South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

24/10/2025

"Dr Benson saved my life, he saw that I wasn’t very well, and he was brilliant. I wanted to do this picture as a thank you for him and the others who helped look after me."

👋 Meet Jason, a South Shields painter who turned recovery into creativity.

After surviving a heart attack and major surgery, Jason picked up his brushes again to create ‘My heart in your hands’ - a powerful painting featuring a heart cradled by gloved hands.

He gifted one copy to the Cardiology Team at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) and another to The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NUTH).

He recently presented the piece to Dr Chris Benson, Consultant Cardiologist at STSFT, who helped diagnose and care for Jason.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4773GZD

23/10/2025

We’re proud to share that our Living with Cancer project team has won the Championing the Patient Voice award🏆 at the Northern Cancer Alliance Awards! 🎉

This recognition celebrates our commitment to supporting people living with treatable, but incurable cancer👏 Huge thanks to our patients and staff who helped co-design this work. Together, we’re rewriting the narrative around cancer care.

🎥 Watch this short video to meet some of our inspirational patients and find out what being a part of this project group means to them.

🔗 Full story in the comments 👇

23/10/2025

Say hello to Sid the Seahorse! 🌊💙

Sid is the new STSCharity mascot and he’s here to brighten everyone’s day across South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust!

Sid’s got a big heart and an even bigger mission. From wards to waiting rooms, Sid’s here to celebrate the amazing work of our staff and bring a splash of joy to patients and visitors.

Keep your eyes peeled… Sid’s just getting started!

22/10/2025

Celebrating excellence in care! 🌟

We’re proud to share that two of our incredible Healthcare Assistants, Catherine Dunn and Lindsey Carlson, have been honoured with the Chief Nursing Officer Award!

Both Catherine and Lindsey began their journeys with us at just 16 years old as springboard trainees. Over the years, they’ve worked across every department in gynaecology before finding their home in the Sexual Health Service and what an impact they’ve made!

💬 Carley Gill, Sexual Health Department Manager, shared:

"Their dedication to their roles has had a huge impact on the service. They have both taken on their own clinics offering asymptomatic sexual health screens and they manage the digital screening offering that we have.

Their humour, enthusiasm and caring attitude is infectious, and they make sure there is never a dull day in the Sexual Health Service."

22/10/2025

We're taking a stand against idling!

We're proud to join forces with trusts across the region in a shared commitment to reduce vehicle idling outside our emergency departments.

By cutting down on harmful emissions, we're helping to protect the health of our patients, staff and visitors and making our hospital sites cleaner, greener places to be.

Read more below 👇

A powerful partnership for cleaner air 💚

We’re delighted to welcome five more North East NHS Trusts, along with NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB, in joining the pledge to tackle vehicle idling across hospital sites.

Together, we’re reducing emissions, improving air quality, and protecting the health of our patients, staff, and communities.

Read the full story in the comments below 👇

22/10/2025

It’s almost that time of year… our appeal is back! ✨🎄

Our teams are once again spreading festive cheer to patients spending the holidays on the wards. The Trust is collecting nighties and pyjamas to gift on December 24th, making sure no one feels forgotten this Christmas.

This year’s appeal kicks off earlier than ever to help gather even more packages for 2025.

Led by the brilliant Delirium and Dementia Outreach Team (DDOT), who support older patients with movement, conversation, and activities that aid recovery and discharge.

Want to help make someone’s Christmas a little brighter? Find out how to support the appeal here: https://bit.ly/3Jn450Y

22/10/2025

Don't quit quitting! Just one more week until you're five times more likely to quit for good 🎉

Until then, have a look at some tips on how to stay strong and keep going!

https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/staying-smoke-free/

21/10/2025

Today is World Pharmacy Technician Day! 💊

A massive thank you to all of our dedicated Pharmacy Technicians, Dispensers and Assistants across STSFT, for all of their hard work, and providing an excellent Pharmacy service to our patients 👏

18/10/2025

We're excited to share that Sexual Health Services, in partnership with Family Hubs and South Tyneside Council, have launched a new range of community clinics across South Tyneside! 🏥

This new approach brings sexual health care right into the heart of our communities - making it easier than ever to access the support you need, closer to home.

🗓️ Clinics are appointment only
📞 To book, call South Tyneside Sexual Health on 0191 402 8168

Want to know where the clinics will be and when? Click here for full details: https://bit.ly/4qmYXL5

Let’s make sexual health support more accessible for everyone 💙

17/10/2025

👀 Eye spy…with my little eye…something beginning with C.

(Yeah, it’s Christmas 🎄)

We’re getting festive at Sunderland Eye Infirmary and we need your help to design this year’s Christmas card! Whether it’s a doodle, digital artwork, or a festive photo with twinkling lights – we welcome all creative ideas.

📧 Send your designs to: stsft.trustcomms@nhs.net
🗓️ Submission deadline: Wednesday, 12 November 2025

Let’s make this year’s card one to remember!

17/10/2025

Don't miss it! Next week our STSCharity are hosting a brilliant evening of comedy in aid of the Vision Appeal at The Fire Station in Sunderland.

The evening features a stellar lineup with headliner Scott Bennett, the hilarious Chris Cantrill, local rising star Kelly Rickard, and the ever-brilliant Matt Reed as MC. It’s shaping up to be a night full of laughter, all for a fantastic local cause.

Get your tickets before it's too late!

https://www.thefirestation.org.uk/whats-on/ha-way-the-laughs-rb57

17/10/2025

Our Care Coordination Hub makes it easier for people to contact our community nursing teams 💙 supporting the NHS’s vision to bring care closer to home 🏡

📞 Call 0191 565 6100 to reach:

👉 Recovery at Home & Urgent Community Response
👉 Hospital at Home (virtual wards)
👉 Frailty Nurses
👉 District Nursing Teams