Don’t let the flu catch you – 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 Ilkeston Community Hospital, Clay Cross Hospital, Florence Nightingale Community Hospital and Cavendish Hospital. Find your nearest clinic and book online to have your flu vaccination here (you’ll have to be on-site/connected to the VPN). 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.
2025 NHS Staff Survey: Thank you to everyone who has completed this year’s staff survey – check out our response rate so far here. 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!
If you need help or have questions around completing the survey, you can join a member of the EDI team at one of the virtual drop-in sessions from 12.30pm – 1.30pm every Wednesday. Click here to join the meeting.
ESR maintenance: ESR will be unavailable from 6 pm on Friday 31 October until, 11.59 pm on Sunday 2 November for essential maintenance and development changes.
Temporary closure of Walton pharmacy: On Monday 3 November, Walton pharmacy will be closed for a half-day team training session. The dispensary's opening hours will be: 9am – 12 noon and 4 – 5pm. Please plan ahead and address any routine needs during these hours. Messages left on the dispensary phone (01246 515537) or emails sent to dchst.pharmacyorders@nhs.net or dchst.pharmacydispensary@nhs.net will be prioritised and handled promptly based on urgency. For urgent medication requests or information between 12 noon and 4pm, please call 07443 237721 and leave a brief message. A team member will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
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.
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 service: All colleagues are invited to join our Armed Forces Network at the National Memorial Arboretum this Remembrance Day to reflect, honour those who served, and show support for our armed forces community and veterans. Attendees will gather at 10.30am in Heroes Square ahead of the two-minute silence at 11am, with the national service shown on the large screen. Learn more here.
Let’s talk improvement – A DCHS podcast: Are you passionate about making healthcare better, one idea at a time? Then tune in to “Let’s Talk Improvement”, the brand-new podcast from the improvement, innovation & effectiveness team at DCHS.
Each episode brings you real stories from real people across DCHS who are driving change and improving care. From reducing waiting times to delivering care closer to home, our colleagues are making a difference—and now, they’re sharing how they did it. Click here to listen.
Quality improvement training – Open to all at DCHS: Want to help make things better at work? Join our 2-day quality improvement (QI) training. It’s open to anyone at DCHS who wants to learn how to take their improvement ideas forward .You will:
- Learn how to plan and carry out a QI project
- Get practical tools you can use straight away
- Take part in hands-on activities
- Leave feeling confident to make real change.
Our next cohort starts in March with further dates throughout 2026. View the dates and agenda here. To book onto a cohort email dchst.cet@nhs.net and let us know which cohort you would like to join.
End of life care programme with Ashgate Hospice: Click here to find out how you can take part in the end of life programme and training course. The course is free, however the minimum donation to the charity is £1.
A ‘cuppa tea’ conversation with Ismaa Ramzan, head of EDI: This article includes a look back at our recent inclusion and belonging conference.
Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Week 2025 – 17 to 21 November: We're proud to support National Safeguarding Adults Week. It's an opportunity for us all to focus on key safeguarding issues affecting adults in Derbyshire, and a chance to increase awareness of the role we can all play in helping to prevent abuse and neglect and supporting carers. There’s a wide range of training being provided that week by the Derbyshire and Derby Adult Safeguarding Boards including.
- Cybercrime and online safety
- Sexual abuse and older people
- Abuse and older people
- Who cares for the carers? Exploring safeguarding and carer support
- Co-production and safeguarding
- Low-level support/home from hospital service
- Safer cultures in sports.
For dates, times and the link to book place, please see the attached flyer.
To round up DCHS’ October promotion of speaking up, we have a fantastic poem to share – produced by FTSU Ambassador Hannah Fletcher (with the assistance of Co-pilot). "A voice within the halls":
In corridors where silence falls,
And healing hands attend the calls,
There lies a power, quiet, deep
A voice that wakes where others sleep.
Not just in charts or coded lines,
But in the hearts where duty shines,
The NHS, a living thread,
Woven by the words we've said.
To speak is not to stir unrest,
But guard the truth, protect the best.
A question asked, a doubt revealed,
Can be the wound that’s truly healed.
A whisper may prevent a cry,
A raised concern, a reason why
We challenge not to break, but mend,
To be the patient’s fiercest friend.
So let no fear suppress the sound
Of voices brave and duty-bound.
For every word that dares to rise
Can clear the smoke, unveil the skies.
In every ward, in every team,
Transparency must be the theme.
For safety grows where truth is heard
In every voice, in every word.
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 five: Hot drinks are a must in colder months – but boiling too much water is a common autumn energy-waster: Only boil what you need. Overfilling the kettle every day could waste £150+ a year. One cup, one boil, big savings.
Quality Conversations sessions: Click here to view and join the latest sessions.
