NCIC News

All the latest from the Trust | July 2026

Intro from the Chair

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer break and have been keeping cool in the hot weather. We’re continuing to make improvements across our performance standards which is positive news for our patients and you can find out more details in this month’s bulletin. If you want to get involved and have a passion for improving healthcare, I would encourage you to think about becoming a governor. Nominations for our governor elections close next week so take a look at our information and help us shape the future of NHS services in our region. If you don’t have the time to commit, attending our Annual Members Meeting in October is another opportunity to find out more. Hold the date in your diary and book your tickets now, more information about the event will follow.

Until next time,

Dr Stephen Singleton

Chair

Celebrating NCIC’s first robotic‑assisted surgeries

Patients across Cumbria can now benefit from some of the most advanced surgical technology available. Our new robotic surgical system gives surgeons enhanced precision through magnified 3D vision and highly controlled instrument movements, helping to reduce tissue trauma, minimise complications, and support faster recovery.

A huge congratulations to Mr Chris Rao and the wider surgical, anaesthetic, theatre and management teams, whose years of planning, training and collaboration made this achievement possible.

One of our first patients, Lee Ellis from Carlisle, has already experienced the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery, reporting a quicker recovery and improved surgical outcomes.

The arrival of robotic surgery marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for healthcare in north Cumbria, with plans already in place to expand the programme and bring even greater access to minimally invasive surgery across our region.

Cancer patients rate experience as higher than national average

Cancer patients in north Cumbria have praised the services of staff in a recent national survey, highlighting clear communication, strong teamwork and high‑quality support throughout their cancer journey.

Patients said they received easy to understand information, felt involved in treatment decisions, and received good care and support. Many also reported having a helpful main point of contact and said that diagnostic tests and results were explained clearly and sensitively.

Overall, patients rated NCIC 9.1 out of 10, which is higher than the national average (8.9).

Kiyla Murray, Lead Cancer Nurse, said: “These results are a real testament to the dedication of our staff. Patients are telling us that they feel listened to, supported and clearly informed at every stage of their care. That’s exactly the experience we want every person to have. Patients are getting the information they need, they feel involved in decisions, and they know who to turn to for support.”

Performance standards continue to show improvements

The latest NHS data shows a continuous improvements which is good news for patients. In Cancer services, there was improvement across all standards in May with us meeting the 31 day standard of 96% of patients to wait no longer than 31 days from a decision to beginning treatment (98%). Our performance against the 62 day standard for urgent suspected cancer to definitive treatment is improving at 67.1% against the 85% target. Overall, really encouraging progress in Cancer services with more work ongoing to make further improvements.  In more good news, 65.9% of patients waiting for planned operation/procedure are being seen in less than 18 weeks which is a huge improvement despite our waiting list slightly increasing. Diagnostics has reduced their waiting list further and 21.7% of patients are waiting over 6 weeks compared to over 40% in January 2026.

You are invited to join conversation on transforming healthcare across North Cumbria

North Cumbria’s health trust is inviting its members, partners and anyone interested in healthcare in the region to come and hear how it is transforming its services.

The ‘Hope and ambition – transforming healthcare in north Cumbria’ event will double as the Trust Annual General Meeting and will be an opportunity to quiz health leaders on their progress and plans for the future. The event will showcase innovations that are improving care for patients across North Cumbria, and set out an ambitious vision for the future of local health services. It will take place at the Cumberland Infirmary, at 5pm on Monday 12 October. Places will be limited, but you can book your ticket now.

Keeping NCIC smoke-free

Healthcare staff across NCIC are asking patients, visitors and colleagues to help keep hospital sites smoke free.

‘Keep NCIC Smoke Free’ is a campaign that features healthcare staff from across NCIC and aims to remind patients, visitors, and staff that smoking is banned across all our hospital sites. This helps protect everyone from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

From newborn babies taking their first breaths to patients receiving life-saving treatment, everyone in our care deserves clean air.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Doctors at NCIC

Students from across Cumbria were given a unique insight into the world of medicine at NCIC's recent Careers in Medicine event, designed for young people in Years 11–13 who are considering a future career as a doctor. One of the highlights of the event was hearing from current resident doctor, Jenny Little who had attended a similar careers event at NCIC as student back in 2017.

NCIC achieves prestigious gold award for support to the Armed Forces

The prestigious award recognises employers who go above and beyond in supporting the Armed Forces community and champion the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant. The ERS Gold Award is presented to organisations that demonstrate exceptional and sustained commitment to serving Reservists, veterans, military families and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.

Trudie Davies named Chief Executive of the Year

Congratulations to our Chief Executive, Trudie Davies, who was recognised at the National Leadership Recognition Awards, being named Chief Executive of the Year.

The Chief Executive of the Year award recognises chief executives whose leadership has had a profound impact on their organisation, workforce and the wider health system. It celebrates leaders who, during a period of significant financial pressure, operational challenges and rising demand, have provided clarity, ambition and stability while remaining focused on delivering safe, high-quality care. The award also acknowledges those who have shaped organisational culture, strengthened partnerships and inspired their teams to navigate the future with confidence.

Last chance to nominate a governor

We’re looking for 22 new staff and public governors to join our Governors’ Council.

Nominations are open until Thursday 6 August, so don’t miss your chance.

Governors attend regular council meetings with members of the board of directors and can get involved in committee meetings and activities such as appointing non- executive directors and attend events such as the opening of our new endoscopy unit at The Cumberland Infirmary. 

Catch up on the recorded governor awareness session to find out more about being a governor.

Governor’s column – Tracy Ward: Celebrating Progress, Facing Challenges Together

Hello everyone,

I hope this month you have been enjoying the weather although it is not welcome by all. The heat can pose risks for those with respiratory problems or other frailties so please take care of yourselves by keeping well hydrated, protecting yourselves from sunburn and keeping safe near water. It is also worth remembering how hard the farmers in our community are working right now to keep their livestock and fields safe and to let them know they are appreciated.  July has been a whirlwind of activity here at the Trust for everyone. The improvement journey is now gaining traction and significant investment alongside national recognition which is heartening to see. As a governor I get to see first -hand the challenges and the complexity of untangling them. 

As Governors, we are delighted to share a highly encouraging update on the progress being made across North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC). Thanks to the relentless hard work of our incredible staff, NCIC has officially become the most improved trust in our region. In a standout achievement, the trust has climbed 10 places in the national NHS league tables—a testament to the dedication running through every department.

Some of the biggest improvements have been in planned care and diagnostics. NCIC is now the top-performing trust in the region for "Referral to Treatment" (RTT) waiting times, having successfully cleared massive backlogs to get patients the care they need faster. Innovation is also thriving here; you may have seen in news reports that surgeons at the Cumberland Infirmary recently performed their first robotic-assisted operations using our new advanced surgical robot, "Sirona." This cutting-edge technology means less pain and quicker recovery times for our patients. This focus on the future whilst dealing effectively with legacy issues and the always complex present has to be good news for everyone.

However, as your representative Governors, we also look closely at the areas where we must do better and offer our input and challenge on your behalf.  We endeavour to represent your voice in all that we do it is a fascinating role and offers real insight into the significant demands placed on the services and how important community health is. Our A&E departments and Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) remain under immense pressure, caring for around 11,000 patients every month. We know that waiting times in these areas are still too long. To directly tackle this, a £4 million investment was secured to open a brand-new UTC at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, designed to ease the strain and improve the patient experience.  We can all help by ensuring that where possible we only use this valuable resource for its express purpose of saving lives at times of crisis.

There is still vital work ahead, but the trajectory is clear: NCIC is moving firmly in the right direction. We the governors will continue to champion your voices, celebrate our staff’s success, and hold the trust accountable as we build on this fantastic momentum.

Tracy Ward
Public Governor Carlisle

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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