Shake up of senior management at hospital trust

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was rated 'outstanding' in 2019

A major overhaul of senior management is coming to an NHS trust which runs two of north-east England's biggest hospitals, the BBC understands.

Internal documents have revealed changes to the senior leadership at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The trust, which runs the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital, is also drawing up plans to work closer with other trusts in the region, and has recently appointed a new chief executive.

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection report, which the BBC understands is likely to be highly critical, is due in the coming weeks. The trust has declined to comment further.

The changes being made to senior management do not relate to the impending CQC inspection report, according to the Health Service Journal (HSJ).

The trust had been rated outstanding, but that was withdrawn after "significant disparities" between the 2019 ranking and recent inspection findings.

Sir Jim Mackey has been chief executive since the start of 2024, and more senior staff changes are coming up.

'Maternity must improve'

Signs of issues at the hospitals became apparent in 2023, when inspectors issued a warning notice saying immediate action was needed to improve the quality and safety of care given to patients with mental health needs, autism, or learning disabilities.

The RVI's maternity services were also rated as needing improvement.

There were also problems with the IT system, which failed to send out 24,000 medical letters to GPs.

Under the new leadership, there are also moves to work more closely with other hospitals with the launch of the Great North Care Alliance in April.

It will mean closer working between Newcastle, Northumbria, Gateshead, and North Cumbria.