Northumbria community care taken over by NHS trust

Hospital and community health services in Northumberland were pulled under one umbrella on Friday.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust now manages hospital and community services in North Tyneside and hospital, community and adult social care services in Northumberland having taken over the services provided previously by Northumberland Care Trust.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “Patients accessing these services, such as those provided by district nurses, health visitors and social workers will not experience an immediate change. The same health and social care professionals will deliver your care and you will continue to receive a high-quality, professional service.

“However, over time, these changes will mean that the trust can further improve quality by creating a more seamless pathway of care for patients.”

It is hoped that by bringing all the services within the one trust will enable improvements to efficiency and the sustainability of service whilst also bringing more convenient care closer to people’s homes.

As part of the transfer of services, staff working in community services will join the trust.

Jim Mackey, trust chief executive, said: “This is an exciting time for our trust and our staff. It is inevitable that these changes will impact on our organisation and how we work.

“However, we are committed to ensuring we build positively on the already excellent services that are delivered across the community and in social care.

“Hospital-based care will no longer be our only focus. However, our priority will always be to continue to provide our patients with the best possible care – regardless whether this is in hospital, in the community or at home.”

Mr Mackey added: “Having services and staff ‘under one roof’ we will be able to improve communication, streamline processes, reduce duplication of services and improve the discharge of patients from hospital. We are also very excited about finding new ways of supporting people in their homes and avoiding hospitalisation where possible.”