NCIC News
All the latest from the Trust | June 2025
Intro from the Chair
Hello and welcome to our newsletter for foundation trust members and the wider community.
Hello and welcome to our newsletter for foundation trust members and the wider community.
This month we launched our Clinical Strategy – a five-year-plan to improve healthcare in the county. Find out more below.
Also in June, we celebrated the opening of the new £15m Endoscopy Unit at The Cumberland Infirmary. We were delighted to welcome the first patients to the unit and see what a difference this state-of-the-art facility will make to our patients.
Nominations for our Governors Council will be opening shortly and a postcard with more information as to how you can get involved will be dropping through your door so you can find out more. The date for this year’s Annual Members Meeting has been confirmed and it will take place on September 29 at People First in Carlisle.
Until next time, with best wishes,
Steven Morgan
Chair
Ambitious Clinical Strategy published
The Clinical Strategy for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) has been published and outlines plans to deliver 'safe, high quality care, every time' and become a nationally recognised centre of excellence for integrated rural and coastal medicine and care.
The strategy has been developed through engagement with colleagues, patients and the wider community and sets out a transformative five-year plan to improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities, and modernise care delivery across north Cumbria.
Themes in the strategy include:
- Patient-Centred Care - Empowering patients to take an active role in their health and recovery, with a focus on care closer to home and supported by digital innovation.
- Prevention and Population Health - Tackling health inequalities and supporting healthier communities through early intervention and targeted support.
- Workforce Development - Investing in education, recruitment, and retention to build a skilled, resilient workforce.
- Research and Innovation - Strengthening partnerships with the new Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, Imperial College London, and the University of Cumbria to drive research and continuous improvement.
- Digital Transformation - Expanding the use of technology to enhance patient safety, access, efficiency, and quality of care.
Dr Adrian Clements, Executive Medical Director, said: “We heard clearly that people want high-quality care, even if it means travelling further, and that they value recovery at home supported by professionals and technology. This strategy is our commitment to delivering on those expectations.”
First patients attend endoscopy appointments
The first patients have attended their appointments at our new £15m state of the art Endoscopy Unit at The Cumberland Infirmary.
Rachael Scott, Endoscopy Pre-assessment Lead, said: "Seeing our first patients in the new unit has been a big moment for all of us. The space is bright, calm, and purpose-built, which really helps us give patients the best possible care from the moment they walk through the door. Patients we’ve seen today have commented on how impressive the new unit is.
"It’s also made a huge difference for us as staff. Having the right space and facilities means we can work more efficiently, communicate better as a team, and focus more on our patients. It’s a really positive environment to be in, and I’m excited to have my first coffee in our new staff room!"
This new Endoscopy Unit will be able to treat more patients, helping to reduce our waiting lists and improve timely diagnosis, particularly for cancers. It includes five clinical rooms and an outpatient area, enabling more patients to receive endoscopy procedures locally.
Find out more: New £15m state-of-the-art Endoscopy Unit now complete!
Information for inpatients sent by text message
It follows a successful pilot on the Acute Medical Unit and Hazel Ward at CIC and the emergency admissions unit at WCH where a mobile number was recorded within three hours of admissions.
Inpatients in the pilot areas were sent links to the patient information literature on our website where the format can be changed into large font, different languages and audio versions. It is recognised that not all patients will be able to access this and so it can also be printed directly from the website Information for inpatients :: North Cumbria Integrated Care.
The information includes what you can expect during your stay, how to stay safe and how we will support you, from when you come in to when you leave.
Road reopens around CIC
The road near the Emergency Department at the Cumberland Infirmary has reopened.
It means that cars and ambulances can drive the whole way round the back of the site.
Thank you for your patience while the road has been closed.
The A&E entrance will still be through the main doors of CIC and it will remain like this until work on the new Urgent Treatment Centre is complete. Wheelchairs are available at the front door for disabled patients.
Work began on the new £12m UTC in February aimed at reducing pressure on the Accident and Emergency Department.
Laura is the Pride of Cumbria
Congratulations to all the finalists in this year's Pride of Cumbria awards.
Improvement lead for cancer, Laura Street, dietician Val Coltart and orthoptist Sylvie Booth from NCIC were all nominated in the NHS Worker of the Year awards, organised by Newsquest.
But it was Laura who was crowned the winner of the category at the awards earlier this month.
Laura works as the improvement lead for cancer at NCIC and is said to have an unwavering dedication to her role.
She said: It was such an honour to win the award, but I honestly felt a bit undeserving – there are so many incredible people who work for the NHS. I really do love my job and it’s a privilege to be recognised for doing something that makes a difference. My whole team works so hard every day to support patients, so this award really reflects their dedication too.”
Ioannis's epic challenge raises thousands for charity
We’re very proud of our very own consultant breast surgeon Ioannis Michalakis who attempted The Wall ultramarathon this month.
Not content to simply save lives while at work, his dedication to his vocation led him to take on the ultimate challenge to raise awareness of breast cancer and over £6,000 for North Cumbria Hospitals NHS Charity
He managed a huge 44 miles before retiring on medical grounds and plans to take on the challenge again next year.
He said: “Thank you so much for your generous support and encouragement during my attempt to complete The Wall ultramarathon in support of breast cancer care.
“Despite torrential rain at the start, I managed to cover 44-miles before having to stop at Hexham on medical advice. It was a difficult decision, but the right one at the time.
“Your messages, donations, and belief in the cause meant a great deal to me and kept me going through the toughest moments. This campaign was always about more than just finishing the race – it was to raise awareness of breast cancer, honour the memory of those we’ve lost, and work towards improving breast cancer care in the region.”
Neonatal support group launches
A support group for families who have spent time in neonatal care at The Cumberland Infirmary has been launched in Carlisle.
Katie Allison, Ward Manager on the Special Care Baby Unit at CIC, said: “One in seven babies born experience care on the neonatal unit and we know how important it is that families have support continued once discharged home.
“The group is an opportunity for anyone who has experienced neonatal care to meet and chat with other families while encouraging their babies development through play.
“We are so grateful for the support of the charity Team Evie, Maternity Neonatal Voice Partnership (MNVP) and Tullie to enable this work.”
The group meets on the first Thursday of every month at Tullie in Carlisle from 10.30am to 12pm, except in August.
No booking is required, if families do require further information they can contact Team Evie.
Team Evie Charity - Always Moving Forwards
Careers in medicine event
The Trust is hosting its annual event to showcase the diverse careers in medicine that young people in Cumbria can follow.
It will take place on July 4 and 5 at the Cumberland infirmary and will give those school students in years 11-13 the opportunity to speak to a range of medical professionals about what it is like to work for the NHS.
Dr Louise Buchanan, Consultant Cardiologist and Medical Director Professional Standards, is leading the event. She said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for those considering medicine to ask anything they would like to know and get hands on experience from our experts.
“Medical experts from a range of services including intensive care, orthopaedics, cardiology, maternity and surgery will be available to answer questions and give the students the opportunity to try their hand at simulation training including delivering babies, inserting cannulas, fixing fractures, perform CPR and check for suspected cancer.”
Students from across all secondary schools in Cumbria are invited to book a place for the day.
They will require confirmation from their head of sixth form to demonstrate the grades they have received so far.
For more information contact Hayley Nugent medical.education@ncic.nhs.uk
Member and Governor update
Governors message: Tim Smith, Partner Governor
One of my first jobs as a trainee doctor, 30 years ago, was as a senior house officer in the A&E department at West Cumberland Hospital. Many years later I settled in Cumbria and worked at the Cumberland Infirmary as a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care and in the trust’s medical education department. I am currently the academic lead at the University of Lancashire’s Westlakes campus in Whitehaven where, in collaboration with NCIC and other local healthcare organisations we are train student doctors, nurses and physician associates. I was privileged to be appointed as a partner governor at NCIC in 2023.
Everyone is well aware of the high quality clinical care that the trust delivers to the population of Cumbria, but the trust’s role in training and education is perhaps less visible. For many years the Cumberland Infirmary has been host to students of medicine, nursing and other healthcare professionals from Newcastle University, the University of Cumbria and Northumbria University. More recently, the new medical school at the University of Lancashire opened the first medical school campus in Cumbria, Westlakes in Whitehaven where student numbers have steadily grown, and we’ll shortly see our fifth cohort of medical students graduating as doctors and the tenth anniversary of our medical school opening.
I’m proud to say that a number of our graduates have chosen to stay in Cumbria to begin their postgraduate training as foundation doctors here and that every year the Dr Kate Granger scholarship, jointly funded by the University of Lancashire and NCIC, pays for a student from Cumbria to complete their medical degree.
With the opening of the new Pears Cumbria Medical School in Carlisle we will see another medical school and many more students join the medical education community in Cumbria and another step in Cumbria’s development as a recognised centre of excellence for medical education. I know you’ll join me in welcoming the new school to Cumbria.
When you see any of our students in clinics or on the wards please be supportive, as when you include them as part of the team caring for you or your family you’ll be playing your part in helping the universities and the trust to train Cumbria’s next generation of medical doctors.
Tim Smith
Partner governor
Governor Tracy Ward attends national conference
Carlisle Governor Tracy Ward recently attended the NHS Providers Governor Focus Conference.
She said: “I felt that this was a highly valuable experience. I learned a lot about the direction forward for the NHS and the 10-Year Plan. As a governor I felt valued and part of a national body of volunteers giving their time and expertise to hold those responsible for our health and well- being accountable. It was interesting to see how important it is to have governors in situ but how we are a dwindling number and need to consider how to build in sustainability.
“Where it worked best, governors were seen as part of the solution to issues that trusts faced. In some trusts there was an expectation that governors participated in learning walks alongside NEDs. The visits were welcomed by staff who felt that governors were interested in them and not faceless individuals.”
Governor questions
Eric Martlew, public governor for Carlisle, asked a question about nurse vacancies. He said: “l was recently taking to a nurse who was just finishing her training at the University of Cumbria who said that there were no vacancies available. Is this the case with the Trust and if so, is it because of a lack of finance?
The response states: “There has been a national drive from the Chief Nurse of England to reduce nurse vacancy factor to below 3.2% utilising the opportunity of international recruitment. NCIC has significantly improved the position and is consistently over delivering the vacancy target, however the natural turn over creates enough movement to accommodate all learners in practice. For example, the student cohort qualifying is September 2025 is circa 60 and the Trust currently has 90 WTE vacancies.
“In addition, the wider system is supporting any student without a job offer by looking across acute, community and primary care to ensure all vacancies are considered.”
Become a member
Anyone living in Cumbria over the age of 14 can become a member, you can choose how much or how little you want to be involved – join today.
Concerns or comments
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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