Across Northumberland and North Tyneside, Gateshead based business ‘Passion4Fruits’ host their amazing fruit and vegetable stall.

Offering a wide range of fruit and vegetables from dates to dragon fruit, this stall gives our staff, patients, and visitors the chance to try something different, whilst maintaining a healthy diet.

The introduction of the Passion4Fruits stall has helped to strengthen the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust Community Promise. This helps the health and wellbeing of staff, patients, and wider communities, in effort to reduce health inequalities.

Furthermore, it helps the goal of keeping money within the area by encouraging people to buy groceries from local vendors.

The location allows staff members to conveniently purchase top quality produce from their work doorstep. Members of staff also receive a 10% discount when showing their ID badge!

NHFM’s managing director, Damon Kent said: “It’s great to have Passion4Fruits at our hospitals. It’s a great opportunity for not only staff members, but patients, visitors and the public to pick up a variety of fruit and vegetables, encouraging healthier habits. Being a core focus of our Community Promise, it’s important that the health and wellbeing of our community is a priority, which is why we’re delighted to be working with Passion4Fruits.”

Passion4Fruits is open from Monday to Friday, between 7am and 4pm for anyone to visit. The stall is hosted at a different hospital, depending on the day: Wansbeck on Mondays and Fridays, North Tyneside on Tuesdays, and NSECH on Wednesdays and Thursdays. We are working on increasing this offer to cover more sites.

Over the last few months, we’ve been working in partnership with the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions), engaging over 100 job seekers who are looking to return to work or change career across various Jobcentre Plus locations in North Tyneside.

This includes delivering employer engagement workshops, presentations, advice and guidance sessions, and attending recruitment events to raise awareness of the fantastic careers available within facilities management.

We received excellent feedback, with 100% of attendees in one session saying they are now interested in applying for a position with us!

Damon Kent, the managing director of NHFM said: “I’m absolutely pleased with the work we’re doing to increase employment and help people take the next step in either progressing or changing their careers. This is so important to us because it’s a key focus in Our Community Promise to boost employment by creating jobs and promoting a wide range of opportunities.”

He added, “It’s fantastic to have received such great feedback from attendees. This shows that we’re continuing to make progress with our goals of helping people in our communities find job opportunities.”

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has announced the appointment of Dr Clare Winter who will join as the new head of sustainability.

With almost 20 years of experience in environmental sustainability, Clare has worked in a range of roles from private sector environmental consultancy to working at Northumbria Police, leading on their environmental compliance and initial sustainability journey.

She is a Chartered Environmentalist, spending over 8 years as the Environmental & Sustainability lead at North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. During her time at the NEAS, Clare contributed a lot to their success leading on the Invest to Save programme which led to the trust achieving sustained carbon savings and winning a number of national awards.

Clare spent 15 months in the regional Greener NHS funded sustainability role in the North East & North Cumbria ICB, and to enable faster and more efficient delivery of ICS Green Plan & Net Zero projects, she worked alongside 11 provider trusts across the region.

Sharing her enthusiasm to join, Clare Winter stated: “I’m very excited to join this Trust and I’m looking forward to help achieve our goals in becoming more sustainable.

“I hope to play a key role in reducing our carbon emissions and facilitating the Trust becoming net zero on or before the NHS target of 2040.  The climate emergency is a health emergency; it undermines the core foundations of good health and will inevitably have a huge impact on our Trust and the NHS as a whole. As such it is in our interests to act now to mitigate our contribution to climate change and reduce carbon emissions from every aspect of our operations. Not only will we improve our natural environment, but also address health determinants. This could have a huge impact on improving our health long-term.”

As well as all of these achievements and successes in her career, she also mentors for The Girls’ Network and for professionals who want to progress to full membership of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

The HEFMA Awards have released their shortlist of 2023 finalists including two nominations for Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM). Chris Campbell, Hotel Services Officer for NTGH and Hexham, and Katie Wright, Catering and Security Manager at NSECH, have both received nominations for ‘Leader of the Year’.

The HEFMA (Health Estates and Facilities Management Association) Awards celebrate the dedication and achievements of those working in estates and facilities management for the NHS across the country.

Chris and Katie have both been nominated for their running of day-to-day services at Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust.

Speaking on his nomination, Chris said: “I’m not sure what to say really. I’m overwhelmed by being nominated and I’m really fortunate to work in a very supportive and professional team.”

Katie was also thrilled with her nomination: “I thoroughly enjoy my role and the team I work with, it’s an honour to have been nominated for leader of the year.”

Damon Kent, managing director of NHFM was delighted to hear about their nominations. “To have not just one but two colleagues nominated is an honour. For their hard work to be recognised on a national scale just shows how dedicated they are in delivering their services to help provide the best care for our patients.”

“It’s very rewarding to see leaders take pride in their work, especially when they’re being celebrated for the difference they’re making.”

The winners will be announced on 25^th May 2023 in London, during the HEFMA Leadership Forum. We would like to wish good luck to Chris, Katie, and all the other finalists.

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management: Domestic Recruitment Day

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management is delighted to be hosting a domestic recruitment day which will be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for those interested in domestic roles.

Candidates will be invited to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital Health and Wellbeing Centre on Saturday 22 April to find out more about working as a hospital domestic assistant, apply for roles, go through the interview and selection process, and conduct pre-employment checks all in the same day.

Day-to-day duties of a domestic assistant include; keeping wards, offices and public areas clean and tidy, responding to emergency spills and conducting routine daily and weekly cleaning.

Positions are currently available at North Tyneside General Hospital, NSECH Hospital Cramlington, Wansbeck General Hospital, Alnwick Infirmary and Cobalt Business Park.

This recruitment day is hoped to avoid the long delays associated with recruitment and help with the Trust’s need for the roles to be filled.

Damon Kent, managing director at Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management said; ‘The work of domestic assistants has never been more valuable. They help protect our patients, our staff and all of the visitors that come to the hospitals. They work day-in and day-out cleaning clinical areas and help keeping wards clean and tidy. The work that they do makes a real difference within our sites.

‘Often long delays in pre-employment checks can put people off applying for roles. If they’re passionate about working in healthcare, we want to work with them and we want them to be in a position where they feel encouraged to apply.’

If you want to find out more information about working in a domestic role and how you can make a difference, you can register your interest on our Domestic Recruitment Page.

*Please note that anyone interested in this event must fill out the application form if they want to attend and places are not guaranteed

Autism Acceptance Week

27^th March to 2^nd April

John Hugill, Joiner at NTGH and Disabled Members Officerfor Unison has written the following piece for Autism Acceptance Week.

“This year’s theme for Autism Acceptance Week is colour – representing the many ways and degrees that autism presents in autistic people.

Over the years Autism has had many names from Asperger’s to Kanner’s Syndrome. Autism with profiles such as ‘classic’, ‘PDA’, ‘PDD-NOS’ plus hi and low functioning labels. Although Autism is now officially known, simply as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) my favourite word for Autism is ‘Takiwatanga’ which beautifully translates in the Māori language as ‘in their own space and time’.

For me, I view autism as a difference. A different way of thinking and a different way of experiencing the world to various degrees and intensity. While Autism can make somethings more difficult it can also offer new prospective and creativity both inside and outside of work.

I’m what some might call a high masking autistic. This means that colleagues don’t always know that I’m autistic and this is the same for many autistic people who each have their own autistic experience. For me, my visual and hearing senses are sensitive but fine tuned. This helps me in visualising playing guitar to unscrambling Rubik’s cubes and problem solving – all skills with transferable qualities.

While there is much to celebrate with neurodiversity we need to remind ourselves that there is much work to do. The last major study jointly carried out by the National Autistic Society and the Office of National Statistics found that 82.5% of working age adults were in paid employment compared to 52.6% of disabled people* and just 22% of autistic adults** – this is despite an overwhelming majority wanting to work. Barriers include none inclusive work environments, lack of reasonable adjustments, lower pay (disability pay gap at 13.8%***) and lack of understanding within society to list but a few.

Things that have helped me since working at NHCT are:

• Joining a union which has empowered me with the confidence to communicate my needs to colleagues
• Getting support & work coaching from Access to Work
• Locating quiet spaces within easy reach in and around our trust
• Connecting with other autistic colleagues in our staff networks

Autism acceptance week is a time to celebrate our differences and recognise the value of including all within society.

I would like to say to all autistic people on this world autism awareness day that the world is more beautiful and rich for your presence. Your drive for fairness and order makes the world more beautiful. Neurodiverse people everywhere..thank you for your innovation, your kindness, you’re out of the box thinking, your love and your patience while the world catches up with your brilliant minds! From one autistic person to the many I know and love.”

Northumbria Healthcare Manufacturing and Innovation Hub were proud to play a small part in helping those in Ukraine by creating 10,000 blankets to send to those in need. This is the second time this initiative has taken place with the first being last March when the conflict first started.

The Manufacturing and Innovation Hub is known for creating PPE and health garments but can also create non-clinical products including blankets.

Sarah Rose, divisional director at the Manufacturing and Innovation Hub said; “The refugees are living in conditions where it’s under minus 5 degrees and they need something to keep them warm and it was an ideal opportunity for our staff to help out.

“It gives a huge amount of job satisfaction to the girls and they are really pleased to be involved in this.”

The blankets, which will be heading to Lviv in Ukraine, all contain different personalised messages such as ‘Thinking of you’, ‘Made with love’ and ‘Stay safe and stay warm.’

Machinist, Janice Rice said; “Making the blankets for Ukraine has been massively important to all of us in the factory. It means that we have the chance to create things other than scrubs and we’re also making a difference to the people in Ukraine.”

The construction of Berwick’s £35million hospital has begun.

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management will be delivering the project on behalf of Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust and Merit Health has been appointed as the construction partner.

A large proportion of the hospital’s services infrastructure and fit-out will be built offsite at Merit’s factory in Cramlington.

Work has now begun, using the modern offsite method of construction, to manufacture 650 pre-assembled modules (PAMs), weighing around 195 tonnes in total, and 17 UltraPODs® weighing around 300 tonnes.

Turner & Townsend has been appointed to provide project management consultancy. Liam Robinson, who works for the global professional services company and is the project manager for the scheme, said: “I am incredibly proud to be working on a project which is going to have such a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of the local communities in and around Berwick. It is great that we are finally entering the construction phase. The energy centre, which was going to be housed in its own building, has recently received planning permission to be installed within PODS on the rooftop of the building. This will free up space on site.

Mark Brough, Merit Health’s project manager, said: “Once we have constructed the frame of the hospital, stairs and floors will be installed along with an accessible rooftop. The building will then be clad and glazed externally to weatherproof it and ensure it is water tight. After this, we will install the offsite manufactured components that will form the network of services for the building. We will then be able to fit out the hospital.

“One of the main benefits of our offsite approach to construction is that work on-site and in our factory is done in parallel, meaning that projects can be completed a lot quicker than the traditional build model. A very special part of the project will be when what has been manufactured in the factory, especially the PAMs and PODs, are transported to site. It is quite a spectacle to see! We will of course keep everyone updated on the progress of the scheme and we will let people know if they are going to be impacted in any way. I am really looking forward to setting up the site now and feel privileged to work on something which is so important for the local communities of Berwick.”

Once the main build is complete, demolition of the remaining old hospital buildings, with exception of the clock tower, will be carried out. The car park and access roads will be built and landscaping work completed.

Using the offsite approach to construction will also reduce local disruption, site traffic and noise as majority of the work will take place in Merit’s factory in Cramlington rather than on site in Berwick. This also makes the project more sustainable as there will be less vehicle movement. Manufacturing in a controlled factory environment also means that the build is not impacted by the weather.

Damon Kent, NHFM’s managing director, said: “Modular construction is now a preferred method of construction and it is fantastic that we are able to use this very modern method on such an historic site.

“The life-span of the building will be around 80 years, the same as a traditional build, but this approach brings significant benefits. It will take at least a year less to build the hospital, be much less disruptive for local communities and it has significant environmental benefits. Doing construction off-site also means that delays because of the weather, for example, will be avoided. This reflects the willingness of Northumbria Healthcare to embrace innovation and also demonstrates its very determined commitment to being as sustainable as possible.”

It is hoped that the new hospital will open towards the end of next year.

Former domestic supervisor, Doris Robison has been shortlisted for Lifetime Achievement Award in the National Portering & Healthcare Cleaning Awards.

The National Portering & Healthcare Cleaning Awards celebrates those within clinical support services, mainly portering and healthcare cleaning. This year’s awards have been described as the biggest and most competitive yet.

Doris Robinson, who joined Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in September 1971 has been recognised for her outstanding efforts by being shortlisted for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Having worked for the trust and for Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management for over 50 years, Doris was delighted to be nominated for the award.

Reflecting on her nomination, Doris said: “I was delighted to be nominated for this award. I retired from my role as a domestic supervisor in September 2022 and I still miss coming to work every day. I tend to visit North Tyneside General Hospital a lot – it’s like my second home.”

“I started my career as a part-time domestic in 1971 and I really feel like I’ve grown alongside the trust. I’ve seen many changes throughout the years and it’s been amazing to see how the trust has adapted to these changes.”

“I wouldn’t change my time as a domestic supervisor for the world!”

Damon Kent, managing director of NHFM was thrilled to hear about Doris’ nomination: “I’d like to say a huge congratulations to Doris. Doris has embraced and implemented many changes to domestic services in her 52 years of service and has always done with professionalism.

Damon added: “Over 50 years of service is a huge achievement and NHFM was extremely lucky to have Doris as part of the team. On behalf of everyone at NHFM, we wish Doris the best of luck for the finals.”

The award ceremony will be held on February 22, 2023, and we would like to wish good luck to Doris and all of the other finalists.

NHS patients across the North East and North Cumbria are set to benefit from a major capital investment to expand pharmaceutical services across the region’s entire hospital network.

Thanks to a joint bid submitted through the region’s Provider Collaborative, £29.7 million of national NHS funding has been secured.  It will be used to create a new state-of-the-art sterile drug manufacturing hub to serve all eight hospital and community NHS foundation trusts in the region, including Northumbria Healthcare, whose Seaton Delaval site has been earmarked for the development.

Known as an ‘aseptic unit’, the new facility will increase capacity across the region’s NHS to produce more specialist injectable medicines which are used to treat some of the sickest patients. This includes chemotherapy treatment for people living with cancer, injectable nutrition for people who need help feeding (in hospital or at home), as well as other intravenous drugs and cutting edge medicines for clinical trials.

Injectable, or aseptic, medicines are a vital part of safe and high-quality patient care. The region’s NHS currently prepares around four million doses each year.

It will mean a substantial expansion of local services, safeguarding the supply of vital drugs to the region’s NHS for the next 20 years by creating a sustainable supply chain and reducing reliance on commercial providers.  There will be major benefits for staff, patients and local people with projected recurrent annual savings of £14 million including.

The new regional hub will also help improve supply of common medicines which people need to go home from hospital as part of ‘pre-labelled’ medicine packs.  Over 500,000 pre-printed labels will be provided directly via the new hub to help improve patient flow and hospital discharge processes and ease pressure on local teams.

Work will now get underway to develop more detailed plans for the new facility including a projected timescale for work to begin.  NHS leaders have already agreed a site for the development at Seaton Delaval in Northumberland, alongside the PPE manufacturing hub built by Northumbria Healthcare during the pandemic.

The new £29.7 million facility will work in a hub and spoke model with existing aseptic units across the region’s hospitals, many of which are already working at, or set to reach, full capacity over the next ten years.

Ken Bremner MBE, chair of the region’s Provider Collaborative* and chief executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It is fantastic to secure this level of investment for the region which will significantly increase our production capacity for these vital drug treatments.

“Many of our existing aseptic units across the region are in old buildings with little room for expansion or development. This new facility means we will can achieve much greater gains in manufacturing efficiency by doing things on a much bigger scale where this makes sense.  It shows what we can achieve by working together to address the key strategic issues which affect every single NHS Foundation Trust.”

Northumbria Healthcare’s chief executive, Sir James Mackey, added: “We are delighted to be able to support this development through the work we have already done with our PPE manufacturing hub. By thinking innovatively and at scale we have now secured the future of medicines supply for many decades to come but also helped to create more local jobs and prosperity at a time when people need it most.”

Once built, the new drug manufacturing hub will provide a first class training environment and become a learning academy for staff working within the region’s NHS and for trainee pharmacists and other scientific and technical staff involved in drug production. The region’s NHS leaders also hope to be able to provide a service to other parts of the country once the facility is up and running.

Samantha Allen, chief executive of the Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the North East and North Cumbria, said: “This is great news for the region and a tangible demonstration of what can be achieved through collaboration. Our NHS foundation trusts have a strong track record of working together and the Provider Collaborative is already showing how this will be strengthened even further in the years ahead.

“This new facility is an excellent example of how we are working collectively, joining up resources and sharing expertise to provide the very best health and care services but also creating opportunities and making a positive social impact within our communities. I look forward to seeing the development progress over the coming months.”

A new outpatient hub has been opened for Northumberland patients as part of ongoing efforts to reduce waiting times and improve patient experience.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has taken over the previously empty top floor of Morpeth NHS Centre to expand its provision from the site where it currently operates outpatient clinics and other services on the ground floor.

It has been transformed into a bespoke space, initially for one-stop clinics for orthopaedics and plastics, which will operate in conjunction with the facilities downstairs that include a procedure room.

Offering a modern outpatient environment, it will be known as Morpeth View, with the name selected by the outpatient nursing teams, due to the facility’s third-storey views across the town.

Northumbria Healthcare’s orthopaedic team currently carries out 3,200 hip and knee replacements (arthroplasty) each year. Prior to having surgery, patients require a full work-up, which includes pre-assessment, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

Currently, patients have to carry out separate trips to hospital for each of these elements, which can lead to longer waits if patients cannot make a particular appointment.

Morpeth View has been built to a modern, flexible and purposeful design to help support the trust’s goal of developing innovative ways of delivering multi-disciplinary outpatient services.

The arthroplasty clinic will allow patients to receive a full work-up for theatre during the same appointment, which will help to minimise delays to treatment and provide a better all-round experience for patients.

Scott Muller, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “We know that waiting times are a key part of the high-quality care that we always strive to deliver. By having this new one-stop facility for patients having joint replacements, we will be able to reduce the number of times they have to come in, meaning there is far less chance of their operations being delayed.

“In addition, the new facility is a modern and comfortable environment, which will hopefully mean an all-round improved experience for patients who come to us.”

Meanwhile, the plastics clinic will result in a more streamlined process for skin cancer patients, who will have a clinical consultation and a biopsy or procedure within just one visit, again improving patient experience and reducing waiting times. Plus, this work taking place at Morpeth will free up outpatient and operating theatre space each week at the trust’s three general hospitals.

“The development of this facility in Morpeth also underlines our commitment to providing as much care as possible in communities across the wide area we cover,” added Mr Muller. “It will also help to reduce our environmental impact through patients having to travel to hospital fewer times and being seen closer to home.”

The trust is grateful for the support of P+HS Architects and Tolent on this project.

Arthroplasty and plastics one-stop clinics are advocated by the National Institute for Health Care and Excellence (NICE) and the British Association of Plastic Surgery, while also being highlighted as part of the Department for Health and Social Care’s modernisation strategies.

Construction of Berwick’s new £30 million hospital is a step closer as additional key milestones are reached. 

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is preparing to hand over the site where the new hospital will be built to its main construction partner, Merit Health, who are based in Cramlington.

And the first phases of demolition and archaeology work are now complete.

The existing hospital building, which currently has a much-reduced footprint, and the maternity unit, which is now also home to physiotherapy, will be demolished once the new hospital is built.

Inpatient and other services including minor injuries, oncology and outpatients continue to be provided from the hospital. Around 60 clinics are currently delivered from the infirmary every month and 50 consultants help to deliver this patient care, alongside the team that are based at the hospital.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s executive director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, Marion Dickson, said: “Delivering appropriate patient care as close to home as possible is a top priority for us in Berwick and we are committed to ensuring that we provide as many services as we can from our fantastic new hospital. We know that our staff and local communities are proud of their hospital.

“We are currently in discussions about bringing new services to the hospital and further enhancing existing services including gynaecology, colposcopy, urology, audiology and ophthalmology. We are also delighted to be bringing endoscopy services back to Berwick and in preparation for this are currently training more nurse endoscopists.

“We know that many patients would welcome additional services and it would significantly reduce the miles that our patients would need to travel. This is so important for sustainability too. The last two years have shown us that we can deliver excellent patient care in different ways and technology and telemedicine play a big part of this. For example, a patient could see a nurse at Berwick and discuss their treatment with a consultant at another site virtually.

“We also continue to work closely with our GPs in the local area and other healthcare colleagues to understand what additional services we should consider or what enhancements to services we should make. I want to assure people that we are working very hard to ensure we deliver as much patient care from Berwick as we can.

“I am so excited that we are soon to begin the construction phase. It means a huge amount to me too as a resident of Berwick to see this work progressing. Again, I thank our wonderful staff for all of their hard work and efforts. An important part of this project is also to ensure that our staff have a much better environment to work in and that they have the facilities they need to support their wellbeing while at work.”

Historically important archaeological finds meant that this element of work did take longer than anticipated. Among these finds, which have given invaluable insight into Berwick’s medieval past, were a latrine, a well and a four-metre-wide defensive wall.

The design of the hospital is currently being finalised, in line with current planning consent. Materials needed for construction are being procured and Merit Health is preparing to start the manufacture of more than 750 pre-assembled modules (PAMs) which will form part of the inside of the new hospital. They will also manufacture more than 20 PODs, which will contain air handling units and mechanical and electrical equipment.

Work on site will run parallel with work being carried out to manufacture the PAMs and PODs at Merit Health’s factory in Cramlington. The initial work on site will include ground works, installing drainage and laying foundations.

It is expected that Merit Health will begin the off-site manufacturing work before Christmas and that preparation work on site will begin too.

Merit Health’s CEO, Tony Wells, said: “Merit’s unique way of delivering next-generation, patient-centric buildings is gaining significant traction. This will be our second project with Northumbria Healthcare. Berwick’s new hospital will be delivered using our FLEXI POD® solution, which was used to deliver the trust’s new sterile services facility in Cramlington in just over a year.

“Berwick Hospital will be built much quicker than traditional construction using a hybrid approach. Site works will run in parallel with the manufacture of pre-assembled modules (PAMs) and PODs in the Merit factory in Northumberland.

“This will be a factory-manufactured, next-generation hospital design, incorporating enhanced infection control and a zero-carbon emissions design, eliminating entirely scope 1 emissions. The trust’s focus on using an offsite manufactured approach to construction speaks volumes, we will be delivering something new and exciting together for the community of Berwick, designed and manufactured in Northumberland for the people of Northumberland.”

The PAMs and PODs will make the 60-mile journey from Cramlington to Berwick in a sequenced approach in line with the construction and installation programme.

Once the hospital building has been constructed, the remaining old hospital buildings will then be demolished and archaeological work in these areas will be done. The final phases of work will include building the new car park and landscaping. It is anticipated that the project will take around 18 months.

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the trust, will deliver this project. Damon Kent, NHFM’s managing director, said: “Modular construction is now a preferred method of construction and it is fantastic that we are able to use this very modern method on such an historic site.

“The life-span of the building will be around 80 years, the same as a traditional build, but this approach brings significant benefits. It will take at least a year less to build the hospital, be much less disruptive for local communities and it has significant environmental benefits. Doing construction off-site also means that delays because of the weather, for example, will be avoided. This reflects the willingness of Northumbria Healthcare to embrace innovation and also demonstrates its very determined commitment to being as sustainable as possible.”

The trust also has an arts strategy and will continue to engage with local communities and a wide range of organisations and partners to develop this strategy. This includes how some of the archaeological finds will be showcased and how this important historical story is told, what artwork will be in the hospital and hospital grounds, working with local schools and developing additional arts and community partnerships.

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management is delighted to be attending Blyth Valley Jobs Fair.

The event that aims to bring employment opportunities to hundreds of people in the local area is run in partnership by Ian Levy MP for Blyth Valley and DWP. The town hosted its first jobs fair in 2021 which was hailed a huge success and featured some of the region’s biggest employers.

Rosie Sexton, People and Engagement Lead at NHFM said; “We are thrilled to be attending this event that will help our local people learn about exciting careers available within the region. We’re looking forward to educating and informing our local people about the careers we have available at NHFM. Whether you’re looking for an apprenticeship after school or college or a complete career change, we have a number of careers to suit all types of occupations.”

Blyth Valley Jobs Fair will be held on Friday 7^th October at Blyth Sports Centre and will feature some of the region’s biggest organisations. If you’d like to find out more about the event or you’d like to register your free place please visit: Blyth Valley Jobs Fair Tickets, Fri 7 Oct 2022 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

The prestigious Healthcare Estates IHEEM Awards have listed their finalists for this year, with Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital Health and Wellbeing Centre being shortlisted for Staff Wellbeing Initiative of the Year.

The Healthcare Estates IHEEM Awards recognise excellence in the latest innovations from leading names in the healthcare sector.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has always had a strong commitment to supporting its staff, and strongly believes that if the workforce is happy and healthy, this will filter through into the care that is delivered to patients.

The Health and Wellbeing Centre, which opened in November 2021, has been recognised in the Staff Wellbeing Initiative of the Year award and demonstrates Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s dedication to ensuring the mental health and wellbeing of their staff. The centre has a variety of comfortable seating areas accompanied by a range of “touch-down” workspaces. As well as comfortable seating and working areas, the centre also offers 24-7 catering facilities, an affordable health club, gym and wellness space offering fitness classes, mothers nursing room and accessible toilets.

Damon Kent, Managing Director at NHFM said; “This is a fantastic achievement for everyone who has worked on the development of the Health and Wellbeing Centre and clearly demonstrates the commitment to ensuring the mental health and wellbeing of our staff.”

“Staff wellbeing is incredibly important to Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the Health and Wellbeing Centre is just one of the ways we can improve the mental health and wellbeing of our staff.”

A key new facility to support healthcare staff at Northumberland’s emergency hospital is in the running for a top national award. 

The prestigious IWFM Impact Awards 2022 have officially listed their finalists for this year, with the Northumbria Staff Health and Wellbeing Centre, at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, being nominated in the Wellbeing category. Meanwhile, Katie Wright, who works for Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management (NHFM), has been shortlisted as Newcomer of the Year.

The IWFM (Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management) Impact Awards is the workplace and facilities management industry’s most prestigious event, which celebrates and showcases outstanding best practice and ingenuity from the profession.

The Health and Wellbeing Centre has been recognised in the wellbeing category for its key role in ensuring staff are provided a space away from clinical areas where they can rest and relax in a bid to support mental health and wellbeing.

The centre provides 24-7 catering facilities and also boasts formal and informal meeting spaces, a conveniently located and affordable health club, gym and wellness space offering classes and with a focus on keeping active, and rooms in which staff may rest, relax and socialise.

Reflecting on her nomination as Newcomer of the Year, Katie said: “I was very shocked to be nominated. My manager came in and told me that I’d be invited to talk to a panel for the IWFM Awards. I nearly fell off my chair! But once the surprise had subsided, Nicola showed me what I would be presenting and it surprised me how much I had actually done.”

The presentation clearly went down well with the panel, who progressed Katie into the finals after speaking about her vision and the future of facilities management. Katie will now be heading down to London on October 17 to see if she can land the prestigious award.

“I’m absolutely over the moon to be nominated, I feel like working in facilities they’re all being recognised for this. We’re like a family here.”

Damon Kent, managing director of NHFM, was thrilled to hear about Katie’s nomination and extremely happy to see the Health & Wellbeing Centre recognised at the awards too.

“Firstly, congratulations to Katie and everyone who has worked on the development of and now successful running of the Health & Wellbeing Centre. To be recognised nationally for the work we do is always an honour.

“It is particularly rewarding to be nominated for the centre as we know how important staff wellbeing is to the trust, recognising that we need to look after our teams so that they can provide the best care for our patients.”

Construction has started on Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s £32million health and education centre of excellence

On Monday, 1 August, the ground-breaking ceremony took place for the Northumbria Health and Care Academy, on the site of the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington. It is hoped the new centre will open in autumn 2023.

The 8,000 square metre development, which received planning approval in late 2021, will feature a training centre of excellence for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, conference facilities, office space and meeting rooms.

The ground floor will be occupied by Brockwell Medical Group, which recently received permission to relocate its GP practice from its current site two miles away. A drive-through coffee shop and wellbeing walking trail are also included in the scheme.

The new facility will be a key part of the trust’s strategy to support the ongoing training and career development of its staff, so that they can continue to provide high-quality care to our patients.

Marion Dickson, Northumbria Healthcare’s executive director for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, said: “I am delighted that construction is now underway on our Health and Care Academy, because it really demonstrates our commitment to looking after our people and helping them to develop and grow both professionally and personally.

“Recruitment and retention are ongoing challenges for the NHS and the centre of excellence will also help us to develop the workforce of the future. In this way, it showcases how we are trying to lead from the front on a regional and national level in healthcare provision.

“In addition, the academy highlights our efforts to drive wider social, educational and economic benefits in our communities.”

The trust’s development partner on this innovative and pioneering project is Assura plc. Senior Development Director for the project, Andy Cooper, said: “As a hub for training of both current staff and the next generation of healthcare professionals in the region, we’re standing on the site which will be a key connector between the busy working hospital and the learning and development which underpins the future of care.”

Chris Cant, CEO of Metnor Construction, added: “Metnor Construction is delighted and proud to have secured the contract award for such a prestigious scheme serving our own local community and working to provide a legacy alongside our wonderful NHS which will have a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing for years to come.

“This further cements our relationship with Assura and our place as serious operator within the Healthcare Built Environment nationwide. The fact that we are based literally minutes from the site is an added bonus and we will do everything and more to ensure the smooth, considerate and successful delivery of this wonderful scheme.”

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has won an award for efforts to reduce its environmental impact.

The trust, which runs hospitals and community services in Northumberland and North Tyneside, received the silver award in the Green Apple Environmental Best Practice category at the belated Green World Awards 2020. The award recognises the achievements the trust has made to reduce its carbon emissions and become more environmentally sustainable.

Northumbria Healthcare has already invested in a fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles to transport medicines and other resources across an area of over 500 square miles and has installed 79 electrical vehicle charging points at its hospital sites.

Additionally, the trust is installing LED lights, more efficient heating systems and has recently installed a machine which allows the recycling of plastic masks into plastic blocks to be used as a raw material in other industries.

Damon Kent, managing director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “I’m thrilled this hard work has been recognised through this prestigious award. I’m so proud of all the teams involved in making this happen. This demonstrates just how dedicated we are in reducing our environmental impact for the communities we serve.”

The Green World Awards is the biggest environmental awards campaign in the world and is the first to be accredited as an official feeder scheme into the European Business Awards for the Environment. With entries from Governments, Ministries and Regional Authorities as well as companies, organisations and communities across the entire private and public sectors, it rewards and promotes environmental best practice around the world.

Damon continued, “We are constantly aiming to reduce our carbon footprint and we know there is lots more to be done. Looking to the future, we have already begun to decarbonise North Tyneside General Hospital and we aim to meet the requirements of the NHS Green Plan to be net zero by 2040.”

To find out more about what Northumbria Healthcare is achieving, and its plans for the future, check out its Sustainability Report 2021 online at https://tinyurl.com/4bxdtv8a