I hope this message finds you well. As we dive into our February newsletter, I’m pleased to share some exciting updates from our Trust.
The past few months have been busy for our team, but amidst the hustle, we’re starting to see signs of progress. This edition highlights the fantastic work of our Capital Projects and Estates and Facilities teams, showcasing the strides we’ve made in enhancing our infrastructure and services.
I invite you to explore the newsletter and learn more about our recent developments, highlights and activity throughout the past month or so.
As ever, thank you for your continued support and collaboration.
Live demonstration of surgical robot as local hospitals move closer to revolutionising surgery
Health professionals at Doncaster Royal Infirmary had the opportunity to see the Intuitive da Vinci Xi Surgical robot in action last week, following the announcement that Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity will fund the £3.6 million* device to deliver cancer surgery for local patients.
Once in place later this year, it is envisaged that the investment in this state-of-the-art tech will transform the way DBTH performs cancer surgery, specifically for colorectal cancer patients in the first instance.
On Monday 29 January, colleagues at Doncaster Royal Infirmary were able to see the robot in action, as well as use the surgical robot as part of a simulated procedure which asked the operator to manipulate and place coloured bands.
*The standalone cost of the robot is £2m. The charity is funding the robot, training and all the service requirements of the robot for the seven year contract.
Topping out ceremony marks significant milestone and investment at Bassetlaw Hospital
The Bassetlaw Emergency Village, a multi-million pound project aimed at upgrading Bassetlaw Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED), last month reached the highest point of construction of the new building.
To mark the occasion, Brendan Clarke Smith, MP for Bassetlaw, senior colleagues from the Trust, as well as construction partners, IHP Vinci and Archus, took part in a topping out ceremony to celebrate the end of the structural construction phase, with the focus now shifting to the interiors ahead of opening in late summer.
Those in attendance signed the final panel to be placed into the building, which is now watertight and ready for the next phase of development.
First patients attend for surgery as Mexborough service opens its doors
On Monday 15 January 2024, the Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence (MEOC for short) welcomed its first patients.
The Dearne Valley based orthopaedic centre specialises in hip and knee replacement and other similar surgeries, including hand and foot and knee and elbow procedures, for residents within the Bassetlaw, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham areas. Housed next to the Fred and Ann Green Rehabilitation Centre on site, it comprises two state-of-the-art theatre units, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery suite, in addition to 12 inpatient beds.
Ed Miliband MP helps to cut the ribbon on new Mexborough NHS service
Last week Ed Miliband joined Suzy Brain England OBE, Chair of the Board at the Trust, and a number of local healthcare professionals as they, together, cut the ribbon on a brand new Endoscopy Unit within Montagu Hospital in Mexborough.
This milestone marks the completion of phase two of the three-phase Community Diagnostic Centre project at the site, representing a significant investment to enhance health services, particularly within the Dearne Valley area of South Yorkshire.
Introducing our new Chief Information Officer
We have appointed Dan Howard as its our new Chief Information Officer (CIO). Dan joined the Trust in January, following the departure of our interim CIO, Andrew Pope.
Dan, who lives in Staffordshire with his family, joins DBTH from University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, where he has served as the Digital Director. With nearly 25 years of experience leading digital strategies across various NHS organisations including acute, community, mental health and specialist, Dan has a proven track-record of elevating Trusts and improving digital maturity.
Doncaster Cancer Detection Trust donate life-saving liver scanner
Patients at Doncaster Royal Infirmary will now benefit from significantly enhanced liver health assessments thanks to a donated Fibroscanner, or transient elastography machine, by Doncaster Cancer Detection Trust (DCDT).
The £92,000 Fibroscanner enables clinicians to diagnose liver disease by measuring inflammation, stiffness and fatty changes in a patient’s liver, in a non-invasive, painless scan which takes less than ten minutes.
We have recently welcomed a number of senior colleagues into the Trust.
Operational activity
Below you can see our activity in January, broken down by type of patient, and where these individuals received care and treatment. Note: The increase in attendances is primarily driven by ambulance conveyances, which resulted in a 30% rise in December and between 16% and 40% October to January. Other operational headlines from the end of last year (as per our last Board Report).
Media and communications
Every month, the Trust publishes a number of items via its external channels to highlight developments at the Trust.
Contact the team
The Communications Team looks after media and stakeholder relations, digital communications, internal communications and patient information for the trust. The Communications Team should be the first point of contact for all media requests.
Thank you for reading!
The next edition of this newsletter will be available in mid-March. If you have any questions, please contact emma.shaheen@nhs.net or call 01302 644244.
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