South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

09/10/2026

Congratulations to specialty dentist Ushmita Johar, who has been named regional SAS Dentist of the Year at the NHS England North East SAS Awards 👏

Ushmita who works as a specialty dentist in the oral and maxillofacial surgery department at James Cook has dedicated more than 25 years to oral surgery care and training across India and the UK.

She was recognised for her outstanding commitment and dedication to delivering high-quality patient care and mentoring the next generation of dental trainees.

She said: “I am fortunate to be surrounded by a fantastic team that makes delivering excellent patient care possible every day.

"This achievement belongs to all of us.”

Read more:

An inspirational NHS dentist from Teesside has been presented with a special recognition award from NHS England.

09/10/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who attended our Annual General Meeting this week.

It was a fantastic opportunity to reflect on another year of achievements, innovation and progress across University Hospitals Tees.

We're incredibly proud of everything we've accomplished together and grateful to our colleagues, volunteers, partners and supporters who continue to make a difference for our patients and communities every day.

Thank you also to our teams and partners who got involved in our marketplace.

If you couldn't join us, you can read our highlights of the year on our website: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/news/highlights-of-the-year-2026/

08/10/2026

To mark SAS Week, Kamran Saeed, associate specialist in trauma and orthoapaedics and SAS tutor has shared a message of appreciation for our specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) workforce.

He said: "SAS doctors are a permanent member of our workforce; they provide valuable care to the patients in their area of expertise.”

Kamran was part of the team who were recently honoured with the SAS excellence in development recognition (SEiD) silver award by NHS England.

The team were praised for creating an inclusive, supportive and developmental environment for SAS doctors.

South Tees are one of only three trusts in the North East and Cumbria to achieve this.

Our SAS workforce plays a vital role in delivering high-quality care, bringing a wealth of experience, specialist knowledge and continuity to services across University Hospitals Tees.

This SAS Week, join us in celebrating and raising awareness of the invaluable contribution they make every day.

08/10/2026

This week are celebrating our SAS workforce, recognising the invaluable contribution they make to patient care, education, leadership and service improvement across University Hospitals Tees.

Meet Udochukwu Alfred Oledinma, one of our SAS doctors working in the ENT service.

He said: “The reason I became an SAS doctor is so that I’ll be able to deliver adequate patient care while giving myself the opportunity to progress along the path of ENT, which has been my passion since graduating as a doctor.”


North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

07/10/2026

If you have taken the big step of quitting for Stoptober, then you’ve officially been a non-smoker for a week now!

Congratulations – and remember, if you need our support, reach out to us.

www.southtees.nhs.uk/staff/staff-wellbeing/stop-smoking-support

07/10/2026

This week, we are celebrating our SAS workforce, recognising the vital contributions they make across University Hospitals Tees.

Meet one of our SAS tutors microbiology training in Sri Lanka before moving to the UK. He is now a specialist in microbiology and SAS tutor at University Hospitals Tees.

He said: “What I find most rewarding is the opportunity to support my SAS colleagues, listen to their experiences and help them identify opportunities for leadership, development and career progression.”

To mark SAS Week, he shared this message with fellow SAS doctors and dentists:
“Your experience, skills and contributions matter. Be proud of your role, keep growing and make your voice heard.”

06/10/2026

“Whether you have been nominated or not, we simply could not do what we do without the people in our teams. This is a heartfelt thank you from all of us."

University Hospitals Tees held its first Caring Better Together Awards this week - our chance to thank so many of our teams for everything they do for patients.

Read more about some of the amazing staff recognised.

https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/news/nhs-heroes-honoured-at-health-groups-first-awards-event/

05/10/2026

✨ What a night!

Tonight we celebrated the very best of University Hospitals Tees at our inaugural Caring Better Together Awards.

Congratulations to all of our winners and runners-up, and thank you to everyone who was nominated. The stories shared this evening showcased the extraordinary compassion, innovation, teamwork and dedication that exists across our organisation every day.

From clinical excellence and service transformation to volunteering, leadership and patient-centred care, every finalist should be immensely proud of their achievements.

Thank you to our colleagues, volunteers, patients, guests and everyone involved in making tonight such a special event.

Together, we are caring better together. 💙

If you missed any of our winners, you can catch up on them all in our Facebook feed now!

05/10/2026

🌟 Chief Executive Award: Chosen personally by Stacey Hunter, chief executive of University Hospitals Tees, this special recognition celebrates an individual who has made an exceptional contribution through leadership, innovation and dedication to improving the lives of patients and colleagues.

🏆 Congratulations to Kirsty Jones, consultant therapist for stroke and complex rehabilitation, who has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to patient care and rehabilitation.

As the first stroke therapy consultant in the North East, and one of only seven nationally, Kirsty has helped raise the profile of therapies at the forefront of recovery. Her pioneering role reflects the vital contribution that therapy services make in supporting patients to regain independence and achieve the best possible outcomes after stroke.

Known for her passion and drive, Kirsty is a source of inspiration for patients, families, communities and colleagues alike.

05/10/2026

🌟 The inspirational clinical leader award: Handpicked in honour of recently retired medical director Diane Monkhouse, this special award recognises an inspirational clinical leader who demonstrates exceptional commitment to patients, colleagues and service improvement through outstanding leadership.

🏆 Congratulations to Anna Barnard, consultant hand and plastic surgeon and service director for trauma and orthopaedics, reconstructive and plastic surgery, ENT, oral maxillofacial surgery, dermatology and ophthalmology. Anna has been recognised this evening with this prestigious award.

As a respected clinical leader, Anna has played a key role in supporting services, colleagues and patients across a wide range of specialties. Through her leadership, expertise and dedication, she continues to champion high standards of care while helping teams work together to deliver the very best outcomes for patients.