Welcome to this week’s edition of My Download – your go-to round-up of all the latest news and updates. Got something to share with colleagues? Send it our way by 5pm on Thursday: dchst.communications@nhs.net.

Flu vaccination clinics – drop-in to a flu clinic this week: Our flu team are running clinics across several of our sites this week for staff to access. Locations of this week’s flu clinics include Whitworth Hospital, Clay Cross Hospital, Walton Hospital, Cavendish Hospital, Newholme Hospital, Ilkeston Community Hospital and Babington Hospital. The vaccine is safe, effective and quick to get - it reduces your risk and helps maintain services during winter pressures.

Find your nearest clinic and book online to have your flu vaccination here (you’ll have to be on-site/connected to the VPN), or please feel free to drop-in to any of these flu clinics at any time.

Any questions, please email the team at dchst.flu@nhs.net and they will be in touch to assist you.

Staff Survey - drop-in sessions: Have you had your say in this year’s NHS Staff Survey? Please complete your survey using your protected time and let us know your views on working at DCHS. We all have a voice that counts!

A member of our EDI team will be available on MS Teams from 12.30pm–1.30pm every Wednesday for you to drop in for a chat (even if you only have 5 minutes!). This opportunity is open to all staff across the organisation to access support in completing the National Staff Survey! Click here to join the meeting.

NHSmail and AD/District Accounts for new starters: This is a reminder that NHSmail and Active Directory (AD) accounts are automatically created for new starters unless they already have them. Please do not log a call with AGEM for these, as this could lead to duplicate accounts being created. The login details for the new starter’s accounts will be emailed to their supervisor (taken from ESR) in the week before their start date.

Remember that your NHSmail account must be logged into at least once every 30 days for it to remain active: If your account becomes inactive, the NHSmail team will automatically delete the account if it remains unused for a further 30 days. Deletion of your accounts means that your email account and any information stored in your OneDrive account will be permanently deleted. If staff go on maternity leave, long term sick or any other long term absence, then they must either:

Ensure they log in to their accounts at least once every 30 days
Ensure their NHSmail account is marked as disabled, it can then be re-enabled within the next 18 months.

Online sexual health booking now live: The personal health record (PHR) is a new tool that allows people in Derbyshire to manage their sexual health appointments and information online – confidentially and securely, 24/7. PHR lets users:

Book and cancel appointments
Receive secure messages
Order free condoms
Update details and accessibility needs
Use triage to find the right care.

We’re asking all staff across DCHS to help us promote the service. Please signpost people to the website here.

Oliver McGowan mandatory training in learning disability and autism:

As you may be aware, there are two tiers of the Oliver McGowan mandatory training in learning disability and autism. To view the full guidance and to see which you need to complete please click here.

Admin forum's next meeting - Wednesday 22 October 10.30am-11.30am: Hazel Lea would like to welcome our admin colleagues to attend the next admin forum on 22 October. You can use this link to join the meeting. Last month’s forum saw 100 admin attendees – if you missed it just click here for a recap.

Diwali and The Season of Light: As we enter the vibrant season of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, we wanted to share some exciting events happening across Derbyshire that colleagues may wish to attend. Click here for Helios and Diwali at Kedleston Hall and click here for the Derby Season of Light schedule.

Remembrance day with the Armed Forces Network: On Tuesday 11 November we will be gathering at the National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire DE13 7AR. Everyone is welcome to join. Click here for more.

“I wasn’t expecting that!” - join the next Schwartz Round on Tuesday 18 November from 12pm via MS Teams. Do you have a tale of the unexpected? Funny, sad, heart-warming etc? Anything goes at a Schwartz Round. If you have a story to tell, we would love to hear from you. Contact the team at dchst.schwartzrounds@nhs.net. A virtual Schwartz Round aims to promote connection, compassion and reflection. They last for an hour and all you need to do is turn up and listen. It even counts as one hour of CPD and clinical supervision. To register please click here.

Applications are now open for the sexual health 2026 Community Action Fund: Do you know a local group with a great idea to improve sexual health in their community?
Applications are now open for the 2026 Community Action Fund, helping local organisations promote healthier sexual health behaviours, especially among people most at risk of poor outcomes.

This year’s priorities are about raising awareness of sexual health and STI screening; improving access to screening and supplies; and reaching and engaging with hard-to-reach communities in new and creative ways. Funding is available:

Tier one – microgrant of £500 - for direct delivery of screening (25+ screens in 12 months). Free training is provided.
Tier two – project grant of up to £2,500) - for community-led projects that promote sexual health and wellbeing. Includes training and support with flexibility to design creative outreach.

Who can apply?

Youth clubs, faith groups, cultural organisations, charities - and any local group passionate about improving sexual health in their community. Applications close Monday 12 January so please spread the word across your networks and community contacts. Find out more or request an application pack: dchst.yoursexualhealthmatters@nhs.net

Last week was Speak Up week, but at DCHS we are extending that through the month of October: There are still some site visits remining:

Tuesday 21 October 1-3.30pm Whitworth Hospital, ground floor meeting room
Wednesday 29 October 1-3.30pm Long Eaton Health Centre, first floor small meeting room
Thursday 30 October 9.30am–12pm Walton Hospital, Committee room. Pop along to meet your FTSU Guardian.

Autumn energy-saving tips: With autumn upon us it’s a good time to focus some mental energy on top tips for better energy efficiency. We’ve come up with a list of eight simple but effective ways to save energy and money. These are easy steps we can all take to help keep a lid on our energy costs and lighten the financial strain on us as we work hard to reduce our spending within DCHS. From supplies to electricity, heating and water - what we save on resources means more money for patient care. Collectively our small, everyday actions can lead to big savings. Got a smart energy-saving idea? Email it to dchst.communications@nhs.net – your tip could inspire change across DCHS.

Tip four: It’s heating season – but energy isn’t endless. Let’s stay warm without wasting valuable resources: Only use heaters and fans when needed and switch them off after use. A 2kW heater running all day can cost up to £400 a month. Use sparingly and share warmth smartly.

Quality Conversations sessions: Click here to view and join the latest sessions.

Up for discussion: Following our the thought-provoking 'Communicating with Ross Atkins' podcast, we're turning to a book/film option for our next session on Thursday 4 December. Next up is 'My Name is Leon' which is available as both a novel and a film on YouTube. An emotive account seen through the eyes of an eight year old boy - touching on themes of race, fostering and ACEs - expect some reflections on trauma informed practice in our discussion. So get reading or watching and join us on 4 December. All patient facing clinicians are welcome.

Medicines management newsletter: You can see the latest edition here.

Mary Seacole local programme Derbyshire – upcoming awareness sessions: We've arranged the following awareness sessions for potential applicants:

Thursday 23 October - 9.00am - 9.45am, Online here
Thursday 13 November 2025 - 1.00pm-1.45pm, Online here.

Mental health, learning disabilities and autism delivery board: See here for the latest update.

Training at Ashgate Hospice: The next 'verification of expected adult death' training will be held on 11 December and syringe driver training is on 12 January. Please see the posters here and here for more info.

This week’s leaders' and managers' update includes:

Developing culture of conversation
Quality conversations for leaders
An incident manager’s initial review and investigation training
NHS Elect
Management and leadership induction.

Read more in the latest update here or contact the leadership development team with any queries.

Click here for the new Autumn wellbeing timetable for 2025.

Or take a look at the wellbeing team's latest update here. To find out more about the diverse range of wellbeing support available visit the website or contact the team: dchst.yourwellbeingteam@nhs.net.

Secondment opportunity (AFC 8a): An exciting opportunity has arisen for two health coordinator roles to support the Families First Partnership programme (FFP) in Derby and Derbyshire. The posts are being offered as secondments until April 2027. Click here for more information.

Jobs at DCHS: Check out all the latest vacancies here.

A huge thankyou to all of the short breaks team, for helping to support one of our clients recently who was made homeless. The team rallied together, gathering all housing supplies that have either been kindly donated or bought on behalf of the client. This situation has been very challenging and distressing for all involved, however the team went above and beyond with their compassion, kindness and professional curiosity to ensure a positive outcome. The client has now been re-housed with their beloved dog. Well done team, you should be very proud of yourselves!

Congratulations to the following teams on achieving their Quality Always Gold achievement via Earned Autonomy self-assessment process:

Chesterfield 0-19 team (Wednesday 15 October)

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, friends and colleagues of Joanne (Jo) Middleton at Whitworth Hospital, Darley Dale, are joining this year’s Wear It Pink campaign in her memory.

Jo spent more than 25 years at Whitworth Hospital, joining as a healthcare assistant on Oker Ward before becoming a qualified nurse. Jo then became a valued and much-loved colleague in the hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre.

Sadly, Jo passed away in May at Ashgate Hospice, aged just 48, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer last year.

Her colleagues at Whitworth said: “We are organising a Wear Pink for October week 17 - 24 October for Ashgate Hospice. We are doing this in memory of Jo who we lost in May aged just 48. Jo unfortunately was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year and passed away at Ashgate Hospice. Jo is missed and remembered fondly by all staff, patients and residents of Matlock. We are hoping to raise as much as possible in her memory.”

Nationally, the charity Breast Cancer Now is organising a Wear It Pink Day on Friday 24 October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's an annual event to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research and support services by encouraging people to wear pink.

Find out more and get involved here.

#BreastCancerAwarenessDay

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