Shows
Our People PodcastEnding Violence Against Women with White Ribbon UKIn this episode ahead of White Ribbon Day 2025, we sit down with Nathan King, Domestic Abuse Health Advocate, from South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT).From quick-fire questions to deep insights, Nathan shares his journey into healthcare, the role of safeguarding in NHS settings, and how STSFT is taking action to end violence against women.Learn what it means to be a White Ribbon-accredited organisation, how staff are engaging with the campaign, and why men play a crucial role in creating change.🎧 Topics covered:What is White Ribbon UK and why...
2025-10-2728 min
Our People PodcastHow Martha’s Rule is saving lives - LIVE PODCASTOur People Podcast: Martha’s Rule Live SpecialIn this special live episode of Our People Podcast, recorded at the Patient Safety and Safeguarding Conference 2025 as part of Safetember, we shine a spotlight on Martha’s Rule - a vital initiative putting patient and family voices at the heart of care.Discover expert insights from Phillip O'Donnell, Consultant in Emergency Medicine & Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine, and Lisa Hobbs, Martha’s Rule Project Lead.You’ll also hear from a panel of dedicated NHS staff sharing real-world experiences of implementing Martha’s Rule in clinical practice—p...
2025-09-1829 min
Our People PodcastLooking after your Mental Health - The Check UpThe Check Up: Looking After Your Mental Health | Expert NHS Advice in less than 10 MinutesWelcome to The Check Up, a new series of 10-minute, bite-sized episodes where we bring you expert advice, top tips, and valuable insights from various departments at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust to help you stay healthy and informed.In this episode, we’re joined by Carl Sketchley, Clinical Lead for Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services at STSFT. Carl shares his top tips for looking after your mental health.🎧 Tune in and take a check...
2025-05-1507 min
Our People PodcastMaking Difficult Conversations Easier: Dying Matters WeekIn this special episode, part of Dying Matters Week, we sit down with Joanna and Joy, two end-of-life facilitators at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT).Together, they share their insights, experiences, and expert advice on how to navigate the difficult conversations surrounding death with care and understanding.Joanna and Joy explore the importance of initiating open dialogues about end-of-life planning, addressing the emotional challenges faced by families, and providing guidance to those supporting loved ones through the final stages of life.
2025-04-3014 min
Our People PodcastMeet the Winners of Our 2025 Staff Recognition Awards | Our People PodcastStaff Recognition Awards 2025 | South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust 🎉On Friday 4th April 2025, we proudly hosted our third annual Staff Recognition Awards at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland – and this year’s event was bigger and better than ever!Join us as we celebrate the incredible dedication, compassion, and achievements of our amazing staff across South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.Meet the 2025 winners, hear their heartfelt reactions, and see why they’re truly making a difference in healthcare.🔔 Subscribe to our channel for more stories from Our People and u...
2025-04-1523 min
Our People PodcastHealthy eating made easy - The Check UpWelcome to The Check Up, a brand new series of 10-minute, bite-sized episodes where we bring you expert advice, top tips, and valuable insights from various departments at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust to help you stay healthy and informed.In this first episode, we’re joined by the experts from our Dietetics department. Kate Roberts, Childhood Weight Management Dietitian, Claire Milford, Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, and Lucy Matheson, Diabetes Prevention Dietitian, will share their top tips on healthy eating, making it easier than ever to incorporate nutritious choices into your daily routine.Whether yo...
2025-03-2010 min
Our People PodcastA deep dive into NeurophysiologyTo mark Healthcare Science Week, meet Amanda, Julie and Caroline from the Neurophysiology department at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.We ask some quick fire questions, and take a deep dive into what Neurophysiology is all about and the investigations that take place at STSFT.
2025-03-1225 min
Our People PodcastChristmasOn the last episode of Season Three, here at STSFT we're in the festive spirit.As a Trust we're proud to have so many international recruits that work in our hospitals and within the community.We met up with Ward E54 Manager Jay de la Cruz from the Philippines, Theatre Manager Juna George from India and Adaptation Nurse Lynda Nwaokweanwa from Nigeria as they share how they celebrate Christmas where they come from.
2023-12-2018 min
Our People PodcastSafeguardingOn this week's episode of Our People Podcast we visited Durham Road's Children Centre to talk to Tracy Dawson, Kerry Pate and Janice Blakey from our Safeguarding team.The team discuss the importance of safeguarding here at STSFT and how they advise and support our staff and patients.They also talk about how someone can look after their own wellbeing and provide an example of what a case may look like.
2023-11-2932 min
Our People PodcastStaff Network Groups - Part 1: LGBT+ & ThriveYesterday was World Mental Health Day.To help raise awareness of this we are highlighting our Staff Network Groups in a three-part series on Our People Podcast.To kick start this on this week's episode we met up with Thrive Clinical Team Lead Dr Sarah Markham and Assistant Psychologist Rachel Baines.Rachel is part of the LGBT+ Staff Network and discusses how the group is a safe space for staff to share their experiences and receive support.Sarah and Rachel are also part of the Thrive team which is a service...
2023-10-1118 min
Our People PodcastNational Cancer CNS DayThis episode marks National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Day.The aim of the day is to raise the profile of cancer clinical nurse specialists at a time when patients and the cancer workforce need them more than ever.To help do this on Our People Podcast we were joined by Cancer Lead Nurse Kelly Craggs, Community Staff Nurse Michaela Fleury and Out of Hours Palliative Care Team member Alison Bruce.They also discuss the STSFT Cancer Internship Programme which helps enable registered nurses to develop more specialist knowledge, skill and experience through working...
2023-04-2621 min
Our People PodcastMaternal Mental HealthPatients who suffer trauma as a result of pregnancy or giving birth can now get support from a new Maternal Mental Health Service here at STSFT.To talk about this service on this episode of Our People Podcast we were joined by Lead Midwife for Maternal Mental Health, Lorna Middlemass and Clinical Psychologist, Lyndsey Hall.The pair discuss how the service has many different support avenues for pregnant people and their families.Lorna and Lyndsey also talk about how the service meets the needs of the NHS Long Term Plan which sets out...
2023-04-1219 min
Our People PodcastThriveOn this week’s episode of Our People Podcast we spoke to Head of Clinical Health Psychology, Sonia Wilson and Clinical Psychologist, Sarah Markham.Sarah is also the Clinical Lead for Thrive which is a service that offers emotional and mental health support for all STSFT staff.Sarah and Sonia discuss how our staff can benefit from an in-house service such as Thrive and what it has to offer.
2023-03-2924 min
Our People PodcastSpecial Feature: Nursing and Midwifery Excellence ConferenceIn October STSFT hosted a conference all about Nursing and Midwifery Excellence.Nursing and Midwifery Excellence is the Trust's way of delivering the American Nursing Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence programme. The programme aims to promote excellence in practice and shared decision making across our nursing teams and is the only accredited programme of its kind in the world. On the day, we were joined by colleagues from two other Trust's who have already achieved Pathway to Excellence designation. Listen here to find out how they achieved designation, what their challenges were, and how...
2023-02-0825 min
Our People PodcastNHS Staff Survey (Big Health & Wellbeing Team Talk Special)The NHS Staff Survey is underway and this year we are also using it as part one of our STSFT Team Talk tools. It will help us improve how we listen and communicate with each other. The national survey gives our staff the opportunity to share their views about working for the Trust and NHS. To talk about this important survey, we were joined by Organisational & Leadership Development Advisor, Angela Dodds. She discusses how it helps us understand what our staff think we do well as an employer as well as highlight the things we need to...
2022-11-0911 min
Contingency FMLife after med school 6: Pursuing research and further academic studyIn this episode we are again joined by Dr Shalabh Srivastava, a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Newcastle University and Renal consultant at Sunderland hospital to explore the mysterious world of academic medicine... We explore the process of getting involved in research, including how to find a good supervisor, how to overcome set-backs and where to look for funding and opportunities.Â
Shalabh is a goldmine of good advice, with significant experience across lab-based and clinical research, so if you are considering looking into academic medicine, you won't be disappointed!
2020-08-1723 minContingency FMBedside Chats: RenalWe are joined today by Dr Shalabh Srivastava, a renal consultant at Sunderland Hospital and Senior Clinical Lecturer at Newcastle University. In this episode we ask Shalabh about how he came into renal medicine (after working with a medical-world celebrity!) and why he still loves it!
Stay tuned for the future of renal medicine and some opportunities you probably didn't know existed.
2020-08-1016 minContingency FMLife after med school 5: What is medicine isn't for me?In the last of our mini-series on careers, we ask the question: what do I do if I think medicine might not be for me?
As we discovered recording this, most medics ask themselves this question at least once in their careers, so if you have thought this, you aren't alone. We chat about how to approach this question, what other (more unusual) career paths there are in medicine that you may not have heard of yet, and why its ok if you decide this really isn't for you.
If you are seriously asking yourself...
2020-08-0211 minContingency FMLife after med school 4: To F3 or not to F3...Should I take an F3 year? What options are even out there? How can I choose?Â
If you've asked any of these questions, this episode may be for you! In this 4th episode of our mini series we take a look at what we all did for our F3 (and F4) years, taking an honest and open look at the highlights and drawbacks in all aspects of life.
2020-07-2637 minContingency FMLife after med school 3: Applications & InterviewsToday we continue with our series on life after med school by sharing the things we wish we had known about applications for specialty and surviving interviews! Similarly to the previous episode, this will focus on the following applications & interviews:
Core surgery training
Internal medicine training
General Practice specialty training
O&G specialty training
Paediatrics specialty training
Academic career paths
Stay tuned for some really practical advice on how to navigate this tricky and often mysterious part of medical training
____________________________________________________________________________
We have also produced a ppt with visual aids to this podcast, and...
2020-07-1949 minContingency FMLife after med school 2: What path should I take?In part 2 of our mini-series on life after med school, we look at what options are out there for different specialty training pathways, and discuss our own experience in deciding to pursue:
Core surgery training
Internal medicine training
General Practice specialty training
O&G specialty training
Paediatrics specialty training
Academic career paths
We have also produced a ppt with visual aids to this podcast, and a reflective decision questionnaire on how to work out what is important to you when asking yourself what you want to do. These are available at:
http://www.mediafire.com...
2020-07-1234 minContingency FMBedside Chats: RespiratoryMatthew and Phil have a chat with Dr Naomi Chamberlin (Respiratory Consultant, Sunderland Hospital) to find out what the best and most challenging bits are about this specialty. Stay tuned to hear why respiratory is such a varied and friendly place to work, musings on time travel and how Naomi helped Phil to change his life as a medical student.
2020-07-0521 minContingency FMBedside Chats: Obstetrics & GynaecologyAbi and Phil are joined by Mrs Cathy Emerson (Obstetrician, Sunderland Hospital), to chat about why O&G is such a diverse and rewarding specialty. Stay tuned for some great advice on reflection and avoiding despair when the worst happens, and how to learn from our successes too!
2020-06-2923 minContingency FMBedside Chats: Diabetes & EndocrinologyWe are joined today by Dr Alison Heggie, a Diabetes & Endocrine consultant (South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust) to find out more about life in this specialty. Stay tuned for some helpful tips on how to manage diabetes on call, how to make the most of your time on an endocrine ward and why endocrinology is a fascinating place in which to work.
Further resources can be found at:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/
https://www.endocrinology.org/clinical-practice/clinical-guidance/society-for-endocrinology-guidance/
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/professionals/resources/shared-practice/inpatient-and-hospital-care...
2020-06-2414 minContingency FMLife after med school 1: Succeeding in F1In the next few episodes we chat about all the things we wish we had been told before starting F1. In this episode, we focus on succeeding in F1. Stay tuned for advice on how to pass ARCP and how to learn efficiently & effectively on a busy job.
2020-06-1730 minContingency FMBreaking Bad NewsDuring COVID-19, most hospitals are stopping visiting. Phone conversations, which are part of the normal job are now even more common and more important. Breaking bad news is a difficult skill – today we unpack a telephone conversation that must discuss some bad news and dissect what is done well and what could be improved. Stay tuned for bloopers and some common errors made when discussing sensitive topics over the phone!
This episode can be listened to as stand-alone; however there is also an accompanying workbook, hosted at: http://www.mediafire.com/folder/2w5eqke9s56s3/Contingency_FM...
2020-06-1130 minContingency FMWhat to do when things are toughIn this episode, Matt, Phil and Abi sit down with Chris Tiplady (former Director of Medical Education at Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Haematologist, ILM Executive Coach and Mentor & Director of Undergraduate Clinical Studies for the University of Sunderland). Chris has tons of experience working with doctors all along the spectrum of finding work difficult. We use some real life examples and common questions we've had over the last few years to chat through how best to get help at times when we find ourselves struggling.
Stay tuned for advice on looking out for your friends, how best...
2020-06-0835 minContingency FMBedside Chats: HaematologyWe are joined by Dr Chris Tiplady (Consultant Haematologist at Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust) to get the low down on life in haematology, plus finding out the best way to discuss a patient with a haematologist. Stay tuned for some myth busting, some really practical tips and a narrowly avoided bad accent...
2020-06-0122 minContingency FMWhat's the deal with fluids?In this episode, we are joined by Dr Mike Sen, a COTE reg at Sunderland to discuss fluids. We look at three (well, technically five...) important questions to ask about fluid prescribing.
1) Â Does the patient need fluids?
2) What kind of fluids should the patient have, through which route?
3) How much and how fast?
Stay tuned for yet more bad (actual) dad jokes, a few personal lessons we have learned along the way and how we pick apart the nuanced topic that is fluid prescribing.
2020-05-2534 minContingency FMBedside chats: OrthopaedicsWe are joined today by Mr Yusuf Michla, (orthopaedic surgeon, Sunderland hospital) to chat about the highlights and challenges of a life in surgery, plus some valuable advice for anyone doing a rotation in surgery. Stay tuned to hear about the craziest operation Yusuf has ever seen, and some helpful tips for fighting wild mutant animals.
2020-05-2124 minContingency FMBedside chats: Intensive careIn today's episode, we grill Dr Mark Carpenter, ITU consultant at Sunderland hospital and newly appointed Sub-Dean for the Wear Base unit at Newcastle University. We get the low-down on why ITU is an awesome specialty, and some really helpful advice addressing any concerns about - and how to make the most of - an ITU rotation. Stay tuned for horse-phobias and more bad accents...
2020-05-1723 minContingency FMHow to make friends with the nursesWe chat all things nursing with Alison Blake (former ward manager) and Julie Stewart (former staff nurse). Stay tuned to hear how to best make friends with nurses, what on earth is 'banding' and why it is important (not colorectal surgery related...); and why we should trust a nurses 'waters'?
 There are additional written resources available (see: Appendix 2 - advice from nurses) on the MLE for Newcastle students or available for download at http://www.mediafire.com/folder/2w5eqke9s56s3/Contingency_FM.
2020-05-1331 minContingency FMBedside chats: PaediatricsToday we are joined by Dr Andy Mellon, Sunderland Paediatrician and Sub-Dean for the Wear base-unit at Newcastle university. Stay tuned for some good all round life advice for thinking about your future career choice, how to make the most of a paediatric rotation and what Andy would have to be if he was a kitchen utensil.
2020-05-0724 minContingency FMBedside chats: CardiologyIn this episode we sit down with Dr Mickey Jachuck, a cardiologist at South Tyneside Hospital. Stay tuned to hear if Phil will understand the term 'joke', some of the highlights of life in cardiology and some key tips for juniors rotating into the specialty.
2020-05-0414 minContingency FMOn-call tasks (Managing on-calls Part 3)In this final episode of the 3-part miniseries on on-call tasks, we discuss various common on-call tasks you may need to manage out of hours and give our tips and tricks to accomplishing these safely and effectively.Â
This episode can be listened to as stand-alone; however there is also an accompanying workbook and powerpoint, hosted at: http://www.mediafire.com/folder/2w5eqke9s56s3/Contingency_FM or, for Newcastle medical students, on the MLE under 5th year/HBP medicine/Wear/Contingency FM
You will need:Â
On-call tasks workbookÂ
On-call tasks answers powerpointÂ
On-call task...
2020-04-3043 minContingency FMHandover (Managing on-calls part 2)In this second of a 3-part miniseries on on-call tasks, we give you a virtual handover and give you a chance to practice prioritising tasks before talking through how we would go about prioritising, with our rationale and discussion about further information we may want to ask.Â
This episode can be listened to as stand-alone; however you may find it beneficial to engage with the handover activity.Â
You will need:Â
Paper and a pen
Handover podcastÂ
Instructions:Â
Listen to the podcast, and take the handover as you would if you were on ca...
2020-04-3022 minContingency FMPrioritisation (Managing on-calls part 1)In the next 3 episodes, we take you through some of the skills and activities that are helpful to develop whilst managing the on-call environment. In this podcast, we take you through a virtual seminar where we discuss methods of effective prioritisation.Â
This episode can be listened to as stand-alone; however there is also an accompanying workbook, hosted at: http://www.mediafire.com/folder/2w5eqke9s56s3/Contingency_FM or, for Newcastle medical students, on the MLE under 5th year/HBP medicine/Wear/Contingency FM
You will needÂ
Prioritisation introduction powerpointÂ
Prioritisation podcastÂ
Inst...
2020-04-3026 minContingency FMDealing with death and dyingTalking about death seems often to be a taboo in society. Yet, as doctors, we will all deal with death and dying on a regular basis – both in our personal lives and in our professional lives; and often  those two areas seem to merge. We talk about our own experiences of death and dying – both within the job, and how death and dying of friends and family has impacted on our work.Â
There are no additional resources attached to this episode.
2020-04-3031 minContingency FMPalliative PrescribingPrescribing can feel pretty complicated when it comes to End of Life care. We take you through a virtual seminar where we discuss some of the common treatments for different symptoms experienced by patients in their last days.Â
This episode can be listened to as stand-alone; however there is an accompanying powerpoint and workbook, hosted at: http://www.mediafire.com/folder/2w5eqke9s56s3/Contingency_FM or, for Newcastle medical students, on the MLE under 5th year/HBP medicine/Wear/Contingency FM
You will needÂ
End of life care – palliative prescribing questions documentÂ
End o...
2020-04-3030 minContingency FMMistakesAll doctors will make mistakes from time to time, despite our best intentions. The important thing is that we learn from these and share them so others can learn too. We discuss some of the mistakes we have made since qualifying, why these happened and how we dealt with these.
2020-04-3022 minContingency FMCapacity and ConsentIn this episode, we provide some examples of conversations where a doctor explores whether a patient has capacity. If listening to this without the workbook, consider whether the patient has capacity, and how the doctor is exploring this well, and in what ways it could be improved.Â
This episode can be listened to as stand-alone; however there is also an accompanying workbook, hosted at: http://www.mediafire.com/folder/2w5eqke9s56s3/Contingency_FM or, for Newcastle medical students, on the MLE under 5th year/HBP medicine/Wear/Contingency FM
You will needÂ
Ca...
2020-04-3015 minContingency FMEscalation and Critical CareIn this episode, we talk through various examples of times that we have had to respond to sick patients and how we have escalated care. We discuss how we felt when facing very sick patients and what we would do differently now if faced with the same situation.Â
There are no additional resources attached to this episode.
2020-04-3027 minContingency FMIntroduction to Contingency FMWelcome to Contingency FM, a podcast produced by teaching fellows at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
This podcast is endorsed by Newcastle University and the Northern Foundation School.
This podcast is aimed at final year medical students and junior doctors, to support key parts of practice, including dealing with death and dying, on-call shifts and prioritisation.
A second season will consist of interviews with consultants and specialists, with a joint focus on careers advice and practical advice for moving into jobs in specific specialties.
A guide...
2020-04-2907 min