Funded places for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism are available for health and social care staff across the North East and North Cumbria until the end of October 2026.   What is this training? Named after Oliver McGowan, whose preventable death highlighted the need for better training, it equips staff with practical skills to meet people’s needs and reduce health inequalities. It is mandated by NHS England and helps meet the statutory requirement for learning disability and autism training. It has been co-produced by people with lived experience and helps staff provide safe, kind and inclusive care.   Why does it matter? Autistic people and […]

We’re asking for your help to share the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism with NHS colleagues, teams and networks across the North East and North Cumbria. Funded places are available until the end of October 2026. Please encourage staff to book and complete the training before then.   What is the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training? The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the government’s preferred training for health and social care staff. It helps meet the statutory requirement for learning disability and autism training and is mandated by NHS England. The training was developed following the preventable death of Oliver McGowan. Oliver’s […]

Health and care professionals from across North East and North Cumbria recently came together for the relaunch of Deciding Right and the introduction of new digital palliative and end of life care planning templates. The event highlighted the continued commitment to ensuring people’s wishes, values and priorities remain at the centre of care. The refreshed Deciding Right suite includes updated advance care planning documentation, the introduction of a Treatment Escalation Plan (TEP), and new unified digital templates for palliative and end of life care planning within EMIS and SystmOne. Attendees heard about the history of Deciding Right, changes to DNACPR processes, developments in community care and new educational resources to […]

Healthcare professionals from across the North East and North Cumbria are invited to attend a free Inherited Cardiac Conditions (ICC) Lunch and Learn event on Tuesday 29 September, coinciding with World Heart Day. Hosted by Poppy’s Light Foundation at Ramside Hall, Durham, the afternoon will bring together colleagues with an interest in inherited cardiac conditions to learn, share experiences and network with others working in this area. The event will provide an introduction to inherited cardiac conditions (ICCs), including cardiomyopathies, channelopathies and aortopathies, and will explore how these conditions affect patients and families across the region. Attendees will also hear about the charity’s plans to support healthcare professionals, patients and […]

The Regional Health Literacy Team for the North East and North Cumbria has shared a range of new updates, resources and upcoming opportunities to support colleagues across health and care.   New regional newsletter The team has launched its first health literacy newsletter, bringing together the latest news, guidance and events from across the region. Read the June newsletter Sign up to receive future updates   Free health literacy training A range of free training sessions is available via the Boost Learning Academy, designed for anyone working in health and care who wants to communicate more clearly with the public and support better health outcomes. Browse health literacy courses   […]

Leaving Intensive Care (ICU) is a significant milestone, but for many patients, recovery is far from straightforward. The transition from ICU to the ward, and then back home, is often described as the most challenging part of the journey. Many people experience a range of physical and emotional challenges during this time, including feeling “dropped” after leaving ICU, struggling to understand what happened during their stay, and a loss of confidence and independence. Emotional distress and ongoing fatigue are also common. Research from ICUsteps highlights that survivors can feel abandoned after discharge and often struggle to access coordinated support in the community. This free online forum, hosted by VONNE (Voluntary […]

Connect & Learn is a series of online learning events designed to share and spread improvement across the North East and North Cumbria health and care system. These sessions go beyond information-sharing, creating space to connect with colleagues, generate ideas, and inspire practical improvements in your own role, team or service. The next session, Increasing Referrals to the National Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP), will take place on: 10 June 2026 11:00am – 12:00pm Online Register by 8 June 2026 Register for the session here.   Supporting prevention and population health This interactive session will explore how primary care colleagues can maximise the impact of the National Diabetes Prevention Programme and […]

Fresh and the NENC Smokefree NHS Taskforce are hosting a free lunchtime seminar on Monday 22 June (12.15–1.15pm), featuring Professor Sanjay Agrawal, a national leader in tobacco dependency. The session will focus on the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) report Smoking, health and social justice, which highlights how smoking is increasingly concentrated among people facing disadvantage, including poverty, poor mental health and insecure housing. The report calls for stronger, more joined-up action to reduce smoking-related health inequalities. During the seminar, Professor Agrawal will share key findings and recommendations, including the introduction of opt-out smoking cessation support across NHS services, improved support for underserved groups, and a more coordinated cross-government approach. […]

Applications are now open for Cohort 6 North Cumbria School of Generalism, delivered by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS FT (NCIC). The School of Generalism is hosted by NCIC on behalf of NHS England North East, and is open to staff working across healthcare organisations in North Cumbria, aiming to equip learners with common concepts, understanding and language to help improve patient care. The Trust will again be delivering an innovative program giving the opportunity for up to 30 multi-professional, multi-disciplinary, clinical and administrative/management staff to learn alongside each other. They will gain a common language and shared skills to enable them to better understand, navigate and deliver the increasingly […]

We are delighted to share an exciting regional event that brings together people from across health, care, local authority, education and voluntary sectors to explore how we can all make a difference through Making Every Contact Count (MECC). Taking place on Wednesday 3 June 2026, Making Every Contact Count: Where are your opportunities? is a free, full-day conference delivered in collaboration with Northumbria University and supported by North East and North Cumbria NHS. The event will be held at the Business and Law Building, City Campus East, Northumbria University, Newcastle.   About the event MECC is about using everyday conversations to support healthier choices and improve population health. This conference […]