NCIC News
All the latest from the Trust | March 27, 2026
Intro from the Chair
Hello and welcome to our newsletter for foundation trust members and the wider community.
This is my last column as Interim Chair and while I was naturally disappointed not to have been appointed to the role of Chair, I want to offer my sincere congratulations to Stephen Singleton on his appointment and wish him every success.
What matters most, however, is not any one individual but the continued success of our organisation and the care we provide for our people and our patients.
Over the past few months, I believe we have started to move NCIC in a really positive direction. There is a clearer sense of purpose, a strong leadership team in place, and a real opportunity to build something special together.
For that reason, I have decided to remain on the Board as a Non-Executive Director for the time being, where I will continue to support the Trust and our new Chair as we carry this work forward.
It might have been easier to step away, but that has never really been in my nature. I care deeply about this organisation and about the people who work so hard within it, and I want to continue playing my part in helping NCIC move forward.
Finally, thank you for the support, kindness, and encouragement so many of you have shown me over the past six months. It has genuinely been an honour to serve as your Interim Chair.
Teresa Griffiths CBE ARRC
Interim Chair
Trust welcomes national announcement and looks to the future with major investment
This week, the Department of Health announced that North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) is to be one of five NHS trusts placed into a new intensive recovery programme;
Trudie Davies, Interim Chief Executive at NCIC, said: “We are pleased that some of the deep rooted challenges we have experienced historically in north Cumbria have been recognised nationally and we welcome the support that has been announced. We have started to see some real improvement in recent months and I am very pleased that the Board has approved a further £4m investment into urgent and emergency care. It is clear that we would benefit from additional support and we look forward to understanding what we will receive to accelerate the pace of change. We know that NHS England has confidence in this leadership team and this new intensive support is a once in a lifetime opportunity to embrace that change to deliver the best possible healthcare for the people of north Cumbria.”
NCIC is already putting major investments in place to strengthen urgent and emergency care services.
During Wednesday’s Board of Directors meeting, a £4 million investment package was agreed to transform the way urgent and emergency care is provided for patients in north Cumbria. The £4m investment is to alleviate the pressure being experience across urgent and emergency care services, including overcrowding in the Emergency Department; delays in getting patients to the right place for their care and an increasing demand associated with an ageing population.
The programme aims to improve the range of services available which will mean any unnecessary admissions to hospitals can be avoided. Read more here.
New chair for NCIC
Dr Stephen Singleton has been appointed as the new Chair of NCIC.
The appointment follows a comprehensive recruitment process led by the Trust’s Governors Council. He takes over the role from Teresa Griffiths who stepped in following the retirement of Steven Morgan in October 2025.
Dr Singleton is a former GP in North Cumbria, a public health physician and NHS executive who has worked as an executive coach and quality improvement mentor for the last 12 years. He will be known to many staff at the Trust from his period as director of CLIC between 2013-2020. (CLIC was the Cumbria Learning and Improvement Collaborative).
Stephen will take on the role as Chair in in April, leading the Board of Directors and Governors’ Council. He said: “I am delighted to be appointed Chair of North Cumbria Integrated Care and look forward to working with the Board to support all staff to better serve our patients and the whole population of north Cumbria.
“I am very grateful to Teresa for acting as interim Chair and look forward to working very closely with her. The Trust faces many and varied challenges - as well as many great opportunities - and I look forward to learning more from all the staff - and our patients - as I start in this exciting new role.”
New leadership team takes shape
Two new Directors have been appointed to the Executive Team. Kate North has been confirmed as our Executive Chief People Officer following her secondment to the Trust from the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, and Gavin Evans will join us as Executive Director of Digital and Estates, from Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust.
Meanwhile, NCIC’s Executive Chief Operating Officer Imran Devji is leaving the Trust to take up a new role with another NHS organisation as programme director. He will take up his new post at the start of April. Plans for filling the vacant Executive Chief Operating officer post will be announced in due course. In the meantime, Deputy Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Connor is covering the role.
Staff survey results
The National Staff Survey results for 2025 were published earlier this month and give us a valuable opportunity to understand how colleagues are feeling and what we need to focus on so that the majority of our colleagues feel it’s a great place to work. This year, more colleagues than ever chose to share their views. Between September and November 2025, 54% of staff responded — an increase of over 3% compared to last year and 6% above the average for similar organisations. With 3,830 responses it gives us a rich and reliable picture of their experience of working in our organisation.
Key indicators include:
- 61.8% feel patient care is the organisation’s top priority
- 46.2% would recommend NCIC as a place to work
- 45.3% would be happy with the standard of care if a friend or relative needed treatment
These results highlight where we need to focus our efforts and we have identified four areas to focus on; wellbeing and safety, culture and behaviours, management and leadership, and IT and processes. At NCIC, we believe happy staff means happy patients so we will be going out and about to talk to colleagues about what changes we need to make together so that more of our colleagues believe it’s a great place to work.
CoppaFeel! breast awareness sessions
NCIC's breast team joined forces with a youth breast cancer charity CoppaFeel! to raise awareness and help spot potential signs of the disease.
The two organisations held roadshows in Carlisle and Whitehaven last week to raise breast cancer awareness among young people.
The charity works to encourage youngsters to check their chests regularly and recognise the early signs of breast cancer.
The sessions were organised after NCIC staff recognised that many young people had never been taught how to check themselves properly.
Charlotte Irving, advanced clinical practitioner at the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital, said the idea came from seeing patients who were unsure what they should be looking for.
She said: "Even when I was at school, nobody ever taught me how to check my breasts or what the signs of breast cancer might be.
"When people come into the clinic, a lot of them say the same thing – they don’t really know what they’re looking for or what they should do. That’s when we realised we should start teaching these things earlier.
"By delivering these sessions to young people, we hope that it is something that is added to their monthly routine.
During the visit, boys and girls in Years 11 to 13, visited CoppaFeel’s! interactive mobile, which contains educational displays and activities designed to engage young people in learning about chest checking.
The roadshow visited Whitehaven Academy, St Benedict's Catholic High School, Nelson Thomlinson School, Carlisle College, Trinity School and Lakes College.
NCIC welcomes students on their dream placement
NCIC welcomed three students for a week of hands‑on experience as part of the Dream Placement scheme during February half term.
Dream Placement, run by the Centre for Leadership Performance, connects young people aged 16 to 18 with local organisations. The programme helps students build confidence, develop leadership skills and explore future careers across Cumbria.
NCIC hosted Anastasia, Edith and Sarah, who each spent the week in departments linked to their interests and future ambitions.
All three students said they would recommend an NCIC placement to others, highlighting the variety of roles, the supportive staff and the value of seeing healthcare careers up close.
Their enthusiasm and curiosity were praised by NCIC teams across the Trust.
The Dream Placement scheme, and the staff who support it, play a vital role in helping young people understand the many rewarding careers available in the NHS both on the frontline and behind the scenes.
Happy Easter!
The clocks go forward an hour this weekend and Spring is well and truly in full swing with daffodils blooming all over the place.
We urge you to stock up your medicine cabinets this week in case you need any emergency medication over Easter weekend.
And if you do need to use our services please Choose Wisely. Your pharmacy can often help with minor ailments and illnesses but if you need further assistance over the bank holiday please contact NHS 111 or if it’s a life threatening emergency - and you require urgent and emergency care – dial 999 or visit our A&E departments.
We wish you all a very Happy Easter!
Member and Governor update
Governor column from Jacqueline Nicol Public Governor Eden
This month I thought I would share my recent experience as a relative of a patient . We are all potential users of the hospital services and we governors experience the service first hand on occasion.
My relative was urgently referred by our GP to A & E a few weeks ago. We were in the waiting room of that department for 11 hours although we were intermittently seen by healthcare professionals then sent back to the waiting room. I am not going to pretend it was anything short of an ordeal due to the long waits and poor facilities.
The department was extremely busy throughout the whole time but the interaction with staff was good.
I can only repeat the request that unless it is a life threatening emergency or you have been appropriately referred to A & E consider using NHS111 first. They are there to ensure you are directed to the right service provider for your condition.
Following this we had to visit the Same Day Emergency Care Unit for treatment for several days.
What a fantastic team. From the moment you arrive the team are welcoming and caring.
A special mention must go to Diane and Amy. Two very special people who show compassion, a can do attitude. gave time to listen to what was important to us and help us to understand when we felt bewildered and showed kindness above all. They are the epitome of NCIC values.
As governors we need to hear your stories whether good or bad in order for us to help improve NCIC or champion excellent work. You can contact us on Ask your Governor.
Jacqueline Nicol Public Governor Eden
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If you have any concerns or comments please contact your governors on the email below. We are here to raise any concerns on your behalf. More information on the members of the Governors’ Council and their role can be found on our website. If you have any comments or suggestions please contact us via the email below: AskYourGovernor@ncic.nhs.uk
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