NCIC News
All the latest from the Trust | September 2025
Intro from the Chair
Hello and welcome to our newsletter for foundation trust members and the wider community.
It’s been another busy month at NCIC with many changes and developments in our senior leadership team. I would like to welcome Kelly Angus, Interim Chief People Officer, Gill Findley, Interim Chief Nurse and Kate North, Director of People and Culture, to their new roles. We look forward to working with you all.
Don’t forget it is our Annual Members’ Meeting on Monday at Carlisle People First. We’d love for you to join us and hear about our plans and help shape the future of healthcare in our region.
So, lots to be excited about, I hope to see you there.
Steven Morgan
Chair
NCIC voted top in region for virtual wards
The results of the National Inpatient Survey 2024 were published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) this month.
Adults who were inpatients at one of our acute hospitals, and were discharged in November 2024, were surveyed about their experiences. 539 people completed the survey, a response rate of 45 per cent.
We are pleased to see that we are have performed "much better than expected" compared nationally to other NHS trusts in the area of "virtual wards", and we were the top scoring trust in the region in this section.
Patients were particularly positive about:
- Being given enough information on the risks and benefits of being on a virtual ward (83%, or 8.3/10 people)
- Being given enough information on the care and treatment they would receive on a virtual ward (86%, or 8.6/10 people)
NCIC scored "about the same" as other NHS trusts for all other questions. However, we were the second highest rated trust in the region for "basic needs", and third highest trust in the region for "nurses" and "kindness and compassion".
Ife Akinyemi, Deputy Chief Nurse, said: "We welcome these national survey results for our inpatients. We are dedicated to listening to our patient's experiences and feedback, so that we can better understand their needs and make meaningful improvements.
“We will use the results from this survey to help inform how we can improve this for our patients."
More here: Adult inpatient survey 2024 - Care Quality Commission
New leaders join NCIC
We’re welcoming two new senior leaders to the Trust next month.
Gill Findley will join as Interim Chief Nurse and Kate North will join on a six month secondment as Director of People and Culture.
Gill is a Registered Sick Children’s Nurse and Registered General Nurse with 40 years’ experience in nursing. Gill has worked in many organisations in the North East and North Cumbria and most recently Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust where she is Chief Nurse, professional lead for Midwifery and AHPs as well as the Deputy Chief Executive.
Coinciding with her appointment as Interim Chief Nurse, she has also been appointed as a Professor with the University of Cumbria. This appointment is a recognition of Gill’s contribution to nursing and education. It offers an important opportunity to shape the future workforce for nursing, midwifery and allied health professions, building on the launch of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine
Gill is passionate about providing high standards of patient care and really enjoys working alongside staff to see first-hand the issues faced by front line staff and patients.
Kate North currently job shares the role of Executive Director of People and Culture at Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust and will be seconded over to NCIC for six months as Director of People and Culture working with Kelly Angus, Interim Chief People Officer.
Performance data
Last month, you will have seen that NCIC was placed in segment 4 of the new National Oversight Framework (NOF) published by NHS England. The Trust is ranked 130th of 134 acute trusts nationally. Interim CEO Trudie Davies said: “NCICs rating reflects the real structural challenges we face as a rural, remote health system, and supports what the new NHS 10-Year Plan calls for in rethinking how care is delivered across the NHS. As a Trust, we’ve stabilised and are improving from where were four years ago, but clearly we still have a lot to do. Everyone who works at NCIC should be proud of the progress we’ve made so far. We are clear about what still needs to change. And we’re ambitious for what’s ahead – together we can become the best place to receive and give care in the NHS.”
The latest data for August and July shows that our waiting list for those who have been referred for treatment (37,928) has gone down for the fourth month in a row, despite over 8,500 new referrals to our services. Our diagnostic waiting list has risen slightly despite carrying out 15,882 planned and unplanned diagnostic tests and procedures that month, we expect this to improve in the coming months as the CDC becomes fully operational. During August, we saw fewer patients attending 8,929 and admitted overall across our emergency departments than July, which resulted in an improvement in performance. 6 out of 10 patients (60%) were seen within the 4 hour standard at our A&E departments and almost all (97.3%) were seen within four hours at our Urgent Treatment Centres.
Annual Members' Meeting on Monday
Members of the public are invited to join our Annual Members’ Meeting (AMM).
It will take place - in person and virtually - on Monday 29th September, 1.30pm to 4pm, at People First Conference Centre, Milbourne St, Carlisle, CA2 5XB.
It’s an opportunity for members to learn more about our achievements and challenges over the last 12 months and the current financial position, which you can find out more about in our annual report 2024/25 now on our website. Those attending will also have the opportunity to hear from our new CEO Trudie Davies and from The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine. For any assistance or any enquiries please email corporate.governance@ncic.nhs.uk.
Opening of Macmillan pod at WCH
A Macmillan Cancer Support Pod has opened at the West Cumberland Hospital. The pod will offer vital information and emotional support to anyone affected by cancer in the region.
Located in the refurbished reception area of the hospital’s old main entrance, the new hub is part of Macmillan Cancer Support’s ongoing commitment to improving access to cancer care and resources across Cumbria. The pod is staffed by a newly recruited team of trained Macmillan Support Volunteers, who bring diverse backgrounds and a shared passion for helping others. These volunteers will be available to offer guidance, lend a listening ear, and signpost visitors to further support services.
They will also be supported by Specialist Health Professionals within the service with a clinical background in cancer services.
Baton of Hope visits CIC
In the same week as World Suicide Prevention Day, the Baton of Hope visited The Cumberland Infirmary on Sunday September 7th. Two NCIC colleagues and one of our volunteers helped spread suicide prevention messages as they carried the Baton of Hope on the Cumbrian leg of its journey.
Kelly Manford, Julie Wilson and Caroline Morrison donned their blue Baton of Hope t-shirts and joined the entourage on its journey as they walked in memory of loved ones who have lost their lives to suicide.
The baton made its way across the county from west Cumbria to Carlisle spreading suicide awareness and stopped briefly at The Cumberland Infirmary where guests were entertained by The Solway Singers and St Cuthbert’s.
Stephen Park, Director of Communication, congratulated the walkers for all they were doing to raise awareness of suicide prevention as the baton was handed over at The Cumberland Infirmary. Watch the moving video here Baton Of Hope Cumbria | Cumbria Suicide Prevention Baton Hope | Cumbria, UK
If you need help.....
The way to contact the mental health crisis service in North Cumbria is changing from 1 October.
At the moment, each of these local areas has its own local 0800 number to call for help in a mental health crisis.
From October 1, these local numbers will close.
Instead, anyone who needs support with a crisis should call 111 and select the mental health option.
NHS 111 is free, and available 24/7.
The crisis teams and mental health services are not changing or going away - you’ll still receive the same expert help from the trained mental health teams.
It’s just the number to call that’s changing.
Having one simple, national number will make it easier for people to know where to turn for help in a crisis – rather than having to remember or look up different local phone numbers.
So, from October 1, dial 111 and follow the instructions.
Member and Governor update
Governors message: William Miskelly, Public Governor for Allerdale
Hello, I hope everyone is keeping ok. The summer heat is gradually leaving us and the Fall has arrived with a bang after what felt like an eternity of rain. The first frost took place and the mist is now a regular sight. Myself and my family love this time of year full of colours and every day the mist rises to reveal all the natural beauty that surrounds.
As the dark nights are starting to set in, I sometimes catch myself talking with my family about what we have done and what we want to do over the next year.
That brings me nicely to a very important period of the year on our Governors’ Council about changes and reflections. The results of our latest election will be declared soon - who will we be staying, who will we be welcoming and who will remain? This will be swiftly followed by our Annual Members’ Meeting on the 29th September where you will get the chance to hear from our board and Governors’ Council about what we have been up to and what we should expect to see.
This for me, will be a very different type of experience. I like most of you will be attending to hear from our new interim CEO. This will be the first annual meeting for me without Lyn Simpson, who is currently on secondment to a partner Trust, and Jill Forster who retired earlier this year.
The new build at WCH is a credit to our area along with our new diagnostic centre at Workington. We are on a mission to deliver better services to the people of North Cumbria. I have been part of the Governors’ Council on and off since 2020, what a massive difference five years have made.
If you think you could help shape future healthcare provision - and you want to get involved - come and get involved. You don't have to be one thing – you could be a governor – or a volunteer – or both if you have the time!
My role is to represent the public and it is also to hold the board to account. This Trust is your Trust and it serves you during your happiest times and saddest times so I would urge you to get involved.
The forthcoming winter will bring our services under extra pressure and if you end up needing to use the services there will be a wait. Behind that door before the clinician shouts your name they are caring for others so if you have a wait please remember to remain calm and polite.
I know waiting is frustrating, I personally don't like waiting – none of us do - but the staff are working 24/7 to provide care for all of us.
Until next time,
William Miskelly
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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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