you would like to, please come along and have a chat.

16/04/2026

A Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) opened by the James Paget last year has been praised by NHS England for its ‘impressive’ service – and highlighted as a model for other CDCs to follow.
Leaders from the NHS’ Community Diagnostic Centres programme team visited our Northgate CDC in Great Yarmouth last month as part of a national programme to identify best practice.
Northgate welcomed its first patients in April last year, operating in a renovated NHS hospital building based in the heart of a local community.
The NHS team saw first-hand services offered at the centre including CT scans and cardiac and respiratory physiology – and heard about plans to introduce new diagnostic services in the future.
In their formal feedback, the team described Northgate CDC as a ‘busy and well-run centre’, adding that "the service developed at Northgate CDC is impressive and reflects the type of model we would like to see more widely used across CDCs".
In addition, the team noted that the staff at the centre “came across as committed, experienced and happy, which really shone through".
The feedback has been received as the Department for Health and Social Care announces more investment for CDCs nationwide, with Northgate listed as one of 15 to receive ‘targeted enhancements'.
James Paget Executive Managing Director Jonathan Gardner welcomed the feedback as well as the news of additional investment.
“Staff at Northgate have worked really hard over the past year to make the CDC operational, helping deliver diagnostic services which are more accessible for our patients,” he said.
“The feedback from the NHS CDC programme team emphasises what a great job our staff are doing in boosting our diagnostic capacity - while the announcement by the DHSC of more investment underlines the support for developing diagnostics in the heart of a local community.”
Last month, team members at Northgate won a prestigious staff commendation award for their teamwork in making both the opening and operation of the CDC run smoothly.
The reception, healthcare assistant and housekeeping teams at both Northgate, and the Oulton Suite CDC on the James Paget hospital site, were nominated for the commendation for their ‘outstanding commitment, adaptability and professionalism’ as both centres geared up for welcoming their first patients.

16/04/2026

Unfortunately the Migraine Peer Support Group meeting planned for this evening, Thursday 16 April, has had to be cancelled.
It is hoped that this meeting will resume on May 21 but we will update nearer this date.
Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. In the meantime if you need some help or support you may find the following helpful;
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/
https://migrainetrust.org/
https://migrainebuddy.com/b12-and-your-brain-are-you-missing-something-important/?lid=4q80hu0lslxr

15/04/2026

Do you work in healthcare in an educational role? If so you might be interested in a Clinical Learning & Exchange Conference being held in the Burrage Centre Lecture Theatre, on the James Paget University Hospital site on Monday 29 June.

The conference, between 9am and 4.30pm will see a number of speakers, from organisations including NHS England and the University of East Anglia, talk about subjects including Interprofessional Education and Collaboration, Workforce Development and Retention, and Supporting Student Wellbeing During Practice Placements.

The day is aimed at anyone who is in an education link role, educator role or learning facilitation role in health or care.
For more details please see below and to book please either scan the QR code or visit https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=IANiWgdmykueYnHHz4XhSQ5cm8KqCmZDowm67p-ys7xUQzI3TklDTlEyQlFUUFREU0FSN0FBWFdRTi4u&origin=QRCode

15/04/2026

A James Paget physiotherapist has been shortlisted for a prestigious award after setting up a dedicated cancer physiotherapy service at our hospital! 🥳🏆

Sam Nelson, who works as a Clinical Specialist Macmillan Physiotherapist, works with cancer patients receiving treatment both on our haematology ward (Ward 17) and at outpatient clinics.
Since joining the Paget nearly two years ago, Sam has overseen the development of the service, helping patients undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment access physio support more quickly.

Effective cancer treatments mean that people now live longer but can also result in patients needing additional support during and after treatment, to help them get back to their routines of everyday life. That’s where physiotherapy comes in.

“Physiotherapy can really help people undergoing or recovering from treatment have a higher quality of life,” said Sam.
“It’s about the little things - helping people continue to do the activities they love in their day-to-day lives.”
In his 20 months at the Paget, Sam has helped restore patients’ confidence to carry out important tasks, such as being able to reach for a jar on a top shelf or accessing a key safe to enter their home.
But, crucially, he has also helped many return to much-loved family activities or hobbies and pastimes, such as playing the piano, or being able to go to a football match.
“One of the first patients I saw after starting at the Paget asked if she would ever be able to walk along the beach again, picking up shells,” said Sam. “She was being treated for cancer and at the time was bed bound. Now, more than a year later, she has just returned from a holiday in Cornwall where she has collected dozens of seashells – that’s the difference physiotherapy can make.”
“I love being a physiotherapist and feel very privileged to be able to work with my patients,” he added.

Sam’s role is funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and he is supported in his work by the Cancer Care Navigators based at the Louise Hamilton Centre.

He has been shortlisted in the Rising Star category in this year’s Macmillan Professional Excellence Awards, which celebrates early-career professionals who show exceptional promise and a strong commitment to transforming cancer care for the future.

Sam is already the holder of a prestigious award, having won the Governors’ Award at last year’s Paget’s People staff awards. Sam received the award, sponsored by Capsticks, in recognition of his work in helping patients going through chemotherapy treatment and cancer diagnosis to maintain their mobility, and commitment to helping patients throughout their cancer diagnosis.

14/04/2026

Our James Paget Hospital Choir will be staging ‘A Spring Serenade’ at Trinity Methodist Church in Lowestoft on Thursday, 16 April, and you’re welcome along.
The evening of music and poetry – including singalong opportunities - will feature our choir and Darcey Simms and, with free entry, is open to all.
The event will start at 7pm on Thursday 16 at the Church, which is opposite Lowestoft Lighthouse, and there will be a raffle and refreshments at a small cost to raise funds for St Elizabeth’s Hospice. Any kind donations will also be accepted.