North Cumbria Integrated Care

02/09/2025

📣Important changes in follow up blood tests and post-operative wound care.

The way in which patients are referred for follow up blood tests and post-operative wound care from hospital doctors has changed from 1st September, depending on the GP practice you are registered with.

Patients will be referred by their hospital doctor to the appropriate community hub, or GP practice (where they are continuing to provide the service).

Patients will be able to either book an appointment themselves online or call a helpline where our staff will help make the appointment or answer any queries.

Patients requiring blood tests by a hospital doctor can contact our hubs by telephone between 9am and 12 noon and 1pm and 4pm Monday to Friday, 24 hours after their referral.

☎️01946853333 Option 7

This will be to confirm details the bloods they require which we can cross check on our system. We will then contact the patients back with a date and time.

You can also self refer online and a slip containing a QR code will be provided, the link to book is https://accurx.nhs.uk/patient-initiated/rnncbcbate9.

For Post Operative wound care GPs can direct patients to the ICC hub team where the patient lives and they will manage the referral.

All of the information about the location of the community hubs, contact details for post operative wound care and GP practices who will continue to provide blood tests and post-operative wound care is on our website. https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/news/important-changes-way-follow-blood-tests-and-post-operative-wound-care-are-provided-north-cumbria

We understand this can be frustrating however this is a new service being set up so please be patient with us as we get it up and running.

Thank you for your support 💙

31/08/2025

We’re proud to announce the opening of a brand-new Macmillan Cancer Pod at West Cumberland Hospital, launching on Thursday 4th September.

This welcoming space is designed to offer practical advice and support to people living with cancer, as well as their families and loved ones. Whether you need guidance, someone to talk to, or help navigating services, our trained volunteers are here to help.

📍 Located within the hospital (next to the old main entrance, we're bright green and hard to miss!)
🕒 Open from Thursday 4th September
💚 Staffed by dedicated Macmillan volunteers

Please feel free to drop by, share the news, and help us spread the word 💚

30/08/2025

📣Calling families across Cumbria 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Teams from Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council, and the NHS are joining forces as part of the “Be Wise, Immunise” campaign to raise awareness about the importance of childhood vaccinations.

💉 Why it matters: Diseases like measles are highly contagious and can lead to serious health complications. Routine vaccinations are the safest and most effective way to keep children healthy and protected.

📍 Join us at upcoming community events and shopping locations to:
✅ Get trusted information
✅ Ask questions in a relaxed setting
✅ Speak directly with health professionals
✅Find out where and how to access local vaccination services

🗓️ Next event:
TODAY – Harbour Fest, Whitehaven

Let’s keep Cumbria’s children safe. Be Wise, Immunise! 🦉

29/08/2025

From 1st October, the way you contact the mental health team in a crisis is changing. If you have the Cumbria 0800 number noted down, replace it with 111 👇

📣The way to contact mental health crisis services in our area is changing from 1 October.

At the moment, each different local area in the North East and North Cumbria region has its own local 0800 number to call for help in a mental health crisis. From 1 October, these local numbers will close.

📞 Instead, anyone who needs support with a crisis should call NHS 111 and select the ‘mental health’ option.

NHS 111 is free, and available 24/7.

Our crisis teams and mental health services are NOT changing or going away - you’ll still receive the same expert help from our trained mental health teams.
It’s just the number to call that’s changing.

Having one simple, national number will make it easier for people to know where to turn for help in a crisis – rather than having to remember or look up different local phone numbers.

Here are the numbers which will be closed from 1 October 👇 If you have these numbers saved or noted down anywhere, make sure you update them to NHS 111:
Cumbria: 0800 652 2865
Newcastle and Gateshead: 0800 652 2863
North Tyneside and Northumberland: 0800 652 2861
South Tyneside and Sunderland: 0800 652 2867

28/08/2025

Voting opens tomorrow for new public governors for NCIC and closes on Wednesday, September 24 at 5pm.

The governor election process is all managed by Civica.

The positions to be filled are:

Public governors
o Carlisle – 1 position, 3 candidates
o Allerdale – 1 position, 2 candidates

Voting is only open to Members who reside in the constituency areas where there are contested seats. Civica have already contacted members who are eligible to vote directly.

The election will close on September 24. Results will then be declared and governors will start their new roles on October 1.

For more information visit: www.cesvotes.com/NCIC2025

This year’s Annual Members Meeting will be held on Monday, September 29 at Carlisle People First from 1.30pm to 4pm.

27/08/2025

Have you booked your place at our Annual Members Meeting yet?

📣We're delighted to confirm that The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine will be attending as guest speakers to tell you all about their plans to improve health outcomes for the people of Cumbria.

They've just opened their doors to their first 58 students. It's is more than a medical school, it’s a regional movement to train and retain doctors who will bring lasting improvements to healthcare in Cumbria.

The NCIC Annual Members Meeting (in person and virtually) will take place on Monday 29th September, 1.30pm to 4pm, at People First Conference Centre, Milbourne St, Carlisle, CA2 5XB. Everyone is welcome.

You can also learn more about our achievements and challenges over the last 12 months and the current financial position, which you can find out more about in our annual report 2024/25 now on our website.

Members of the public can submit questions for the board of directors in advance via the booking form no later than Friday 19th September.

✅Book Now https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=slTDN7CF9UeyIge0jXdO4zYx_6f0VKVHrP01UEPRsf5UM1NKVUtPU0VJMjJVVlRBQU5SSlRJQVpZRC4u

26/08/2025

A new era for healthcare in Cumbria.

We're sending the very best of luck to the inaugural cohort of 58 students as the new Pears Cumbria School of Medicine opened in Carlisle today 🎉

The new medical school is a pioneering initiative, designed to improve recruitment and retention of doctors in Cumbria. With a bespoke curriculum focused on prevention, digital innovation and community-based care, PCSM is designed to train doctors where they are most needed, right here in Cumbria.

The Trust has been working closely with Pears in setting up the school and see it as a key step in addressing recruitment and retention of doctors in the region. Building and establishing the Trust’s research capability alongside the school is also integral to our partnership.

The curriculum has been specifically developed with Cumbria in mind, taking into consideration the unique position of the region, with its varied and widespread geographical reach, health inequalities and high prevalence of long-term conditions. The focus is on the needs of those in Cumbria, ensuring that care is compassionate, respectful, and responsive to patient needs.

Best wishes to all the staff and students as you begin your training, we'll be watching closely and are excited about the difference this will make for patients in years to come 👏

25/08/2025

A woman who broke her back and suffered several internal injuries in a serious road traffic collision 20 years ago is running the Great Cumbrian Run for North Cumbria Hospitals NHS Charity

Ashlea McDonald and her partner, Mack, are raising funds for the Intensive Care Unit at the West Cumberland Hospital.

She said: “This December marks 20 years since I was involved in a serious road traffic accident that left me with a broken back and several internal injuries. I spent weeks in the Intensive Care Unit at West Cumberland Hospital before being transferred to The James Cook, Middlesbrough, not knowing if I would ever walk again.

“To mark this milestone, I’ll be taking on my second half marathon ever after running The Great North Run last September. We are running to raise funds and to say thank you for the care the staff gave to me and my family during a time we never expected to face.

“Having access to such life-saving care locally is something none of us think we will ever need, until we do. That’s why we’re raising funds to support the Intensive Care Unit and help ensure that others receive the same level of care when they need it most.”

The Great Cumbrian Run takes place in Carlisle on Sunday, October 5. You can sponsor Ashlea here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ash-mack-2025

If you're planning to run the Great Cumbrian Run why not run and support our charity? Let communications.helpdesk@ncic.nhs.uk know if you are planning to do this and we can share your story too!

24/08/2025

It’s Bank Holiday Sunday and we know many of you are enjoying a well-earned break. Please remember to use our services wisely so we can continue to care for those who need us most.

💡 Not sure what to do?

👉 Use NHS 111 online or by phone for urgent medical advice

👉 Visit your local pharmacy for minor health concerns (find opening times for pharmacies here: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy/ )

👉 Keep A&E for life-threatening emergencies only

Your choices today help protect our services for everyone. Thank you for your support and enjoy the rest of your weekend! 💙

23/08/2025

As we head into the bank holiday weekend, we know many of you will be out enjoying time with family and friends.

Please remember to use our services wisely so we can continue to support those who need us most.

✅Think before you visit A&E – is it an emergency?

✅Use NHS 111 online or by phone for urgent medical advice.

✅Visit your local pharmacy for minor ailments and expert guidance.

✅Penrith UTC is ready and waiting for non-emergencies
(please note Keswick UTC is closed Saturday and Sunday this week, it will re-open Monday at 8.30am)

Help us keep our services running smoothly and ensure care is available for those who truly need it. 💙

Thank you for your support and have a safe, healthy weekend! 🌞

21/08/2025

Our Urology Investigations Unit (UIU) at the Cumberland Infirmary has recently been refurbished 🏥

The £2 million investment will improve access to timely care for urology patients, expand the scope of vascular investigations, and streamline pre-operative assessments.

This purpose-built unit will include:
- Urology Investigations Unit
- Vascular Studies Lab
- Pre-Assessment Unit

The unit is located at the back of the hospital, next to the Cancer Centre, and welcomed its first patients last month.

Ron Eifell, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, added: “This new space will enable us to offer a broader range of services tailored to patient needs, introduce one-stop clinics to reduce travel and waiting times, and create more efficient pathways.

“It also allows teams to be co-located, which improves staff morale and allows for more collaboration between teams."

“The Vascular team, which has recently expanded, will now be able to mirror services offered at West Cumberland Hospital and boost diagnostic capacity across emergency, urgent and routine cases.

“For Pre-Assessment, the bespoke design of the unit will support a more efficient one-stop service, enhancing the triage process between nursing and medical teams and improving the overall patient experience from the very start of the surgical journey.”

Who will use the unit?
- Urology patients requiring outpatient diagnostics or minor treatments (with services also continuing at West Cumberland Hospital)
- Vascular patients needing vascular studies or sonography
- Surgical patients attending for pre-assessment reviews ahead of planned procedures

This new facility marks a major step forward in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care across North Cumbria.

21/08/2025

Good luck to all students receiving their GCSE exam results today 💙

Remember, whatever the outcome today, GCSE Results don't define you!

If you know someone who has received their GCSE results, it can be a good idea to find out more about how they might be feeling – and how you can support them.

Find out more ➡️ https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/mental-health-support/supporting-a-child-or-young-person/