NHS Trusts confirm strategic alliance in heart of the North East

The Boards of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust have confirmed their commitment to work together to develop a new strategic alliance.

Together, the two Trusts cover over 1,000 square miles in the centre of the region, with over 15,000 highly dedicated NHS staff serving a core population of over 1 million people. The strategic alliance aims to strengthen services for patients and communities across the heart of the North East.

Both Trusts have signed a formal collaboration agreement with a shared ambition to:

  • Make sure patients get safe, high-quality care, with good outcomes.
  • Support staff to innovate, improve and develop.
  • Make sure services are set up well to meet the future needs of local people.
  • Make the best use of NHS resources and work in more efficient ways.

The strategic alliance between CDDFT and STSFT will support the ambitions of the NHS 10-year plan. Both Trusts are already working to deliver more care outside of hospital and in the community, focus more on prevention rather than just treating illness, and using digital tools to help empower patients. 

Both Trusts will remain as separate legal entities, with their own statutory Boards, responsibilities and accountability. They will also continue to work closely, as they do now, with their local partners in neighbourhoods and at place.

The Trusts have confirmed that Lorraine Nelson, CDDFT’S current Executive Director of Operations, will be seconded to lead the development of the strategic alliance. Lorraine has worked across both organisations during her 30-year NHS career and brings a unique understanding of both Trusts and the communities they each serve.

STSFT’s Executive Director of Finance, Hayley Wardle, will now also support both Trusts, working across the strategic alliance.

Both Lorraine and Hayley are highly respected leaders who understand both organisations extremely well and have made significant contributions to CDDFT and STSFT.

Chief Executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Ken Bremner MBE said:

“We have welcomed the open dialogue with CDDFT’s new leadership team over the past few months, and we both recognise that there is great potential for our organisations to work together.

“Our focus, through the strategic alliance, will be on where we can bring the most benefit for patients, families, and staff. As we do this, we want to remain rooted in the communities we each serve and make sure we involve people fully in our work.”

Steve Russell, Chief Executive of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“This strategic alliance with STSFT is an important and positive step for both organisations. For CDDFT, it supports our continued improvement journey and our focus on delivering safe, high-quality care for the communities we serve now and into the future.”

Over the summer, the Trusts will work together to agree the immediate priorities for the strategic alliance and establish governance arrangements. Further updates will be shared as the work progresses.