Local hospital honours Remembrance Day with hand-crafted displays and commitment to veteran care
As the nation pauses this Remembrance Day to honour those who served, staff at a Derbyshire hospital are coming together to remember – and to act.
Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough has unveiled moving Remembrance Day display created with handmade poppies, crafted by staff from crochet, felt, and other fabrics. The feature display, now taking pride of place in the hospital’s main reception, stands as a powerful symbol of gratitude and respect for the Armed Forces community.
The installation was a true team effort, led by Danni Hudson, Administration Team, who personally made 171 of the hundreds of poppies used throughout hospital, and Julie Kirk, Administration Team, who helped to bring the design together. “It’s been amazing to see so many colleagues come together to remember and reflect,” said Danni. “Every poppy tells a story.”
Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough is actively working towards Veteran Awareness accreditation as part of a group-wide initiative. The company is aiming for all 12 of its hospitals and surgical centres across the country to achieve Veteran Aware Accreditation in the near future, with four already holding this national standard.
The group – including the team at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough - is embedding Armed Forces awareness into everyday care. This includes promoting the Veterans Charter, which ensures veterans receive priority access to healthcare for conditions related to their service. The Charter also highlights the importance of understanding the unique needs of veterans and ensuring they are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
Veterans are also encouraged to make use of NHS Patient Choice - a national right that allows NHS patients, including veterans, to choose where they receive their treatment. This means that veterans can often gain faster access to surgery by transferring their NHS referral to hospitals with shorter waiting times, including independent hospitals like Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough, which provide NHS-funded surgery at no cost to the patient.
Many staff members at the Barlborough-based hospital are veterans or have close family connections to the Armed Forces, bringing valuable empathy, shared experience, and understanding to the care they provide. Their insight helps create a safe, respectful environment where veterans feel recognised and supported.
Steve Booker, Hospital Director at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough, says, “Having someone who understands the Armed Forces world creates an instant connection with patients who have served or are currently serving. It helps people feel safe and valued - and that’s often the first step to recovery.
“This Remembrance Day, the hospital’s handmade poppies stand not only as a tribute to those who have served, but also as a reminder of our ongoing commitment to improving veteran healthcare and ensuring no veteran is left waiting in pain for treatment.”
Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough is celebrating its 20th anniversary after opening in 2025. It continues to successfully help reduce NHS waiting lists in hip and knee surgery, and also specialises in hernia treatments and cataract surgery. NHS patients can ask their GP for a referral to Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough.