A new group board for two health trusts has met officially for the first time – with its head outlining its key ambitions for the future.
Professor Derek Bell, chair of the group board for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has marked the board’s first meeting as a delegated authority.
Though the two organisations remain separate, the board will allow the trusts to work together to take strategic decisions.
Professor Bell said: “This is the beginning of what we believe will be an exciting time for healthcare – allowing us great opportunities to improve the care we give to our patients and to the development of our staff.
“While this first board meeting was officially day one, there has been a huge amount of work and collaboration between our two organisations and our external partners to date.
“We need to capitalise on the opportunities for the group, for the benefits to patients and staff.
“We need to shift the dial on health inequalities, who are we serving and what are we trying to do as a group – a big focus.
“This is a different group model, and it’s right for the populations we serve. No two group models can be the same.”
A thank you to all who have contributed
Professor Bell also acknowledged the contributions of several individuals along the way – from Neil Mundy who was the first joint chair of the two trusts, to James Bromiley who is the associate director of group development.
He has also noted the appointment of Stacey Hunter who became the first group chief executive earlier this year.
He added: “Thank you to all of the individuals and teams who have played their parts in helping us get to where we are now today.
“Stacey’s appointment has been absolutely critical this year, helping us make further strides as a group.
“Both trust boards have agreed to delegate authority to the group, fantastic progress has been made.
“Thank you also to the integrated care board and to the governors for both organisations for their support.
“This offers us a new start and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move at pace.
“We are looking forward, huge thanks to all – here’s to day one.”
The two trusts are the area’s largest employers, with a budget of around £1.2 billion and more than 15,000 staff who deliver acute, tertiary and community health and care services across the Tees Valley, North Yorkshire, County Durham and beyond.