The Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust has been given a prestigious new status – that could see greater investment in the health of those across the region.
Dr Birju Bartoli who runs the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust (Image: NHS / ChronicleLive)
A North East hospital trust has formally been given “advanced” status after a “very rigorous” months-long assessment process. The leading NHS body – one of just eight in the country which has been considered – will now have a range of extra freedoms which could see greater investment in the health of people in its Northumberland and North Tyneside catchment area.
The trust, whose boss Dr Birju Bartoli was recently named the NHS’s best chief executive, will now be given greater autonomy over how it spends its money – and it will also see the organisation leading the way in terms of the health service’s much-vaunted “three shifts”, which are hoped to see greater digitisation, more care in the community than in hospitals, and more focus on preventing illness before it arises.
Dr Bartoli welcomed the news, saying: “Being an advanced foundation trust is testament to all our staff and to their hard work, commitment and drive for excellence and improvement. It also reflects that we are committed to continue to work closely with our wide range of partners and community organisations to deliver the very best care and experience for our patients.
“This should give patients, our staff and the local communities we serve confidence in our services and confirmation that we continually strive to improve for them all.”
The Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust runs services across Northumberland and North Tyneside, including the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital at Cramlington.
The idea of “advanced foundation trusts” was first announced in last year’s NHS 10-year-plan. Last November, when Northumbria was announced as one of eight trusts to be considered for the accolade, NHS England figures explained the rationale.
They said: “These organisations have shown they are delivering the public’s priorities and value for money, as measured by the NHS oversight framework, and that they are providing high quality care to patients as measured by Care Quality Commission ratings.
“This first wave of applications will be assessed against the three priority areas of leadership, quality and financial sustainability. As this is a reinvention of the foundation trust model for modern times, our process will include looking at how well a trust works with others and their plans to help deliver the three shifts set out in the 10 Year Health Plan.
“Advanced foundation trusts will also have the opportunity to be designated as eligible to hold an integrated health organisation (IHO) contract to oversee the health budget for a defined local population. This will require an additional assessment of capability and readiness.”
The trust said it had been chosen on the basis of its work in areas including leadership, performance and quality of care, and financial sustainability. Detail of how precisely this will translate into services on the ground remains to be seen.
It has previously been announced that the NHS trust is one of just two that is under consideration as an IHO. Dr Bartoli said: “The other opportunity that comes from being an advanced foundation trust is the ability for us to hold an integrated care organisation (IHO) contract.
“We are one of only two trusts nationally who have been identified to be a potential IHO. We have lots to do to work towards this. We will of course work closely with everyone we need to, including NHS, local authority and community partners, as part of this. I am extremely proud to be in this position.”
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