Explore every episode of the podcast SOUTHPOD

In our latest podcast episode, we’re shining a spotlight on bronchiectasis – a long term respiratory illness that affects the airways and can have a significant impact on everyday life. 

Joining us to explore the condition is respiratory nurse specialist Chris, physiotherapist Brian Forristal and pharmacist Christine Tate. 

Together they discuss the importance of recognising symptoms, understanding treatment options and supporting people with bronchiectasis to breathe easier and live well.

#Bronchiectasis #LungHealth #HealthAwareness

Following on from ‘Walk This May’ and our focus on staying active during pregnancy and beyond. We sat down with an incredible mum, alongside her gorgeous 8‑month‑old baby, for a relaxed, real and honest chat about her journey through pregnancy, postnatal recovery, and breastfeeding. 

Together we explored:

• Staying active during pregnancy
• Finding your way back to movement after baby
• The ups and downs of breastfeeding
• Looking after yourself while caring for your little one

A genuine, heart-warming conversation that celebrates real life, real challenges, and real strength 

🎧 Have a listen.

We hear from Holly, a local mum who shares her experience of postnatal mental illness and recovery.
Following the birth of her daughter, Holly experienced postpartum psychosis, a serious but treatable condition. She speaks honestly about how she felt in those early weeks, the support she received, and how she was able to rebuild her confidence and connection with her baby.
We also hear from Health Visitors and the Perinatal Mental Health Team about the importance of early support, listening, and recognising when a mum may be struggling.
Around 1 in 4 women experience a mental health difficulty during pregnancy or after birth. This conversation highlights how early help can make a real difference, for both mum and baby.

As part of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 (4–10 May), women share their experiences of accessing specialist perinatal mental health support in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.  

This podcast features women with lived experience and clinicians discussing the impact of early, tailored support during pregnancy and in the first year after birth. Perinatal mental health difficulties are common, and reaching out for support can make a real difference for mothers and families.  

The Southern Trust provides specialist support for women with moderate to severe perinatal mental health needs through a dedicated multidisciplinary team. A key part of the service is the specialist antenatal mental health clinic at Craigavon, which offers longer appointments and continuity of care.  

Referrals can be made through your midwife, GP or health visitor.  

In this special Southpod episode for World Social Work Day 2026, we explore this year’s global theme: “Co-Building Hope and Harmony – A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society.”

Social workers play a vital role in supporting individuals, families and communities through some of life’s most challenging moments. In this conversation, colleagues from across our services reflect on what it means to build hope in everyday practice — from working in GP surgeries and integrated care teams to supporting people during times of crisis and recovery.

We also hear directly from Hayley, a service user, who shares how the support of her social work team helped her rebuild independence following major surgery, highlighting the power of relationships, compassion and small acts of support.

Together, these voices show how hope is not just a concept, but something that is created through partnership, understanding and community.

Join us as we recognise the impact of social work and the importance of working together to support healthier, more connected communities.

In this episode we're joined by the Southern Trust Nutritional Standards Coordinator Dorota Culbert and Public Health Dietitian Collette O'Brien as they discuss the introduction of the HSC Nutritional Standards across facilities in the organisation. 

They explore what the standards mean in practice, how they support healthier choices for staff and visitors and the challenges and successes of putting them into action. 

Whether you are staff or involved in catering, or just curious about improving nutrition for staff or visitors in healthcare settings, this conversation offers valuable insights into creating a healthier food environment across the Trust. 

More information on the Public Health Dietitians YouTube channel

https://youtube.com/@publichealthdietitians9636?si=pjmyqn7iCcSNcXQ9

#HSC #MakingADifference

On the latest edition of SOUTHPOD we’re joined by our Workplace Wellbeing Team to learn about the team and their roles, the support they’re offering our staff and impact they’re seeing their support have on teams across the Trust. 

We also learn about the role of our Wellbeing Champions and how the team are supporting them to keep wellbeing in the minds of staff.

We start the year off with a great incentive to get healthier. The Public Health Agency's #DryJanuary campaign is to support and encourage people to abstain from drinking alcohol for the whole month. Read more here https://drugsandalcoholni.info/campaigns/djfgf/

Alcohol remains our number one drug of choice in Northern Ireland and we’re highlighting the work of our Community Addiction Service in our latest podcast episode on SOUTHPOD.
Staff reflect on the challenges of substance dependency, the power of recovery and the life changing support available to those who need it most.
🎧Listen now and hear about
✔The vital role of the Community Addiction Service
✔Inspiring stories from service users in recovery
✔More on how referrals are made to the service
#AddictionRecovery #CommunitySupport #HSC #MakingADifference

Our Speech and Language therapist Debi, who works within Sure Start, shares valuable insights on how parents can play a pivotal role in their child's speech and language development.
And how the benefits of focusing on how simple interactions during everyday activities can significantly enhance and help children thrive in speech and language development rather than relying solely on toys or digital devices.

Join us as we raise awareness for those living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Our latest podcast features Chris Barron, respiratory nurse specialist who looks further into COPD management, tips for better lung health and the latest treatments making a difference.
Whether you're living with COPD, caring for some with the disease or just want to learn more, tune in here. 
#WorldCOPDDay #COPD #LungHealth

Being breast aware means knowing what’s normal for you so you can spot any unusual changes as soon as possible.
Nicola Pope knows that as she was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump on one of her breasts.
Almost a year on from her diagnosis, Nicola shares her story to highlight why we all need to be breast aware.

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month and in our latest episode we are delighted that our colleagues from Glenanne Breast Clinic are taking over our podcast to discuss this important topic. 

Christine and Sarah, both radiographers in the clinic, have been joined by Estelle and Tracey, who have both had first-hand experience of a breast cancer diagnosis and met through their chemotherapy appointments and now are using their passion to help other women through a similar diagnosis by telling cancer to ‘jog on’.

 
Find out more about Jog on Cancer 5k/10k charity walk or run
Jog on Cancer 5k and 10k | njuko.com

Early detection and treatment of respiratory infections are crucial for saving lives. 

In celebration of #WorldLungDay today we bring you our latest podcast episode with Chris Barron and Royanne Dickson, respiratory nurse specialists and Rhonda Green, respiratory physiologist. 

They discuss how to achieve good respiratory health, symptoms of lung disease and the correct treatments available. 
#RespiratoryHealth #WorldLungDay

From its personalised care to its home-like environment to the feeling of empowerment - our Midwifery Led Units (MLU) means so much to many mums during their labour, birth and their immediate post-partum period. 

We were delighted to welcome back mum Amy who joined us to talk about her experiences of the MLU within Craigavon Area Hospital.

In Amy's words - "there really is no other place like it." ❤️

We catch up with our service user involvement team to find out a bit more information on what the user involvement team does, the training and supports that are available to staff,  and also to hear a bit about the experience of a Hayley, one of the service users that is involved in helping us shape and improve our services.

Especially for #LearningDisabilityWeek, Majella Gorman, one of our learning disability carer consultants sat down with a number of our specialist teams who support service users with a #learningdisability in the community.

Clare from the epilepsy nursing team, Hannah from the learning disability crisis response team, Eva from complex care, Ruth from health facilitation and Elaine from the learning disability dementia team explain their roles and how their work facilitates discharge from hospital and helps avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.   

Adult Learning Disability | Southern Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)

We have over 200 Volunteers within the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and in this latest episode we have a chat with Eleanor and Katlo, two of our amazing volunteers who share why they love volunteering and what they have gained personally since taking up the role.  
As part of #VolunteersWeek, we also catch up with one of our Keyworkers, Rev Michael Rooney and find out how volunteers are supported and discuss the different roles available with our Volunteer Co-ordinators. Make sure to listen and find out how they make a huge difference to our patients, visitors and staff. 

From bumps to babies, breastmilk to baby poo - our midwives see it all.
With their experience and expertise, they not only support families through the most wonderful times of their life's but are also a huge support to many through difficult decisions or traumatic situations. So how do they get through the highs and lows of what comes with being a midwife?
Today to mark International Day of the Midwife, we talk to Sinead Campbell, a Sister within Craigavon Area Hospital's maternity unit, about this amazing role where she not only gets to see babies being born but sees that magical transition for many from adult to parent.

Three years ago, the Southern Trust partnered with East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) to develop an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies / NHS Talking Therapies aligned service. 
As the three year partnership draws to a close, we take a look back at the success of this partnership, highlighting the wins and challenges experienced and how this service delivery model has been embraced by service users. 

Steps to Wellness accepts referrals from GP only. Your GP can offer advice on how Steps to Wellness may help you and they can refer to us on your behalf.

Find out more by visiting 
Steps to Wellness | Southern Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)

On this episode we catch up with Lisa, one of our Social Workers and Ciara, a long standing foster carer to find out what being a foster parent means, how to start the process and the importance of being a foster carer! 

Tune in for this inspiring episode. 

Listen to our Stop Smoking Service Specialists across Southern Health and Social Care Trust discuss the vital Stop Smoking service they offer to those people who want to quit smoking, the support they provide to colleagues, the referral process, any concerns about the programme and how to overcome these, the short and long terms benefits of quitting smoking and success stories. 

In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Laura, Ciara, and Laura to discuss the rewarding world of domiciliary care and working in the Health Service. 
We delve into the qualities needed to succeed in this role, the challenges and triumphs experienced, and how you can become part of our dedicated team in the Southern Trust. Tune in and be inspired to make a difference in people's lives and you community. 

Join Deepthi and Cathy on our latest podcast episode as we dive into the changes in equality, diversity, and inclusion within the Southern Trust. With firsthand experiences and insights, we'll explore the progress made and challenges in this important area! Don't miss it! 

Special guests from the Southern Trust Recovery college. The Recovery College works to empower those with experience of mental health problems to realise their potential and foster hope, opportunity and control.  They aim to provide an opportunity that is free from stigma, is strengths based and focused on the person and not the illness.

Anyone can enroll for a FREE course on our website: Recovery College Courses | Southern Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)

We know how difficult it can be for some people to find the courage to enrol and attend our courses but feedback from those that do, highlight the learning and the understanding that “ it’s not just me, I'm not on my own.” 

To kick off 2024 we catch up with Deputy Sisters Rebekah and Emma who work on the Cloughmore Ward, Bluestone. They dive into the life of a mental health nurse and share their passions about creating safe wards. 

In our latest podcast episode on SOUTHPOD, in recognition of World COPD Day on Wednesday, November 16,  Chris Barron and Elizabeth Sloan, our respiratory nurse specialists and Drs Michael Shiel and Helen Close discuss chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - symptoms, causes, treatment and living with the condition. 
#COPD 

Conversations  about Menopause are increasing but there are still lots of queries and misinformation.   
Join Dr Sharma, Consultant Gynaecologist in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, has he answers the questions you have about Menopause and HRT.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month Lauren, who is the Southern Health and Social Care Trust's Learning Disability Breast Screening Project Nurse, wants to raise awareness and support women with learning disabilities to access lifesaving screening.
Lauren speaks with Nicky and Christine from the Breast Screening team, about the work they have done to support women by making simple reasonable adjustments which has made a difference for women with learning disabilities attend breast screening .

Living with Post Covid Syndrome and other long term condition can pose a number of challenges. The Southern Health and Social Care Trust Occupational Health Vocational Rehab team, which is made up of a Specialist Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and CBT Therapist, help staff members to improve their health, functional ability and provide guidance on how best to manage their condition within the workplace.
 They were joined by Brian Smith who accessed the Post Covid Vocation rehabilitation programme and gives his views on how it helped him

From chronic conditions like asthma, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD) to lung cancer, men face a unique set of respiratory health concerns. 

In our latest podcast episode on SOUTHPOD in celebration of Men’s Health Week, June 12-June 18, Chris Barron and Elizabeth Sloan, our respiratory nurse specialists share vital information and expert insight to help understand their causes and effects. 

#menshealthweek 

Find out the latest developments in our Trust Board meeting. 

A new Long COVID vocational rehabilitation team comprising of Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist and Clinical Psychologist has been established to support staff who are at work or not yet back to work.
Find out more by listening to our latest podcast.

In recognition of our Palliative Care Week,  the acute palliative care team - consultant Sarah Cousins and clinical nurse specialists Donna Grier and Aine Feeney - discuss the difficult topic of what a good death looks like and the support they give to patients and families in hospital. 





 

In recognition of our  #PalliativeCare Focus, our community multidisciplinary specialist palliative care team - Linda Willis, specialist physiotherapist, Orlagh Cunningham, specialist speech and language therapist, Maria Tynan, Macmillan specialist dietitian, Diane Brownlee, Macmillan nurse specialist and Niall Gallagher, social worker specialist - talk about providing care for people with life limiting conditions and how they look after their own physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. 


          

Dr O'Kane explains some of the key issues that have just been discussed at our monthly October Trust Board meeting.

Our Chief Executive, Dr Maria O’Kane and Chair Eileen Mullan have met with political representatives to 

·         discuss key issues and developments and

·         respond to matters that are being raised with them by their constituents.

Main areas discussed included busy Emergency Departments and broader pressures on hospital and community services. 

Maria explained that political leaders can support us by helping explain the importance of timely discharge and the absolute need to take people home when they are ready to go home. Maria highlighted the harm that can come to patients – especially the frail elderly – if they stay in hospital after they are medically fit for discharge.

As we approach a new season on our podcast channel, we speak to the Chief Executive of the Southern Trust, Dr Maria O'Kane.
Dr O'Kane explains some of the key issues that have just been discussed at our monthly Trust Board meeting.

James Gilpin is a registered nurse and experienced ward manager. He is the Stroke Service Improvement Lead for the Southern Trust.

James’ years of experience in the health service relates to bed management, medical, surgical and Intensive care environments.  He has built a reputation on having high standards, and so, supporting his teams to do what they do best; deliver safe and effective care.

Join James and Ronan on this week’s podcast and listen to James discuss his experience of Quality Improvement.

James and Ronan discuss:

-          James’ journey about why Quality Improvement is so important to him.

-          How Quality Improvement has helped James to drive improvements.

-          The opportunities and challenges of using Quality Improvement.

R.I.T.A is becoming very famous around the Southern Trust. 
On this podcast you will hear from Cailin McKearney QI Facilitator, Mairead McGahan Service Improvement Lead for Dementia and the Dementia Companions Elaine Level 4 Rehabilitation DHH and Karen 2 South Medical CAH who reflect on the R.I.T.A journey so far and the wonderful impact that is having on our patients.

Discussed in this episode includes:

·         What R.I.T.A is

·         What is the role of R.I.T.A

·         The positive impact it has had on patients.  R.I.T.A in action

Watch the initial pitch for R.I.T.A here:

Annual QI Event 2021 - Innovation Challenge: This is Me - YouTube

Bronagh is a haemovigilance practitioner in the Southern Trust.  Bronagh comes with a wealth of experience in human factors and in her podcast she gives us an insight into how the blood transfusion team apply human factors approach when learning from incidents.

Discussion in podcast includes:

·        The role of a  haemovigilance practitioner within blood transfusion team

·        How to investigate and learn from near misses and incidents

·        Importance of embedding human factors in blood transfusion

For more information on haemovigilance and blood transfusion 

SHOT Videos (shotuk.org)

Podcast: Introducing Sam Riley

Sam Riley is the Deputy Director of Intensive Support in NHS England and NHS Improvement. Sam and her team are responsible for ‘Making Data Count’, a fantastic model of teaching and promoting the use of SPC charts to analyse and present information.

Our first interaction with Sam and Making Data Count was in the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre when they hosted a workshop for performance and quality improvement teams from across the region. The event was set up by Lynn Lappin and Lesley Leeman. We were struck by the simplicity and appeal of adopting such an easy to understand approach.

Sam kindly agreed to a virtual conversation with Eliot Banks during which they discuss, among other things:

-          Overcoming common obstacles to analysing and presenting data

-          The success of the Making Data Count approach

-          Sam’s innovative Q Exchange application 

-          How you too can get involved in #PlottheDots

Get involved:

Read Sam’s BMJ Paper: Click here National Health Service (NHS) trust boards adopt statistical process control reporting: the impact of the Making Data Count Training Programme | BMJ Leader

Making Data Count Resources: Click here to get started with some introductory resources NHS England » Making data count

Business continuity affects all staff.
Our staff are our most important resource in maintaining essential services.
What would you do if there was a cyber-attack and your team lost access to all their IT systems and phones?
Our Emergency planning team discuss the importance of having a business continuity plan.

Today we are delighted to have a podcast takeover by SoHope, who are a group of service users who work together to improve addiction services across the Southern Trust area. 

Service User Lara Sutton tells her story about how group therapy enabled her to recover & get her life back on track.

We discuss how this new initiative aims to reduce waiting times & improve services for people who need secondary care mental health support.