hosptial

New Changing Places facility will improve experience for disabled patients

A new, state-of-the-art Changing Places facility has been fitted at Derriford Hospital, which will greatly improve the experience of disabled patients and their families, carers and support workers.

The new specialist toilet and changing facility includes a height-adjustable, adult-sized changing bench, a ceiling track hoist system, a privacy screen, shower, and, importantly, plenty of...

The importance of communication highlighted by learning disability champions

Staff and patients joined together for the new Annual Joint Learning Disability Champion meeting held at Derriford Hospital this week.

Attended by the Derriford User Group (DUG) members, who have a learning disability and have used, or still use, hospital services, and the Learning Disability Link Practitioners from the Trust, the event was organised to not only thank both staff and...

Cancer group promotes support for Derriford patients

A new group, with the aim of supporting patients and their families who have bowel cancer, visited the Trust to help raise awareness of the disease.

Last week the Plymouth & District Bowel Cancer Support Group, formed by Keith Anderson and Wendy Wilson, had an information stand at the hospital main entrance and, along with Trust staff, showcased how they offer support to patients...

Urogynaecology staff achieve prestigious accreditation

The hard work and commitment of our urogynaecology staff has been recognised with the department receiving formal recognition from the British Society of Urogynaecology.

The Urogynaecology Unit, based in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, is one of only 18 units to have achieved this accreditation.

The purpose of the accreditation is to define and monitor standards of care,...

‘ARNI’ arrives in Plymouth

Last week, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust was host to the first Advanced Resuscitation of the Newborn Infant (ARNI) course in the South-West. This new national course has been developed through the Resuscitation Council with the support of BLISS – the parent and baby charity.

The course is aimed at nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors who provide care to sick babies in a hospital...

Congratulations Maggs!

Congratulations to Derriford Hospital's Maggs Shugar-Redman who has won the national ‘Supporting the Front Line’ WOW Award for her work for dementia patients.

Maggs, Healthcare Assistant on the hospital's Clinical Decisions Unit, received two nominations from colleagues to help her net the award.

She said: “I was so excited to win the wow award I am so passionate about dementia...

Hospital staff make mealtimes matter

Patients, visitors, staff and members of the public will have the opportunity to sample dishes from our proposed new patient menu and to talk to hospital staff about the importance of patient mealtimes, on Tuesday 17 March in the main concourse of Derriford Hospital.

The event will showcase some of the work going on around the Trust to improve the patients’ mealtime experience. It is...

Project SEARCH Derriford shortlisted for top award

A supported internship programme, based at Derriford Hospital, that supports young adults with learning disabilities to gain paid employment, has been confirmed as a finalist for a top award.

The work of Project SEARCH in supporting young adults with learning disabilities to gain paid employment has been shortlisted in the NHS Inclusivity Leader of the Year category of the 2014 South...

Donation of toys and gifts helps to put smiles on faces

Children staying on Derriford Hospital wards have even more toys and games to play with, thanks to a generous donation from customers and staff at Mecca Bingo.

Today, representatives from Mecca Bingo in Devonport, Tracey Davies and Chloe Robbins, came up to the hospital’s Activity Centre on level 12, with the large donation of toys, teddies and books for all ages. The brand new gifts...