Group name revealed for Teesside hospital trusts after ‘much consideration’

Two long-standing hospital trusts have revealed the group’s new name.

In the future, the partnership between North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be known as ‘University Hospitals Tees’. 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. Professor Bell said it was important to note that the two trusts would remain separate statutory organizations and a spokeswoman confirmed they would retain their existing names.

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: “This is not a merger but 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 the group’s new name was necessary and was suspicious of the motives behind it.

“Outline Their True Plan”

He said: “Perhaps it is time for the trust chairman 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, with the engagement process starting in February with input from staff, patients and partner organizations. He said it was recognized that what was proposed would be “subjective” but hoped the ambitions of both trusts would continue to be supported.

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.

A spokeswoman said any costs arising from the group’s new name would be “minimal” and added: “The group name recognizes our work to support a major decline in health inequalities among Tees.

“We hope our collective voices will support recruitment ambitions, patient confidence and much more.”