News: Parkgate partners with Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity

Parkgate, Rotherham’s leading retail hub, has announced a partnership with the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity which will see the partners co-ordinating to organise a series of fundraisers, activities and events for the community at Parkgate, that will raise awareness and much needed funds for the charity.

While the trust receives core funding from the Government, the charity was established to fund vital equipment, services and projects that go beyond the NHS budget to improve care and patient experience. Parkgate will work alongside the charity and its local community to support with a range of initiatives, the first was an incredibly successful appeal for the provision of toiletries for patients and families to use at the hospital in ward areas and end-of-life rooms. Further planned activities include an Easter fundraiser and an exciting and interactive event for Fathers’ Day, amongst other ideas.

The charity, now in its 30th year, is currently raising funds for their Dementia Appeal which aims to raise £250,000 to completely transform multiple hospital wards at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust into warm, welcoming and dementia friendly spaces. Unfamiliar surroundings, loud noise and disruption to daily routines can make a hospital stay distressing for people living with dementia. The charity team want to change that for the thousands of people in the Rotherham community facing dementia, who, at some point will likely require a visit to hospital. The enhancements include dementia-friendly upgrades of lighting and flooring to reduce confusion and promote safety, as well as a variety of calming and engaging activities designed to support wellbeing and reduce anxiety, such as a dementia-style café, games area, therapeutic rooms, a potting shed and welcoming rest spaces that allow family and friends to stay nearby for comfort.

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The partnership builds upon existing charitable partnerships for the park - as the latest commitment from Parkgate in support of local causes. It complements the long running – and continued - relationship with Rotherham Families First, who base themselves at Parkgate and run the hugely successful annual Toy Appeal from the park.

The past few weeks have seen this charitable activity raised up a gear with Parkgate’s recent tie-up with Andy’s Man Club – to promote the work of the mental health group at the park, and the Helping Hands campaign run before Christmas that invited local people to nominate worthy organisations and individuals in need of a “helping hand” over the festive season.

Mark Kanaris-Sotiriou, Senior Operations Manager at Parkgate said: “The community-mindedness we have witnessed here at Parkgate is admirable. We felt our role, at the heart of this community, uniquely positions us to bring that goodwill together to support an amazing community cause in this, their 30th birthday year.

“It is set to be an exciting year ahead and our team is working hard to deliver an exciting programme of events and activities that will bring people together. We really hope the plans ahead will give customers even more reasons to visit Parkgate and will allow us to raise a really meaningful sum of money for such an important charity, whose work touches so many in Rotherham and its surrounding area.”

Rachael Dawes, Head of Charity and Engagement at Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity said: “We are incredibly grateful to Parkgate Rotherham for choosing us as their charity partner for 2026! Their support means so much to us, not only in terms of raising funds for the NHS services we all rely on, but also in helping to shine a light on the vital work our NHS charity does in our community.

“We’re so excited about the fantastic line-up of events planned at Parkgate throughout the year, and the positive impact this partnership will have for patients and families in our community.”

Parkgate website
Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity website

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News: Crampton & Moore’s gift to Rotherham Hospital Neonatal Unit

Local appliance and kitchen company Crampton & Moore has supported families at Rotherham Hospital’s refurbished neonatal unit with a special gift.

The award-winning electrical specialist has donated three televisions for rooms in the unit.

The gift was part of the Tiny Toes campaign, which saw a complete refurbishment of the unit to enhance heating, lighting, and accessibility, creating additional space, allowing for the accommodation of up to 16 babies at a time.

“Having a child in the neonatal unit is a time of great anxiety for every parent and we hope that our gift will at least increase their comfort during their time at hospital,” said Crampton & Moore Managing Director Robert Moore.

“As a South Yorkshire company, we are happy to be supporting the South Yorkshire community as we know that the neonatal unit is a much valued resource for the people of Rotherham.”

After a year of fundraising, Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity recently announced that its Tiny Toes appeal has raised £150,000 to transform the hospital’s neonatal unit.

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The neonatal unit supports more than 400 babies every year and this is the first time it has been revamped in 40 years.

Crampton & Moore was launched in 1966 to meet increasing demand for more affordable and rentable televisions with the launch of BBC2 and the start of colour broadcasts.

Today the company remains a family business, selling everything from washers and dryers to fridges, freezers, cookers and hobs and the full range of smaller kitchen appliances.

The company moved to Rotherham in 2022 and its Catcliffe superstore was designed to inspire customers with the latest ideas to upgrade their homes, with all the current kitchen design displays, connected smart appliances, designer ranges, eco friendly models and the latest in TV and home cinema experiences.

The company’s online presence has made it one of the country’s leading suppliers of televisions and home cinema, refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and now kitchens - with clients including Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace and 10 Downing Street, helping it to reach a turnover of £32m.

Crampton & Moore website
Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity website

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News: Tiny Toes families brought together thanks to W. Wrights sponsorship

Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity’s Tiny Toes appeal has received a major boost from W. Wright Electrical and Mechanical after they sponsored one of the neonatal unit’s new parent bedrooms.

The Sheffield-based firm’s £7,500 sponsorship has funded the complete redecoration of the first of three family rooms, including furniture, and will allow parents of premature and poorly babies to stay close to their precious newborns.

Bill Wright, Managing Director at W. Wright, said: “We are honoured to be part of the Tiny Toes appeal and to support the neonatal unit at Rotherham Hospital. We love to give back to the community and believe in the importance of supporting families during challenging times.

“We hope that our contribution will make a meaningful difference for parents and their newborns on the neonatal unit and were proud to see it progress so wonderfully. The team has pulled out all the stops to make it happen.”

The charity’s Tiny Toes appeal was launched in August 2023 and aims to raise £150,000. Thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses and schools, the appeal has raised a third of its target so far.

The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust has refurbished the neonatal unit for the first time in 40 years to future-proof it for generations to come, with the charity continuing to fundraise in 2024 for the added extras.

Babies may spend a few days or weeks on the unit, but occasionally this could be up to six months. The unit becomes a home from home for many parents as their little ones are cared for.

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While the neonatal unit has reopened and is providing care, there is still work to be done to continue adding the special touches, including some additional furniture and a new bed for the family room. The charity’s fundraising will continue to provide the extra special resources, equipment and facilities which will make a huge difference to families.

The neonatal unit has two further family rooms that require sponsorship. The rooms have been redecorated but are awaiting furniture and soft furnishings to make them feel welcoming and cosy for new parents.

Rachael Dawes, Head of Fundraising, added: “The first bedroom was top of our ‘wish list’ so we’re thrilled to see it completed. It will provide comfort to families for generations to come and we are truly grateful for the partnership with W. Wright’s.

“We are now keen to find corporate sponsors for the remaining two family rooms and other key facilities, equipment and projects for the neonatal unit. We’re looking for funding for everything from recliner chairs, baby diaries, furniture, cots and skylights – all extras which the NHS cannot afford.

“It’s a great opportunity for businesses in particular to do something wonderful for the NHS, to have a lasting impact on the care we provide while also fulfilling your Environmental, Social and Governance policies too.”

W. Wright website
Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity website

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News: Rotherham hotel helping to combat loneliness

Rotherham's Carlton Park Hotel is backing a new campaign to combat loneliness and help to guide people through tough times after teaming up with social change movement Camerados to create the town's first public living room, designed to offer a safe environment to share worries or concerns without judgement.

The new public living room forms part of the international Camerados project, a global movement of people who believe that many societal issues can be resolved by bringing people together and making connections and was inspired by temporary tepee installed at Rotherham Hospital last summer, which caught the imagination of sales manager, Jason Gossop.

During a trip to hospital with his young son, Jason noticed the colourful tepee sitting in the hospital atrium and inspired by the project, decided to contact Camerados to ensure that a permanent home in the town could be found.

Carlton Park's public living room opens during the first Monday of each month where guests can help themselves to complimentary tea, coffee, biscuits, cakes and of course, meet others.

The name camerado was first coined by American poet Walt Whitman in his 1856 poem Song of the Open Road, describing a camerado as being someone beside you to share the journey: halfway between a friend and a stranger who looks out for you and vice-versa, without judgement.

Camerados Public Living Rooms have been very successful across a number of locations.The Rotherham tepee attracted nearly 20,000 visits during its temporary stay with the Rotherham Foundation Trust and by providing a regular meeting place, Carlton Park hopes to build on the programme, continuing to provide a safe, relaxed, and friendly, environment, where a problem shared is a problem halved.

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Jason Gossop, sales manager at The Carlton Park Hotel, said: "Last summer I needed to take my young son to hospital. It's something which can be quite a frightening experience, but I was instantly struck by how the tepee instantly became a talking point which strangers mused about.

"Loneliness can effect anyone at any time during their lives. It seems that as we become more connected digitally, the more isolated many of us can feel. This can often have a knock-on effect into other areas of our lives such as mental health and even physical illnesses.

"Following the success of the tepee project at Rotherham Hospital I was keen to ensure that the town didn’t lose this valued resource. Our work with Camerados and Rotherham Hospital has enabled Carlton Park to continue this work, with regular monthly drop-in sessions being hosted each month."

Gemma Hayden, team leader at the Rotherham Foundation Trust, added: "Our temporary installation proved to be an instant hit, attracting more than 20,000 visitors and countless conversations. We're delighted that what started as a one-off temporary project has secured a new home, ensuring people living and working in Rotherham have a safe, friendly environment where people can come together to meet, talk and support others.

"Camerados is a global project and it’s fantastic for our town to be able to continue benefitting from this fantastic resource which has enabled strangers to become acquaintances, acquaintances to become friends and everyone involved in the sessions to meet others."

Carlton Park website

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News: Rotherham NHS subsidiary talks halted

Rotherham Hospital bosses have shelved plans to form an NHS subsidiary company.

Rothbiz reported in October on consultants, Grant Thornton, being awarded a contract for support in setting up a Wholly Owned Subsidiary Business of The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.

Under severe financial pressure, some NHS trusts in England are seeking to save money by creating wholly owned subsidiaries, also known as subcos, companies to deliver services, including facilities and estates. Unions have called the move, "backdoor privatisation" and warned that trusts use the subcos to employ staff without NHS terms and conditions.

NHS Improvement, the national regulator, ordered a temporary stop asking trusts to "pause any current plans to create new subsidiaries or change existing subsidiaries" adding that it will consult on a new regulatory approach in October and issue new guidance.

Having helped organise meetings between hospital staff, union representatives and the Trust's chief executive and chair to outline their concerns, local MP, John Healey says that the plans have now been shelved.

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John Healey, Wentworth and Dearne MP, said: "I welcome the decision by Rotherham NHS Foundation trust to call a halt to the proposals, it is sound sense for our hospital services and staff who work there.

"It's thanks to the hard work of NHS staff and unions who, together with MPs, have forced the hospital board to think again on the plans which had the potential to create a two-tier workforce.

"The fact that hospitals are even having to consider such complicated schemes to save money shows how stretched NHS finances have become."

Lynn Monk, branch secretary of UNISON Rotherham Health said: "The UNISON branch are very grateful for the support we received from John as well as the wider public of Rotherham in opposing the transfer of staff to the Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

"They realised that it would undermine the staff pay and pensions but importantly could have resulted in the wholesale transfer of many more staff out of the NHS, privatisation by the back door.

"UNISON members stood firm against it,‎ bolstered by the support from John and his colleagues."

Rotherham NHS Trust website

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News: Rotherham manufacturer plays a part in hospital appeal

The Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity is one step closer to introducing a fourth Purple Butterfly room at Rotherham Hospital thanks to a year of fundraising by employees at Toyoda Gosei.

The Templeborough company makes rubber weather-seals for car windows, doors and boots, and chose to raise money for the Charity's Purple Butterfly Appeal throughout 2017 following nominations from supervisor Mandy Roebuck.

Mandy sadly lost her 78-year-old father Graham in 2016 after he suffered a blood clot on his lung. He was able to spend quality time with his family in the Purple Butterfly room on the Fitzwilliam Ward before he passed away.

To say thank you for the care he received, Mandy inspired colleagues at Toyoda Gosei, an international manufacturer of rubber and plastic automotive parts based at Centurion Business Park, to organise fundraising events including a football tournament, bake sales, raffles as well as a festive jumper day. They raised £2,765.90.

Mandy, 46, of Herringthorpe, said: "My family and I were so grateful to be able to use the Purple Butterfly room when my dad died. He fell ill so quickly it was a godsend to have that space and privacy to be with him and start to come to terms with how poorly he was.

WI thought the Purple Butterfly room was brilliant. There was no time limits on when we could visit and as many relatives and friends as we could fit in were invited to say goodbye to my dad. It was really nice for me to have my family around me at such a difficult time.

"I've invested a lot of time, love and effort into fundraising because the cause is extra special to me. I made hampers for Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas and summer barbecues. I also enjoyed running a "name the bear" competition was aptly named Violet in honour of the appeal.

"I'm really proud that we have raised so much money. Knowing we were doing our bit to help fund a fourth Purple Butterfly room at Rotherham Hospital really spurred us on."

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The Purple Butterfly Appeal raises money to fund Purple Butterfly rooms, which provide privacy, dignity, space and a home-from-home for patients, their families, friends and carers.

The £75,000 purpose-built rooms offer privacy and dignity to patients nearing the end of their lives, and their families. The money goes towards funding all the building works, specialist equipment and facilities for loved ones to stay plus a television, fridge, microwave and a kettle.

Gabby Atmarow, Chair of the Charitable Funds Committee at the hospital, said: "We have three Purple Butterfly rooms at Rotherham Hospital, located on Ward A2, Fitzwilliam Ward and the Labour Ward and I know a fourth room is very much needed for our patients and their families. But we are incredibly proud to be able to offer these rooms to our patients and their families because they really do provide the space and privacy families need when time is most precious.

"Thanks to Mandy and her colleagues at Toyoda Gosei we are now one step closer to raising the money we need for a fourth room. Every penny raised really does count and we hope they inspire other businesses and individuals in Rotherham to fundraise for us too."

Toyoda Gosei website
Rotherham NHS website

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News: Rotherham NHS Trust offers apprenticeship opportunities

The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust (TRFT) is celebrating the tenth anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week by encouraging people of all ages and at all levels to further their career by taking up an apprenticeship with the Trust.

The theme for this year's National Apprenticeship Week focuses on the "ladder of opportunity," and the progression routes of apprenticeships, from traineeships through to higher and degree-level apprenticeships.

Helen Thomas, head of learning, development and education at TRFT, said: "We are working alongside the National Apprenticeship Service to celebrate the fantastic role of our 30 apprentices. We currently employ them in clinical and support roles, both at Rotherham Hospital and in the community.

"Our apprentices really are an asset to the Trust. With support from the Government and the National Apprenticeship Service we are keen to increase the range of opportunities we offer people who are passionate about working for an ambitious and caring Trust like ours.

"Apprenticeships are not just ideal for young people looking for an alternative to attending college or university. They can be a great opportunity for people of any age looking for their next step on the career ladder."

One of the Trust's most successful apprenticeship relationships has seen therapy assistant apprentice Niamh Tideswell team up with Sara Basu, a clinical specialist in occupational therapy in the Stroke Team.

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Niamh, 19, of Wickersley, said: "I wanted to try an apprenticeship because I'm a practical person and like to learn on the job. My mum and dad are both nurses too so I was definitely leaning more towards an apprenticeship when I started to consider what I wanted to do after leaving college. After speaking to my parents about what they liked about nursing, I liked the idea of caring for people.

"It was so nerve-wracking at first because I'd never worked in a clinical area before. It was completely different to college or my part time job at Tesco. But my college tutor was really supportive, my parents encouraged me and the Stroke Team are really tight knit and helped me feel at ease. There’s always a member of the team to speak to about my workload or my coursework, which is great.

"The best part of being an apprentice here is that I feel really valued and appreciated. I'm given a proper workload and patients to work with. I've learnt so much and really enjoy working with stroke patients, seeing them progress and eventually go home. I also have opportunities to continue to develop my career and will be doing my Level 2 qualification next with the Trust and Rotherham College."

Niamh's manager Sara has worked at TRFT since June 2016. She said: "Having an apprentice has been a really positive experience for us because we enjoy passing on our skills and showing her she's a valued member of the team. I would definitely encourage other organisations to employ apprentices because it can be a great way of nurturing talent and retaining colleagues."

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust website

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News: Kier reach milestone at Rotherham’s new Emergency Centre

Principal supply chain partner, Kier Construction has reached a significant milestone at the £12.2m Emergency Centre that is being built at Rotherham Hospital.

Hospital doctors and local GPs, accompanied by key partners of the project, gathered on the building site of the extension to give the newly erected steel frame the seal of approval. The steel work now clearly marks out the shape and size of the centre which is due to open in 2017.

The Emergency Centre is set to bring modern, enhanced expert healthcare to local people, enabling doctors and nurses from a range of medical and clinical backgrounds to work better together by sharing skills and resources to provide the best treatment for the patients of Rotherham. 

The new state-of-the-art centre is set to provide a better service for patients - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year all under one roof. It is being developed in partnership with NHS Rotherham Clinical Commissioning Group, The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and Care UK.

Kay Stenton, emergency care consultant at Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Now that the Emergency Centre is taking physical shape we can really visualise how the building will look when it is finished."

The trust is under extreme pressures with a high volume of patients attending A&E. Staffed by highly skilled clinicians across the emergency department and primary care, the integration of skilled staff is expected to ensure that the most appropriate clinician will see the patient, reducing the need for handovers between staff and improving the patient flow.

Plans were drawn up by Gilling Dod Architects, working with Kier Construction who where selected via the ProCure21+ National Framework, and the new integrated service will comprise a two storey development with an overall floor area of approximately 1,850 sq m, linked to the main hospital. The ground floor will provide clinical accommodation and the upper floor will provide office and staff supporting accommodation. The new extension has been designed to complement the hospital's existing main entrance that was redeveloped in 2011.

Adjacent to the Moorgate site, Kier Construction is also leading on the multimillion pound rebuild at Oakwood High School

Kier Construction website
Rotherham Emergency Centre website

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News: Prince's Trust trainees gain work experience

Seven unemployed young people from Rotherham have gained hands-on experience of working in the NHS as part of a unique training programme.

The programme was arranged by charity The Prince's Trust and The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust (TRFT), to offer unemployed people aged 16-25 real, practical work experience, training and vocational knowledge.

The Prince's Trust is a youth charity that supports 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.

The NHS Trust serves the health needs of the borough and delivers care at Rotherham Hospital, as well as community-based sites and directly in patients' homes. It employs over 4,000 staff with an annual turnover of over £215m.

Over the six week programme the young people demonstrated their ability to learn new skills and work as part of a team. They gained practical work experience alongside hospital domestics, porters and admin teams. In addition they received mandatory Trust training in areas such as information governance, infection prevention and control, conflict resolution, manual handling and in working with people with dementia.

The trainees were given the opportunity to improve their teamwork and communication skills, boost their confidence, build their interview skills and gain experience to share on their CV. Following the training, the individuals will receive a further six months of support, via The Prince's Trust, to help them find a job.

Claire Fretwell, head of learning and development at TRFT, said: "As a Trust we want to support the people of Rotherham who are not in either employment or any form of education or training, to get into work or to take up a development opportunity. I'm pleased that we have been able to help people in the local community to realise their potential by joining forces with organisations such as The Princes Trust."

Donna Jones, head of facilities services at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, was responsible for organising the opportunity for the Prince's Trust trainees to work alongside hospital facilities staff, who provided daily support and supervision. She said: "We were very happy to be able to lend our support to this fabulous charity by providing work placements.

"Those who have been part of our Trust and worked alongside our teams for the last six weeks have shown enthusiasm, maturity and an eagerness to learn new skills. I hope what they have learnt will help them in their future careers."

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust website
Prince's Trust website

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News: Care UK to end GP service at Rotherham walk in centre

The future of the £9.9m Rotherham Community Health Centre looks uncertain after bosses revealed that Care UK will end its provision of GP services next year.

The centre on Greasborough Road was developed by St Paul's Developments and built by Morgan Sindall. It opened in 2009 and provides GP and walk-in services and also provides modern and accessible facilities for most of the primary care services that were based at Doncaster Gate Hospital.

Proposals have recently been approved for a £12.2m Urgent Care Centre to be built at Rotherham Hospital, which involves the closure of the Town Centre Walk in Centre and transfer of the GP out of hours service to the hospital site. The NHS has now written to patients registered for GP services at Chantry Bridge Medical Centre, based in the same town centre building, to inform them that Care UK's service is due to end on September 30 2015.

A private company owned by private equity group, Bridgeport Capital, Care UK is a leading provider of health and social care services, working with local authorities and the NHS. It provides a range of NHS GP services including clinics, walk in centres and out of hours support.

Operated by Care UK, the Rotherham Community Health Centre sees around 4,000 patients a month and it was previously thought that a town centre GP surgery would remain on the site. An estimated 50% of current activity will transfer to the new emergency centre at Rotherham Hospital with Care UK set to continue as provider. All of the other NHS and community services are expected to remain on site, including family planning/sexual health services and clinics. Some other non‐acute provision could be relocated to the town centre.

Construction on the new facilities is set to begin in the spring of 2015 and it could start treating patients in April 2017. The current contract with Care UK for the Walk in Centre and GP Out of Hours provision expires in May 2016.

Options for the future of the GP practice at the Rotherham Community Health Centre have been explored. Currently, there are two options that are deemed viable - closing the GP service with patients registering at another practice, or procuring another provider of GP registered patient services from a site close to Chantry Bridge, until the Urgent Care Centre opens in Spring 2017. A branch surgery could be established at Chantry Bridge when the Walk in Centre closes.

The Rotherham Community Health Centre was acquired in a £14.1m deal in 2012 by a wholly owned subsidiary of Primary Health Properties, an AIM-listed company that specialises in the ownership of freehold or long leasehold interests in modern purpose-built healthcare facilities.

The 4,636 sq m property is wholly let to Rotherham Primary Care Trust (now called the The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust) and had 16 years remaining on the lease when the deal was secured. The building, on the former Bestobell Valves site next to Bailey House, was designed by JM Architects to follow the same curve shape as the adjacent Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation and a slanted wall has been shaped to look like the bow of a ship.

Care UK

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News: Kier selected for Rotherham Urgent Care Centre

Kier Construction has been selected as the principal supply chain partner for the £12.2m Urgent Care Centre that is set to be built at Rotherham Hospital.

The Rotherham Clinical Commissioning Group, which buys in services from providers, has signed off the final business case for the project which secured planning permission earlier this year.

The proposals for a new NHS Urgent Care Centre in Rotherham involve the closure of the Town Centre Walk in Centre on Greasborough Road and transfer of the GP out of hours service to a new purpose built Urgent Care Centre on the Hospital site.

Patients who currently walk into Accident & Emergency (A&E) at the hospital will in future access care through the proposed urgent care centre. It is set to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This coincides with the increased use of the NHS 111 telephone number as a single point of access to care so that telephone triage will play a greater part in directing patients to urgent or GP care.

Earlier this month, the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, that serves the health needs of the borough and delivers care at Rotherham Hospital, reported that it is currently under extreme pressures with a high volume of patients attending A&E, a department that is currently operating at a £1.1m deficit. The current A&E department was built to accommodate 55,000 attendees each year but activity now exceeds 75,000 patients. One of the main drivers of the new urgent care centre is to reduce recurring costs by reducing admissions to A&E by five per day.

Plans were drawn up by Gilling Dod Architects, working with Kier Construction who where selected via the ProCure21+ National Framework, and the new integrated service will comprise a two storey development with an overall floor area of approximately 1,850 sq m, linked to the main hospital. The ground floor will provide clinical accommodation and the upper floor will provide office and staff supporting accommodation. The new extension has been designed to complement the hospital's existing main entrance that was redeveloped in 2011.

Staffed by highly skilled clinicians across the emergency department and primary care, the integration of skilled staff is expected to ensure that the most appropriate clinician will see the patient, reducing the need for handovers between staff and improving the patient flow. However the options proposed involve cutting the recurring costs for clinical staff from £5.5m to £4.6m. The Trust expects to be in a position to employ additional advanced care practitioners (ACPs) in place of middle grade doctors.

During consultation, concerns were raised by the council and members of the public regarding transport and parking issues at the hospital site. The proposals include a total of 122 car parking spaces, for use by staff, being provided on the former mental health site at the Eastern side of the hospital site, close to Moorgate Road. This is set to free up spaces in the main public car park.

The business case states: "While travel times and expense for patients will, on the whole, slightly increase as a result of relocating urgent care from a town centre location, but this is outweighed by the quality benefits that will result."

The existing £9.9m building operated by Care UK on the Greasborough Road site, which sees around 4,000 patients a month, will continue to offer a town centre GP surgery. An estimated 50% of current activity will transfer to the new emergency centre with Care UK set to continue as provider. All of the other NHS and community services are expected to remain on site, including family planning/sexual health services and clinics. Some other non‐acute provision could be relocated to the centre.

Construction on the new facilities is set to begin in the spring of 2015 and it could start treating patients in April 2017.

Adjacent to the Moorgate site, Kier Construction is also leading on the multimillion pound rebuild at Oakwood High School.

Rotherham Clinical Commissioning Group website

Images: Gilling Dod Architects

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News: Rotherham NHS make appointments

18 new apprentices have been appointed at Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, the first success for a new partnership with Rotherham College of Arts & Technology (RCAT).

The apprenticeships aim to provide the skills and knowledge required to become competent in supporting health professionals – such as doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and healthcare scientists – to provide clinical healthcare.

Over 250 people of all ages applied for the roles of clinic health care assistant apprentices, of which 40 candidates from across South Yorkshire were invited to the assessment centre; which included a live simulation session of working with patients on the wards. The candidates were assessed in five different care associated areas and were marked out of five for each. The assessment concluded with a normal interview.

From the apprentice assessment centre, 18 stand-out candidates were selected and offered positions as apprentices. The apprentices will divide their time between classroom learning at Rotherham College, while benefiting from practical work experience with the NHS.

Apprentice, Kirsty Louise Bellamy, said: "I applied for university this year, but decided to follow an alternative route to get where I want to be. The apprenticeship scheme really appealed to me because it will provide me with the opportunity to gain unique work experience working for the NHS."

Charles Grayson, senior business consultant at Rotherham College, added: "We're delighted to be working in partnership with The Rotherham Foundation Trust to support our regions young talent into industry led apprenticeship training."

The apprenticeship appointments follow on from the foundation trust successfully recruiting for three key senior positions. Chris Holt, is the new chief operating officer, joining from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. Simon Sheppard has been appointed as the new director of finance and Lynne Waters joins as executive director of Human Resources.

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
RCAT website

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News: Owners to dispense with Rotherham pharmacy

MedicX Pharmacy Ltd has put its estate of pharmacies up for sale, including the site within Rotherham Community Health Centre in town.

MedicX is a specialist primary care infrastructure investor in modern, purpose-built, primary healthcare properties in the UK.

Experts at Christie + Co have been appointed to market the estate, which includes a high quality group of 21 profitable pharmacies — with 13 in the North-West of England, five in London and the South-East, two in Yorkshire and one in Wiltshire. The majority are situated within or adjacent to health centres, and are a mix of standard hours and 100-hour contracts. The pharmacies will be offered for sale by way of asset sale on an individual, sub group or portfolio basis.

Tony Evans, director of Pharmacy at Christie + Co, said: "It is extremely rare for an estate of such high quality to be available for sale on an individual or sub group basis. Expressions of interest are invited from independent, regional and group operators for what is one of the most exciting opportunities to come to market in several years. We have already received strong levels of enquiries and will be looking to effect a timely sale of the pharmacies.

"This estate is relatively new, so the pharmacies provide a genuine opportunity for purchasers to expand dispensing activity and services beyond the already strong levels achieved."

The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust has recently submitted plans for the new multimillion pound facilities including a new NHS Urgent Care Centre that involves the closure of the Town Centre Walk in Centre on Greasborough Road and transfer of the GP out of hours service to a new purpose built Urgent Care Centre on the Hospital site.

The centre was acquired in a £14m deal in 2012 by a wholly owned subsidiary of Primary Health Properties, an AIM-listed company that specialises in the ownership of freehold or long leasehold interests in modern purpose-built healthcare facilities.

Medicx Pharmacy website

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News: Rotherham hospital searches for new CEO

The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust has begun recruitment for a new chief executive officer - "the most significant appointment" they will make.

The trust serves the health needs of the borough and delivers care at Rotherham Hospital, as well as community-based sites and directly in patients' homes. It employs over 4,000 staff with an annual turnover of over £215m.

Brian James retired from the CEO post in November 2012 as unions warned of 750 jobs being cut at the hospital. The following February, the regulator, Monitor, stepped in and announced that Rotherham was in "significant breach" of its licence to operate because of financial concerns. The hospital has been forced to work with an interim chief executive and chair of the trust and use expensive outside consultants to prepare a financial plan for the future to cut £50m from the budget over three years.

The trust has had two interim chief executives since then and new chair, Martin Havenhand joined the trust at the beginning of this month.

Executive recruitment firm, GatenbySanderson, has been brought in to help find the right candidates for the top job.

The job advert said: "Following the recent appointment of our new chair, we are now committed to appointing a chief executive who can lead us at this critical time and help shape the future healthcare provision for the people of Rotherham. This will be the most significant appointment we make in ensuring the successful delivery of our strategic aims.

"You will be a compelling and inspirational leader, with an absolute clarity of vision and purpose to provide the determination needed to see the task through. You will bring flair and energy to drive forward our recovery and strategic plan."

The salary is not disclosed but the highest paid director at the trust has previously been on £178,281 a year.

The board of the trust publicly announced in December that they do not intend to seek a merger with other local hospitals. A warning came from Brian James last year that government reforms would mean that small and medium hospitals will be seen as non-viable and be bankrupted.

John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Dearne, said: "The hospital board are right to pursue a plan that keeps Rotherham as a stand-alone hospital working closely with other parts of the NHS.

"It will be a tough job for the new hospital team because there are still problems from the past to sort out and all hospitals are seeing their NHS funding cut. I hope it means changes in the way the hospital works rather than cutbacks in services that patients will see. I also want to see changes which make the best use of the hospital's highly-committed staff and avoid forced redundancies."

The hospital has recently published its five year plan that shows the details of how it plans to save money.

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust website

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News: Gala Tent provide early Christmas present to hospital charity

Growing Rotherham business, Gala Tent, is getting into the festive spirit and offering support for Rotherham Hospital Charity's annual Christmas Fair, which will be held in the main entrance to the hospital on Thursday December 5.

One the UK's largest importer and exporter of tents, marquees and pop up awnings, the Manvers firm will donate one of its Santa's Grottos for the event, which will be complete with Santa Claus and presents. The festive marquee is in the design of a log cabin and a perfect retreat for Santa Claus and his reindeers.

Jason Mace, managing director of Gala Tent, said: "It is fantastic to be supporting the Rotherham Hospital Charity's Christmas Fair. We are happy to help wherever we can with charity and community activities and it is a pleasure to be involved with such a worthwhile event. By donating the grotto, we hope that dozens of Rotherham children will have a Christmas that is even more memorable and special."

Rotherham Hospital Charity last year raised £300,000 for the direct benefit of patients in the hospital’s care. Charitable donations go to support a range of different projects from state of the art equipment to activity packs to entertain children in A&E to special slippers to help elderly and less mobile patients reduce the risks of a fall.

Tracy Williams, fundraiser for the Rotherham Hospital Charity, said: "There are lots of exciting things planned for this year's Christmas Fair and we hope it will be bigger and better than ever! It is great to have the support of Gala Tent and their Santa's grotto will be a fantastic treat for all the children we hope will visit this year. The Fair usually brings a smile to people's faces in the hospital and really gets visitors and patients in the festive spirit, with the Christmas music and mince pies for everyone to enjoy. We welcome members of the public to come along and support us, enjoy themselves and help us to raise money for our charity."

Gala Tent website
Rotherham Hospital Charity website

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News: Dragonfly PR partners with Rotherham Hospital Charity

Dragonfly PR, the award winning Rotherham-based marketing agency, has been chosen as the PR company for the Rotherham Hospital Charity.

Over the next 12 months it will be helping them to raise awareness of fundraising events and campaigns.

The charity raises money to improve patient care and facilities to be used to support the purchase of anything that would not be available through the NHS.

Tracy Williams, fundraising manager at Rotherham Hospital Charity, said: "We are really pleased to be working with Dragonfly PR to help us with raising awareness and generating more support for our activities.  The charity relies on donations from local people and businesses and, as we are only a small fundraising team with limited resources, it is great to have the support and expertise of Dragonfly PR."

One of the first projects on which Dragonfly PR is working with Rotherham Hospital Charity is to promote their Christmas Fayre, which is taking place on December 6 between 11am and 3pm in the hospital's new foyer. Dragonfly PR will be generating media interest pre and post event. Dragonfly client Gala Tent will also be donating a Santa's Grotto and presents, the Mayor and Mayoress will be attending and there will be a toy sale and childrens' activities throughout the day.

Recent account wins for the Century Business Centre agency include Reflex Systems, Martek Medical and Stafforce / Nicholas Associates.

Dragonfly PR website
Rotherham hospital Charity website

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News: Willmott Dixon Partnerships celebrates first year of support for Dr Ted’s

Willmott Dixon Partnerships has celebrated a year of support for the Rotherham Hospital Charity, at Dr Ted's Dinner Dance.

The repairs and maintenance company sponsored the fundraising event at The Holiday Inn, Rotherham, and helped Dr Ted's Charity Appeal to raise over £7,500 towards two new ventilation unit for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Rotherham Hospital.

Willmott Dixon works with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to deliver a repairs and maintenance service to 10,500 homes in the areas of Wentworth South, Wentworth Valley, Rother Valley West and Rother Valley South.

Over the last 12 months, it has completed a number of projects to help improve the SCBU, including transforming some outdated spaces within the unit to create a new Parents' Suite for young patients and their families.

Staff from the company's Rotherham branch will also be returning to the ward in July to carry out further works to the bathrooms, and create a new meeting and education room.

Leigh Garbutt, regional customer and community manager at Willmott Dixon, said: "We were really happy to support Dr Ted's Dinner Dance. All the staff who attended had a wonderful evening and it was the perfect way to celebrate our ongoing relationship with Rotherham Hospital Charity and the SBCU.

"As a company, Willmott Dixon are committed to helping develop the SBCU. It's important that families of the babies being cared for here have an environment in which they feel comfortable, and we hope that our work will go some way to helping them during a difficult time."

Tracy Williams, charity development officer at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said: "We're so grateful for everything that Willmott Dixon have done to support us over the last year. Their contribution to Dr Ted's dinner dance really helped to make the evening a great success. The money we have raised will make a significant contribution to our fundraising target for the new ventilation unit, and help us to care for our patients and their families in the best possible way."

Mick Williamson, managing director of Willmott Dixon Partnerships, added: "This is very much part of our ethos called Transforming Communities, which is about how we can make a real, positive difference to the lives of people living locally.

"We want to play an active part in delivering initiatives that leave real legacy and recently wrote a report, called Transforming Communities, to share ideas and help organisations deliver sustainable growth to help communities through these current austere times."

NHS The Rotherham Foundation Trust website
Willmott Dixon website

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News: James gives stark warning to NHS

As major government reforms of the NHS come into force, Brian James, the former chief executive of the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, has warned that smaller hospitals like Rotherham will be considered non-viable and forced into bankruptcy if payments are put before patients.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 puts commissioning groups of local GPs and other clinicians in charge of budgets and tasks them to plan and buy most of the health care for the people in their area.

Interviewed for a new report by health think tank, the Nuffield Trust, Brian James said that he was not optimistic about the reforms. He said: "There has been, and there still is, huge uncertainty and lack of clarity about the new system on a scale that I've never seen in my 37 years in the service. There are still many people out there who don't know what, if anything, they will be doing a month from now. It's chaos, really."

James retired from Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust in November 2012 after overseeing a time of transformational change from 2004.

In February, the Trust was formally notified by Monitor, the independent regulator for Foundation Trusts, that they found the Trust to be in significant breach of the terms of its authorisation, due to the failure to address certain financial problems promptly and effectively. The trust has brought in the specialist healthcare management firm, Bolt Partners LLP, to lead the recovery and restructure.

According to James, the hospital will effectively need to operate on £50m less than they had two years ago.

In the interview, James says that being an NHS chief executive is the "most satisfying job that you could ever aspire to" but admitted that he sometimes found it lonely and often found it frustrating.

He discussed major achievements such as eliminating waiting and "pretty much" eradicating MRSA as an issue. The hospital went for three years without a single case.

The frustrations came from the constant government reforms and reorganisation and the inability to be innovative. He also admitted that it would have been better to wait than to plan ahead and discuss the fact that the Trust would need to operate with 750 fewer posts in 2015.

He said that the issue was "hijacked" by the union and the local press but in the end a national agreement was reached about changes to the terms and conditions with the majority of losses expected to be manageable through natural turnover.

Looking to the future for an NHS led by the markets, James is worried that small and medium sized hospitals will be put at risk by the reforms: "I am not a believer in them. I think they have done a lot of damage." he added. "And I worry about where they are leading us. Payment by results and all of that is taking us to a point where small and medium hospitals will be seen as non-viable.

"They will be bankrupted by the market and more and more will be pulled into the big teaching hospitals. But for people in Rotherham or Doncaster, that will mean Sheffield and that is going to mean a huge amount of travelling for poor people – and Rotherham is full of poor people – who will need to get three buses and a taxi to go and see their loved ones in hospital.

"I think it is very questionable where it is all leading us."

Nuffield Trust website
Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust website

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News: Chief Exec leaves hospital

The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust has announced the retirement of Brian James, its Chief Executive.

The announcement comes within weeks of UNISON warning of 750 jobs being cut at Rotherham Hospital.

James was appointed Chief Executive of Rotherham General Hospitals NHS Trust in 2005, and led the organisation through a successful application to become The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust within four months. Last year saw the integration with Rotherham Community Health Services.

Brian James, said: "I believe that it is a time for me to hand the baton on to the next generation of leaders with the energy and resilience to take the organisation forward into a bright future.

"I believe we have built the right foundations for long term success and are putting into place the plans necessary to secure our financial future and to deliver the new model of healthcare for the NHS which Service Development Strategy 3 personifies."

Peter Lee, chairman of the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are very sad to see Brian leave the Trust, his passion has been unquestionable and the changes that he instigated and brought to fruition have benefitted our patients, staff and the Rotherham community. Brian's focus was always to endeavour to ensure that our patients were able to access consistently high quality care."

Brian began his career in the NHS in 1975 at Cornwall District Health Authority. In 1993 Brian was appointed to an Executive level position at Darlington Memorial Hospital in County Durham. From 2002 until his appointment in Rotherham, Brian was Executive Director for Strategy and Innovation at South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority.

Despite the transformational changes at the trust and the hospital, Brian may best be remembered for his appearance in the BBC programme, "Can Gerry Robinson Fix The NHS?"

Brian has also chaired the Chief Executive Officers Group of the Rotherham Local Strategic Partnership.

Matthew Lowry, currently Deputy Chief Executive, will be acting up as Chief Executive until a permanent replacement is appointed.

Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust website

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News: Willmott updates Rotherham hospital’s special care baby unit

A team of 22 workers from Willmott Dixon Partnerships Rotherham branch has transformed outdated spaces within the special care baby unit (SCBU) at Rotherham Hospital.

SCBU provides support for babies who are born prematurely, full-term babies who are ill or who have complications after birth. SCBU also cares for babies who require intensive care, high dependency care and special care.

Rooms, such as those revitalised by Willmott Dixon, are used by families for an overnight stay before SCBU babies are taken home. Nurses are on hand, should any problems arise, which helps families to ease into their new lives without incubators, tubes or medical intervention.

Willmott Dixon Partnerships, which repairs and maintains 12,000 homes in Rotherham, carry out a number of community projects throughout their areas of operation each year.

Rick Willmott, chief executive at the Willmott Dixon Group, recently performed the official opening of the Willmott Dixon Parents Suite at the hospital. He said: "We're delighted to have supported the hospital's special care baby unit by providing a much needed renovation.

"We were invited by Councillor Mahroof Hussain to help support the hospital and we were only too delighted to lend a helping hand as part of our focus on community involvement and we are extending our support once again over the next year to the Trust's Dr Ted's Children's Appeal.

"Our staff have enjoyed carrying out the programme of works which will provide a lasting legacy to the people of Rotherham. It's important that families of babies being cared for have an environment in which they feel comfortable and we hope that our work will go some way help them feel at home during a difficult time."

Angela Griffiths, ward manager for the SCBU at Rotherham Hospital, added: "It means so much to our families to have the support of the family rooms on SCBU.

"The bedrooms help new parents to be near their babies. They give the parents confidence to provide their baby's care before discharge. We can't thank Willmott Dixon enough. It's been a pleasure to work with the team and they have left behind a legacy that will be welcomed by parents and babies for years to come."

Willmott Dixon website

Rotherham Hospital website

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