South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has launched its annual #NightwearBeforeChristmas campaign to help those staying at South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital.

The Trust is collecting nighties and pairs of pyjamas so they can be handed out on December 24 to patients staying on wards over the holiday period. The appeal has been launched earlier than in past years in the hope even more packages can be collected in 2025.

Wards will also welcome items including slippers with backs on them, toiletries, novels, puzzles and colouring in books. Many of those who receive the gifts will be without family or friends close at hand.

The appeal is led by the Delirium and Dementia Outreach Team (DDOT). Its members spend time out on wards at both hospitals, helping older patients get moving, talking and involved in activities. This rehabilitation is aimed at getting them ready for discharge.

DDOT also runs the Alexandra Centre at Sunderland Royal Hospital, which welcomes in patients from wards so they can enjoy hobbies, music, games and celebrations.

Claire Boylan is an Elder Life Specialist Practitioner (ELSP) with the team. She said: “We’re always amazed by the generosity of families, businesses and other supporters who have helped us give patients a heartwarming gift at Christmas time.

“Our patients are so grateful and it’s also lovely for our teams out in the wards because it raises their spirits when they’re working hard and they see those they’re looking after feel special.

“This year we’ve started our campaign even earlier to give us an even better chance at collecting more gifts to pass on. We know there are already Christmas displays out in the shops, so we thought we better get collecting, especially as pyjamas are always a popular present.

“Anyone who donates can be sure they’ll be making someone’s Christmas a better one.”

People are asked to wrap up their nightwear and label it to say if it it is for a man or woman and its size.

To donate at Sunderland Royal Hospital, people are asked to take their gift to the Alexandra Centre on E Floor. A drop off point has been set up ready for packages in case a member of the team is not available. The centre is open from 8am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. Anyone with any questions can call DDOT on 0191 569 9766 or the switchboard on 0191 565 6256, extension 41572.

To donate at South Tyneside District Hospital, people are asked to take their item to the Discharge Lounge. This is based on Ward 20, which is in the Deans Ward, opposite the main hospital building. The lounge is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and from 8am to 6pm on Sunday.

More information about the work of DDOT can be found through the Dementia Care page of the Trust’s website.

Jason Bryant, from South Shields, has made two copies of the same image now he is well enough to paint again.

That was the finding of a survey by Healthwatch South Tyneside, requested by the borough council’s Public Health Team.

South Tyneside has the highest number of alcohol-related deaths in the North-East and second highest in England.

In a bid to tackle the shocking statistic, Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy ‘Calling the Shots’ – developed by South Tyneside’s Alcohol Strategy Group, partners and local residents who have faced alcohol-related issues – was launched in March.

Six key priorities were agreed in the strategy:

• Prevention and early intervention of alcohol misuse
• Protecting our children and young people, and creating the conditions for an alcohol-free childhood
• Reducing health inequalities
• Delivering a quality, safe and effective treatment system
• Tackling alcohol-related stigma
• Improving community safety.

It builds on South Tyneside’s ‘A Better U’ campaign, which promotes everyone working together to improve health and wellbeing. It looks at how alcohol harm is influenced by individual drinking habits and community-wide consumption and considers universal and targeted support specific for certain groups in the community.

South Tyneside Council’s Public Health Team asked Healthwatch to carry out a survey to gather feedback to help them to better understand residents’ experiences of Alcohol Brief Intervention (ABI).

The Public Health Team was especially interested in feedback from patients who experienced this intervention in GP practices and pharmacies, often the first point of contact.

Specifically, they wanted to find out:

• How do residents perceive ABI?
• Have there been any missed opportunities to deliver ABI?
• Are other health and care services (including primary care) asking about alcohol?

The Public Health Team provided copies of ‘Calling the Shots’, which Healthwatch South Tyneside shared during our engagement activity with the general public, community groups, hospital information stands and voluntary and statutory organisations. The report was well received and further copies were requested.

Healthwatch contacted and planned visits to a number of established groups in the community during July, August and September, and 64 people completed the survey.

More than four-fifths of respondents said they had been asked by a health professional about their alcohol intake and, of these, all gave an answer as to who had asked them – ranging from GP to nurse to dentist to online pharmacy.

Questions about alcohol consumption have become routine during general health checks and, where appropriate, a number of patients were referred to South Tyneside Adult Recovery Service (STARS).

There was a definite brand recognition for this service, with positive comments including ‘great support’ and ‘a lifeline’.

Some respondents felt that certain health professionals would benefit from additional training about addictions. Comments included:

“I think that it would be useful for health professionals to attend a workshop at STARS to see the different scenarios of how alcohol affects different people and the processes put in place for each individual.”

“I think that all GPs need to understand dependency.”

“Health professionals such as the GP or Practice Nurse are not specialists in this area.”

There were also strong opinions about appropriate times for medical professionals to ask questions about alcohol consumption. They included during pregnancy, any appointments relating to mental health and anyone going through the grieving process.

But some thought it should be a standard question at any medical appointment.

Responding to the report, the Public Health Team said: “We would like to express our appreciation to Healthwatch for supporting resident engagement and helping us gain a clearer understanding of community needs and experiences. The insights gathered will inform a broader initiative focused on strengthening our system-wide approach to Alcohol Identification and Brief Advice. Thank you!

Read our full report: https://www.healthwatchsouthtyneside.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Alcohol-Brief-Intervention-with-provider-response-October-2025.pdf

The new drop-in clinic is designed for young people only, aged under 19 years of age (this also includes under 16s).

The Young Persons drop-in clinic will run every Tuesday from 3.30pm to 6.30pm at South Tyneside Sexual Health at Palmer Community Hospital in Jarrow.

Young people do not need an appointment; this is a new drop in service – young people can just simply turn up to see one of the team who can support them with their sexual health care.

The dedicated young persons drop-in will be offering full sexual health provision including:

• Symptom management and STI testing
• Contraception
• Free condoms
• Pregnancy testing
• Health promotion
• Sexual health advising
• Vaccinations (if appropriate)

The new clinic is in addition to the existing telephone appointments/triage service and aims to address barriers to accessing sexual health services such as the need to take time off work, school or college.

For more information on sexual health services for young people download the information leaflet or visit the South Tyneside Sexual Health website, which also includes downloadable resources such as contraceptive offer, provision and also some commonly asked questions to help support young people.

The Pharmaceutical Needs Survey (PNA) has concluded that community pharmacies are well distributed throughout the borough.

Access to the 32 pharmacies is good, with 40% of residents living within a five minute walk to a pharmacy, 74% within a ten-minute walk, and 99% within a 20-minute walk.

The PNA also found that community pharmacies provide a wide range of services including the NHS Advanced services and locally commissioned services which contribute to improving the health and
wellbeing of the people of South Tyneside.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 transferred the responsibility for developing and updating pharmaceutical needs assessments from Primary Care Trusts to Health & Wellbeing Boards with a requirement to publish the first PNA by 1 April 2015 and at minimum every three subsequent years.

The pharmaceutical needs assessment is used by NHS England in its consideration of applications to join the pharmaceutical list, and by commissioners of community pharmacy enhanced and locally commissioned services to make decisions on how to best meet the needs of the local population.

It looks at the current and future provision of pharmacy services and assesses whether there are any potential gaps in service delivery.

South Tyneside Health and Wellbeing Board has just published the 100-page PNA report, compiled with the support of Healthwatch South Tyneside which helped promote the survey which more than 130 people took part in.

It also includes a detailed analysis of the borough’s demographic make-up and health indices.

A full copy can be downloaded here.

All scaffolding has now been removed from the exterior of the building, revealing in full the striking architecture of the new Eye Hospital in Sunderland city centre. It marks a major milestone in the project’s progress.

The scaffolding is not the only thing coming down as healthcare leaders continue to make great strides in reducing waiting times for patients needing eye care.

The latest NHS data published for July 2025 shows South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is the best performing across the whole of the North East and North Cumbria when it comes to fast access to eye services.

81% of people using the Trust’s eye services are now being seen within 18 weeks of referral by their GP or Optometrist, with an average waiting time of just 8 weeks for treatment. This compares to the national average of 70% of patients being seen within 18 weeks and an average wait of 10 weeks.

Healthcare leaders in charge of the region’s specialist Eye Hospital still want to go much further to make sure people are seen quickly for their NHS eye care.

Dr Ajay Kotagiri, Clinical Director of Ophthalmology Services at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The removal of scaffolding is a hugely exciting moment for everyone involved in the project and especially our staff. It’s the first time you can see the hospital’s design from the street and it is very impressive.

“We’re so proud of the exceptional eye care we already provide in Sunderland, but we’re looking forward to having the facility to match. All our staff are working incredibly hard to give people fast access to our eye services, and this will remain a core focus for us over the next nine months as we prepare to move to the new site.”

The region’s new Eye Hospital will house the Trust’s leading Cataract Treatment Centre which is one of the biggest services of its kind in the country. It carries out up to 7,000 cataract operations a year using the current two theatres at Sunderland Eye Infirmary. With a third theatre being added to the new facility, this provides the opportunity to speed up access to care even further.

Other key features of the new three-story Eye Hospital include:

• A 24/7 Emergency Department for eye injuries and emergencies
• A Retina Unit for macular conditions
• A Surgical Day Unit
• Imaging Hub and Outpatients Department
• Children’s Outpatient facilities
• Operating theatres

Part of the wider Riverside Sunderland development, the new Eye Hospital has been designed to reflect a modern and welcoming healthcare environment. It will replace the current Sunderland Eye Infirmary on Queen Alexandra Road.

Appointed by Sunderland City Council, contractor Kier will now shift focus to the hospital’s internal fit-out. Progress is already evident inside, with vibrant colours brightening the Emergency Department, flooring being laid on the ground and first floors, and the structure for the impressive open staircase being installed.

In the coming months, work will continue internal finishes, cycle storage, and the completion of the adjacent park. These developments will further enhance the hospital’s welcoming environment for patients, staff, and visitors.

To support the Trust’s ambition to remain at the forefront of innovation in eye care, its STS Charity has launched the ‘Vision Appeal’. This is a campaign to raise £1 million for cutting-edge equipment and technology beyond the core build.

This includes ocular motility analysers, advanced visual field-testing equipment, and motorised adjustable examination chairs. These technologies ensure patients benefit from the very latest in diagnostic and treatment capabilities.

Set to welcome its first patients in summer 2026, the facility remains on track for completion in spring next year.

Source: https://www.stsft.nhs.uk/news/latest-news/regions-new-eye-hospital-full-sight-scaffolding-comes-down