In 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.

Staff 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 updates from STSFT!

To 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.

As we have already discovered in this series of Our People Podcast, a series of teams work alongside each other to provide care at Sunderland Eye Infirmary.

The latest to be featured on the podcast is the research team, who carry out such valuable work to help us maintain the highest of standards.

Hear from Senior Research Nurse Karen Davidson, Research Nurse Michelle Young and Senior Ophthalmic Photographer Nicolle Teasdale as they discuss their roles, the work carried out by the team and the upcoming move to the new eye hospital in Sunderland.

Rafaela Schelle is a Specialist Orthoptist and Orthoptic Department Manager at Sunderland Eye Infirmary.

She joined us for this episode of Our People Podcast to discuss all things orthoptics, and the transformational effect she expects the new eye hospital to make.

Changing Futures is a multi-million pound partnership aimed at reforming health and wellbeing for those most in need.

Our Alcohol Care Team here at the Trust plays a key role within Changing Futures.

Listen to Lead Alcohol Nurse Specialist Roisin Burdis to find out how the Alcohol Care Team help patients in our region.

Roisin is joined by host Rob Parnaby who is the Trust's former Directorate Manager in Gastroenterology and Metabolic Medicine.

They are also joined by Changing Futures Senior Responsible Officer Mark Smith and Touchpoint Operational Lead Victoria Johansen.

Continuing our theme on the eye care provided by the Trust, we catch up with consultant optometrist and the head of optometry service at Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Chris Steele.

Chris talks about his career background and provides a guide to optometry, as well as a description of just what a difference the new Eye Hospital will make.

We again focus on the fantastic work of Sunderland Eye Infirmary in this episode of Our People Podcast.

In the hotseat are Directorate Manager Fiona McKinley and Matron Carol Jobling.