Cumbria Partnership & Newcastle Hospitals launch Joint Expression of Interest to manage North Cumbria University Hospitals

Posted by David Ralph on Aug 4th, 2011 in Cumbria | 0 comments

This has been quite widely circulated and you may have already seen it.

Just some brief notes to put this in context.   Any comments gratefully received  by CMHG.

In February 2012,  it was announced that North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust will have to merge with, or be acquired by, another NHS trust to strengthen the organisation so that it can achieve Foundation Trust (FT) status.

Four NHS Foundation Trusts have expressed an interest.  Morecambe  Bay University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have offered their names.  The press release below sets out that Cumbria Partnership and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital Trusts have agreed to work together in a bid.

There will be stakeholder meetings organised by NHS North West to compare the bids of the competing trusts (which will include the Chair of LINk) and the decision is hoped to be made by the end of October 2011  and the merger completed by October 2012.

Interested to know if any one has views about proposed tack over arrangements.   It must be said that there is now no alternative to a merger or take over.

Best wishes

Jim Bradley

Chair Cumbria Mental Health Group

Castle Lodge

Aynam Road

Kendal

LA9 7DE

01539 737012

or:  07836 200253

—–Original Message—–

From: Emily Williams [mailto:newsflash@CumbriaPCT.newsflashconnect.co.uk]

Sent: 01 August 2011 16:13

Cc: Emily.williams@cumbria.nhs.uk

Subject: Joint News Release: NOW WITH PHOTO AND LINK TO VIDEO: Cumbria Partnership & Newcastle Hospitals launch Joint Expression of Interest to manage North Cumbria University Hospitals

NHS Cumbria  PR 840    01/08/2011    [For Immediate Release]

NOW WITH PHOTO AND LINK TO VIDEO: Cumbria Partnership & Newcastle Hospitals launch Joint Expression of Interest to manage North Cumbria University Hospitals

To watch highlights of today’s press conference, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a36Fcs3zz3s

A unique alliance between The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust could soon be running services at North Cumbria’s two main hospitals.

The Boards of these two Foundation Trusts have joined together to work in partnership with the objective of taking over the provision of services at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven. This pragmatic opportunity shall significantly benefit the residents of North Cumbria, and the Chief Executives of both these organisations are today formally launching this creative and forward looking proposal.

Stephen Dalton, Chief Executive of Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Sir Leonard Fenwick, Chief Executive of The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust outlined their joint vision for a truly integrated health care system for North Cumbria that is focussed on every aspect of a patient’s needs whether they are at home, in the community or in hospital. 

The alliance will bring a combined experience and proven track record of high performing Foundation Trusts responsible for treating over one million patients a year, employing 17,500 staff and providing around 2,200 hospital and community based beds.  

Stephen Dalton, Chief Executive of Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said, “We are the only countywide provider of health services and have a strong track record in terms of value for money and quality.  Our alliance with Newcastle Hospitals is a genuinely exciting prospect for patients that would see their healthcare services delivered by one single joined up health care system.  It would also provide first class training and development opportunities for staff based in North Cumbria to extend their partnership with some of the country’s finest clinicians.

Sir Leonard Fenwick, Chief Executive of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said, “As part of the NHS family Newcastle Hospitals already deliver care to thousands of people in Cumbria each year and combined with the experience of Cumbria Partnership in delivering local services, we are confident that we can bring more specialist services to Cumbria reducing the need for patients to travel to receive treatment.  This requires a local solution and we are delighted to be joining forces with Cumbria Partnership.”

Lisa Stephenson, mum to 6 month old Leylan from Maryport in Cumbria has been regularly travelling to the Great North Children’s Hospital at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle for 6 months since her son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.  She said, “I am more than happy to go to Newcastle to see the specialists but it would be great to see these services come to North Cumbria so they are closer to home.”  

The joint proposal includes a commitment to deliver a new hospital for West Cumbria and work with senior clinicians to develop the good foundations that have already been built in developing a clinical strategy.

This opportunity for change will now be considered by the Board of Directors at North Cumbria Acute University Hospitals NHS Trust who are expected to make a decision on a preference as to who the provider will be later this year.

Cumbria Partnership is the only healthcare provider already delivering services in Cumbria with experience of providing mental health and learning disability services, and also took over responsibility for running Community Health Services throughout the county in April 2011.  Newcastle Hospitals deliver the most comprehensive range of services of any NHS Trust in the north as well as in the country, including cancer care and treatment; specialist children services; major trauma; and cardiothoracic medicine and surgery.  

People in Cumbria are invited to leave their comments for the Partnership with Newcastle in Cumbria by writing to Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Voreda, Portland Place, Penrith CA11 7QQ or e-mail:  partnershipwithnewcastle@cumbria.nhs.uk, or contact us on Twitter @CPFTNHS or #partnershipwithnewcastle

For more information please visit: http://www.cumbriapartnership.nhs.uk/partnership-with-newcastle2.htm

ENDS

Please find attached image of Stephen Dalton and Sir Leonard Fenwick at today’s press briefing.

For further information please contact the Communications Helpdesk on 01228 603890

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