Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (DBTH) is one of Yorkshire’s leading healthcare providers, serving over 440,000 people across South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire, and surrounding areas.
As a teaching hospital, DBTH plays a vital role in developing the next generation of NHS professionals—training 25% of the region’s medical students and 30% of all other healthcare professional students.
This article explores the Trust’s key sites and services, its values and operations, its proud history, and how BORIS software is helping DBTH deliver safer, more efficient care.
A Leading NHS Trust in Yorkshire
DBTH delivers a full range of hospital and community services across several key sites:
Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI)
A major acute hospital with over 500 beds, DRI features a 24-hour Emergency Department and trauma unit, as well as specialist services such as vascular surgery. It offers inpatient, outpatient, day-case, and diagnostic care, and acts as a key hub for clinical training and education.
Bassetlaw Hospital
Located in Worksop, Bassetlaw Hospital is an acute care facility with 170+ beds, its own 24-hour Emergency Department, and services including breast care, renal dialysis, and maternity (with a Midwife-Led Birth Centre).
Montagu Hospital
This non-acute community hospital in Mexborough provides rehabilitation services, a nurse-led minor injuries unit, chronic pain management, outpatient care, and more. It’s home to the Montagu Hospital Rehabilitation Centre, the Clinical Simulation Centre, and in January 2024, it launched the £14.9 million Montagu Elective Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence (MEOC). A new state-of-the-art Stroke Rehabilitation gym, The Phoenix Therapy Suite, is set to open in June 2025.
Additional Locations
- Retford Hospital: Offers outpatient clinics, physiotherapy, and diagnostics.
- Sandringham Road Centre: Hosts the Audiology service.
- Devonshire House: Provides Mammography and Children’s Speech and Language Therapy services near DRI.
Vision, Values, and Strategy
DBTH’s vision is simple yet ambitious:
“Healthier together – Delivering exceptional care for all.”
This vision is brought to life through “The DBTH Way”—a framework rooted in the Trust’s “We Care” values, which include:
- Putting patients first
- Valuing everyone
- Commitment to quality
- Compassionate care
- Responsibility and accountability
- Inclusion and support for staff diversity
Strategic priorities are shaped around four core areas:
- Patients – ensuring safe, exceptional care
- People – creating a supportive and rewarding workplace
- Partnership – building strong community and system collaborations
- Pounds – using public funds wisely and efficiently
The Trust aligns its work with wider NHS strategies, including Integrated Care Boards, local Place plans, and the NHS Long Term Plan.
Governance and Community Involvement
As an NHS Foundation Trust, DBTH is overseen by a Board of Directors and a Council of Governors.
- The Board manages day-to-day operations and drives performance.
- The Council, comprising elected staff, public, and partner representatives, ensures that leadership remains accountable and community-focused.
With around 16,000 Trust members, DBTH encourages public involvement. Membership is free and open to all, allowing individuals to receive updates, vote in elections, attend events, or even stand as a governor themselves.
A Rich and Proud History
Each DBTH site has a unique story:
- DRI began as a dispensary in 1792, evolving over the centuries into the large-scale, modern hospital it is today.
- Bassetlaw Hospital dates back to 1900, with significant developments completed in the 1980s.
- Montagu Hospital was founded in 1890, thanks to a donation from local landowner Andrew Montagu and community fundraising.
- Retford Hospital, built in 1922 in memory of WWI casualties, remains an active site for outpatient care and community health services.
How BORIS Software Is Supporting DBTH
DBTH utilises BORIS Software to conduct BM Trada fire door surveys—a crucial aspect of maintaining patient and staff safety across hospital estates. By adopting BORIS, the Trust has seen substantial benefits:
Faster, Smarter Workflows
What used to take five days—including manually writing reports and attaching images—can now be completed in just one day or less, thanks to BORIS’s intuitive interface and drop-down data entry options.
Improved Prioritisation
Teams now have better visibility to develop more strategic action plans, identifying and prioritising maintenance tasks more effectively.
User-Approved Efficiency
Staff describe the software as “10 times easier” than previous processes, calling it a “game saver” for time, energy, and resources.
A Step Toward Digital Transformation
BORIS Software plays a key role in DBTH’s broader push toward digital innovation, supporting compliance, safety, and more innovative estate management across the Trust.
Conclusion
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals are not only vital healthcare providers but also trailblazers in innovation, staff development, and community care. Their use of BORIS Software is a powerful example of how digital tools can transform operational efficiency, ensuring that more time and resources are directed toward what matters most—delivering outstanding care. Need to transform your business? Book a demo with BORIS Software!
