The RCHT Podcast

(0:45) This week is National Blood Week – we’ll be hearing from Nesa from the blood transfusion service about a “know your blood type” event running in the new wellbeing hub today. (4:19) We recently celebrated 25 years of service with number of our colleagues from Royal Cornwall Hospital – we’ll be hearing from some of them about their roles when they started their careers and what’s changed over...

For volunteer's week this year the theme is ‘Volunteer to Career.’ We’ve spoken with a number of volunteers across our hospital, some who previously worked here and now volunteer, and others who started as volunteers and went on to build careers in healthcare. Angela, Kirsten, Daniel and Tabi are four of our volunteers who are about to share their stories and what volunteering here at the hospital...

(0:33) Helen and Nick will be talking to us about a new digital patient food ordering system we’re introducing across our wards to help improve the patient meal experience and patient safety.  (5:10) Pete joins nurses Lorraine and Stephanie as they talk about their new trial at Royal Cornwall Hospitals to offer decaffeinated drinks to patients as standard as evidence suggests will help to reduce f...

(0:25) We'll be hearing from two of our patients about their experience of being diagnosed and treated for brain tumours. (20:27) It’s International clinical trials day and we have Bianca Mills, head of research and development at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust to talk about the new Commercial Research Delivery Centre. (27:27) Our colleague Amanda will be speaking to Nicole Thomas about patient an...

In this episode, Head of Unplanned and Intermediate Care Louisa Forbes explains Strata Referrals, Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist Amanda Davis highlights the importance of National Insulin Safety Week, and Improvement Lead Rick Strang and Clinical Matron Natalie Keogh introduce the Same Day Medical Assessment (SDMA) unit.

Royal Cornwall Hospital's bi-month public board meeting was held on 1st May so as a follow up to that meeting, Chair, David Allen and Chief Executive, Steve Williamson met with Peter in the studio to talk through some of the topics discussed in the meeting. These include: Our latest staff survey results The value of encouraging colleagues to speak up Breaking even financially over the past year An...

(1:01) It’s Dying Matters Awareness week and we’re joined in the studio by Healthcare Chaplain Em Dixon and Palliative Care Nurse Todd Harris to discuss the occasion and why it matters, their roles here at the hospital and what a normal death looks like.  (20:00) And as Monday was International Midwifery Day, to mark the occasion I spoke with Consultant Midwife Sarah-Jane Pedler about the vital ro...

On Monday 28 April, we officially opened a new Changing Places facility at West Cornwall hospital and will be hearing what this news meant to Rachel and her son Adam. We also find out from Therapy Lead, Michelle Hague what impact our therapies team had on ensuring we had a good easter bank holiday weekend.

This week on the RCHT podcast we speak with Nye and Alex from Royal Cornwall Hospital share their insights on what effective nutrition and hydration looks like in the hospital and the impact it can have on a patient’s recovery and rehabilitation. They also share some signs and symptoms to help spot malnutrition.

(0:59) Beatrice Dyer, the chair of the Friends of Royal Cornwall Hospital and Daffeny Skinnard, President of the Friends, join Royal Cornwall Hospital’s chair David Allen as they mark 80 years of the Friends support to Royal Cornwall Hospital.  (3:30) Next, Carolyn joins the project managers overseeing the Northern Access Road Project to review the progress made so far, discuss any challenges they...

(1:15) Health and care providers across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are launching a focused two-week effort to improve patient flow. Our therapy teams are leading the way—making the most of their skills and empowering colleagues to keep patients active during their stay. Improvement Lead Rick Strang caught up with Michelle Hague and Izzy Reed to learn more.  (10:02) In the Health and Wellbein...

(0:56) With the Easter holidays fast approaching we’re looking to have a perfect fortnight here at Royal Cornwall Hospital. Robin Jones, our chief operating officer, and Rick Strang our improvement lead are both in the studio to tell us more about it. (8:04) We’re saying goodbye to another one of our colleagues this week – after 30 years at Royal Cornwall Hospital, we’ll be hearing from Geoff Sand...

In this week's episode we say goodbye to our friend and colleague Mark Richards (Lead for Chaplaincy and Voluntary Services). We hear from Rachel Cowley about what it's like to fast during Ramadan. And we join our Chair and Chief Executive as they talk about the changes coming to the NHS over the next year and what this means for Royal Cornwall Hospitals.

(0:49) Andria Dawson join’s Pete to talk about the work of one of the hidden teams in our hospital – the Overseas visitors team.  (6:30) Our Chief Operating Officer, Robin Jones, joins Lynne Lees from the charity to catch up on the great work that the charity team have been doing and some of their plans for the year ahead. (13:03) Paul Foord, a nurse from our eye unit, is undertaking a walk to rai...

In this special bonus episode of The RCHT Podcast, we shine a spotlight on Delirium, a crucial topic affecting patients of all ages in hospitals everywhere.  Joining us are Dr. Jay Reynolds, Consultant in Care of the Elderly, and Stephanie Wellstead, Improvement Practitioner for Falls, Dementia, and Delirium, who share their expertise on recognising, managing, and preventing delirium. We explore t...

In the Second of our International Women's Day specials we hear from Alexis Carlyon, Program Manager for the New Women and Children's Hospital, about her journey into healthcare planning and her experiences as a woman in the construction industry. (22:21) Nycki Gray-Cooper shares this week’s Ally Tip, exploring why feminism isn’t “completed” and how we can all do better in supporting gender equali...

It's an all women podcast this week to promote International Women's Day on Saturday 8 March!   (0:27) Amanda talks to Rose Gibson about venous thromboembolism (VTE), including what is it, how we prevent it and who is at risk. (7:54) Kim O'Keeffe tells us about her career to becoming Dual Chief Nursing Officer and some of the powerful female role models she looked up to along the way. (19:58) Jo B...

(1:02)  Joining us first is David Allen, Chair of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. We'll be getting to know him better, hearing how he's settling into the role, and discussing his hopes and aspirations for the hospital's future. (12:37)  Last week, Charlie went and spoke to the team at NBC Environment, who are in charge of managing the seagull population here at the hospital through falconr...

(1:08) Pete speaks with Professor James Clark, the first-ever Professorship recipient at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, about the role's impact on research, education, and his current projects. (11:34) Kate Teagle, work experience coordinator, joins us to discuss clinical and non-clinical opportunities at RCHT. Former participant Abbie shares her experience and insights gained. (19:47) Variou...

(0:58) It's Apprenticeship Week! Nikki Pryke joins us to discuss plans for the event, the various apprenticeship levels, their equivalent qualifications, and the opportunities available at RCHT.  (10:24) Carolyn and I spoke with Kate and Chloe about the recent Careers event called Discovery Day that happened over in the Knowledge Spa.   (15:16) With Valentines Day around the corner, Cyber security...

(1:16) Rick Strang is back and this week he’s talking to the ambulance service team about their role in the community and how they’re helping with patient flow at our hospitals.  (21:52) Lucy Tuson, director of engagement and communication at the Cornwall NHS integrated care board will be with us to talk about these winter wellbeing community events happening across Cornwall.   (30:12) Another Luc...

(0:57) Roberta Fuller joins Pete and Katie in the studio with the latest news on our new hospitals project.  (21:27 ) I met up with Bianca Mills in our new mobile research unit to find out exactly what it is and the benefits it’ll have for our community and research projects.    (24:50) And a couple of weeks ago Emma Hart and I went along to the opening of our new elective surgical hub in St Auste...

(1:00) Steve Williamson, our chief executive has exciting news to share about our women and children’s hospital project.  (2:28) Rick Strang chats with Emma Wise, Deputy Head of Nursing, and Dr Toby Slade, Emergency Department Consultant, about the challenges and triumphs in emergency care.  (17:08) Pete and I visited the Echo Post launch at RCHT, a solar-powered speaker that guides users through...

(0:50) Consultant Biomedical Scientist, Leonie Wheeldon will be joining us in the studio to talk about the team’s Groundbreaking Study that Aims to Reduce Unnecessary Thyroid Surgeries  (18:18) Rick Strang will be speaking with our Chief Executive, Steve Williamson about how we’re handing the winter pressures on our hospital.  (29:46) There’s a project running in the sunrise centre here at Royal C...

Transforming Care with Virtual Wards (0:53) Rick Strang and Julie McKinnon discuss how virtual wards are transforming patient care by offering "hospital at home" solutions. Nycki's AllyTip (12:46) Nycki Gray-Cooper highlights workplace sexism and shares actionable advice for allyship. Enhancing Patient Flow at St Michael’s Hospital (14:56) Steve Williamson showcases how St Michael’s teams are redu...