A dedicated catering professional whose kindness, leadership and commitment have made a lasting impact on patients, staff and colleagues has been recognised at Skills for Health’s Our Health Heroes Awards, with Kim Ashcroft from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust named winner in the Operational Support Worker of the Year category.

Based at North Tyneside General Hospital, Kim has worked within NHS catering services for 27 years, progressing from catering assistant to catering supervisor. Throughout her career, she has gone above and beyond to support both staff and patients, creating a welcoming, community focused environment within the hospital restaurant.

Kim is widely recognised for her commitment to her team and colleagues. She has volunteered to work every Christmas Day for 25 consecutive years, ensuring others can spend time with their families while keeping the hospital kitchen up and running on one of the most important days of the year.

Her impact extends beyond day-to-day service delivery. Kim has played a key role in creating an inclusive workplace culture, supporting colleagues from diverse backgrounds and celebrating events including Chinese New Year and Black History Month. She is also known for her compassion towards patients and visitors, particularly those who regularly rely on the restaurant for meals and social connection.

Reflecting on her award, Kim said: “I’m incredibly proud to receive this award at the Our Health Heroes Awards. Supporting our staff and patients, especially during busy or difficult times, has always meant a great deal to me. It’s about creating a warm, welcoming place where people feel care for.”

Brian Cowan, chief operating officer at Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management said: “Kim exemplifies the very best of NHS operational support. Her long-standing commitment, leadership and compassion have created a positive environment for staff and patients alike, making a real and lasting difference every day.”

Supported by NHS Employers, NHS Shared Business Services, Motorfinity, NHS Race & Health Observatory, iCQ Awards, SFJ Awards and media partner Healthcare Management, Our Health Heroes champions the people who keep healthcare services functioning every day, often behind the scenes. To find out more visit: https://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/awards/

Celebrating Estates & Facilities Day 2026

• Bryan Thompson – Health and Safety Advisor

  

  My career journey has taken me through the military, local government, private business and, more recently, the NHS.

  I started my working life in the RAF Regiment, serving for eight years in Northern Ireland, Germany and across the UK. After leaving the forces, I moved into local government where I worked in waste and recycling before progressing to Environmental Services Manager, leading waste, street cleaning and grounds maintenance services.

  In 2009, I took the opportunity to start my own waste management company, which I ran across Northumberland for several years before selling the business in 2017. After a brief retirement and a period running a maintenance company, I joined Northumbria Healthcare in 2020 as a Maintenance Assistant at NSECH.

  I quickly realised how much I enjoyed working within the NHS and was fortunate to progress into an Estates Supervisor role before becoming NHFM’s first dedicated Health and Safety Advisor in 2022. My previous experience, combined with my health and safety qualifications, helped me make that transition.

  Looking back, every role has given me valuable experience and skills that have helped shape my career and brought me to where I am today.

• Callum Richardson – Estates Technical Officer

  I started my career as a multi-skilled engineering apprentice, with my training focused on approximately 60% electrical and 40% mechanical disciplines. As my career progressed, I broadened my technical expertise by training in gas engineering and control systems programming. During my apprenticeship, I was promoted to Planning Engineer, and a few years after completing my qualifications, I progressed into a Lead Engineer role.

  Alongside my engineering development, I continued to invest in my professional growth through further training in business improvement techniques, leadership, and management. This combination of technical and managerial experience helped prepare me for more senior roles and enabled me to contribute to both operational performance and organisational development.

  When I joined the company in 2002, it was embarking on a significant development and growth program. Over the following 23 and a half years, I played an active role in helping to build and develop the site as the business expanded. As my experience grew, I moved into leadership positions where I was responsible not only for developing my own department but also for training, mentoring, and supporting other managers across the business. I found this aspect of the role particularly fulfilling, as it allowed me to share my knowledge, help others develop, and contribute to the organisation’s long-term success.

  I have always been ambitious and motivated to continue developing both personally and professionally. After spending 23 and a half years with the same organisation, I felt I had achieved everything I could there and was ready for a new challenge. That search for a fresh opportunity led me to NHFM, where I saw the opportunity to bring my experience into a new environment while continuing to learn, develop, and make a positive impact.

  Why Did You Choose to Join NHFM?

  I chose to join NHFM because I could see the potential for a long-term and rewarding career within the organisation. The role offered an exciting opportunity to bring the skills, knowledge, and experience I had developed throughout my career and apply them in a new environment.

  What particularly attracted me was the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, contribute to the continued development of the service, and put my own stamp on the role. NHFM’s commitment to supporting healthcare services, combined with its focus on continuous improvement and professional development, made it a natural next step in my career.

  What Do You Enjoy About Your Role?

  What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to make a difference and have a positive impact. It is rewarding to know that the work we do contributes to the delivery of important services and helps support the wider organisation.

  I also really value the culture within NHFM. People treat each other with respect, and there is genuine recognition for the hard work and effort that individuals put in. Being part of an organisation where people feel valued and supported creates a positive working environment and makes it an enjoyable place to work.

  Your Experience of Joining and Working Within the Team

  My experience of joining and working within the team has been extremely positive. From the outset, I felt welcomed and supported, which made the transition into a new organisation much easier.

  I have really enjoyed working at NHFM and being part of a team that is collaborative, professional, and committed to delivering high standards. The culture and people have made a real difference to my experience. In fact, I enjoy what I do so much that it rarely feels like work. Being able to contribute, work alongside great colleagues, and see the positive impact of our efforts makes the role both rewarding and enjoyable.

• Charlene Sturgeon – Head of Portering and Security for Wansbeck

  

  I started in the catering department from leaving school in December 2004 , I then applied for a domestic position, team-leader then a domestic supervisor. I then applied for a position as a porter at Cramlington hospital best career decision I made, I then applied for a chargehand position at Wansbeck, I am currently the head of portering and security for Wansbeck and help out with the community portering teams too, as well as all of the transport for Wansbeck and community site. 

  I have gained serval NVQS within facilities over the years, I have gained a certificate through the Mary Seacole program for management leadership, I have my IOOSH certificate, medical gas certificates and more. I was shortlisted and won the unsung hero award in 2023 a very proud moment for me. Like every job there are challenges however I have amazing support from my line manger Rachel and an amazing team of porters/drivers and security we all work together as a team making the day-to-day tasks manageable.  There is progression within NHFM and additional course available to those wanting to challenge themselves and progress.

• Dan Cole – Area Estates & Facilities Officer

  I began my career path at Ashington College after initially not achieving the results I had hoped for at school. Starting in engineering, I progressed through my studies to HND level, demonstrating early determination and commitment to personal development.

  In 2002, I joined Gateshead Council as an electrician’s mate, working on the rewiring of council properties, including schools and public buildings. Alongside my role, I continued to invest in my education through night classes, both self-funded and employer-sponsored, to build my technical knowledge and skills.

  By 2008, I qualified as an electrician, carrying out similar installation and maintenance work across the borough. Between 2009 and 2010, I broadened my experience by working with heating teams, gaining hands-on knowledge in installing pipework, radiators, and domestic boiler systems.

  In 2010, I spent a year in street lighting, focusing on repair and maintenance of street furniture and contributing to the rollout of LED lighting across Gateshead.

  In 2011, I progressed into a supervisory role as an Electrical Foreman, overseeing electrical teams, designing installations, ordering materials, and ensuring delivery against programme targets across multiple sites.

  I was later promoted to Site Manager, where I led multi-trade teams delivering large-scale housing refurbishment schemes. These projects included heating upgrades, full rewires, and kitchen and bathroom installations across large housing estates.

  In 2015, I joined Northumbria Police as the Electrical Engineer for the force. In this role, I was responsible for approximately 70 sites spanning from Berwick to Haltwhistle and down to Durham. I acted as the duty holder for electrical systems, ensuring compliance, managing contracts, overseeing asset management, and leading complex projects. The estate included highly specialised facilities such as firearms units, dive schools, and major operational buildings like Forth Banks.

  In 2024, I joined NHFM, where I currently work as part of the Estates and Facilities team. This role has provided new challenges and opportunities, and I have quickly found it to be a strong fit for my skills and experience. I enjoy the variety of work and the chance to contribute meaningfully to the organisation. I feel my background adds value to the team, and I would confidently recommend NHFM as a great place to work.

• Ian Hunter – Estates Officer (Operational)

  I started working at Ashington General Hospital as an Apprentice Electrician on 3^rd August 1987, the role was created to increase the workforce required for the “new” Wansbeck Hospital that was in the process of being developed.

  I moved to Wansbeck Hospital Phase 1 around December 1992 working there as an Electrical craftsman with a selection of the team from Ashington Hospital, the rest of the team remaining at Ashington until it closed around 2003.

  In January 2005, after a successful interview I moved to North Tyneside Hospital Estates office to work as a Technical Officer in the Support Services team, during this time I was involved with Asset management, Energy management, Car Parks and Security management, Maintenance Contracts, the Ground and Gardens contract and the NHS Property Services contract monitoring, I also chaired the Travel Plan action Group, The Energy group, I sat on the Estates & Facilities Advisory Committee, I collated the data for the ERIC returns (Estates Returns Information Collection) I delivered some Fire safety training and I was even the Trust lead for Cash Machines!

  In 2010, I moved back to Wansbeck Hospital Estates Office to become an Operational Estates Officer for Alnwick Infirmary, Berwick Infirmary and Rothbury Community Hospital, managing 2 small teams of craftsmen, and being involved with the new hospital development planned for Berwick (sadly deferred until recently).

  In October 2016, I was seconded to NSECH (still as an Operational Estates Officer), due to long term illness within the team, I subsequently moved there permanently in 2017 working with a new team and a manager I had work for previously at Wansbeck.

  In December 2019 I started an acting up role up as Area Estates Officer due to the retirement of my manager this was for 8 months, during the Covid lockdown (which was a challenge!!) until a replacement was appointed in July 2020.

  More recently I have become involved with the NSECH building remediation project, liaising with the Capital team, external project managers, and contractor teams to deliver the remedial works required to improve the hospital over the coming years, including the Decant building, Helipad, Water mist suppression system, Drainage and Paving.

  During my apprenticeship 1987-1991 and then on until 1996 I completed:

  • An EITB basic training course, attending collage full time with day release for my City & Guilds Electrical Installation qualification (236 part 1)
  • I subsequently completed all 3 parts of that over 4 years (C&G 236 part 1,2& 3)
  • ONC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering.
  • HNC in Electrical engineering.

  Other courses I have completed during my journey include:

  • NVQ level 3 Electrical & Engineering Maintenance
  • NEBOSH Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety
  • NEBOSH Fire Safety & Risk Management
  • Authorised Person – Medical Gas pipeline systems
  • Authorised Person – Low Voltage (Electrical)
  • Authorised Person – High Voltage (Electrical)
  • Responsible Person – Legionella & Water Hygiene Control Within Hot & Cold-Water Systems
  • Supervisory Management
  • Pressure systems
  • Working at Height
  • Confined spaces
  • Asbestos awareness
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Functional Skills (Maths & English)

• James Sutherland – Assistant Practitioner (Radiology)

  In mid-January 2009, I still remember walking through the hospital doors for the first time. I was very young, just 17 years old and stepping into the NHS felt like a very surreal experience as I knew it was a huge step up from being a misguided teen. I joined as a ‘Bank Porter’ as part of Hotel Services which is now respectfully under the Estates and Facilities Team. Portering was a role I didn’t fully understand at the time, but it was something that would shape me as an individual, professional and peer – it gave me purpose.

  From the very beginning I loved everything about it; the pace, unpredictability, versatility, the sense of being needed – it all clicked so fast with me. I understood the urgency and professionalism very early which was due to being taught by reputable, experienced members of staff. They taught me that Portering isn’t just about moving things from A to B, it’s being everybody’s everybody, the backbone; If patients are needing that ‘someone else’ to talk to whilst going for certain appointments, if staff are stretched – talk with them, help them out. I learned quickly that it wasn’t just about the physical effort, it required empathy, communication, resilience and a calm head in moments where others felt overwhelmed. Those years under Estates and Facilities taught me how to talk to people, how to support them, supervise and suggest. I couldn’t be more thankful of all those experiences that made me who I am today.

  I completed just short of 15 years, which is a long time in any job, and I genuinely could see me doing it forever, but on reflection and still having youth on my side, I decided to pursue a career in Radiology. I’d received a lot of praise from peers who gave me the nudge I needed to leave my comfort zone and apply for a ‘Trainee Assistant Practitioner’ role in Radiology. I’d spoken to a few people within Radiology and after gaining some insight into the requirements, I was recommended to apply and on succession I’ve never looked back!

  Overall, my experience as an employee of the NHS under the Estate and Facilities Team taught me that professional development is important. The skills I have acquired have been solely down to the people I’ve had the pleasure to work with, and I will be forever grateful at the opportunity I was given. It has led me to other opportunities that wouldn’t have been available if I’d not taken that step outside my comfort zone and I am channelling my passion in another profession whilst continuing my work in the hope of improving the quality of the service we provide. I strive to be better and fortunately I have just been accepted to further develop my skills into becoming a registered Radiographer.

  To those who I’ve worked with and still work with from Estates and Facilities, I thank you, for everything.

• Janet Wendt – Senior Infection Control Nurse

  I commenced my career with Northumbria Healthcare trust at Old Ashington Hospital in February 1993 as a domestic assistant in the evenings. On the opening of Wansbeck hospital June 1993, I then moved to there. My first department was the estates which I covered Monday -Friday 4pm -8pm. I then moved to the pathology department and finally Xray both of which were evening domestic role. I went on maternity leave in March 1998 and returned in July 1998. I then decided I would like to go and be a health care assistant, first trying on the bank I then realised that this was the path I wanted to go on. So, in 1999 I got a permanent post on ward 4 at Wansbeck as a HCA. In 2001 I went 1 day a week to college to do my higher education in Biology, Sociology and English language. Passing these allowed me to apply to do my nurse training, which I commenced in September 2002. September 2005, I qualified as a staff Nurse and got a permanent job on Critical care. In 2012 I got a junior sister’s role on Critical care, however Infection control was a great passion for me and when a position came up I applied and was successful in my interview for a band 6 role. In August 2019 I was successful at interview for a band 7 (senior infection control Nurse position) which I am currently doing, however I have flexi retired and now do 2 long days.

  I believe commencing my career as a domestic has allowed me to see the important role they perform in keeping the hospital safe and clean for our patients and relatives . It also allowed me to gain knowledge on the technique’s used to clean a patient room and the process in which it is done . As a senior infection control nurse, I really appreciate the hard work they do, I involve them in the process when a patient has an infection with regards to the waste, cleaning and if required HPV. I am often told by them that they really appreciate me involving them. I really enjoy doing infection control training with the domestics as my background allows me to focus on what is important to them.

  Starting my career as a domestic most definitely gave me skills and knowledge to progress my career to the position I do today. I never thought I would go this far and if I had not started the NHS as a domestic I would certainly not have considered nursing a career. 

• Ken Whyte – Organisational Development Administrator

  I started in the Catering team at NTGH in 2003 then moved up to Cobalt Catering in 2009 or so. In 2017 I started a secondment within the Learning and Development team which went on to become a permanent role. In my time in that team, I completed my Level 2 and Level 3 in Business Administration. I then moved to the Organisational Development team in 2021 and I’m now currently completing my Degree in Creative Digital Design.

  The most significant skill I developed during my time in the Estates Department was gaining strong communication skills. Engaging with staff clearly and consistently on a daily basis has had a lasting impact on how I work. It has enhanced my confidence in meetings, improved the clarity of my interactions, and strengthened my ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and the external clients I now work with regularly.

• Mark Herron – Estates Officer

  I started as a grounds person in June 2004. This involved gardening, litter-picking and general outdoor tidying. In 2010 I applied for an estates apprenticeship, but I was unsuccessful because of my lack of maintenance experience. I spoke to my manager and arranged to switch role from a grounds person to a Maintenance Assistant and did this from 2010 – 2013.

  In 2013 I applied for the apprenticeship again and this time I was successful. In my final year I won a special apprentice award at the Trust Staff Awards which I was really proud of.

  3 years later I completed an advanced level apprenticeship in engineering maintenance/ manufacture and then was successful at interview for a multi-skilled craftsperson position. In 2021 I was promoted to Maintenance Supervisor, and then in 2023 I applied for an Estates Officer role and was successful.

  As part of my apprenticeship I did a HNC diploma in engineering and got a distinction.

  Since becoming an estate officer, I have passed serval Authorised Person courses, including medical gas, high voltage, low voltage, confined spaces, and water regulations. I have also completed my NEBOSH national general certificate in occupational health and safety.

  The biggest challenge was going to college. I left school in 1989 so, going back in 2014 was a real culture shock and it took some time before my brain staring working again.

  I would say my career path has been down to being in the right place at the right time and not being afraid to just go for it. If you wait or are hesitant, someone else will take the place. Also having line managers that trust you to do your job is really important. In that respect I have two managers that do trust me and have encouraged my development.

• Pippa Liston – Net Zero Data Officer

  After graduating from university with a bachelor’s degree and strong desire to contribute to the public sector but little industry specific experience, I applied for a Business Administration Apprenticeship and joined the Trust in late January. As part of this opportunity, I chose my placement to be with the Sustainability Team — a role I was particularly excited about, given the increasing importance of climate action and awareness in the workplace. I gained valuable insight into key areas such as biodiversity, renewable energy, waste management processes and creating carbon footprints. It’s incredibly rewarding to support a team that is actively driving progress towards the Trust’s net zero 2040 target, and to be part of work with a lasting impact. One of the challenges I faced was starting with limited experience, this required me to step outside my comfort zone and adapt. By being proactive and making the most of the support around me, I was able to overcome this and grow in confidence. I have since completed my apprenticeship and currently work as a Net Zero Data Officer for the Great North Care Alliance.

• Rosie Sexton – People and Engagement Lead

  After graduating from university I worked for IBM in Payroll for two years. I then decided I wanted to move into HR so applied for a HR Assistant role covering Newcastle Primary Care Trust, North Tyneside Primary Care Trust and Northumberland Care Trust. In 2011 I was TUPE’d into Northumbria Healthcare and began working in the recruitment team. I was then successful in getting a secondment to the Operational HR Team covering the Community Business unit. I then became a HR Advisor, first for Community, and then NHFM and Corporate Services. I then applied for a Hotel Services Officer position with NHFM and then a few years later became People and Engagement Lead for NHFM.

  I completed a Masters Degree in HR, and then since I moved to NHFM I have completed qualifications in project management and health and safety, as well as various other leadership and development courses.

  I took a pay cut when I left IBM to join the NHS, and I had to buy a car when I moved from Cobalt to Morpeth, both of which were challenges financially but I knew they would help me get to where I wanted to be in the future.

  Sometimes you need to be willing to move sites for the right opportunity. I have been based at Benfield Road, Cobalt, Merley Croft in Morpeth, NTGH, WGH, a brief stint at NSECH, back to NTGH and then Seaton Delaval.

• Shelley James – Admin Co-ordinator

  I am an Admin Co-Ordinator working on the Estates Helpdesk at Seaton Delaval. My role involves managing estates requests, ensuring they go to the right team at the right time, and processing car parking permits and changes. It involves a mixture of taking phone calls, responding to emails and processing requests that come through on the online system.

  I worked part-time in Catering at NTGH for 16 years, which was perfect while my son was growing up. I had always thought I might be good at admin and wanted to give it a try, but I got Es at GSCE in English and Maths and most admin jobs were asking for Cs or above. Whilst my son was little I didn’t really have time to do anything about it with working and being a mam, but when he started high school I started having a bit more time. I saw the functional skills course advertised in the NHFM newsletter and after much deliberating thought I would give it a try and went ahead and enrolled!

  It was for 16 weeks, and I admit I found it really tough at first. I had somehow managed to sign up to the online-only version where you work through the content yourself. After a couple of weeks I found out that I could do face to face classes, so transferred onto that route. From then I started to find it much easier as I learn much better in person and I could ask the tutor questions. She was super patient and would go through it with me again if I didn’t understand. It was also nice to be in a group and see that other people didn’t understand things too, not just me. I met some nice people of all different ages.

  Doing the course gave me the confidence and skills to apply for a business admin apprenticeship, something I would have never dared to do before. Unfortunately I wasn’t successful, but it helped me realise that I did want to go down the admin route. I asked if I could shadow some admin teams and ended up spending some time with the NHFM admin team in the Seaton Delaval office and in the manufacturing section. I then applied for an admin job at NTGH but again I wasn’t successful. My confidence began to dip again at this point, but then a temporary vacancy came up at NSECH and my manager arranged for me to do it as a placement to help me get more experience. This came to an end then a temporary vacancy came up with the Estates Helpdesk at Seaton Delaval so I applied and was successful at getting that. This gave me a big confidence boost, and then a few months later I was successful in getting a permanent role with the team. Since then I have been getting stuck into the role, doing my ECDL IT qualification and I’m hoping to start a Level 3 in Business Admin soon!

• Sathish Sethuraman – Active Travel and Transport Manager

  I joined Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in November 2005 as a Medical Records Clerk, where I developed experience in patient administration, health records management, data quality, and customer service. Through a commitment to service improvement and operational excellence, I progressed to Senior Supervisor within Health Records, managing teams and supporting the delivery of efficient patient-focused services.

  Alongside this role, I became a Clinical Documentation Lead, working with clinicians and senior nursing teams to standardise clinical documentation across the Trust and support clinical governance initiatives.

  Following a secondment into Estates and Sustainability projects, I secured a permanent role as Travel Plan Coordinator in 2011. Over the following years, I led a range of sustainability, transport, energy efficiency, recycling, and cost-improvement projects, receiving recognition for sustainable transport initiatives.

  In 2020, I moved into operational management as a Junior Operational Services Manager within the NHFM, before undertaking a 14-month secondment as an Operational Services Manager in Surgery. These roles broadened my experience in service delivery, operational performance, and staff management.

  I am currently Active Travel and Transport Manager within NHFM, leading strategic transport initiatives and supporting sustainability objectives across the organisation.

  My progression has been driven by practical experience, continuous learning, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities. While working in Health Records, I completed an MSc in Healthcare Management, which strengthened my knowledge of leadership, healthcare strategy, project management, and service improvement.

  I actively sought secondments and project opportunities that expanded my experience in change management, stakeholder engagement, and service delivery. Alongside this, I completed a range of professional development courses covering sustainability, energy management, investigations, operational management, and leadership.

  A willingness to step outside my comfort zone, take on new responsibilities, and continuously develop my skills enabled me to progress from Health Records into Sustainability, Operational Management, and my current leadership role.

  One of the biggest challenges early in my career was building confidence when communicating with senior colleagues, clinicians, and external stakeholders. As I moved into project-based and management roles, I needed to develop stronger presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

  To overcome this, I sought feedback, learned from experienced colleagues, attended training courses, and actively took on opportunities that challenged me. Over time, I became more confident in leading projects, presenting information, and managing complex relationships.

  Another challenge was adapting to different departments and roles, from Health Records to Sustainability and Operational Management. Each transition required learning new systems and ways of working, but these experiences strengthened my adaptability, resilience, and leadership skills. Looking back, these challenges played a significant role in my professional development.

• Taylor Hunt – Estates Officer Operations

  I began my career with an advanced apprenticeship as an apprentice mechanical engineer at Newcastle University. I worked within the in-house estates team based at the medical school. This apprenticeship gave me the knowledge, experience and qualifications to secure me a fulltime position as a mechanical craftsperson at the university after my apprenticeship finished. I worked for the university for a further 7 years during which I completed a degree apprenticeship funded by a government incentive.

  With no progression opportunities present at the university I was successful in attaining the position of assistant estates officer at the RVI (Royal Victoria Infirmary) for the NHS Newcastle Foundation Trust. This was a developmental position in which I learned how a hospital estates department operated and I gained the experience to transition to an estates officer.

  Again, with no progression opportunities available I applied for my current position as an Estates Officer Operations at Hexham General Hospital.

• Tracey Triplow – OSM for Medicine and Emergency Care Directorate

  

  I have been employed by Northumbria Healthcare since 2003 (23 years) I started my career in Central Sterile Services (CSSD), I started as bank Sterile Services Assistant and then became a technician very quickly after that, fast forward 3 years and I was a team leader working full time within the department. This role was when I knew I wanted to manage staff.  I developed and learned skills that enabled me to be a compassionate and inclusive leader. I was involved in the day to day management of staff including carrying out appraisals, approving annual leave and being involved in the sickness management of the staff. I completed a Foundation Degree in Service Improvement during my time in Sterile Services.

   I continued my career as Head Porter at North Tyneside General Hospital in 2013; I am proud to say I was the 1^st female head porter appointed to the trust, this was a total change in direction for me in my career. I worked alongside the porters for a few weeks to get a real understanding of the pressures they face on a daily basis.

  The role included many aspects of management. I would be the first point of call for any issues or problems that may arise. I helped to promote the role of porters at NTGH whilst operationally managing the team to ensure the service was delivered to the highest standard.

  I was then successful as Hotel Services Officer for NHFML Facilities at Wansbeck, with overarching responsibility for Catering. This role has been challenging but very rewarding. I manage over 200 staff within the facilities teams (Catering, Portering, Domestics and Security) I have been able to adapt to different departments and quickly learn the functions of each of them. I was keen to learn and understand how things get done and what protocols are in place to ensure the service delivers to a high standard. The team I have managed at Wansbeck over the passed few years have been great. They support each other and there is a mutual respect between us.

  NHFM and the trust have been very supportive in my development. I completed a bachelor’s degree in NHS Management and Leadership. The skills and experience I gained has helped me progress my career.

  I am now employed as an OSM for the Medicine and Emergency Care directorate, managing several services and wards. This is a role I strived to achieve and I am proud to say that my experience, learning and academic training had all been supported throughout my whole career and I am grateful and feel luck to work for such an outstanding team.

In conversation with Eliza Fox, Medical Devices Education Facilitator

Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Eliza Fox and I am the Medical Devices Education Facilitator. I moved into this role in 2023 following the introduction of the e-Quip online training platform across the Trust. Our team works closely with Medical Engineering to ensure staff have access to the training and support they need to use medical devices safely and effectively.

Brief overview of your career journey?

I began my career in the NHS in 1994 as an Audio Typist before progressing into a Medical Secretary role. I then moved into administration within the Operating Theatres at Wansbeck, which inspired me to train as an Operating Department Practitioner specialising in anaesthetics.

Over the years, I have gained experience in both clinical and administrative roles, which has given me a strong understanding of the importance of education and how this contributes to patient safety. My current role combines many of these experiences and allows me to support colleagues across the Trust in a different but equally rewarding way.

What does a typical day look like?

No two days are ever quite the same, which is something I really enjoy about the role. A typical day may involve managing the administrative side of the e-Quip database, supporting staff with training queries, coordinating equipment training sessions, and liaising with company representatives to ensure suitable training resources are available before new equipment is introduced.

We also develop bespoke training where needed, deliver Medical Gas training to a variety of staff groups, contribute to induction programmes, and support new colleagues in understanding our systems and how we can help them in their roles.

What is one thing you would like people to know about your role?

I would like colleagues to know that we are here to help. Our aim is to support staff in accessing the training they need so they can feel confident and safe when using medical devices and equipment. We will always do our best to provide guidance, answer questions, and make training as accessible and straightforward as possible.

What do you enjoy most?

What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to meet and work with a wide range of teams across the Trust. I love learning more about the different roles people do and gaining a better understanding of the important work that happens across the organisation every day. It’s especially rewarding to know that the support and training we provide helps colleagues feel more confident in their roles, enabling them to deliver the best possible care and experience for patients.

In conversation with Chloe Dunning, Medical Device Education Coordinator

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Chloe Dunning, and I’m a Medical Device Education Coordinator. I’ve been in this role for three years. My current work is quite different from my original background, as I previously worked as a Biomedical Scientist specialising in Clinical Biochemistry for around eight years. Alongside my role, I’ve completed a PGCE in Health Professions Education and I’m currently undertaking an MSc in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement.

Can you give us a brief overview of your career journey?
I began my career as a Biomedical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry, where I developed a strong foundation in laboratory science and patient diagnostics. After around eight years, I decided to transition into education, driven by an interest in teaching and improving patient safety through staff training. This led me to my current role as a Medical Device Education Coordinator, where I’ve been able to combine my scientific background with my passion for education. Completing my PGCE and pursuing my MSc have further supported this shift.

What does a typical day look like?
A typical day can be very varied. It might include delivering training sessions on the safe use of medical gases, teaching on the Care Certificate Programme, or developing educational resources to support staff and improve patient safety. The variety keeps the role dynamic, and I often balance hands-on teaching with behind-the-scenes preparation and planning.

What is one thing you would like people to know about your role?
One thing I’d like people to know is how important education is in ensuring patient safety. Effective training on medical devices and procedures plays a crucial role in reducing risk and supporting staff to provide high-quality care.

What do you enjoy most?
I most enjoy delivering training sessions, as it gives me the opportunity to get out and about, meet different teams, and interact directly with staff. It’s rewarding to engage with people and see the impact that education can have in practice. I also find it particularly rewarding to see positive changes in practice following challenging incident reports, and to be part of identifying ways to improve patient care and outcomes.

QE Facilities (QEF), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust has appointed a new managing director.

Damon Kent will undertake this role alongside his current position as managing director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

He will begin the role on 1 June 2026 and succeed the current QEF managing director, Gavin Evans, who is moving to North Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

He will provide overall leadership and operational oversight across the two organisations, which deliver specialist estates, facilities, construction management, business consultancy and clinical services to the NHS.

The appointment also supports the Great North Healthcare Alliance, which is focused on collaboration between Gateshead, Northumbria, North Cumbria and Newcastle Hospitals to support the delivery of excellent patient care and improve patient and staff experience.

NHFM and QEF will continue to operate as separate legal organisations, each with their own board of directors and governance arrangements.

Both organisations play an important role in supporting NHS services across the region, employing a large and dedicated workforce and delivering a wide range of essential services every day.

Damon, who is a chartered surveyor by background, has been managing director of NHFM since 2019 and has overseen significant growth in the organisation during that time, alongside leading a major capital investment programme.

Damon Kent said: “I very much look forward to the new challenges this joint role will bring and to working closely with the QEF board and team to further develop the organisation where we can.

“QEF and NHFM both play a crucial role, every day of the year, to ensure patients can access high-quality and compassionate care. We are also a significant employer and contributor to the regional economy. This is what gives me huge pride in the role I do.”

Maggie Pavlou, chair of QEF, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank Gavin for his leadership, commitment and contribution to ensuring our organisation is in the strong position that it is today. I wish him well in his new role.

“The board and I are very pleased to be able to welcome Damon, and I am sure that his wealth of experience and knowledge will help us to build on our success. Our strategy for the next few years focuses on championing our people, supporting the delivery of outstanding care and ensuring that we are growing our business in a collaboration and sustainable way. I look forward to working with Damon to help us achieve this.”

Patients at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have once again rated their hospital experience among the best in the country, according to the latest national survey.

The trust performed above the national average across all eight areas measured in the 2025 Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) survey. The annual assessments review non-clinical aspects of hospital environments, including cleanliness, food, privacy and dignity, and the overall condition of buildings. The survey helps drive improvements across hospitals, hospices and independent treatment centres delivering NHS-funded care.

The trust, which runs hospitals across Northumberland and North Tyneside, ranked top nationally among large acute trusts for cleanliness, food, and condition, appearance and maintenance.

The trust also saw an increase in the ward food category, which assesses factors such as choice, availability and quality. In 2025, new menus were introduced for children to offer greater choice, variety and options for those with neurodivergent needs. A new menu tailored for stoma patients was also developed following patient feedback highlighting the need for more variety to support recovery.

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), the trust’s estates and facilities subsidiary, plays a key role in maintaining hospital buildings, facilities and equipment to support a positive experience for patients and visitors.

Damon Kent, managing director of NHFM, said: “We are incredibly proud of the results achieved in this year’s assessments. While delivering excellent clinical care is always our priority, we also recognise the important role the hospital environment plays in shaping a patient’s overall experience. These results reflect the dedication and hard work of our catering, facilities and domestic teams, who maintain the highest possible standards every day.”

The trust also ranked top nationally among large acute trusts in the privacy, dignity and wellbeing category, as well as in the dementia category, which evaluates how well hospitals and care facilities support the needs of patients living with dementia or cognitive impairment.

In February 2025, the trust announced that its team of Admiral nurses would become a permanent fixture in its hospitals following the positive impact the service has had for patients, carers and staff. Admiral nurses use specialist knowledge to provide emotional and practical support to people living with dementia, as well as their families and carers.

Chief executive Birju Bartoli added: “Creating a welcoming and supportive environment is essential to helping patients feel safe and cared for in hospital. These results reflect the dedication of our staff who work hard every day to deliver the best possible experience.”

Dedicated estates and facilities staff from Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM) are celebrating after being shortlisted for two prestigious national awards.

The subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has received nominations in both the MyPorter and MyCleaning Awards – recognising the outstanding contribution of healthcare porters and domestic teams who play a vital role behind the scenes.

A lifetime of dedication

Steve Riley, driver/porter at NHFM, has been shortlisted for the Dennis Southern Lifetime Achievement Award – a fitting tribute to an incredible 50-year career.

Steve joined the trust just four days after leaving school and has since built a career defined by dedication, adaptability and pride in his work. Over five decades, he has worked across catering, domestic services, portering and transportation – always willing to step into new roles and embrace new challenges.

One of his proudest achievements came in 2010, when he was asked to take on the role of waste manager. Drawing on his broad operational knowledge, Steve led a number of environmentally positive initiatives, including helping to establish offensive waste as a separate category from clinical waste – a change that delivered both environmental and financial benefits for the trust.

In 2015, Steve flexi-retired and returned to portering and driving – a role that sees him travel more than 50,000 miles each year transporting samples, specimens, blood, post, supplies and even colleagues between sites.

Chris Campbell, soft services manager at NHFM, said: “Steve’s career story within NHFM and the trust is nothing short of remarkable. He takes immense pride in everything he does and always goes above and beyond.

Being shortlisted for the Dennis Southern Lifetime Achievement Award is particularly special to Steve, as Dennis was not only a colleague but a friend. This recognition couldn’t go to someone more deserving.”

Teamwork in action

The domestic services team at Wansbeck General Hospital have also been shortlisted – this time for Team of the Year.

Known for their strong team spirit and positive, can-do attitude, the group consistently goes above and beyond to keep the hospital clean, safe and welcoming for patients, visitors and staff.

Their nomination was supported by their response to a flood in the child health department. When the incident occurred late in the evening, the team immediately adopted an “all hands-on deck” approach, staying beyond their shifts to clean and restore the area, minimising disruption for patients and clinical teams the following day.

Beyond their day-to-day responsibilities, the team has also played an important role in welcoming internationally educated nurses to the trust – offering practical support, sharing local knowledge, baking homemade treats and even helping colleagues settle into permanent accommodation.

Lillian Key, domestic superintendent, said: “I am delighted the team has been recognised by being shortlisted for this prestigious award. They provide an outstanding service every day, ensuring the hospital remains clean, safe and tidy – but what truly sets them apart is how they come together when faced with complex situations.

I am incredibly proud of the team and proud to be part of such a hardworking and compassionate group.”

The nominations shine a well-deserved spotlight on the estates and facilities teams whose dedication helps keep healthcare services running smoothly every day.

Steve and the domestic team will travel to Leeds on 2 and 3 March to attend the awards ceremony celebrating the often-unsung heroes of healthcare.

Year 9 students from John Spence Community High School have gained hands-on experience of NHS support and non-clinical careers during a special workplace visit to Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM).

The interactive event was delivered through a partnership between Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s widening participation team, NHFM, John Spence Community High School and the North East Combined Authority (North East CA). 

The visit aimed to showcase the wide range of career opportunities available beyond clinical roles and to highlight apprenticeships and technical routes into the NHS.  

Students took part in practical activities across several departments, rotating between interactive stations that included portering, security and machinist tasks, giving them real insight into the skills and teamwork involved in keeping NHS services running every day. 

The event was coordinated by the trust’s widening participation team, working collaboratively with NHFM colleagues and the school’s careers leader, Kate Winder.  

Damon Kent, managing director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management said: “Too often when people think about NHS careers, they only think about doctors and nurses. The reality is that thousands of dedicated colleagues work behind the scenes to make sure hospitals function safely and efficiently. 

“Showcasing non-clinical careers is hugely important, not only to help young people understand the breadth of opportunities available to them, but also to help us build the skilled and diverse workforce the NHS needs for the future.” 

Kate added:  “What made the visit so effective was that everything was delivered by the staff themselves, giving our young people an authentic feel for the environment and the wide variety of roles available. 

“Our pupils loved being able to get hands-on, try new tasks and see first-hand how such an important organisation operates. Experiences like this help them understand possibilities they may never have considered before. It was an inspiring visit and one we very much hope to build on in the future.” 

The event was coordinated by the trust’s widening participation team, led by Rochelle Gonsalves who is also the enterprise advisor for John Spence school, working collaboratively with NHFM colleagues and the school’s careers leader. The Enterprise Adviser Network connects schools with local employers to help shape meaningful careers education.  

The initiative has been further strengthened through the Boosting Skills Pathways project, funded by the Department for Education, via The Careers and Enterprise Company and delivered locally by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of the North East Combined Authority. The programme aims to improve young people’s access to technical and vocational routes, expand apprenticeship and T-Level opportunities, and increase sector-led careers outreach across the region.  

Aligned to the Mayor’s New Deal for North East Workers Strategy, the project focuses on raising awareness of the diverse range of NHS career pathways, particularly non-clinical roles, while helping to build stronger, more inclusive recruitment pipelines for the future workforce across Northumberland and North Tyneside.  

Adrian Dougherty, Assistant Director – Inclusive Futures at the North East Combined Authority said:
“This visit was designed to raise awareness of the many exciting, nonclinical NHS careers that young people often don’t see. Having these facilities so close to home helps to connect the classroom to the world of work, and the North East Combined Authority is committed to supporting opportunities that connect education with local industry.” 

A dedicated hospital caterer at North Tyneside General Hospital is celebrating a remarkable milestone this Christmas, having worked every Christmas Day for the past 25 years to ensure patients, visitors and frontline staff are cared for during one of the most important days of the year.

Kim Ashcroft began her career at North Tyneside General Hospital in 1999 as a catering assistant and now works as a catering supervisor for Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, the estates and facilities subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

For a quarter of a century, she has played a vital role in keeping essential catering services running on Christmas Day — providing hot meals, comfort and a sense of normality for those who cannot be at home.

Hospital catering teams work behind the scenes throughout the festive period, ensuring clinical staff working long and demanding shifts have access to food and refreshments, and that patients continue to receive nutritious meals. Kim’s commitment has helped support the hospital’s ability to deliver safe, compassionate care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Reflecting on this milestone, Kim said: “Working Christmas Day is incredibly important. Our clinical colleagues are here caring for patients around the clock, and they need to be supported. Having the restaurant open means staff can take a proper break and refuel, which is so important for patient care.

“For patients and visitors who are spending Christmas in hospital, a warm meal and a friendly face can make a huge difference. It can be a difficult and emotional time of year, and catering staff play a small but meaningful role in bringing comfort and kindness.”

On Christmas morning, Kim will be serving breakfast to staff, patients and visitors until 11am before heading home to prepare her own Christmas dinner. She will then spend time catching up with her son, who lives in America, via FaceTime.

Wayne Roper, kitchen superintendent and Kim’s line manager, praised her dedication saying; “Kim’s role highlights just how essential hospital catering staff are, particularly on Christmas Day. Her commitment, compassion and reliability ensure our teams are supported and our patients are cared for, even on the most challenging days.”

Media contact 

Emily Lavin, marketing and communications officer

emily.lavin@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk

First Sycamore Gap sapling planted in Northumberland

The first Sycamore Gap sapling to be planted in Northumberland has been planted at Hexham General Hospital.

On the morning of Wednesday 26 November, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust held a ceremony to mark the planting of the Sycamore Gap sapling. With staff and volunteers from the trust coming along to celebrate this new beginning and have a moment of personal reflection.

Sycamore Gap was illegally felled in September 2023, which created shock across the region and to preserve its legacy, saplings were collected from the fallen tree. Through the National Trust’s ‘Trees of Hope’ programme, 49 saplings were awarded to organisations and individuals across the country who have had a significant positive impact on their community.

The trust was one of over 500 applicants and at the end of 2024 was announced as one of the recipients.

Damon Kent, managing director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, planted the sapling and said: “Sycamore Gap is an important part of Northumberland’s heritage so we’re glad to have received a sapling so that the tree’s legacy can remain in its home county. Many of our staff, patients and visitors have fond memories of Sycamore Gap so it was deeply felt throughout the community when it was felled.

“A hospital is a place of hope so by planting the sapling here, we hope that people can see it is as a symbol of positivity and use it for personal reflection.”

Andrew Poad, General Manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian Wall properties said: “It’s incredible to think that the first “offspring” of this very famous tree are now being planted – it feels like just yesterday that those tentative first shoots appeared. Over the next couple of years, the saplings will really start to take shape, and because sycamores are so hardy, we’re confident they’ll be able to withstand a range of conditions.

“To be able to keep the story of the Sycamore Gap alive in all four corners of the UK and in so many different settings is a fitting tribute, and we hope that, just like the original tree, these young saplings will touch many people’s lives.”

Next steps to progress Berwick’s new hospital

The next steps to progress the construction of Berwick Community Hospital have been announced.

Merit, who was Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s, construction partner was placed in administration last week.

The trust has now appointed, Opus Building Services Limited, as an interim contractor and has also begun the process to appoint a replacement contractor to complete the new hospital.

Damon Kent, managing director, Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said: “We are pleased to be able to provide people with an update on the next steps to ensure the construction of our new hospital continues to progress well. We would like to reassure people that we know how much this facility means to our staff, patients and local communities.

“Opus, our interim contractor, are now established on site, and we are very pleased that they have re-employed most of the on-site Merit team.

“The past few weeks have been difficult for many, but we are now able to focus on finishing what is going to be an excellent health facility for the residents of Berwick and the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to give an updated timeline in relation to when our new hospital will be completed. We appreciate everyone’s patience, and we would like to reassure people that we will keep everyone updated as we progress things.”

Internally, the installation of floors, walls, ceilings and staircases in the new hospital building has been completed. The inpatient ward and Well Close Medical Group areas are nearly completed. The next phase will include completing work in the theatre and endoscopy areas.

The trust will then need to test and validate all the services in the building to make sure that everything works the way it should before our staff and patients can access the hospital.

Externally, work to tidy up the site to ensure it is as safe and secure as it should be is on-going. Glazing work will also be carried out, along with some work on the plant equipment on the roof. The cladding and groundworks will then need to be completed.

Marion Dickson, Northumbria Healthcare’s executive director for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, said: “We do appreciate that further delay in the completion of our new hospital will cause frustration and worry. We would like to reassure everyone that we are doing all we can to progress things as quickly as we can.

“We continue to constantly look at what patient services we can bring to Berwick. We are pleased that in addition to all the existing services, we will have endoscopy back at the new hospital, along with audiology, ophthalmology, gynaecology and colposcopy.

“We are committed to ensuring our hospital is the best it can be for both our staff and patients.”

A new helipad is now ready for use at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington.

Work to create the facility started earlier this year and was completed in October. The helipad has now been signed off for use by all operators, including the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

The project, which ensures the helipad meets the latest aviation standards, was supported by a £630,000 donation from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.

The new helipad features a larger concrete landing pad plus other enhancements, including aviation lighting to support night-time landings.

Paul McNeillie, Northumbria Healthcare’s deputy director responsible for the project, said: “We are delighted that the helipad is now open and ready for use, as this is a key facility to support timely, life-saving care across the large area we cover in Northumberland and North Tyneside.

“We remain very grateful to the HELP Appeal for its generous donation and would also like to thank Cramlington Juniors Football Club, who allowed us to use their field in the interim to ensure there was somewhere for emergency helicopters to land.”

Kris Lawson is an emergency care consultant at the Northumbria hospital. He also works for GNAAS.

“Our trust covers an enormous area, and some patients are a long way from hospital,” he said. “GNAAS can bring hospital-level care direct to the patient.

“This upgraded helipad allows much easier transport into hospital for these critically ill and injured patients and will offer significant benefit to people in our region.”

The new helipad is part of a wider project taking place at the hospital, which is being managed by the trust’s estates subsidiary, Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management.

Its managing director, Damon Kent, said: “The new helipad is a fantastic addition to the Cramlington site, and I would like to thank our teams and external partners on this project for delivering it on time and to such a high standard.”

Medical engineering apprentice from the north east receives national recognition at the Healthcare Estates Awards

Medical engineering apprentice Frankie Taylor-Smith from Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), has won ‘Apprentice of the Year’ from the national Healthcare Estates Awards 2025.

The annual awards ceremony celebrates the contributions of both teams and individuals within healthcare estates and facilities management, including engineering. Those who are nominated for an award demonstrate an outstanding attitude towards creating a positive impact within the delivery of healthcare.

Beginning her journey with NHFM in 2023, Frankie is two years into her Level 3 Healthcare Engineering Specialist Technician apprenticeship, having previously completed a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship with Northumbria Healthcare.

Talking about her award win, Frankie said: “I’m so proud of winning this award and incredibly grateful to my managers for nominating me for this. My apprenticeship journey has been fulfilling as I’ve been able to work on a range of projects that make a difference to the wider trust and have a positive impact on patient care.”

Chris Glass, Frankie’s line manager and deputy head of medical engineering said: “Since Frankie started in the department with us, she has repeatedly demonstrated a fantastic attitude towards everything she has been tasked with and an eagerness to learn. Frankie is a great example of how apprentices are a valuable part of the team and her contributions have had a positive impact on her colleagues and the wider team.”

Northumbria Healthcare has an extensive apprenticeship programme that provides an alternative career pathway for those wishing to progress their career without going down the full-time university route. Apprenticeships are available in both clinical and non-clinical roles, including estates and facilities.

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), the estates and facilities subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded the highly esteemed RoSPA Gold Award by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), recognising its exceptional commitment to health and safety excellence in the workplace.

This distinguished honour celebrates NHFM’s proactive approach to accident prevention and its success in fostering a robust, safety-first culture. The RoSPA Health and Safety Awards are among the most respected international accolades in the field, attracting entries from organisations across industries and continents. The Gold Award specifically recognises sustained dedication to embedding effective safety systems and practices that protect people from harm.

Damon Kent, Managing Director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this award. It reflects the unwavering commitment, vigilance, and care our team demonstrates towards safety every single day.”

Health and safety sit at the heart of NHFM’s strategy, underpinned by strong leadership and active employee engagement. The organisation has implemented a comprehensive training programme that empowers senior managers, line managers, and supervisors to lead by example and uphold the highest standards of safety across all operations.

Brian Cowan, Chief Operating Officer at NHFM, added: “Health and safety isn’t simply a compliance requirement for us—it’s an integral part of who we are and how we work. This recognition from RoSPA motivates us to keep pushing boundaries and continuously improve.”

As NHFM celebrates this remarkable achievement, it remains steadfast in its mission to ensure that every employee, contractor, and visitor goes home safe and well—every day.

Media contact 

Emily Lavin, marketing and communications officer

emily.lavin@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk

Staff at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are now benefitting from a modernised central changing facility at North Tyneside General Hospital (NTGH), designed to support active and sustainable travel.

The trust has invested significantly in the refurbishment, which includes new lockers, secure bike storage, and upgraded amenities to enhance the day-to-day experience of staff. This project reflects Northumbria Healthcare’s commitment to its Active Hospital programme and its wider Net Zero plan, encouraging staff to choose active and sustainable travel options such as walking, cycling, or public transport.

Key features of the new facility include:

• More than 800 staff lockers
• Brand-new shower facilities
• Spacious, lockable changing rooms
• Integrated hair dryers
• Secure, code-access bike storage
• A sleek, modern interior design

Paul McNeillie, Deputy Director at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re delighted to see this project completed. The new facility will not only be more enjoyable for staff to use, but it will also help support physical activity, encourage exercise, and have a positive impact on wellbeing.”

The development was delivered by Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), the trust’s estates and facilities subsidiary, in partnership with project managers CCL Solutions.

Mark Hawdon, Head of Service for Capital Projects at NHFM, added: “We’re proud to have delivered another high-quality project. Encouraging Active Travel across the trust is key to supporting staff health and wellbeing, while also contributing to our Net Zero ambitions. We’re confident these new facilities will make a real difference.”

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised nationally for its commitment to sustainability, securing two major achievements on its journey to net zero.

The trust has been named a finalist in the prestigious HSJ Awards 2025, Towards Net Zero category, which highlights organisations leading the way in embedding sustainability into healthcare. Alongside this, it has achieved the coveted ‘Green’ accreditation from Investors in the Environment (iiE) — the highest standard awarded by the national sustainability scheme.

These achievements follow the launch of the trust’s ‘Net Zero Northumbria’ action plan in early 2024, which sets out a clear roadmap to support the NHS’s ambition of becoming net zero by 2040.

To achieve Green accreditation, the trust submitted a detailed report showcasing the actions it has taken to cut carbon emissions, improve resource efficiency and embed sustainability across its operations with clear measurable reductions in environmental impact. Key highlights included:

• A decrease in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions linked to building energy, as a result of installing heat pumps, solar panels, LED lighting and more across several sites.
• A robust waste management system in place and enhancements to resource efficiency through introducing schemes like the walking aid return and reuse scheme.
• The rollout of the Clean Air Hospital Framework and air quality monitoring project, in partnership with Public Health, taking a strategic approach to improving air quality on our sites.

Clare Winter, Head of Sustainability at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “We are delighted to have achieved both of these milestones. Over the last two years we have worked incredibly hard to embed sustainability practices across the trust, and this recognition is a testament to the collective effort of our colleagues and partners. Our journey towards net zero is well underway, but we know there is more to do.”

The trust’s progress is backed by significant investment, with more than £20 million allocated to decarbonisation projects at The Northumbria Hospital in Cramlington, Hexham General Hospital and Wansbeck General Hospital. The programme will replace outdated steam heating systems with modern, energy-efficient heat pumps — a major step towards cutting emissions.

Damon Kent, Managing Director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), added: “Being shortlisted for the HSJ Awards and securing the highest iiE accreditation demonstrates just how committed we are to reducing our environmental impact. These achievements reflect the dedication of all the teams involved, and we are proud to be playing our part in creating a more sustainable future for the communities we serve.”

Northumbria Healthcare will join other finalists at the HSJ Awards ceremony in London on Thursday 20 November 2025, where the winners will be announced.

Healthcare professionals at North Tyneside General Hospital are set to benefit from a newly refurbished, state-of-the-art lecture theatre, designed to support education and training.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has made a significant investment in upgrading the facility, aiming to improve the learning environment, boost educational outcomes, and meet the growing demands for staff training and development.

The upgraded lecture theatre now features:

• A cutting-edge laser projector for crystal-clear visuals
• Enhanced audio with additional speakers and acoustic wall panelling
• Ergonomic, collaborative seating to improve comfort and engagement
• Integrated desk power sockets for added convenience
• A sleek, modern interior design to inspire a more dynamic learning experience

Niall McMahon, education facilities manager at Northumbria Healthcare, commented:
“We’re thrilled to see this project come to fruition. Education is vital to the development of our healthcare staff, enabling them to deliver the high-quality care our patients expect. This upgraded facility will significantly enhance our education and training programmes.”

The refurbishment was delivered by Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), the estates and facilities subsidiary of the trust, in collaboration with project managers and cost consultants Identity Consult, P+HS Architects and building contractor IHP/SRM.

Mark Hawdon, Head of Service for Capital Projects at NHFM, added:
“This has been a fantastic project from start to finish. As education and training needs continue to evolve, it was clear the existing lecture theatre needed a modern upgrade. We’re confident these new facilities will have a lasting positive impact on the staff learning experience.”

James Treanor, Associate Project Manager at Identity Consult said: “I’d like to acknowledge the commitment of both the delivery and design teams in bringing this project to completion within the required timescales.

Despite some technical challenges along the way, the team’s collaborative approach ensured everything was resolved effectively. We’re really pleased with the outcome, and it’s been a pleasure working alongside the education team throughout.”

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), the estates and facilities subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, are supporting the development of future engineering professionals by welcoming two students from Bede Academy in Blyth.

Beginning their four-week placement in June, the students will gain valuable, hands-on experience by assisting with estates maintenance at both the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington and Wansbeck General Hospital in Ashington.

Currently studying for a T Level in Engineering, the students are part of a pioneering qualification that blends academic learning with practical experience. T Levels offer a high-quality alternative to A Levels, combining classroom-based study with extended industry placements to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed for a successful career.

NHFM has a history of collaborating with Bede Academy. Previously, NHFM donated used furniture and medical equipment to help establish a realistic training environment for the school’s T Level in Health programme. These donations were used to create a mock ward, offering students an immersive, hands-on learning experience.

Brian Cowan, chief operating officer at NHFM, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our first T Level students to NHFM. Providing opportunities like this is vital—it helps raise awareness of the wide range of careers available in the NHS beyond clinical roles.
We hope the students enjoy their time with us and gain experience that will support their future careers in engineering.”

During the placement, the students will shadow NHFM’s estates team and gain insight into managing and maintaining complex healthcare estates and equipment.

This initiative also aligns with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Community Promise—a commitment to improve lives by expanding the traditional role of an NHS trust. One of the six pillars of the Promise is Action on Education, which focuses on building strong partnerships with schools and colleges to raise aspirations and promote the diverse roles available across health and social care.

Mark Davies, Assistant Vice Principal and T Level Engineering Lead at Bede Academy, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain real-world experience in a dynamic healthcare setting, which will be incredibly beneficial for their future careers.
The team at NHFM has been extremely supportive, working closely with us to ensure the placement aligns with each student’s interests and professional goals.”

Fay Lane, Senior Estates and Facilities Workforce Lead at NHS England, visited the students on National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day on the 18 June and said “The students told me that before their placement they were unaware of the engineering career opportunities available in the NHS. They spoke with excitement about the reactive maintenance tasks they had been doing and working on the pneumatic tube systems. It was inspiring to see the enthusiasm of the next generation of engineers.”

Northumbria Healthcare secures more than £20 million to cut carbon emissions at three major hospitals

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded more than £20 million in government funding to drive forward its mission to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to a greener future.

This significant investment will fund a major heat decarbonisation projects across three key hospital sites—The Northumbria Hospital in Cramlington, Hexham General Hospital, and Wansbeck General Hospital. Central to the project is the replacement of outdated steam heating systems with state-of-the-art, energy-efficient heat pumps.

Northumbria Healthcare is one of just nine public sector organisations – and one of only three NHS trusts in the North East to receive funding through this initiative. The new systems are expected to deliver annual carbon savings of 4,465 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e), which is the equivalent of 15,546 return journeys from Lands End to John O’Groats.

Heat pumps are highly efficient electric appliances that transfer and intensify heat from the outside air, a source of water or ground into a building. As they do not use gas or oil, they are a more sustainable and efficient alternative.

Birju Bartoli, chief executive of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This project marks a significant milestone for us and stands as a powerful demonstration of our commitment to the Net Zero Northumbria agenda.

“We are making long-term investments in our estates and facilities with sustainability at the core—both through the design of new buildings and the improvement of existing infrastructure.

Environmental factors can impact health and wellbeing, which is why sustainability is one of the six pillars of Our Community Promise—our commitment to addressing the wider determinants of health.”

This latest initiative follows the successful completion of a similar decarbonisation project at North Tyneside General Hospital, completed in December 2023. That project involved installing large-scale heat pumps, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, and replacing the hospital’s steam heating system. The work was delivered through the Strategic Energy and Asset Management (SEAM) Framework—a streamlined procurement route for public sector organisations to implement energy-efficient technologies and practices quickly and cost-effectively.

Damon Kent, managing director of Northumbria healthcare Facilities Management, added:

“We’re thrilled to receive this funding for such a critical project. Over the past three years, we’ve made significant investments to support our goal of achieving net zero by 2040. This initiative will be instrumental in helping us reach that target.”

The trust is also advancing several other sustainability efforts. These include a ‘No Idling’ campaign to reduce emissions from stationary vehicles in staff and public car parks, and a partnership with local environmental organisation Climate Action North to enhance green spaces across five hospital sites. These initiatives aim to create more biodiverse, welcoming environments for both people and wildlife.

New hospital building to transform in the coming weeks

Residents and stakeholders are invited to find out how the build of Berwick’s new hospital is progressing.

A drop-in session is to be held on Thursday, June 26, between 10am and 2pm, at Berwick Town Hall, Marygate, Berwick, TD15 1BN.

The project is now moving into a phase which will see the remainder of the external glazing being fitted and the installation of the stone cladding. It is hoped that the external cladding will be fitted by the end of the summer.

4,500 square metres of stone and perforated metal cladding and glazing will seamlessly form the community hospital’s external façade.

Internally, room partitioning is underway along with the installation of the lifts and mechanical and electrical services.

Damon Kent, managing director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said: “We are moving into a very exciting construction phase. People will be able to see the building transform as the cladding is fitted, and the landscaping begins at the end of the summer. The site also now has its new electricity supply and is self-sufficient in this respect.

“While complex, this project continues to be very enjoyable to be involved in. It gives me a huge sense of satisfaction knowing the impact that the new hospital will have on both patient and staff experience. Everyone, I am sure, will appreciate the modern, bright and welcoming environment which is crucial when people are receiving or providing care. I would like to, once again, thank those that live and work in Berwick for their patience while this project continues.”

Work on the internal design is nearly complete and will ensure that patients and staff are as comfortable as possible. A significant amount of thought has gone into considering patients’ needs. An example of this is the tailored finishes to walls and floors for patients with dementia. Art installations will help to calm patients and reduce stress and anxiety.

The beating heart of the hospital will be the services it provides. Focus and effort from many clinical and non-clinical teams at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is enabling some services to return and additional services to be provided.

Marion Dickson, executive director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, said: “We know how important it is to provide as many services as possible close to people’s homes and one of the key drivers for this is reducing the miles our patients need to travel.

“Some new and returning services coming to our hospital include audiology, dermatology, ear nose and throat (ENT), endoscopy and gynaecology. Services that we are exploring include colposcopy, elderly mental health, ophthalmology (including cataract surgery), oral surgery and orthopaedics (including spinal injections). Please be reassured that we are committed to providing as many services as possible from our new hospital. We must ensure that they are appropriate though as patient safety always needs to come first.

“I am very excited to see the transformation of the site on an almost daily basis, whether while on a walk or when I am working at the site. I know from conversations I have with patients, residents and stakeholders that the new hospital is very important to them too. Without our dedicated and flexible staff, we couldn’t have achieved what we have so far – so thank you to each and every one of them.”

The trust is encouraging people to drop in at the session being held next week. The hospital will be handed over to the trust by construction partner, Merit, by the end of this year.

https://youtu.be/5mbbemldwKA

When you walk through the doors of a hospital, it’s easy to focus solely on the doctors and nurses. But behind the scenes, an entire network of dedicated professionals works tirelessly to ensure hospitals run smoothly, safely, and efficiently. This National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day, we shine a spotlight on one of those unsung heroes: Chris, whose remarkable 19-year journey is a testament to hard work, adaptability, and the power of teamwork.

Starting out as a teenager washing pots at North Tyneside General Hospital, Chris has steadily climbed the ladder—taking on roles in catering, portering, security, and now soft services management. His story isn’t just about career progression; it’s about commitment to care, a love of people, and a passion for making a difference where it truly counts.

Tell us about your career to date?

I actually started out washing pots on the bank at North Tyneside General Hospital (NTGH) – straight from school! I’d jump on my moped after the bell rang and head straight to work. From there, I became a permanent catering assistant. After about five years, I made the move into Portering at NTGH.

When the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) opened in Cramlington, I was offered the chance to work there – and I jumped at it. After a short while, I became a Chargehand Porter, and even stepped up as Head Porter for a time. From there, I moved into the role of Catering Superintendent at NSECH, then took on Head of Security. I then acted up into the Hotel Services Officer role, and now, I’m Soft Services Manager. It’s been quite the journey!

What do you like best about what you do?

I genuinely love working with people – whether it’s patients, visitors or staff. Every day brings something new, and the variety keeps me on my toes. Knowing that we’re providing an essential service across the hospital really gives me a sense of purpose.

How have you adapted to working in the different teams?

I’ve always embraced change. If an opportunity comes up to try something new, I go for it. I’ve found the best way to learn is by working alongside those doing the job day in, day out. Across NHFM, we have so many experienced, knowledgeable people – everyone’s willing to help or offer guidance. That team spirit makes a big difference.

What does a day in the life of a soft services manager look like?

No two days are ever the same! One minute I’m dealing with a van breakdown – we’ve got a fleet of 34 – the next, it’s equipment issues in one of our kitchens.

My mornings usually start by catching up with the services managers from each of our teams to address any overnight issues or new priorities. I also liaise with contractors to plan or sign off on work, and with procurement to ensure our service contracts are delivering value.

Then there’s the work with Dieticians and Nutritionists to make sure our patient menus are as nutritious and tailored as possible. It’s a lot – but it’s rewarding.

How does your role have an impact on our patients?

Nutrition is a huge part of recovery, and the work we do with the Dieticians, Nutritionists, and Public Health Team directly impacts patients. We’ve introduced Low Residue and Stoma menus based on feedback from PLACE assessments, which has helped us achieve excellent PLACE scores across the trust.

And beyond food, the work our portering, transport, security, and domestic teams do is critical – from maintaining infection control, to transporting blood samples quickly between sites so clinical teams can act fast.

What is a stand out moment in your career?

Two really stand out. First, when the catering team was named Team of the Year at the staff awards – that recognition meant the world. The second was seeing our security team win for their work in reducing violence and aggression, thanks to a fantastic partnership with Northumbria Police. Those moments make it all worthwhile.

Why do you think it is important to celebrate Estates and Facilities Day?

Because it shines a light on the vital – but often behind-the-scenes – work we do. Estates and facilities teams are essential to delivering safe, clean, and welcoming environments for patients, staff, and visitors. It’s a day to recognise our contributions and take pride in the role we play in patient care.

Northumbria Healthcare launches new inpatient menu tailored to stoma patients

The Northumbria Hospital in Cramlington has introduced a new food menu based on feedback from ward staff highlighting the need for more variety to meet the unique dietary requirements of stoma patients.

The catering team from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are currently carrying out extensive reviews of its patient menus, including launching a new children’s menu, to ensure a larger variety of meals that support the nutritional needs for a patient’s recovery.

Working with catering partner apetito, a new menu has been developed offering 14 options for patients to choose from, including the addition of mini meals, soups, deserts and sandwiches. This is an increase from the 5 options that were previously available.

Having been launched at the start of this year, the menu has already received positive feedback from staff and patients alike.

Zoe Bell, stoma nurse, said: “Nutrition is a large part of providing stoma care and having a larger menu to choose from, it allows patients to take control of a small part of their care. This has a big impact on their wellbeing and subsequently, their recovery.”

Also talking about the updated menu, Katie Wright, catering superintendent, said: “When developing the menu, it was important to us to not only create options that meet nutritional needs but to add food that brings variety and comfort to patients during their hospital stay.

“Catering plays a big role in the overall patient experience and for patients who have more complex nutritional needs, we have a responsibility to ensure they are being met.”

Tracy Oakley, apetito Training & Operations Manager for Northumbria Hospital said: “We have worked collaboratively with Katie and Zoe to create stoma menus that are suitable for patients, following tastings with dietetic and nursing teams. We hope the new menus will offer much more choice for patients, while ensuring they get the nutrients they require.”

The menu will be reviewed annually taking into consideration feedback from staff and patients to ensure the choice of meals remain suitable.

Sheryle’s journey into nursing started with a personal experience that inspired her to help others. From working as a cadet to becoming a theatre nurse, and later moving into medical device safety, she has built a career focused on patient care and continuous learning. This story highlights her career path, the challenges she faced, and her passion for supporting both patients and staff. Sheryle shows how caring, teamwork, and staying positive can make a big difference in healthcare.

1. When did you decide that you wanted to be a nurse?

Sadly, I had a personal experience caring for someone with alcohol dependency. As this was a really hard time, I decided I wanted to try and support others who may be in the same position, with a focus on patient rehabilitation and family support. While training as a mental health nurse I was I was successful in gaining a position as a cadet which would give me placements in hospitals for learning disabilities, mental health, acute care.

2. Can you give a brief overview of how you got into the nursing profession and how your career switched to medical electronics?

On completion of my cadetship, I decided that working within the acute adult setting was for me. I found my placement in mental services emotional, seeing others going through the struggles of alcohol dependency. Therefore, I chose to train as an adult nurse due to really enjoying my placements within the Outpatient Department at Ashington Hospital and the Day Surgical Unit at WGH, which was due to the quick pace and having brilliant staff as mentors. Following my nurse training, I was fortunate to specialise in theatre nursing. I loved all aspects of this role, the fantastic team working, the focus on patients and every day was different. I have always enjoyed supporting people to develop & learn and to improve how we work.

Many years later, I can say I love my job. I applied for a specialised role as a Medical Devices Safety Officer, after working with medical devices over many years, and supporting the safe use of devices.  I felt passionate & excited about applying for the role within the medical engineering team, where I knew everything would be linked to devices.

3. What does your role entail?

My days are full of managing safety notices, defective devices and device incidents. I get the opportunity to improve medical device safety in the trust and have a key role in shaping device safety nationally. No day is the same, and every day I am challenged by new issues. The best part of my job is meeting fantastic people daily.

I’m an RCN (Royal College of Nursing) Learning Representative, a patient safety specialist, and a staff network chair. As a nurse, I feel it’s important to wear many hats, which allows me to network with a wide range of people from all aspects of life.

4. How do you play a part in ensuring the health and wellbeing of nurses within the trust?

I try to encourage others to look for what they have achieved, and how to develop, giving people the time to be heard – that’s important, I feel. I signpost staff to lots of different opportunities for both personal and professional goals.

I’m outgoing and enthusiastic, I try to make my peers smile, encouraging smiling helps reduce stress & is good for heart health.

5. What are the best aspects of your role?

 The diversity of my role and responsibilities within the trust and nationally, where I can use my creativity. I continuously learn, therefore always developing new skills and expanding my knowledge base to improve medical device safety.

Working with a team that understands the importance of device safety, and who are passionate about improvement. They’re all great to work alongside and have a can-do attitude. There are many Northumbria staff outside of my team who support me, and check in on me, these people are essential to support me within my role.

6. What do you do for your own health and wellbeing?

Being outdoors is where I feel calm and being silly with my children and exploring. I am part of the community singing group in Ashington – it’s an absolute joy to sing with so many different people and have formed some lovely friendships. I support a scout group weekly, which is really rewarding, seeing the growth of the children as they undertake new activities. I’m extremely lucky to be surrounded by many friends who have pulled me through tough times, bought me coffee, walked with me, and given me hugs; all these things make me a happier person.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is proud to support No Mow May—an annual initiative encouraging people and organisations to reduce lawn mowing throughout May to allow wildflowers to flourish. This simple action helps provide essential food and habitats for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

NHS trusts across the North East and North Cumbria are joining forces in this effort, promoting a collaborative, region-wide approach to improving biodiversity across NHS estates. By letting grass and wildflowers grow naturally, the campaign supports healthier ecosystems and helps protect vital insect populations.

In 2024, Northumbria Healthcare launched its sustainability action plan, a roadmap toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040. One of the plan’s core pillars—greening and adapting—focuses on enhancing the trust’s green spaces in partnership with local and regional organisations.

Clare Winter, head of sustainability at Northumbria Healthcare and Co-Chair of the North East & North Cumbria Provider Collaborative Sustainability Group, said:

“NHS trusts in our region are taking a united approach this May through No Mow May. Enhancing biodiversity across our extensive NHS estate brings wide-ranging environmental and health benefits. By working together, we’re not only protecting pollinators but also engaging our communities in the importance of local action. Even small changes can make a meaningful difference.”

As part of this ongoing commitment, the trust has partnered with Climate Action North to develop a Rewilding (Biodiversity) Action Plan across several sites. A key recommendation of the plan includes reducing grass cutting in specific areas during spring and summer to promote wildflower growth—an important step toward a healthier, greener future for both people and wildlife.

Patients and staff are now benefitting from a refurbished theatre and endoscopy suite at Alnwick Infirmary.

The £1.8 million upgrade to the day unit is the latest in a series of projects by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to improve the facilities at the community hospital. It follows the redevelopment of both the inpatient ward and the outpatient department.

The theatres and endoscopy department at Alnwick mean that some patients can have their procedures much closer to home, avoiding having to travel to the trust’s larger hospitals.

The investment has resulted in enhanced patient experience, while providing staff with a modern and fit-for-purpose environment in which to deliver high-quality care.

Craig Ternent, operational services manager at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “We are delighted that patients and staff are benefitting from the improved facilities at Alnwick and have no doubt that it will have a significant impact on patient and staff experience going forward.

“It is important to us that we continue to invest in our community hospitals like Alnwick, as we are committed to providing as much care as we can closer to people’s homes.

“This refurbishment helps us future-proof the department to ensure we can keep delivering for patients at a high standard.”

The theatre at Alnwick deals with day cases with orthopaedic, plastics, general and oral surgery operations taking place there each week.

The endoscopy unit means that patients from Alnwick and surrounding areas can have important procedures to help diagnose them quickly and effectively.

Key upgrades include new flooring throughout clinical areas, the installation of automated theatre doors, and general improvements to enhance both patient and staff experience.

Sustainability was a major focus, with the installation of two high-efficiency air handling units to ensure safe and fresh air circulation.

Health and safety were also prioritised, with the installation of new fire doors and smoke dampers to strengthen safety measures across the department.

Jonny Watson, deputy director of commercial and capital projects at Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said: “We’re delighted to have completed this important project at Alnwick Infirmary.

“These upgrades will not only improve staff working environments and provide patients with a more comfortable experience during their time with us, but also support the refurbishment of theatres at Hexham General Hospital.”

At Hexham, a 12-month project started in October 2024 to refurbish the four operating theatres as part of a £15 million package of upgrades.

World Day for Health and Safety at Work

How long have you worked in Health and Safety?

I have worked in Health and Safety for about 10 years.

What does your job involve?

As a health and safety advisor, the key part of my job is essentially making our sites safer for the patients, visitors and staff who use them! Having a safe environment is crucial to providing high-quality care.

I investigate incidents to identify the root causes then put measures in place to prevent them happening again. I support managers to complete risk assessments of their own environment and help staff take forward their own ideas to improve workplace health and safety.

Why do you think World Day for Health and Safety at Work is important?

Health and safety is something that affects all of us, so this day is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the work we do to make our hospitals a safer environment for everyone.

What would you say to anyone who is considering Health and Safety as a career?

A career in health and safety can be very rewarding as you can make a real difference. You need to be approachable, curious and non-judgmental, but also confident enough to have some difficult conversations. There are some great courses out there which give an overview of health and safety principles, and then there are lots of options for further study in specific topics to expand knowledge further.

What is your top tip for improving health and safety?

My biggest tip is to report near-misses. If everyone reported near-misses, measures could be put in place to stop so many accidents happening.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has joined forces with Climate Action North to transform green spaces across five sites, creating environments that support both people and wildlife.

This collaboration is part of the Pollinator Parks® initiative and aims to rewild outdoor areas and boost biodiversity through community-led action.

Rewilding efforts will take place at Alnwick Infirmary, Hexham General Hospital, North Tyneside General Hospital, Wansbeck General Hospital, and Northumbria House (Cobalt). Plans include planting native species, creating habitats for wildlife, and revitalising underused green areas into vibrant, healthy ecosystems.

These rejuvenated spaces will serve as havens for relaxation, social connection, and wellbeing—benefiting patients, staff, and visitors alike. By inviting the community to reconnect with nature, the project promotes both mental and physical health.

The trust’s sustainability team will work closely with Phil Macari, Ecology and Community Rewilding Director at Climate Action North, to bring the vision to life.

Phil said: “Nature is deeply connected to human health. This rewilding initiative is designed with both patients and staff in mind, offering opportunities for small-scale rewilding on-site and ways to engage staff, visitors, and the public in meaningful, nature-based experiences.”

Designed with practicality in mind, the rewilded areas will be seamlessly integrated into the daily operations of each site, making them easy for facilities teams and ground staff to maintain sustainably.

Clare Winter, head of sustainability at the trust added: “This is a tangible way to bring nature back into our everyday healthcare settings. By gently rewilding parts of our sites, we’re creating peaceful, green spaces that support both people and wildlife. We’re excited to focus on engagement, education, and ecological enhancement together.”

In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, this project highlights how sustainability can be embedded into healthcare. It’s a forward-thinking step toward building greener, healthier hospitals—where nature and community wellbeing go hand in hand.

Through this partnership, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is leading by example, showing how hospitals can play a key role in environmental stewardship while enhancing the quality of life for all.

The Northumbria Health and Care Academy has won a top national award, recognising the collaboration behind what is one of the only facilities of its kind in the country.

The partnership between Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, Northumbria Primary Care and Assura plc landed the Healthcare Infrastructure Project of the Year title at the HSJ Partnership Awards last week (Thursday, March 20).

The £32million facility, on the site of the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, features a state-of-the-art NHS education and training academy for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals.

It is also home to a GP practice, NPC Northumbria Way, which is part of Northumbria Primary Care, a not-for-profit, at-scale provider of primary care services in Northumberland and North Tyneside.

The development could not have been delivered without Assura plc, which co-commissioned the building with the trust, and the project team at Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, which is also involved in the building’s ongoing management.

The award citation described it as a ‘first-of-its-kind project’ which is ‘now training the future NHS workforce from a multidisciplinary site that also delivers care to the local community’.

Emma Dawes, Northumbria Healthcare’s head of nursing, midwifery and allied health professional education and workforce development, said: “Supporting our current staff to develop and bringing through our workforce of the future is a key focus for us. We have underlined our commitment to this with the Health and Care Academy, which has already brought so many advantages in the nine months it has been open.

“We are proud to be able to offer a range of programmes that allow our future workforce to earn while they learn. This is supported by our partnership with the University of Sunderland, and it has been great to work with all the different partners on this project who have worked together to deliver something special.”

Andrew Cooper, Assura development director, said: “We’re delighted to have been recognised at the HSJ Partnership Awards.

“The Health and Care Academy is an incredible facility, built on the commitment and close collaboration of everyone involved in its delivery. We knew the project was ambitious but collectively we had a clear vision that we have seen come to life in the impact that the Academy has already made in the brief time it’s been open.”

David Hedgcock, managing director of Northumbria Primary Care, said: “Our whole ethos as an at-scale provider of primary care services is about collaboration and partnership working, both within primary care and beyond.

“We believe that the Academy is a great example of a partnership approach between primary, community and secondary care. We will continue to look for opportunities to innovate for the benefit of our patients, staff and wider communities.

“It is so important that primary care takes an active interest in workforce planning for the future; closer links with academic institutions and creating vocational training places like at NPC Northumbria Way are a key aspect of our strategy.”

Last month, it was announced that the Academy has become the first healthcare building in the UK to achieve Gold WELL Certification™ from the International WELL Building Institute.

Other partners on the development included P+HS Architects, Meldrum Group and Hilson Moran.

Patients at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust continue to rate their hospital experience among the best in the country, according to the latest national survey.

The trust scored above the national average in all eight assessed areas in the 2024 Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) survey. These annual assessments evaluate non-clinical aspects of hospital environments, such as cleanliness, food, privacy, and overall appearance, aiming to enhance standards across hospitals, hospices, and independent treatment centres providing NHS-funded care.

The trust, which operates hospitals in Northumberland and North Tyneside, ranked first nationally for cleanliness and the combined food category among large acute trusts, achieving an impressive 99% score in both categories. The food category considers factors like choice, availability, and quality, while the cleanliness category assesses the condition of facilities, patient equipment, furniture, and toilets.

Several areas saw improvements compared to 2023, with the condition, appearance, and maintenance category rising by 1.4%.

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), the trust’s estates and facilities subsidiary, plays a vital role in maintaining hospital buildings, facilities, and equipment to enhance the patient experience.

Damon Kent, managing director of NHFM, expressed his pride in the results:
“We are thrilled to have achieved our best-ever scores in these assessments. While high-quality medical care is a priority, we know that the hospital environment also plays a crucial role in a patient’s overall experience. These outstanding results are a testament to the dedication of our catering, facilities, and domestic teams, who work tirelessly to maintain the highest standards for our patients.”

Beyond environmental factors, the trust also saw improvements in privacy, dignity and wellbeing, and was placed top nationally among large acute trusts in this category.

Chief executive, Birju Bartoli, highlighted the significance of these achievements:
“Hospitals can feel intimidating for many people, so ensuring a positive experience is essential. These remarkable results reflect the hard work and dedication of our staff, who continuously strive to provide the best possible environment for our patients. Our commitment to putting patients at the heart of everything we do is evident in these impressive outcomes.”

At NHFM, we offer apprenticeships across a wide range of professions, including engineering, painting and decorating, and medical engineering. Additionally, our Manufacturing and Innovation Hub provides a unique apprenticeship in textile machinery, helping to develop skilled professionals in the textiles industry.

Apprenticeships play a crucial role in this sector, offering hands-on experience, developing in-demand skills, and addressing industry shortages. This not only boosts productivity but also helps build a skilled and diverse workforce.

Two of our recent apprentices, Neave Ankers and Gillian Lees, have successfully completed their sewing machinery apprenticeships at our Manufacturing and Innovation Hub and have now secured permanent roles.

Neave and Gillian share their experiences—why they chose an apprenticeship, the skills they’ve gained, and how their journey has led them to their current positions.

Congratulations, Neave and Gillian! Can you share what led you to your apprenticeship?

Neave: I studied art and design at college, which sparked my interest in textiles. Instead of going to university, I wanted to find an apprenticeship that would allow me to earn while I learn. When I saw this opportunity on the NHS job site, I applied immediately—it felt like the perfect way to develop my skills while contributing to the NHS.

Gillian: I studied textiles at university and later became a stay-at-home mum. When I decided to return to work, I knew I wanted to go back into textiles, as it’s my passion. Since I had been out of the industry for a while, I wanted a role where I could refresh and enhance my skills, and this apprenticeship was the perfect fit.

Why did you choose to do your apprenticeship within the NHS?

Neave: I was surprised to find a textile manufacturing apprenticeship in the NHS! Most people associate NHS apprenticeships with nursing or medicine, but there are so many career opportunities beyond healthcare. This apprenticeship was a unique route into garment manufacturing, which really interested me.

Gillian: The chance to give back to the NHS was a big factor for me. I also knew the Manufacturing and Innovation Hub had highly skilled machinists, and I saw this as an amazing opportunity to learn from experienced professionals while refining my own skills.

What exciting projects have you worked on during your apprenticeship?

Neave: I’ve been involved in producing surgical gowns and disposable scrubs, which has helped me master techniques like sewing straight seams and corners. I also had the chance to work with healthcare professionals, gathering their feedback on materials and garment fit to create designs that truly meet their needs.

Gillian: I’ve worked on garments for healthcare professionals, including nurses’ tunics and dresses. Like Neave, I’ve had the opportunity to interact directly with the people wearing our garments, ensuring the designs are comfortable, well-fitted, and suited to their needs.

What made you decide to apply for a full-time position after your apprenticeship?

Neave: The culture and people at the Manufacturing and Innovation Hub played a huge role in my decision. The team is incredibly supportive, and the strong development culture means there are plenty of opportunities to continue learning and progressing.

Gillian: This apprenticeship was a great way to build on my university knowledge, but I know there’s still so much more to learn. The experienced machinists here have incredible expertise, and I’m excited to continue developing my skills alongside them.

Finally, what advice would you give to someone considering an NHS apprenticeship?

Neave & Gillian: Go for it! Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to learn from experienced professionals while gaining hands-on experience. Plus, with the NHS, there are so many opportunities for career progression and skill development.

Interested in joining us? 

Vacancies :: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), the estates and facilities subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, is celebrating a remarkable achievement—securing finalist positions in two prestigious national awards.

The team has been shortlisted in both the MyPorter Awards and the MyCleaning Awards, recognising the dedication and excellence of healthcare porters and domestic staff.

Karen Horan, Head Porter at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) in Cramlington, has been named a finalist for the Leadership of the Year Award. Meanwhile, the Rapid Response Domestic Services Team has been shortlisted for the Healthcare Cleaning Team of the Year Award.

Both award programs shine a light on the often-unsung heroes of healthcare, acknowledging their role in patient care—whether directly or behind the scenes.

Karen’s journey to healthcare portering is nothing short of inspiring. After serving in the British Army for 22 years, she transitioned to a new career in 2021. Despite having no prior NHS or portering experience, she quickly earned the respect of her team for her no-nonsense yet supportive leadership style.

Chris Campbell, soft services manager at NHFM, praised Karen’s impact stating; “Karen’s nomination is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She has not only excelled in her role but has also made a real difference for her team— modifying rotas to improve service coverage and ensuring a better work-life balance for her colleagues.”

The Rapid Response Domestic Services Team at NSECH was created to address staffing shortages in domestic services. The hospital’s fast-paced environment made recruitment and retention a challenge.

To tackle this, NHFM introduced the ‘Your Shifts, Your Way’ initiative, allowing staff to choose flexible working hours based on personal commitments. This approach attracted individuals who struggled with traditional rota commitments, enabling the formation of the rapid response team.

Starting with just 11 members, the team has now grown, providing essential support to ward domestics by handling urgent cleaning tasks such as HPV cleans and patient discharges. Their work has significantly reduced infection risks, improved bed availability, and maintained high cleanliness standards across the hospital.

This initiative has also had a positive impact on staff well-being—boosting morale, reducing absences, and improving retention. Their dedication has been widely recognised, earning praise from patients, visitors, senior management, and healthcare staff.

Brian Cowan, Chief Operating Officer for NHFM, expressed his pride in the team’s achievements:

“I couldn’t be prouder of Karen and the rapid response team for reaching the finals of the MyPorter and MyCleaning Awards. These awards recognise those who work tirelessly behind the scenes in healthcare settings, making a significant impact on patient experiences.

“Becoming national finalists is an outstanding achievement, and I wish them the very best of luck in the finals.”

National Apprenticeship Week 2025 – Our management assistant, Thomas, shares his story

After completing my A-levels in 2022, I faced the same questions as many young people:

• What should I study?
• Should I go to university?
• Is the debt worth it?
• Are apprenticeships a good option?

To figure things out, I decided to take a year off and gain real-world experience. I got a job with a local organisation, which helped me prepare for working life.

By the end of 2023, I attended an NHS careers open day that changed my thinking. I realised an apprenticeship would be a great way to learn on the job while contributing to an organisation. I could gain valuable experience and still learn the theory behind my work.

When I saw a business administration apprenticeship opportunity at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, it caught my attention. I’ve always been interested in business, and this seemed like a fantastic chance to develop my skills.

It was an easy decision to make as I’d be part of a public sector organisation, supporting healthcare and the option to go to university later was there if I wanted to.

So I applied, thinking, “Why not?” If university was still on the table later, nothing would stop me. I haven’t looked back since—and there’s even the potential to do a fully funded degree in the future.

Real Opportunities from Day One

I was placed with Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), which keeps hospitals running behind the scenes. They handle:

• Catering – Providing meals for patients and staff
• Maintenance & Engineering – Keeping hospital infrastructure safe.
• Domestic Services – Ensuring a clean and hygienic environment.
• Estates Management – Maintaining and improving NHS facilities.

From the start, I was trusted with real work—shadowing different departments, contributing to projects, and helping improve processes.

But what I love most is the people. The team is friendly, hardworking, and always supportive. My manager, in particular, has been a huge part of my development, always pushing me to grow.

Career Growth and Learning

After just eight months, I secured a permanent role as NHFM’s Management Assistant—while still completing my apprenticeship. I’ve also completed fully funded courses, including the ICDL IT course, to build my skills further.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust offers incredible opportunities for growth, whether it’s:

• Moving into management.
• Taking on projects to improve healthcare services.
• Pursuing a funded degree.

Why an NHS Apprenticeship Is Worth It

If you’re unsure about university or looking for a career that offers real experience, an NHS apprenticeship—especially with Northumbria Healthcare—is a brilliant choice:

• Earn while you learn
• Get hands-on experience in a meaningful role
• Build a long-term career with progression opportunities
• Access further qualifications, including funded degrees

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Wansbeck General Hospital had the pleasure of welcoming two special guests: Fay Lane, Senior Estates and Facilities Workforce Lead at NHS England, and Mark Edwards, Business Development Manager at MyPorter. Their visit was a special one as they came to collect the Dennis Southern Lifetime Achievement Shield from its 2024 winner, our esteemed porter, Paul Green.

To mark the occasion, Paul was presented with a commemorative trophy to keep, surrounded by NHFM Managing Director, Damon Kent, Chief Operating Officer, Brian Cowan, and his fellow porters in a fitting celebration of his remarkable career.

The national award was established in memory of Dennis Southern, a dedicated porter at Northumbria Healthcare who sadly passed away in 2020. Dennis was renowned for his compassion, dedication, and unwavering service to patients and their families.

In his impressive 50-year career, Paul has embodied the same qualities as Dennis, providing countless patients with care and support during their most vulnerable moments. His commitment and professionalism stand as a testament to what makes a truly brilliant porter.

Fay Lane, who first met Paul when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 MyPorter Awards, was delighted to attend the shield handover. She said:

“It was a real privilege to be invited to today’s handover. Speaking with Paul, it’s clear he’s had a remarkable 50-year career. His efforts are deeply valued by his fellow porters. Paul exemplifies dedication, hard work, and compassion, and it’s evident his contributions have brought joy to many people over the years.”

Mark Edwards, who began his own career as a porter at Hull University Teaching Hospitals, echoed her sentiments:

“The MyPorter Awards were created to celebrate the often-unsung heroes in healthcare — those working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep patients safe and enhance their hospital experience. From what I’ve learned about Paul’s career, I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition. It’s been an honour to present him with his official keepsake trophy today.”

Last week, colleagues gathered to honour the remarkable career of Irene Atkinson, the longest-serving domestic assistant at NHFM and a beloved figure at North Tyneside General Hospital.

After 34 years of dedicated service, Irene, who joined the domestic services team in 1991, has retired at the age of 78. Known for her unwavering commitment to keeping the hospital clean, safe, and welcoming for patients, visitors, and staff alike, she has left an indelible mark on the entire team.

Speaking at the retirement celebration, domestic superintendent, Jackie Brown, paid tribute to Irene’s exceptional contribution: “I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say we are immensely grateful for Irene’s 34 years of service. Her dedication and work ethic have been truly inspiring. North Tyneside won’t be the same without her, but we all wish her a very well-deserved and happy retirement.”

Irene’s colleagues celebrated her retirement with warmth and gratitude, reflecting on her decades of service and the positive impact she made on those around her.

We are often looking for domestic assistants to join teams around our sites, if you are interested in joining our team visit – Vacancies :: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

The Northumbria Hospital in Cramlington has launched a new menu specifically designed for children, following on from feedback in a patient experience survey. Parents of children staying in the hospital highlighted the need for a wider variety of meal options, including choices tailored to younger children and those with neurodivergent needs.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has an extensive patient experience programme, which is recognised as one of the most wide-ranging in the NHS. As part of this programme, monthly surveys are conducted across all wards to assess key aspects such as privacy and dignity, cleanliness, quality of care and food.

One survey revealed that parents of children staying at Northumbria Hospital felt the existing meal options lacked variety. In response, the hospital’s catering team collaborated with the paediatric nutrition team to create a revamped menu offering a diverse range of meals, including a finger-food menu. New dishes added to the menu include a vegetable curry and chicken fillets & stuffing finger food option.

The finger-food menu was rolled out across the trust for adult patients but has now been added to the children’s menu to suit younger children and those with neurodivergent needs. The addition of finger foods is particularly beneficial, as it supports children’s developmental skills, including self-feeding and food exploration.

Hannah Mayer, paediatric dietitian, explained the process behind the initiative:
“Working closely with the catering team, we explored low-salt options and developed nutritious meals designed to aid children’s recovery while they’re in hospital. Hospitals can be intimidating places for anyone, especially children, and encouraging them to eat can be a challenge. This new menu provides a broader range of healthy and appealing choices to suit all needs.”

Catering superintendent Katie Wright expressed her excitement about the new menu:
“We’re delighted to introduce this expanded menu for our young patients. We know how important it is for children to have meals that are not only nutritious but also comforting and enjoyable.

“By offering a wider variety of choices, we aim to make mealtimes a more positive part of their hospital experience and support their recovery with balanced, delicious meals tailored to their tastes and dietary needs.”

Sustainability team from North East NHS trust gains national recognition for commitment to net zero target

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s sustainability team has won the ‘Team of the Year’ award at the Sustainability Partnership Awards for their work to launch and implement the Net Zero Northumbria action plan.

The awards showcase organisations and NHS trusts that have made significant progress in making healthcare a greener industry to support patients, visitors, staff and the wider community.

Net Zero Northumbria is a two-year action plan that was launched in early 2024 to improve the trust’s environmental impact and achieve a net zero status by 2040.

With eight key action areas, the plan has identified areas of opportunity for the reduction of carbon emissions including, journeys and clean air, sustainable procurement and buildings and estate.

Substantial achievements have already been made with projects such as large-scale decarbonisation on hospital sites, advanced waste management processes and travel innovations to reduce single-occupancy journeys amongst staff.

The decarbonisation project which originally was implemented at North Tyneside General Hospital will provide the trust with an 80% decrease in emissions over 15 years. Due to the success, there are plans in place to utilise the framework to reproduce the project across the trust’s other sites.

Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility and strides have been made in educating and empowering staff to take their own action to help tackle climate change. By collaborating with the trust’s HR and Learning and Development Department, staff are encouraged to complete the national ‘Building a Net Zero NHS’ e-learning and the trust’s net zero target has been embedded into new starter inductions.

Clare Winter, head of sustainability, said: “Since the action plan was launched, we have successfully progressed through the key actions thanks to the dedication and determination of both the sustainability team and the wider trust staff who are enthusiastic about driving positive change.

“We have a duty to ensure a greener future for our communities and winning this award is a reflection of our commitment to tackling climate change.”

Future projects include completing habitat surveys across trust sites as part of the biodiversity action plan to identify how the green spaces can be enhanced and implementing a new non-healthcare waste contract meaning more waste can be recycled.

A partnership established between the security team at Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management and Northumbria Police has received recognition through winning a national award.

The Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management security team won the Violence Prevention and Reduction Initiative award at the National Association of Healthcare Security Awards.

As an initiative to prevent and reduce the levels of violence at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, a partnership between the hospitals security team and Northumbria Police was established in October 2020.

As part of the partnership, a police officer is on-site at the hospital at evenings and overnight to provide greater reassurance to patients, visitors and staff. The officer works alongside the trust’s security team to provide a visible deterrent for aggressive behaviour and assist should incidents occur.

Other initiatives that have been introduced due to the partnership include:

• A monthly meeting between the security team and Northumbria Police to share knowledge and address any concerns
• A training package where a police team taught the security team skills such as de-escalation techniques and basics in law

The Northumbria Hospital opened in 2015 and deals mainly with emergencies and life-saving procedures. Many incidents reported at the hospital relate to violence against staff members and/or other patients and visitors within the hospital.

Since the establishment of the partnership there has been a significant drop in the calls made to request police assistance at the site with a 75% reduction. The number of restraints carried out by the security team has fallen, this has improved safety of physical and mental health for the security officers and the patients themselves.

As well as improving staff and patient safety, the impact of the partnership can also be seen in employee retention figures. In 2019 prior to the partnership being in place, the average turnover rate in the security team was 20%, to date in 2024 this figure is now at 3.7%.

A security officer in the team said: “I enjoy working alongside Northumbria Police. Their presence helps keep things calm and knowing we have someone there to intervene if needs be makes me feel more comfortable when responding to incidents.”

Chris Campbell, soft services manager at Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management said; “We’re delighted that the partnership has won this prestigious award. Over the last four years, our security team has worked collaboratively with Northumbria Police to improve patient and staff safety, and we’re thrilled to see the improvements made at the Northumbria Hospital.

“We are particularly pleased to see that our employee turnover rate has improved since establishing the partnership, it is reassuring to know that our staff feel safe when delivering care to our patients and visitors.”

Inspector Jonathan Caisley, of Northumbria Police’s Cramlington Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), said: “It is fantastic to see the hard work of our officers and partners at the foundation trust has been recognised in this way.

“We are absolutely committed to supporting our NHS colleagues in keeping NSECH a safe and welcoming place to attend and the fall in the number of reports to us requesting assistance in recent years shows that our relationship is having a positive effect.”

NPC Widdrington has undergone a long-awaited transformation, bringing increased clinical space, improved parking and new family facilities.

Located in Widdrington Station, NPC Widdrington is a Northumbria Primary Care (NPC) surgery. NPC, a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, manages 12 practices across 22 sites in Northumberland and North Tyneside. NPC Widdrington joined the organisation in August 2023, alongside its sister surgery NPC Felton.

Refurbishments to the reception and waiting area have created a warm and welcoming space, with a private room for young families to use. The family room is equipped with expressing facilities for mothers and can be a space for children who are uncomfortable in what can sometimes be a busy waiting area.

Five new rooms have been added to the surgery, allowing for the opportunity to increase its clinical offering in the future. This is an important step to future-proof the surgery. Existing rooms in the practice have also been modernised and fitted with new furniture and equipment.

Patients will also benefit from increased car parking spaces. The off-street car park previously had space for 23 vehicles. With work now complete, this has been more than doubled to 48 spaces.

Elaine Medhurst, practice manager at NPC Felton and Widdrington, said:

“The work done to our surgery is fantastic. It has made the space much more comfortable and welcoming for patients and staff. We’ve put a lot of work into understanding how we can improve the experience of our patients when they visit us, and this update reflects that.

“We’re very excited for patients to come and see the new and improved NPC Widdrington. We hope they love it as much as we do.”

Jamie Mitchell, deputy director of estates and facilities at Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said:

“We’re really pleased with the improvements made to NPC Widdrington’s surgery. When the practice joined NPC last year, it was clear that the building needed some work to bring it up to date. We’ve listened to issues that patients have flagged and made improvements based on their suggestions.

“It’s important that our buildings are welcoming spaces to patients. For some people, going to their GP can be a vulnerable time. By making improvements to the surgery and creating a warm and friendly environment, we hope that patients feel more comfortable when visiting us.”

Yvonne Holliday, Domestic Superintendent from Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), was recently shortlisted in the national Cleaning Excellence Awards in the category ‘Going Above and Beyond’.

The Cleaning Excellence Awards highlight those who contribute towards maintaining high levels of excellence throughout the cleaning and hygiene sector.

Yvonne started her career at Hexham General Hospital 42 years ago as domestic before progressing into management to uphold the standards of cleanliness in the hospital. Her thorough understanding of how cleanliness and patient care are linked, and the potentially harmful impact that a drop in standards can have on those who are vulnerable, has guided her into the role of Domestic Superintendent.

Throughout her career, Yvonne has consistently gone above and beyond to support the hospital. When the first wave of Covid hit, Yvonne volunteered to live in a hotel for four months so she could continue working to keep the hospital a safe environment for patients whilst not putting her elderly parents at risk who she lived with at the time.

She also took on an additional role at a local health centre whilst the team were going through the recruitment process to find someone permanent. This meant arriving at 4:30am before starting her shift at Hexham at 6:00am. While there is now someone permanently appointed to the role, she continues to support them by covering any absences due to sickness or annual leave.

Alongside the physical work she takes on, her excellent leadership skills are shown through the support she gives to her team of domestics. Whether this is helping them through personal issues or making workplace adjustments to create an environment for everyone to thrive.

After recruiting a member of staff with autism who was initially struggling, she contacted the Autism Society and put herself through an online course to develop her understanding of how she could support them. The confidence of the staff member grew, and a strong working relationship developed between them.

Speaking about her shortlist, Yvonne said: “I’m extremely grateful to have been shortlisted for a national award and it’s not something I ever expected. Every day I come to work, my goal is to create an environment that is supportive of the patients coming into hospital so their experience is as pleasant as possible.

“If there’s a job that needs doing or a team that needs extra support we just have to adapt to the situation. When we’re all working together it leads to better outcomes so to me it makes sense to do things beyond what is expected of me.”

Brian Cowan, Chief Operating Officer of NHFM, said: “We are all incredibly proud of Yvonne for this achievement. Over the years, her dedication to protecting our hospitals and our communities has been astounding and she has proven to be a positive role model to her team. People like Yvonne keep the systems running within our organisation which is a vital part of delivering high quality care to our patients.”

The awards ceremony take place on 4 December in Coventry and we wish Yvonne the best of luck.

The National Trust has announced Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as one of the recipients of the 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ Sycamore Gap saplings being gifted to individuals, groups, and organisations across the UK.

The big reveal in National Tree Week [1] follows the charity’s invitation on the anniversary of the felling of the much-loved tree at the end of September for applications for one of the saplings grown from its seed. 

Nearly 500 applications were received for the 49 saplings – one to represent each foot in height that the tree was at the time of felling [2]. The saplings are currently being cared for at the charity’s Plant Conservation Centre, and they should be strong and sturdy enough ready to plant out in winter 2025/26.

The new homes for the saplings will all be in publicly accessible spaces, enabling many more people to feel part of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree’s legacy with recipients from all across the UK including The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds, Holly’s Hope in conjunction with Hexham Abbey in Northumberland, and The Tree Sanctuary and Tree Amigos in Coventry.

Damon Kent, managing director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, the estates and facilities subsidiary of the trust said: “We were delighted to have received the news that Northumbria Healthcare has been selected as one of the recipients of the ‘Trees of Hope’ Sycamore Gap sapling.

“Many staff and patients expressed their sadness when the tree was illegally felled in 2023.

The tree played an important role in several parts of our organisation. From staff visiting the tree as part of our Step into Summer health and wellbeing campaign, to our regular photography competitions where many submissions included beautiful photographs of the tree.

“Planting a sapling of one of the most iconic trees in the UK will benefit our patients by symbolising hope for those recovering and also benefit our staff by improving the surroundings of where they work.”

Clare Winter, head of sustainability at Northumbria Healthcare said: “‘We are thrilled to have been accepted to receive a Sycamore Gap sapling on behalf of the trust. The Sycamore Gap tree was and is so important to the heritage of our region and the response from the illegal felling really highlights how much our staff, and wider community acknowledge and care about our green spaces and importance of trees.”

Northumbria Healthcare provides health and care services to support to over 500,000 people across a number of locations in Northumberland and North Tyneside. It is not yet confirmed where the sapling will be planted and the trust plans to announce this in early 2025 and the sapling will be delivered and planted in autumn/winter 2025.

Andrew Poad, General Manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian Wall properties said: “Each and every application for a ‘Tree of Hope’ told heartfelt stories of people’s emotional connections to the Sycamore Gap tree and the importance of nature. They spoke of loss, hope and regeneration from all four corners of the country, from towns, schools, colleges, community groups, hospitals and hospices, it’s been a privilege to read them all.

“The tree meant so much to so many and through the ‘Trees of Hope’ initiative we are helping reach people across the nation, for generations to come.

“Each sapling will carry a message of hope with it as they start a new chapter not just for the tree but for all the 49 people and communities that will receive a sapling next year.”

The entries were judged by a panel of experts from the National Trust led by independent judge and arboriculture specialist Catherine Nuttgens.

Catherine commented: “The Sycamore is one of the most architecturally beautiful trees in our landscape. In summer, their dark green leaves create a canopy that looks almost like broccoli, while in winter, they create a silhouette that perfectly depicts what we think of when we think of a tree.

“The loss of any tree can evoke strong emotions – none more so than the Sycamore Gap tree. Its destruction felt utterly senseless, destroying the simple joy it brought to so many people for so many reasons. But the ‘Trees of Hope initiative has kept that sense of joy and hope alive, and it has been truly humbling to read through so many applications but a difficult task to select the final 49 recipients.

“The stories have come from every corner of the UK and every walk of life.  Their words reflect the hope and kindness that human beings are capable of, which feels like such a fitting response to the loss of this precious tree.”

For more information and to find out where in the country all of the 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ saplings will go visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/TreesOfHope.