Health trust marks decade in NHS elite

A health trust has marked 10 years since it joined the NHS elite and became a foundation trust.
The opening of the new Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington was one of the highlights of the last decade.The opening of the new Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington was one of the highlights of the last decade.
The opening of the new Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington was one of the highlights of the last decade.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which employs 9,500 staff, achieved the statue in August 2006.

And in the following decade, it has seen its reputation grow nationally, along with a number of changes and new facilities locally.

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One of the biggest was the new Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital at Cramlington, providing emergency care 24/7.

Other achievements over the last 10 years include being one of only five trusts currently rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission; being named as one of the country’s top hospitals for nine consecutive years; and taking over responsibility for community services in Northumberland.

Chief executive David Evans said: “Becoming a foundation trust was the first step in our journey to becoming the outstanding trust we are today.

“Achieving this status gives us greater freedom to plan our services around the needs of our population and over the last 10 years, we have worked hard to tailor and improve the care we provide.

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“It also gives us greater say as to how money is spent and as financially one of the best-run trusts in the country, it has enabled us to reinvest surplus finances.

“While it’s a time to look back, it’s also an opportunity to look forward and set ourselves the challenge of building on our achievements for the next decade.”

Alan Richardson, chairman of Northumbria Healthcare, said: “Being a foundation trust enables us to have a direct link with our local communities through our governors and members and over the last 10 years our Council of Governors has gone from strength-to-strength.”