North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

17/01/2026

Don’t miss your chance to help inform positive change to cancer services. The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey was sent out to those who are eligible, and will be closing soon ⏰.

If you were invited, please don’t miss the opportunity to take part and share your experiences of care. The NHS and cancer charities use the results to understand what is working well and which areas need improvement.

The survey has been posted to those eligible to complete. For more information on the survey and how to access help and support in completing it, please visit www.ncpes.co.uk

16/01/2026

Our this week is for our brilliant volunteers at the University Hospital of North Tees. 💙

If your interested in becoming a volunteer with us, visit our website for more information and contact details: www.nth.nhs.uk/about/community/volunteering

16/01/2026

Had sickness or diarrhoea? Please don’t visit our hospital wards until you have been free of these symptoms for 48 hours.

Help stop the spread of infection this winter to protect your local community, loved ones and healthcare services.

15/01/2026

Our urgent treatment centres at The James Cook University Hospital, University Hospital of North Tees and University Hospital of Hartlepool are open 24/7. And our UTC at Redcar Hospital is open from 8am to midnight every day.

The team is here to support if you need urgent treatment, but your injury or illness that isn’t life-threatening.
For more information, visit www.nth.nhs.uk/services/urgent-care

15/01/2026

Yesterday, some of our team got a sneak peek at Highlight – the new multi-million active wellbeing hub currently under construction at Hartlepool’s iconic Marina.

We’ll be running community-based clinics from Highlight (Hartlepool Borough Council's Active Hartlepool service) alongside its state-of-the-art gym, spinning studio, fitness centre, soft play area and swimming pools – all to improve health and wellbeing in our region.

We can’t wait to see Highlight open in the spring and play our part in what we know will be a bright future for Hartlepool.

14/01/2026

Today we said a fond farewell to Linda Wildberg who embarks on the next stage of her life – retirement – after an incredible 54 years of service to the NHS!

Beginning her career as a volunteer at Hartlepool General Hospital, now better known as the University Hospital of Hartlepool, Linda’s career has seen her develop from volunteer to cadet, from nurse to her most recent role in the trauma and orthopaedics department as a clinical quality data management lead.

Linda’s passion for nursing is clear, saying: “I love to see patients come in, get well and go home, knowing that the care I’ve given has helped to make that change. My whole life has been about nursing and providing patient care.”

Some of Linda’s highlights include:
• January 1973: first shift as a cadet
• 1974 to 1977: completed her state registered nurse training
• 1977: first staff nurse role at St Hilda’s Hospital
• 1977 – 1981: worked as an orthopaedic clinical educator alongside her staff nurse role
• 1981: promoted to junior ward sister
• 1982 to 1983: completed her orthopaedic specialist certificate
• 1984: transferred to Hartlepool General when St Hildas’s Hospital closed
• 1986 to 2020: promoted to a ward matron
• 2018: won a Shining Star award on the 70th anniversary of the NHS.

Linda’s advice to new nurses is simple: “Always remember to treat your patients like your family and you can’t go wrong. The patient is always first and foremost.”

All of Linda’s friends and colleagues wish her the best for her well earned retirement.

13/01/2026

Applications for Great North Run are now open. 🏃‍♂️

This year’s event takes place on Sunday 13 September and we have a number of guaranteed places available for those who’d like to run on behalf of our charity, North Tees and Hartlepool Together.

If you’re interested, please email Suzi Campbell on suzi.campbell@nhs.net or 07517 829331.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝘁: To run for North Tees and Hartlepool Together, we will ask you to pay a non-refundable £68 registration fee, which goes to GNR to register your guaranteed place. We will also ask you to raise a minimum sponsorship of £250 to benefit our hospitals.

You don’t need to work for us to be part of our team – entries are open to anyone aged 17 and over on the day of the event.

Once you’ve registered, we’ll support you throughout your Great North Run journey. You’ll receive training advice, support, the opportunity to wear one of our charity running tops, plus access for yourself, your friends and your family to celebrate in our post-race marquee once you cross the finish line, plus more.

12/01/2026

Lauren Mazzey is the organisation’s new Martha’s Rule implementation lead nurse.

“At the University Hospital of North Tees, we are rolling out a new way of working to help give patients and their families a clear, formal right to request an urgent clinical review if they believe someone’s condition is deteriorating.

“Known as Martha’s Rule, this was developed nationally in response to the death of 13‑year‑old Martha Mills, who died from sepsis in 2021 after her symptoms were not escalated appropriately.

“The initiative is built around early detection of deterioration and guarantees that patients, relatives, carers, and staff can activate a rapid review from a separate clinical team if they feel something is going wrong.

“Most importantly, families themselves can call for an independent review – an option that will be clearly advertised across the hospital site.

“Martha’s Rule puts patients at the forefront of everything we do.

“Patients and their families know their loved ones best, and we recognise the contribution that close family and friends make in noticing when their loved ones are unwell."

https://www.nth.nhs.uk/news/new-initiative-to-help-patients-who-may-be-deteriorating/

12/01/2026

When an injury or illness is not life threatening but still urgent, 111 can help you figure out where is best suited to support you.

Call 111 if:

• You think you might need to go to a hospital or urgent treatment centre but you're not sure
• You need urgent advice and your GP surgery is closed.

NHS 111 is here is to help 24 hours a day,7 days a week online or by phone.

Remember – in an emergency, always call 999.

𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆? Find out at: www.nth.nhs.uk/patients/emergency

11/01/2026

“My dad never got to see this little one. There’s help to quit smoking. Do it for your family.”

Sadie lost her dad to smoking. Give quitting a go in 2026.

To find support across Stockton and Hartlepool, visit: www.nth.nhs.uk/services/stop-smoking-service

Further advice and support can be found at: www.freshquit.co.uk

10/01/2026

Our urgent treatment centres in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Redcar are here for you if you need urgent support. Our teams treat a range of minor injuries and illnesses, including:

• Strains and sprains
• Suspected broken limbs
• Minor head injuries
• Minor scalds and burns

If you are unwell and need to use the service, we advise that you book an appointment first visiting 111.nhs.uk or calling NHS 111, as this will help to speed up your treatment.

For more information about urgent care, visit: www.nth.nhs.uk/services/urgent-care

10/01/2026

Debbie Thomas, a clinical support worker at the University Hospital of North Tees, and her daughter Sadie have made an emotional appeal to smokers to quit for good following the loss of husband and father Denham.

Debbie said: “Nothing can prepare you for how frightening it is to see someone close to you struggling to breathe. It was such an awful experience because whilst he was gasping for every breath and his lips going blue, all I could do was watch because if I tried to help it would only make the situation worse.

“He would tell everyone he could to stop smoking and tell them: ‘You don’t want to end up in a wheelchair and on oxygen like me.’ ”

Sadie said: “Even as a child I knew things were different because of my dad’s health, and it just got worse over the years. He missed so much. He never even got to meet my daughter and his granddaughter Soul. He would have loved her.”

The video, produced by , shows the devastating impact smoking can have on families.

Smokers in the Stockton and Hartlepool region can call 01642 383819 for advice and support to quit.

Smokers in Middlesbrough and the wider South Tees area can call 01642 727579 to access expert smoking cessation support.

Denham Thomas, who lived in Hartlepool, died in October 2021, more than a decade after smoking robbed him of his health with COPD. His widow Debbie and daugh...