University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

25/07/2025

A UHNM-developed specialist pathway for managing complex lower limb wounds has been nominated for a Nursing Times Award. 🏆👏✨

The Lower Limbs Project, which provides early assessment and intervention for patients at risk of delayed healing, has been shortlisted in the Patient Safety Improvement category.

Since its introduction, the new pathway has seen a 50 per-cent reduction in outpatient appointments.

🗣 Stephanie Brown, advanced clinical practitioner for orthoplastic trauma and plastic surgery, said: “It’s very exciting that this project has been shortlisted for such a prestigious award.

“The Lower Limb Project was introduced into the plastic surgery dressings clinic as we identified that patients with wounds on the lower limb were some of the most complex and challenging patients to heal. An audit demonstrated that this cohort of patients had the most outpatient appointments per individual, so we wanted to look at ways to improve this.

"The Expert Lower Limb group were consulted, and a new pathway was developed whereby patients with or at risk of delayed wound healing would be referred into a specialist clinic for assessment and early intervention with compression bandaging. Best practice guidelines from the National Wound Care Strategy for Lower Limbs and existing inpatient and community pathways were adopted and adapted to suit the needs of our patient group.

“During the pilot study we achieved a 50 per-cent reduction in outpatient clinic appointments, with improved rates of healing and earlier discharge to community providers. On the back of this success, the pathway has been further adapted to suit the needs of orthopaedic patients who have undergone lower limb reconstruction following trauma, who often go on to suffer lifelong complications as a result of these injuries.

"This year we have treated 30 patients within this cohort with fantastic outcomes which include surgery avoidance, improved rehabilitation, improved pain and improved healing rates.

“In collaboration with key stakeholders our aim is to improve the care of lower limbs across UHNM through innovation and collaboration.”

After submitting an abstract to the European Wound Management Association, Stephanie was also invited to present the project at the association’s 2025 conference in Barcelona, thanks to a bursary from The Society of Tissue Viability.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 22 October 2025. 🤞

25/07/2025

UHNM Maternity services in June 2025!👶👣
Have you had your baby with us in June?
Let us know in the comments below and share your pictures.

25/07/2025

From today, some services may be affected due to industrial action.

You will be contacted if your appointment needs to be changed, please continue to come forward for the care you need.

24/07/2025

UHNM is delighted to announce that Dr Laks Varadhan, consultant physician in diabetes and endocrinology, has been awarded an Honorary Reader post by Keele University. 🎓📜👏

Dr Varadhan, a UHNM consultant since 2013, has been recognised by Keele University for his significant contributions to undergraduate medical education over the last 12 years.

Since 2014, Dr Varadhan has been the Co-Lead for Prescribing skills and has led the development and delivery of prescribing and pharmacology teaching for medical students. He has been the OSCE Lead since 2021, involved in successful planning and running of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) for medical students in their clinical years. He is also involved in examiner training, question writing, and quality assurance.

🗣 Speaking about the award, Dr Varadhan said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to receive this recognition. It reflects the effort and teamwork over many years to deliver high-quality teaching and assessment for our medical students. It has also been a wonderful opportunity to develop these roles with the support of colleagues at UHNM and Keele.

"I am grateful to our CMO, Hospital Deans and Trust UGMS Manager for supporting and endorsing my application, and to the executive medical school leadership at the Faculty of Health for their recommendation and approval.”

Dr Varadhan holds a postgraduate diabetology degree from India and has FRCP (Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of the UK) qualifications in Medicine and Diabetes & Endocrinology. He completed most of his higher specialist registrar training at UHNM, and during this time also undertook a Clinical Teaching Fellowship at Keele University and completed the Diploma in Medical Education. He has always had a strong interest in medical education, which has remained pivotal to his career.

Dr Varadhan said: “The best part of my job is the mix of clinical work at UHNM and teaching at Keele. Both are fantastic, supportive places to work. I am very grateful for the flexibility offered by colleagues and the management team within the department of diabetes and endocrinology, medical division and school of medicine which has been instrumental in allowing me to develop these vital roles.

"It has been a privilege to work alongside so many like-minded colleagues by fostering a collaborative approach on teaching, academic projects and publications.”

Dr Varadhan serves as a PLAB examiner for the General Medical Council (GMC), he is a national MRCP-PACES Examiner and sits on various committees including the Royal College of Physicians’ Scenario Editorial Committee. He is also involved in the development of Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) for medical schools as a member of the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) review group, where he represents Keele University.

He also has several publications in peer reviewed journals and over 100 presentations in national and international conferences. Dr Varadhan has mentored many medical students as well as resident doctors in enhancing their CV profile with robust academic work to build their educational portfolios.

24/07/2025

Resident doctors will be striking from 7am on 25 July 2025 until 7am on 30 July.

During this period, please do not hesitate to come forward to get the care you need.

GP practices will still be open, and there are many other healthcare options available.

23/07/2025

Industrial action is taking place at our hospitals from 25 – 30 July 2025.

We'll contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled. If you haven't heard from us, please attend as planned.

If your concern is less urgent, please use NHS 111 first ✅

https://www.uhnm.nhs.uk/latest-uhnm-news/upcoming-resident-doctors-strike-important-information-for-patients/

23/07/2025

📣Members of the public are invited to attend University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust Annual General Meeting 2025

This is an opportunity to meet members of the Trust Board and our Chief Executive Dr Simon Constable as we reflect on our key challenges and successes over 2024/25.

We hope you join us as we focus on innovation, digital transformation, and collaborative partnerships while we revisit the past year and what the plans are for the future.

📅 Wednesday 10 September
⏲️12:30pm - 4pm
📍The Wade Hall, Wade Conference Centre, Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7NY

To register your interest please contact jill.ryles@uhnm.nhs.uk

23/07/2025

Upcoming Resident Doctors’ Strike: Important Information for Patients

The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that resident doctors will be taking part in strike action from 7am on Friday 25 July until 7am on Wednesday 30 July 2025.

During this period, consultants, other specialist doctors, and the wider NHS workforce will continue to provide care, with the focus on maintaining safe and effective services wherever possible.
UHNM and the wider NHS are working closely with trade unions to address any patient safety concerns and ensure that emergency care remains available throughout the strike.

Dr Di Adamson, UHNM Chief Medical Officer, said: “We would like to reassure our patients that, despite industrial action, urgent and emergency services will continue to operate. It is vital that anyone who is seriously ill or injured, or whose life may be at risk, continues to seek medical help as normal.

“Every effort will be made to minimise the impact of strike action but it is likely there will be some disruption and we may have to rearrange some appointments where necessary. If you have an appointment and have not been contacted by us, please attend as planned.”

Patients whose appointments need to be rescheduled will be contacted directly.

The public are asked to support the NHS during this time by:

• Using services appropriately – Visit 111.nhs.uk as your first port of call for non-emergency health advice.

• Only using 999 or attending A&E for serious or life-threatening emergencies.

• Keeping GP and dental appointments – GP practices will remain open during the strike, so please attend unless contacted otherwise.

• Looking after yourself and others – Check in on vulnerable family, friends, and neighbours.

We thank all patients and the public for their continued support and understanding during this period of national industrial action.
For the latest updates and advice, please visit the NHS UK website.

Please also see here https://www.uhnm.nhs.uk/about-us/nhs-industrial-action-what-do-i-need-to-know/

22/07/2025

Breast Care Unit Steel Signing Topping Out Ceremony 🖊🏗

University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) and construction firm IHP have come together to mark the construction of a new breast care unit at County Hospital, Stafford.

The new breast care unit at County Hospital is set to replace existing facilities and enhance the care and experience of breast cancer patients at UHNM.

To celebrate the building progress, Lorraine Whitehead, UHNM Director of Estates, Facilities and PFI along with colleagues from the breast care team signed the steel on the roof of the building in a topping out ceremony.

🗣Lorraine said: “Today has been great to see and hear about all the detail and thought that has gone into creating this new facility for our patients. This new development responds to clinical needs, while creating a positive and inviting environment for both staff and patients. It’s great that we can do ceremonies during the building process to mark the occasion for our clinical teams and the exciting developments ahead.”

🗣Michelle Ellitts, Superintendent Radiographer at UHNM, added: “The new breast unit will take patient care to the next level as this dedicated space will improve patient flow, comfort, and the overall general wellbeing of our patients. Being able to visit the unit while under construction is really exciting and to be able to sign out names on the steel is such a historic moment for breast care at UHNM. There are very little new breast units that go up across the country so to be able to mark this occasion is fantastic.”

The new unit will be home to the latest x-ray equipment, bringing the most up to date technology to UHNM and is due to open in April 2026. 📆

22/07/2025

📣New breast screening location in Hanley!

The breast screening mobile unit, which was previously at Aldi’s Godwin Way store, is now located at Smithfield in Hanley. 🩷

The team are holding an open day on Thursday 24 July, 10am-3pm for anyone who would like to visit the unit at it's new location, meet the staff and find out more about the screening process.

Please note, no screening will take place on this day.

21/07/2025

21/07/2025