Board to Ward January 2026
In January’s Board to Ward we share three highlights:
- Our work to provide medical care for researchers in the Antarctic
- H ow we are doing for patients
- Working with partners
Celebrating the work of our colleagues
Our healthcare specialists provide care for people right across the south west peninsula. But did you know some also provide medical care for scientists working in degrees of -40 in the Antarctic? UHP has been the provider of the British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit since 1997 - making our Trust truly unique in the UK.
Staff from UHP, particularly from the Emergency Department and military colleagues, provide advice, pre-deployment medicals and training, 24-hour medical/nursing support, pharmaceuticals and equipment to around 700 deployed scientists and staff of the British Antarctic Survey. The provide telemedicine in support of remote teams and deployed doctors.
BASMU provide trained doctors to the BAS ship, Sir David Attenborough, research stations: King Edward Point, Rothera. In collaboration with MOD-MDHU, military medics, doctors and nurses are sent to Signy, Rothera and Halley Research Station where scientists discovered the ozone hole. UHP clinicians provide around 1,000 medical consultations every year, as well as the occasional medical evacuation (Medevac) when there is a life-threatening event. BASMU are not just a medical provider, they also conduct research and BASMU staff have published 13 articles in peer reviewed journals and 11 conference papers and presentations in the last 5 years through a mix of national and local collaboration with University of Plymouth.
BASMU members came to talk to Board about their work and fully supported their bid to win the tender for this work once again in 2026. (Pictures courtesy of the BASMU team).
Achievements
Thank you to everyone who completed the NHS Staff Survey this year. Our response rate rose to 48%, showing more colleagues are engaging and sharing their views. Our staff flu vaccination campaign is progressing well. As of 11 January 2026, 58% of colleagues have been vaccinated - already exceeding our 5% improvement target. Thank you to everyone who has come forward.
Congratulations to Pippa Blacklock, Associate Specialist in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, who has received a national SAS Award from the Royal College of Surgeons for her outstanding contribution to education.
Lesley Ann Simpson from The Chestnut Appeal has been awarded a British Empire Medal for her long standing work supporting men’s health. Finally, our latest VIP Award was presented to Amelia Ward, Imaging Service Line Administrator. Thanks to the success of this scheme, we will be increasing the number of VIP Awards this year.
How are we doing for our patients?
For our maternity patients
There is good news. In December, the annual CQC National Maternity Survey was published. This survey reflects the experiences of women who gave birth in the first three months of 2025. The results show that most women felt well supported when labour began, and very few were sent home when they were worried. Partners were able to be involved in labour and birth, and staff communicated clearly and helped patients feel safe. Some women told us their pain wasn’t managed as well as it should have been, which we need to improve. There were positive improvements too, including better involvement in decisions during pregnancy, more personalised advice, and more partners able to stay after birth. We will work with our Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership to build on this feedback. Our Trust Board approved compliance with the 10 safety actions as detailed within the CNST Maternity Incentive Scheme.
If you are a patient needing urgent or emergency care
We are seeing very high demand for urgent and emergency care, which means some patients are waiting longer than we want. In December, 68% of patients were seen within 4 hours, and more people experienced waits over 12 hours. Children have also been affected, with paediatric waits longer than planned (71% seen withing 4 hours). Ambulance crews are handing patients over more quickly than last year, but delays still happen at busy times.
Our focus is on making care faster and safer for you by improving patient flow, supporting earlier discharge, and offering more alternatives to hospital admission. Good infection control and management arrangements have kept staff and patients safe from infection transmission and the total impact was less than predicted.
Pic: Nursing Associate Hollie with patient Emily who visited the Dartmoor Urgent Treatment Centre earlier this month and was filmed as part of the BBC NHS Day
If you are a patient with suspected cancer
Most patients received a clear diagnosis quickly. In the latest month, 83% of people got their diagnosis within 28 days of referral, above the national standard but slightly below our local plan. However, some patients are waiting longer to start treatment. In December, 59% began treatment within 62 days, below our plan of 72.5%. We are focusing on improving pathways in lung and urology cancers, where delays are greatest.
If you are a patient waiting for a diagnostic test
Most patients continue to receive their scan or test within six weeks, but demand and equipment issues mean some waits are longer than planned. At the end of December, 19% of patients had waited over six weeks, above our internal plan but still better than the national position. We are increasing staff, expanding space including the new Dartmoor Building, and using alternative staffing models to speed up access
If you are a patient waiting for planned care
We know how important timely planned treatment is, and we are working hard to reduce long waits. The overall waiting list is expected to reach around 48,000 patients by March, with just over 61% waiting under 18 weeks, slightly below our target. Some patients are still waiting over 65 weeks, which places UHP in national Tier 1 oversight (most challenged). We have restarted insourcing and introduced daily clinical and operational review meetings to increase capacity and speed up treatment plans.
Working with partners
Members of the Plymouth City Council Health, Adult and Social Care Committee visited the new Dartmoor Building, where colleagues showcased the Urgent Treatment Centre, Outpatients, and clinical support areas. Councillors noted the modern, spacious environment and the dedication of our staff, finding the visit highly informative and valuable.
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is proud to support Plymouth’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029. This is about celebrating who we are, where we live and what’s possible when creativity and culture lead the way. More information can be found at Plymouth culture, city-of-culture
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