Leeds Children's Hospital

04/03/2026

New children's ultrasound room looks out of this world! 🚀

Our colleagues in the Radiology and Medical Imaging Service recently welcomed the first patients into a brand-new children's ultrasound room in the X-ray Department at Leeds Children's Hospital.

The room has been created by converting a small waiting area in to a scanning room with ensuite facilities and even includes space-themed décor 👩‍🚀

As well as creating more room for ultrasound scanning this new space has created greater training opportunities for colleagues.

Since the launch of this new space the Paediatric Radiology Team have noted a considerable reduction in waiting times for paediatric patients.

These developments are all helping to improve the service we provide for patients and families. Well done to everyone involved - the new space looks fantastic!

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

03/03/2026

Young people with diabetes take on outdoor challenge!

Our Diabetes Team recently supported a group of young people aged 16-19 to attend a residential experience at Nell Bank Outdoor Education Centre, Ilkley. The programme was designed to help young people build confidence, independence and practical skills in managing their diabetes.

Structured health education sessions were integrated into outdoor and team-based activities including orienteering, assault courses and campfire skills.

Young people were supported by our hospital-based youth workers and nurses ensuring they had consistent clinical guidance and support in a relaxed and informal setting.

This was the first time the team has delivered a residential programme like this and feedback from the young people has been really positive!

Youth Worker Faye Bishop said:

‘It was fantastic to see the young people engaging so positively with one another and with staff throughout the programme. They supported each other during activities, shared their own experiences of managing diabetes, and built meaningful connections in a relaxed and encouraging setting’

This initiative is supported by funding from Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

03/03/2026

is a celebration in honour of the ‘Sangha’: the Buddhist community. It is a traditional time for exchanging gifts & celebrations include chanting, meditation, lighting of oil lamps, & reaffirming commitment to Buddhist practice.

To all our Buddhist colleagues, patients and followers celebrating, we wish you a Happy Magha Puja Day.

02/03/2026

The Jewish festival of Purim starts this evening.

Purim is a joyous festival which celebrates the survival of the Jewish People who were spared from massacre in Ancient Persia by the brave Jewish Queen Esther. It is celebrated by having fancy dress parties, making food baskets which are given as gifts and reading the story of Esther. A tradition whilst reading the book is to shout out when the evil character's name 'Haman' is mentioned. Triangular biscuits called Hamentashen biscuits are eaten and are thought to represent either Haman's 3 sided hat or his ears!

We wish our Jewish staff, patients, colleagues and the wider Jewish community, Chag Purim Sameach!

02/03/2026

'I've always wanted to do my nurse training however when I left college, the idea of a big university daunted me so I put it on the back burner.'

In the run up to our SOLD OUT Nursing Recruitment Open Day on 20 March, we're introducing members of the nursing team and sharing how they started their children's nursing journey.

Meet Kayleigh from Ward L38 - Respiratory.

Kayleigh is a Registered Children's Nurse who entered nursing though the Trainee Nursing Associate Programme.

Kayleigh told us about her journey into children's nursing:

'I've always wanted to do my nurse training however when I left college, the idea of a big university daunted me so I put it on the back burner.

I applied to Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust for the Trainee Nursing Associate Programme in 2020 and was successful. I qualified as a Registered Nursing Associate in 2022, then quickly set to my Transfer To Nursing.

During my journey to Band 5 Staff Nurse, I have been able to buy a house, I have two beautiful fur babies - Ivy and Winston - and last but not least I had my BEAUTIFUL wild-child Oliver who is now 15 months old.

Doing my degree through the apprenticeship route made this all possible and I feel I was already so prepared when I went onto the ward as a Band 5. This was down to all the support I had from the wonderful teams I had the opportunity to work with'

If you have registered for our Nursing Recruitment Open Day on 20 March we are looking forward to meeting you! If you haven't yet registered, the event is currently full but if more places become available we will update here.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

02/03/2026

There are a still a few places available for our World Obesity Day event, jointly hosted with The Obesity Institute at Leeds Beckett University on Wednesday this week.

The event will bring together researchers, clinicians, patients, and stakeholders to share learning, insights, and discussion around supporting young people living with obesity.

Find out more and register here 👇

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/world-obesity-day-supporting-young-people-families-living-with-obesity-tickets-1982236345269?aff=oddtdtcreator

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Leeds Hospitals Charity

Join us for a half-day online event on World Obesity Day 2026, hosted jointly by the Obesity Institute and Leeds Children’s Hospital.

27/02/2026

Today is and our friends at Children's Heart Surgery Fund are busy raising awareness and lifesaving funds for .

Get 'reddy' for lots of red-themed fundraising activities taking place across Yorkshire today!

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Today is Wear Red Day! ❤️🎈

A day for raising vital awareness of and life-saving funds for our in-RED-ible Heart Unit, warriors and their families!

Tag us in your photos and use the hashtag 📸

Donate and save lives...
💻 Online at www.justgiving.com/campaign/wear-red-day-2026
📱 Text CHSFWRD plus any amount up to 20 to 70085 (e.g to donate £5 text CHSFWRD 5 to 70085) [Texts cost the chosen donation amount plus one standard network rate message]

Please SHARE this post and let others know why you are wearing red today! 👏❤️

Leeds Congenital Heart Unit Leeds Children's Hospital

24/02/2026

'Over the past two decades, I have been privileged to grow alongside this Trust.'

In the run up to our Nursing Recruitment Open Day on 20 March, we're introducing members of the nursing team and sharing how they started their children's nursing journey.

Meet Hannah!

Hannah is a Roald Dahl Transition Nurse for Children with Medical Complexities. Hannah supports patients with complex medical needs as they transition from children's services at Leeds Children's Hospital to to adult services elsewhere. This can be a challenging process for patients and families who might have been under our care since birth.

Hannah told us about her nursing journey so far:

'Over the past two decades, I have been privileged to grow alongside this Trust. I started my career in Children’s Medicine and the CAT unit, followed by a meaningful period at Martin House Children’s Hospice, which deepened my understanding of holistic family care.

A significant portion of my clinical heart remains with PICU... I truly value PICU for the unparalleled learning opportunities and the professional growth it fostered in me.

In my current role as the Roald Dahl Transition Nurse for Children with Medical Complexities I help patients bridge the gap from children's to adult services. I am passionate about ensuring these young people have a structured and supportive transition which ensures that the world-class care they received at Leeds Children’s Hospital continues seamlessly into their adult lives.'

If you're interested in starting a career in children's nursing you can meet the team, tour the hospital and speak to specialist nurses like Hannah at our upcoming Nursing Careers Open Day.

Find out more and register here:
https://buytickets.at/leedschildrenshospital/2010256

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

18/02/2026

Supporting the development of our youngest patients!

Neonatal Physiotherapists Gemma King and Lisa Smith recently presented their project 'Provision of developmental toys to high-risk neonates' at the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP) Neonatal Allied Health Professionals Annual Conference.

The team identified that many families with babies cared for on the Neonatal Unit did not have access to appropriate toys to support their baby's development after they left the unit.

The team set out to make sure that babies at risk of developmental issues due to their condition left the hospital with appropriate toys to support their continued development at home.

With funding from Leeds Hospitals Charity 150 packs were created, each containing toys selected by our specialist neonatal physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Toys included:
- mirrors
- rattles
- links toys
- soft toys with different textures and sounds
- teethers
all proven to support a baby's early development.

Families taking part in this scheme were supported by the Neurodevelopmental Service who demonstrated different activities at regular appointments over a two year period.

Feedback from families has been extremely positive and the team have monitored outcomes such as:

- parents more engaged in their baby's development
- families better able to mirror activities demonstrated by the therapists
- enhanced parent and baby relationships
- babies provided with more opportunities for development and stimulation through play

Having delivered this project successfully for high-risk babies, the team are currently looking for funding to continue this project and extend the provision of toys to all babies leaving our Neonatal Unit.

Well done to Gemma and Lisa for leading this brilliant project and sharing it with colleagues nationally. Thank you to all the families who have participated and provided feedback as part of this project.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

18/02/2026

Many people around the world today mark the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday is observed with the sign of the cross on the forehead with ashes. A reminder of renewal and transformation of life.

Lent is a season for deepening faith through prayer, fasting, and acts of kindness. It is a time to reconnect with God, reflect on our personal journeys, and prepare for the hope and joy of Easter.

Wishing all staff, patients, and communities marking this season a meaningful Lenten season.

17/02/2026

Patients across the hospital have been celebrating the Lunar New Year today with lots of creative activities.

Many patients also received special Lunar New Year gifts thanks to our friends at Fairy Bricks who donated lots of Chinese Culture LEGO Duplo sets!

Here's 6-year-old Myles and 19-month-old Harvey demonstrating their creative and construction skills with a little help from Play Leader Liv.

Happy Lunar New Year to all our staff, patients and communities, celebrating today!

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Leeds Hospitals Charity

17/02/2026

As the month of Ramadan begins, we would like to extend our best wishes to all colleagues, patients, and community members observing this important period of reflection, compassion, and spiritual practice.

We remain committed to supporting our Muslim staff and patients throughout Ramadan, ensuring that our services, working environments, and care pathways continue to be inclusive and responsive to individual needs.

We thank all our colleagues who will be balancing their professional responsibilities with their observance during this month.

Wishing you a peaceful, healthy, and fulfilling Ramadan.