After “much consideration”, a name change for the Teesside Hospital Trust has been revealed

Two long-standing hospital trusts have announced name changes.

In future, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be known simply as the ‘University Hospitals’.

The announcement was made in an email to staff and stakeholder partners by the chair of the trust group, Professor Derek Bell.

A new slogan, “Caring Better Together”, was chosen and a video was produced as a visual representation of the collaboration between the two organizations.

However, it is not entirely clear what the name change means for the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, which is now part of the South Tees trust but has a strong presence in North Yorkshire rather than Teesside.

In February, the two trusts signed a formal partnership agreement which will see them work more closely together to improve patient outcomes.

There have also been a number of new management appointments across the group, including new group chief executive Stacey Hunter, who started earlier this year, while some senior managers have left.

A new group board has been established to oversee the development and implementation of the joint clinical strategy, and met for the first time last month.

In the meantime, changes were made to the statutes of both trusts to harmonize them as much as possible.

Professor Bell said it was important to note that the two trusts would remain separate statutory organisations, adding: “This is not a merger but rather a collaboration to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients and communities.”

But Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham, whose constituency includes North Tees University Hospital in Hardwick, said he was not convinced by the name change and was suspicious of the motive.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I am not sure why a name change is necessary unless it is another step towards merging the two trusts, which officials and others have denied for the last few years.

“Perhaps it is time for the trust chairmen and regional NHS officials to come clean, explain what they are up to and outline their real agenda once and for all.”

Professor Bell’s message said there had been “much reflection” on the grouping’s identity and name, with the engagement process starting in February with input from staff, patients and partner organizations.

He said it was recognized the change would be “subjective” but hoped the ambitions of both trusts would continue to be supported.

Professor Derek Bell

In 2021, NHS Improvement, the regulator of NHS trusts, decided that both North and South Tees should work together to accelerate strategic integration to ensure the sustainable future of key services, signing a Memorandum of Understanding this year.

However, there have been tensions with several non-executive directors at North Tees who have challenged the proposals, having previously resigned and following an NHS inquiry criticizing the conduct of some people.

The two hospital trusts employ a total of around 15,000 people and practical benefits can be expected as a result of the closer links, such as more seamless internet access and parking at various locations, including James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

LDRS asked a spokeswoman whether the name change would result in a complete rebranding, taking into account existing signs, materials and other elements, and how any costs would be covered.

She said any costs incurred would be “minimal” and added that a press release with more information would be released soon.