2023: A year in review
Published on 29/12/2023
As 2023 draws to a close, we look back at some the achievements we've seen within the trust this year...
January
- The £97million Heartlands Treatment Centre opened its doors and treated its first patient.
Read the article - Surgeons at Solihull Hospital carried out their 300th robotic urology procedure.
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February
- UHB Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr Philip J O’Halloran began pioneering research on the effectiveness of headgear in reducing brain injury in rugby.
Read the article - The endocrine service at UHB became one of eight centres in the world to be awarded a five-star centre of excellence rating.
March
- Birmingham Chest Clinic marked its 90th birthday in style with a celebratory open day, where clinic staff gathered with patients to celebrate its rich history.
Read the article - Hospital chaplain Imam Mohammad Asad was presented with his MBE by the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle.
Read the article - A new sleep lab was officially opened at Solihull Hospital.
April
- Commemorative jigsaw artwork began being installed across all our sites, featuring photos of our staff in honour of their incredible contributions during the pandemic.
Read the article - UHB was the first site in the UK to launch the BioNTech Messenger RNA (mRNA) cancer vaccines trial which aimed to recruit 10,000 people across the UK.
May
- A new education centre was officially opened at Good Hope Hospital.
Read the article - A trainee nursing associate-led area opened on Ward 411 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
Read the article - Our Research Showcase returned for the first time in four years, featuring the latest in research, development and innovation from across the Trust
- Being in hospital didn’t prevent patients from enjoying every moment of the Coronation of their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
June
- A £1 million new Urgent Treatment Centre was opened at Solihull Hospital with a special ribbon cutting opening by the Mayor of Solihull.
Read the article - Artificial intelligence software ‘RapidAI’ was introduced at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, with the aim of improving care for stroke patients across Birmingham and further afield.
- The National Organ Retrieval Service (NORS) team which makes sure organs are available for life-saving transplants, received national recognition for its outstanding work during the pandemic.
Read the article - The Trust’s first getting to work sustainably roadshow visited each of our hospitals in June, aiming to help staff to be greener on the go.
July
- A ground-breaking new six-part TV series Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death – which was filmed at UHB – hit our TV screens.
Read the article - Colleagues from across the organisation gathered at Birmingham City Football Club on 30 June for our annual Nurses’ Conference.
- Birmingham’s first NHS Community Diagnostic Centre officially opened at Washwood Heath on 4 July, providing a one-stop shop for appointments to diagnose an array of illnesses as part of work to combat the impact of growing waiting lists across the NHS.
Read the article - A world-first lung disease research partnership was announced involving UHB. The link-up with medical technology company, Qureight, will help ensure patients from minority ethnic backgrounds receive better-tailored and effective treatments by building more diverse artificial intelligence models.
August
- Patient Luke Davies thanked staff at Good Hope Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for their exceptional care, which enabled him to attend his wedding day shortly after he broke his leg.
Read the article - The Birmingham NIHR Clinical Research Facility was awarded £4 million from the National Institute for Health and Care Research to pay for new research equipment and improve research facilities.
- Nurse Carly Koncuk credited her brother and son, who share a rare genetic condition, with encouraging her to follow her dream of becoming a community nurse.
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September
- Kim Smith, a 66-year-old heart attack patient, experienced a life-changing breakthrough after receiving stem cell therapy at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, with scans showing almost complete restoration of her heart muscle function just weeks later.
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October
- The UHB Sexual Safety Charter was signed by the Executive Team on Monday 16 October, accompanied by a campaign to end misogyny, sexism and sexual harassment at UHB.
- The Cardiology Day Case Unit at Good Hope Hospital was officially opened.
- Friends and colleagues came together at the unveiling of a memorial bench and plaque in honour of Dr Michael Kamalarajan at Solihull Hospital.
- Hilary Fanning, Director of Research and Innovation at UHB, was awarded an honorary MBE for her services to genomic delivery in the NHS.
- We launched 'Welcome to Leadership', a leadership programme or colleagues with people management responsibilities.
November
- On Thursday 2 November, members of the Trust Board, governors, and staff representatives signed the UHB Anti-racist Organisation Statement. This signified our commitment to making UHB an actively anti-racist organisation.
- A new therapy gym opened at Solihull Hospital, offering improved rehabilitation opportunities for patients.
Read the article - Strictly star Amy Dowden thanked staff and rang the bell at Good Hope Hospital after having her last chemotherapy treatment.
- The Enhanced Post-operative Care Team (EPOC) team at QEHB treated its 3000th patient.
Read the article - We honoured our wonderful admin colleagues with our own admin week and admin awards.
- The Heartlands Treatment Centre was voted building project of the year in the Constructing Excellence Awards on 24 November.
Read the article - More than 300 people came together for our annual memorial service
December
- A new unit at QEHB is now offering same day emergency care for older patients (Frailty SDEC).
Read the article - Our disability conference was held at Heartlands Hospital
- A scale model of ‘The Ribbons’, the Birmingham AIDS and HIV memorial was unveiled at Heartlands Hospital to mark World AIDS Day.
