Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

27 February 2024 · 1 other contributor · 4,133 words

Opened by Alex Cunningham Lab Stockton North

Responding minister: Andrew Stephenson

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Alex Cunningham raised concerns about north tees and hartlepool nhs foundation trust in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the governance of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, including a formal inquiry into the board's integrity and secret full report.
  • Lead MP requests the Minister to order Richard Barker to publish the full report immediately for natural justice and patient interest.
  • Requests an investigation into why the situation was allowed to occur, citing lack of transparency and proper process.

Key requests to Government

The lead MP asks the Minister to order Richard Barker to publish the full report immediately, arguing it is in the interests of natural justice and will allow those affected to move on with their lives. He also requests an investigation into why this situation was allowed to occur.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Alex Cunningham Lab Stockton North

The lead MP is concerned about the governance of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, highlighting a formal inquiry questioning the board's integrity two years ago. He notes that the full report remains secret despite promises to release it and believes local officials pressured the joint chair to expedite the appointment of a joint chief executive without proper process or consultation. Non-executive directors felt steamrolled and resigned due to lack of transparency, leading to accusations that NHS North East and Yorkshire's actions were unjustified.

Other contributors (1)
  • Matt Vickers Con Stockton West

    Matt Vickers pointed out that South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was burdened by a £1 million per week PFI deal, which complicates the current discussions about joint working in the region.

Government Response

Andrew Stephenson

It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Sir Charles. I congratulate the hon. Member for Stockton North on securing this important debate and raise questions about NHS governance, localism, transparency, and accountability. He rightly points out that patients should be at the forefront of healthcare decision-making. Acknowledging the £57 million PFI debt issue in one trust, I assure that joint working is not a precursor to merger but aims to address healthcare needs locally. Any leadership changes are under constant review to ensure they deliver effectively for patients and the local area. Trust governance fits various frameworks, with each geared towards building a faster, simpler and fairer NHS. The North Tees Foundation Trust has been one of the best performing providers across the country for urgent and emergency care. There is strong collaborative work taking place across the Tees Valley in the long-term interest of patients, including the opening of new urgent treatment centres and community diagnostic centres funded by the Government. NHS England investigated concerns about joint chief executive appointment but decided to implement recommendations voluntarily without formal regulatory action. Recommendations include presenting a summary at the next board meeting and agreeing an action plan for future steps. Proper consultation between board members is recommended in future to reach collective decisions for better services, with new arrangements now moving forward. A heavily redacted report was published following the hon. Gentleman's freedom of information request, but summaries are accessible by anyone who wishes to see them.

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