YOUR QUARTERLY NEWSAND INFORMATION BULLETINDHUiNSIDESPRING 2026
eTriage comes to CorbyCONTENTSCommunity Virtual WardpartnershipPA G E 4 - 5New service in RutlandPA G E 6 - 7PA G E 10-11PA G E 1 2 -1 3BBC NHS DayPA G E 8 - 9MPs visit our UTCsApprenticeship successHA Care CertificatePA G E 1 5PA G E 1 6PA G E 1 4Menopause friendly accreditedCharity Cuts!Disability confidencePA G E 1 7Restart a heart with us...PA G E 1 8 -1 9PA G E 2 1PA G E 2 2 - 2 3This is my office - remote workingPA G E 20PCURS recognitionTop honour for DHU nursesFinance FirstPA G E 2 5PA G E 2 6PA G E 2 4Net zero by 2040 for DHU
02A m e s s a g e fr o m o u r Ch i e fE x e c u ti v eStephen BatemanPAGEChief ExecutiveWelcome to the very first issueof our Inside DHU newsletter.We wanted to showcase some ofthe amazing work we do across ourdifferent services, including our 111,urgent and emergency, community,primary care and corporate teamswho help to deliver care across theMidlands for you.We pride ourselves on providingcompassionate, professional care topatients and supporting the widerhealth system, introducinginnovative and different models ofcare that align with the NHS longterm plan.Through these pages you can readabout some of those services, meetsome of the people who deliver andsupport those services and shareour success stories. Together we arebuilding something very special andworking together with healthpartners across the Midlands andbeyond to help our patients get theright care in the right place for theirhealth needs.You will learn about our CommunityVirtual Ward, innovative UTC triage,our apprenticeship successes, howwe value our people and supportcommunities. We do it together andwe do it for you.We will be sharing this newsletterquarterly, we hope you enjoy whatwe have to offer and we lookforward to sharing many morestories with you in the Summer.
PAGE 05D H U Co m m u n it y Virt u a l Wa r d i np a e d i a tri c p a rt n e r s h i pThe CVW can look after up to 50patients in their own homes whosecondition is serious enough to needurgent care monitoring, but whodon’t need a hospital admission.They provide monitoring equipmentto the patient and their family whocan then send blood pressure,heart rate, oxygen levels and otherkey observations to the CVWclinical team who will provide careand advice accordingly.Five of those spaces have been madeavailable to paediatric patients for thefirst time, taking referrals from theChesterfield Royal Hospital (CRH).Neil Jones is a DHU AdvancedPractitioner with the CVW andexplained: “For some children,hospital isn’t always the rightenvironment for them so, if theircondition allows, we can ensure theyare monitored in the right way andgiven any treatment they might needat home.D H U h a s b e e n wo r k i n g wit h F a m i l y H e a lt h c o l l e a g u e s a tCh e s t e rfi e l d Ro y a l H o s p it a l t o i n tr o d u c e it s Co m m u n it yVirt u a l Wa r d (CVW) t o t h e ir y o u n g e s t p a ti e n t s .
Working closely with CRH isimportant as it means that we willknow everything about the patientwhen referred and if the child’scondition deteriorates, themechanisms are there to refer themback to Nightingale Ward. If theycontinue to improve, we canmonitor and discharge them whentheir recovery is complete.”Emma Wardale is DHU’s VirtualWard Clinical Lead, she added:“This is a landmark achievementand we are very excited to workalongside colleagues from FamilyHealth, including CAMHS andGeneral Paediatrics. To launch thiscare service is testament to theflexibility of offering virtual care inthe patient’s home environment anda great example of how collaborativeworking can help to achieve the NHSten-year plan ambition of providingmore care at home or in a communitysetting.Tracy Barker, Lead Nurse for FamilyCare at Chesterfield Royal Hospitaladded:” This is a huge step forwardfor us – and I am very proud anddelighted to see this happen. It willmake a huge difference to the carewe can give to our youngest patientswho often find a hospital environmentscary and unsettling. The virtual wardwill remove some of the stress andanxiety for both our patients and theirfamilies. Thank you to everyone whohelped us make this a reality.”
BBC’ s N H S d a y - Cu e D H U !DHU’s people and services were featured across three regions as part ofBBC News’ NHS Day coverage.The broadcaster’s regional stations spent Thursday 22 January looking atdifferent health providers across the country, with DHU’s urgent and 111services featuring heavily on BBC Northamptonshire, BBC Radio Leicesterand BBC Radio Derby.ndThe main feature involved BBC Look East visiting Corby Urgent TreatmentCentre to speak to a number of colleagues and patients that resulted in athree minute positive news piece being aired on the lunchtime, early eveningand late BBC TV bulletins.The report centred on UTC’s as an alternative to A&E’s highlighting CorbyUTC’s ability to diagnose, treat and refer patients depending on theirimmediate health needs. Patients were positive about their experiences andthis was reflected in a BBC online article on Corby titled ‘Urgent TreatmentCentre a great place to get well’ (click here to read that article).Loughborough UTC was also represented with Advanced Clinical PractitionerPhil Bedwell joining DHU’s NHS 111 Clinical Advisor Chelsea Chiwanamoto asone half of a fourperson panel of healthexperts, to answerlistener questionsabout how to accessNHS services. This wasan hour, live on BBCRadio Leicester, withPhil and Chelsea doingan incredible jobhelping people tounderstand where togo for their healthneeds.
Chelsea then also featuredalongside DHU Health Advisor FayHoward on BBC Radio Derby, bothexplaining their roles within DHU’sNHS 111 service, how they can helppatients, what patients should call 111for and what they can expect. Bothpieces were around seven minuteslong and reflected their passion andenthusiasm for givingcompassionate, professional careand advice.The day was a great example of theimportance a CIC such as DHU hasto an institution like the NHS, andhow innovation and different modelsof care can both support and leadthe future of healthcare delivery.
0e T ri a g e c o m e s t o Co r b yDHU only took on the running of Corby UTC in November 2025 but hasalready brought in its tried and tested eTriage system.Designed to ensure the mostunwell patients are seen morequickly, whilst allowing patients toshare information important totheir care, the five kiosks, providedby eConsult, allow patients toenter their details and reason forattendance in a private andconfidential manner. Thisinformation then goes directly tothe clinical teams who can see, ata glance, the reason for your visitand the assigned triage category.Dr Sole Garcia is DHU ClinicalDirector for Urgent and EmergencyCare, she said: “We have alreadyseen the difference it can make to ourpatients and colleagues, havingintroduced to our UTCs atLoughborough and Derby. They haveensured that multiple patients can bebooked in and assessed quickly,helping to reduce waiting times fortriage and queueing at the receptiondesk. It also means that we canidentify the patients most in need oftreatment straight away and veryquickly prioritise their care.”
20Adele Peck is DHU’s Head ofClinical Services she added: “Itcomplements our team of cliniciansand streamlines the booking-inprocedure for patients. The processis straightforward and alongside thestandard questions such as name,age and date of birth, patients willsystematically be asked questionsabout their general health, medicalhistory, specific symptoms and howand when they became apparent. Ithas also been tried and tested andthe response from patients andclinicians has been incredible, somuch so we plan to roll it outfurther.”The process takes patients just a fewminutes to complete, the kiosks haveprivacy screens to respect patients’confidentiality, one of the kiosks isspecifically designed withaccessibility in mind and areceptionist is on hand to answer anyqueries, concerns and help to supportthe check-in process.Once complete, the patient will thenbe asked to take a seat and wait inthe reception area for treatment or, insome cases, be referred to a moreappropriate place for their treatment.You can read the full story on ourwebsite by clicking here
N ew D H U s e r v i c e i n Ru tl a n dDHU Healthcare is providing the services at the new Minor Illness andInjury Service at Rutland.Starting on 1 April 2026, the newintegrated service brings togetherthe town’s previous urgent carearrangements into a single minorillness and injury offer at RutlandMemorial Hospital. It will offertimely assessment and treatmentfrom 1pm–9pm, seven days a weekto people registered with GPpractices in Rutland andLeicestershire.The service will be delivered bynurses, advanced nursepractitioners and other clinicians,with support from a GP. It willprovide booked appointments forminor illnesses following contactwith a GP practice or NHS 111,walk‑in access for minor injuries,with same‑day appointments whereneeded and Improved access toX‑ray.Adele Peck (opposite) is DHU’sHead of Clinical Services UTCs, shesaid: “We want to ensure thatpeople living in Rutland have easyaccess to the right care, in the rightplace for their immediate healthneeds. Some urgent care oremergency sites may not offer themost appropriate support for minoror less urgent conditions that thisservice is specifically set up to treat.
“Our clinicians will providehigh‑quality, responsive care for awide range of illnesses and injuries.The extended X‑ray availability willsupport fast, accurate diagnosis forpatients who need it. It’s aboutconvenience and making sure thattogether we can make our collectivehealth services more efficient andhelp people make the right choiceabout where to receive care.”Dr Nil Sanganee, Chief MedicalOfficer for NHS Leicester,Leicestershire and RutlandIntegrated Care Board, added: “Thisnew service will make it easier forpeople in Rutland to get the carethey need quickly, close to homeand at convenient times.“By booking through your GPpractice or NHS 111, you will bedirected to the right clinician firsttime, without the uncertainty ofwalking into a service that may notbe the best match for your needs.”Patients will continue to be booked into the right service for their needs bycontacting their GP practice or NHS 111 when practices are closed. Walk inminor injuries are accpeted with same-day treatment or appointments asclinically appropriate. You can find out more about the service and theLeicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s ‘Need Help Fast’ campaign by clickinghere.
L o c a l M Ps v i s it o u r U TCsCorby and East NorthamptonshireMP, Lee Barron, has visited CorbyUrgent Treatment Centre (UTC) tosee first-hand how the service ishelping thousands of local people getthe care they need, closer to home.The Centre has treats hundreds ofpatients every day, many of whommight otherwise have attended busyA&Es, offering treatment for a widerange of urgent but non-lifethreatening conditions.PAGE 10During the visit, the MP heard directly about the positive impact the centre ishaving for local patients, helping to ease pressure on the NHS, especiallyduring the busy winter.Mr Barron said the visit had given him a valuable insight into how the serviceis working for local people and staff and commented: “It was good to see theservice first-hand and to hear how the team are supporting patients. I wasassured that people can still walk into the centre or be booked in throughNHS 111.DHU were open about the improvements they’re making and theircommitment to involve local people and be transparent about the service. Ilook forward to coming back in a few months to see that progress for myself.”Around 95% of patients who attend the centre are treated on site withoutreferral to A&E. You can read more on this by clicking here where you will findfurther comment from our Deputy Director of UTCs and patients.
Meanwhile, on Friday 16th January, DHU welcomed Chesterfield MP TobyPerkins to its Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) that is co-located at ChesterfieldRoyal Hospital.Mr Perkins was given a tour of the UTC and met with some of the clinicianswho provide care, as well as speaking to some of the patients who werereceiving treatment.Rachel Revill is Clinical Service Lead for the UTC and said: “We work with theTrust to support caring for patients who attend the emergency departmentwith a range of illnesses and conditions.“Knowing which service to use can be confusing for patients. We are one ofseveral that can provide treatment, others include GPs or pharmacies, whichare often the best first point of contact for minor illnesses and conditions.Understanding which service to use helps the whole health system workmore efficiently, and UTCs play a key role in that. If you are unsure then call111 who can direct you to the service that you need.”Mr Perkins said: “It was interesting tohave a look at how a UTC works, itsplace in the wider health system andthe type of patient they can treat. It’san area of the health service thatisn’t perhaps as widely known and itwas intriguing to hear that many ofthe conditions treated mirror thosewho visit an Emergency Department.“Having one co-located at thehospital has advantages anddisadvantages, helping with thetriage process of patients but thespace is limited as a result. A widerunderstanding of what conditions aUTC can treat would be a massivebenefit to patients.”
D H U c e l e b r a t e s a p p r e n ti c e s h i ps u c c e s sTo mark National ApprenticeshipWeek, DHU’s AssistantManagement Accountant AaronGough picked up a regionalaward.Aaron picked up the honour atthe Joined Up Care DerbyshireApprenticeship Awards in theDegree/Level 6-7 categoryrecognising a six year journeywith DHU.Joining DHU as a Level 2apprentice, Aaron has progressedthrough the levels, completing thedemanding CIMA Level 5-7programme, to become AssistantManagement accountant.Aaron said: “It’s been tough, butworth it, I’ve had to reshape mylife around studying; the supportfrom the team has been brilliant.It’s an absolute honour to receivethis award and I’m lookingforward to continuing to developmy career in Finance with DHU.”Sarah Cooper, Head of Finance,added: “Aaron’s commitment hasbeen exceptional, balancing ademanding qualification with hisrole, consistently applying whathe’s learnt to improve the way wework. Strong financialmanagement is vital to deliveringsafe, effective services for ourpatients, and Aaron’s contributiondirectly supports that.”Aaron’s work plays an importantpart in ensuring frontline teamscan focus on what matters most,providing high-quality care forpatients and communities. Hissuccess highlights how every rolewith us contributes to betteroutcomes for the people weserve.
H e a lt h Ad v i s o r s c a r e s u c c e s sNine of our NHS 111 Health Advisorshave been awarded the CareCertificate tailored to support NHS111 advisors who are non-patientfacing, but routinely give urgent careand advice to people over the phoneacross the Midlands.Designed to ensure health workershave the essential knowledge andskills to deliver safe, compassionatecare, it’s the first time it has beenawarded to NHS 111 Health Advisors.Sarah Goodwin is DHU’s ClinicalMandatory Trainer, she said: “It'straditionally regarded as an importantpart of patient facing care, but with theNHS long-term plan outlining anapproach that encourages care athome and in the community, our 111Health Advisors have shown that theycan also meet these standards.Zoe Hunt is DHU’s Clinical Practice Development Lead, she added: “It’s beengreat working with and supporting our people through this. They’ve shownextreme enthusiasm throughout and I’d like to congratulate all of them with ahuge well done for all their hard work, it’s a very well-deserved achievement.DHU’s successful advisors are Ben Tonks, Gemma Fuller, Helen Bent,Hareesa Zahoor, Rachel Rose, Laura McFarlane, Santosh Dhanda, TracyJones and Claudia Carter. The hope is that more can follow in their footstepsto learn new skills to provide even better care for patients in the Midlands.To read more on this story, click here.
D H U a c h i e v e s m e n o p a u s e fri e n d l ya c c r e d it a ti o nConsidered a mark of excellence, the accreditation proves that DHU iseffective in ensuring its employees who are experiencing menopause areprotected and supported in their role through culture, policies andpractices, training, engagement and their working environment.This achievement is the result ofmonths of work looking at theimpact of menopause in theorganisation, how it can beaddressed through workforce andorganisational developmentpolicies, training for managers andcolleagues and invited the thoughtsand views of employeesexperiencing menopause.Nia Alson-Holmes (pictured above,second from right) is DHU’sWellbeing Lead, she said: “Morethan 70 percent of our employeesare female, all of whom have, will orcurrently are experiencing themenopause. Our aim from the starthas been to normalise and destigmatise those conversations, talkabout it in the same way we wouldany other health condition and treatit with respect and compassion.A ‘best in class’ marker, theMenopause Friendly Accreditationdifferentiates employers who havedemonstrated the positive impact oftheir actions in supporting peopleexperiencing menopause. You canread more about this accolade byclicking here.
PAGE 02We have a reputation for providing qualitycompassionate care through our 111,primary, urgent, emergency and communitycare services. We’re there for our patientsbut we want to be able to say we’re therefor our people who provide that care aswell.”D i s a b i l it y c o n fi d e n t e m p l o y e rDHU Healthcare has been awarded the Level 2 Disability ConfidentEmployer Accreditation.The government backed accreditation recognises employers who activelyrecruit, support and develop people living with a disability or long termhealth condition, through support, engagingement, equal opportunities,challenging stigma and removing barriers.Jay Rai is DHU’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Lead, she told us:“This is more than just a badge, it’s a reflection of our commitment to createan environment where all everyone feels safe to be themselves, be openabout their ambitions, supported to thrive and progress with us.“We’ve been looking closely at what we do and should be doing for ourpeople, engaging with our Disability and Neurodiversity Network to ensurethis good work is embedded in everything we do. We’re delighted to be ableto prove to those working with or aspiring to join us, that we look after ourpeople and provide a platform for them to develop a career with us at DHU.“
You may not know that some of our 111 Clinical Advisors work remotely,providing you with the right care at home, from home Helen Hassell is fromSouth East England but provides care across the Midlands, linking you withurgent, primary and community services. She’s been with us since 2022,here’s what she told us…“I always knew I wanted to be a nurse, but I did it in my own way. I hadchildren before taking the leap into training as a trauma and orthopaedicnurse in 2013 at King’s College Hospital and I’m glad I did it this way. I was onshift during the Grenfell Tower fire and the London Bridge stabbings,incredibly challenging times, both professionally and emotionally, and theyshaped the way I approach patient care today.“Those early years exposed me to a huge amount. I worked on the criticalcare and intensive care units from 2018-2021 including during the COVID-19pandemic, at Medway Maritime Hospital, which was one of the most severelyaffected, with army support drafted in to help us cope. The life experience Ihad beforehand built my resilience and gave me skills that were invaluablewhen it came to being patient-facing and dealing with high-pressured,emotive situations.“I was introduced to DHU Healthcare by a friend, initially joining as an agencynurse, but my manager Steve later persuaded me to come on board full timeas a triage clinician. It’s a decision I’m glad I made as I value telephone triageand being able to focus on each patient without the constant physicaldemands of ward work.This is my office
Ch a rit y c u t s a r e h a ir t o s t a yDHU 111s Ciaron Reeder gave upthree years of growing his hair tomake a lasting difference tochildren facing illness.\"My hair got to the point where itwas getting caught when I rolledover in bed, but instead of justletting it sit on the barbershopfloor, I was told it could be donatedto charity and used again.\"Ciaron chose Little Princess Trust,providing real-hair wigs to childrenwho lose their hair through cancertreatment or illness. Ciaron had afull buzz cut, allowing for 16 inchesof hair, enough to make two wigsfor young girls who need them.He added: \"For a lot of girls, longhair is part of their identity. If thishelps them feel like themselvesagain while they're going througheverything else, then that'ssomething I really wanted to do.\"This thoughtful act reflects thecompassion and social impact thatruns through DHU Healthcare,demonstrating how individualactions can create meaningfulchange in the lives of those whoneed it most.A huge thank you to Ciaron forturning a haircut into somethinggiving confidence and comfort tochildren who need it most.
Re s t a rt a h e a rt wit h u sWe look after our colleagues with thesame care and compassion weprovide for you.To mark National Heart Month inFebruary, our Clinical Training Teamgave basic life support training to our111, corporate and urgent care teamsthat could help to save a life one day.It's all part of making sure that, withus, our colleagues have that little bitof extra knowledge to provide theright care for you and for each other.Thanks to our team Jack, Michelleand Sarah (left to right) for providingthe training and to Jeanette and theOps team for making it happen...PAGE 10
M o r e r e c o g n iti o n f o r PC U RSDHU’s Palliative Care Urgent Response Service has been shortlisted againin the End-of-Life category of this year’s Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards.Recognising the collaborationbetween DHU’s PCURS andCommunity Virtual Ward teams, increating a Palliative Care VirtualWard, the service provides ongoingsupport, treatment and symptommanagement for patients andcarers. It also makes referrals toother services and provideswraparound support until moresubstantive care can be provided.Clinical Lead Jill Davies said: “It’s anhonour to be shortlisted for anational award and to have ourwork recognised alongside so manyinspiring individuals andorganisations from across thecountry.”Simon Johnston, Marketing DirectorUK, at Markel said: “At a time whentheir work is more vital than ever,it’s an honour to recognise andcelebrate the outstandingcontributions of individuals andorganisations in the not-for-profitsector. Sharing their stories helpsshowcase the incredible differencethey make every day.”The winners will be announced atan awards ceremony at Town HallBirmingham on Friday 17 April,bringing together leaders fromhealth and social care nationwide.
...And speaking of our amazingCommunity Virtual Ward team,they were one of the starattractions at March’sWardAnywhere 2026Conference, sharing bestpractice of how we look afterurgent care patients at home.The NHS Virtual Wards to Virtual Hospitals Strategy Conference is a majorevent and showcases the future of healthcare, aligned to the NHS long-termplan, looking very carefully at alternative models of patient care.Our Community Virtual Ward in Derbyshire has received national acclaim andit was a pleasure to share with other healthcare professionals how we areable to keep patients who need urgent care, but not necessarily a hospitaladmission, at home.Leading the way in innovation to ensure you get the care with us at the rightplace for you.You can find out more about our virtual ward and their latest development byclicking here.
T o p h o n o u r f o r two D H U n u r s e sTwo DHU Healthcare nurseshave been recognised at one ofthe UK’s most prestigiousawards.Mandie Jarvis (right), InfectionPrevention and ControlPractitioner, and Catherine Hardy,Advanced Clinical Trainer, haveboth been handed the prestigioustitle of Queen’s Nurse (QN).Awarded by the Queen’s Instituteof Community Nursing (QICN) andestablished in 1887 by QueenVictoria to promote excellenceand high standards in communitynursing, the title continues torecognise nurses whodemonstrate leadership,professionalism, and a sustainedcommitment to improving care forpatients and communities.Mandie’s award showcases herincredible career and influencewithin community nursing,alongside the work she does at atDHU Healthcare supporting highstandards in infection preventionand control. Characteristicallymodest about the recognition,Mandie reflected on what theaward means to her saying:“I feel incredibly grateful and alittle overwhelmed. Communitynursing has always been aboutteamwork, learning from othersand doing the best for patients. Isee this as recognition of thework we do together rather thansomething personal.”Catherine’s award also reflectsher significant contribution tocommunity nursing through herrole as an Advanced ClinicalTrainer, supporting learning,development and clinicalexcellence across services.You can read more about Mandieand Catherine by clicking here.
F i n a n c e F ir s t!Wonderful news for our Finance Team who have been shortlisted in theFinance Team of the Year category at the East Midlands Finance Awards.Of course we know how amazing they are, they were named as our CareImpact - Corporate Champions at our DHU CARE Awards 2025 (see picbelow), but to have them recognised outside of DHU is simply incredible.They're the ones who ensure we have the means to provide the kit, training,medicines, sites, people and skills for you to receive the right care - they maystay out of the limelight but we're pleased to shine a light their way.Congratulations to our Finance Team - you're already winners.
DHU has published its Green Plan,pledging to be Net Zero Carbon,aligning with the NHS goal of 2040,ten years ahead of the UKgovernment goal.The NHS is responsible for 5% of theUK’s carbon emissions and 3.5percent of all road travel. Our GreenPlan outlines what we have donealready and how we intend to reachthis ambitious target.Lucy Bates is DHU’s SustainabilityNet Zero Lead and said: “We are thesingle largest provider of NHS 111services in England, and a major partof the regional health system. It isour duty to act, influence and lead byexample on green initiatives.“A large proportion of our emissionscome from our sites, things like gas,electricity, water and waste. So,looking at alternative sources ofpower, such as solar panels, andencouraging recycling are all part ofthe plan.“We’re also replacing many of DHUcars with electric vehicles (picturedright), replaced traditional lights withLEDs, developed hybrid workingschemes, car sharing and cycle towork schemes to reduce travel and aN e t z e r o D H U p l e d g e b y 2040salary sacrifice scheme to makeelectronic vehicles more accessibleto our colleagues. By doing this weare already more than a quarter ofthe way towards our target which isan incredible start.”Overall, we have made a 17.9%reduction in total emission since2022/23, the greatest from businesstravel, employee commuting and onsite heating and generators. Wehave reduced commuting emissionsfrom 71% to 66%, working closelywith Mobility ways to incentivise liftsharing.You can download and read DHU’sGreen Plan – please click here.