A new national opportunity is inviting health, care and community partners to work together to improve cancer care for people across the UK. Macmillan Cancer Support, in partnership with Q, hosted by the NHS Alliance, has launched the Macmillan Q Lab, an innovation programme focused on one important question: “How might we reimagine holistic cancer care closer to people’s homes?” Over a nine-month period, participants will take part in workshops, peer learning, coaching and a structured design process to develop innovative solutions that could make cancer care more accessible, equitable and community-focused. Teams will also have access to expertise from Macmillan and Q, alongside funding support of up to £75,000 […]
Women with poor access to financial, educational, and social and health resources engage less with health and care services throughout their pregnancy. This is due to a range of reasons such as social stressors, low health literacy, digital exclusion, lack of support, language barriers, transport difficulties, and stigma and judgement from healthcare professionals. Research led by the NIHR School for Public Health Research and supported by the NIHR ARC North East and North Cumbria examined these barriers, and the work has led to the development of new toolkits to support improvement of care. The toolkits aim to help policy makers and practitioners implement actionable changes to service delivery, to help […]
Monday 2 November, 9am until 4pm – The Catalyst, Newcastle Helix. Join leading researchers, policymakers, practitioners and experts-by-experience from across the region for a powerful one-day conference exploring some of the most pressing challenges facing women, families and marginalised communities. This unique practice improvement event will bring together national speakers with regional leaders in research, public health, social care and community organisations to examine how stigma, trauma and disadvantage shape people’s lives – and what we can do differently to improve outcomes. This event is jointly hosted by: Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health; NIHR School for Public Health Research; Office for Health Improvement and Disparities; Newcastle […]
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 […]
A pilot mobile healthcare service in Sunderland has improved access to primary care for people experiencing substance use disorders and homelessness. The Sunderland Health Bus, developed through a partnership between Sunderland City Council, Sunderland GP Alliance, ARC North East and North Cumbria (ARC NENC), and people with lived experience, brought healthcare directly into community settings across the city between April and October 2025. The service offered flexible, walk-in access to primary care, supported by clinicians and peer workers with lived experience of substance use or homelessness. Designed to reduce barriers such as stigma, digital exclusion and difficulty accessing traditional services, the bus aimed to reach people who often experience some […]
Dietitians at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) are helping to create a greener NHS through an innovative initiative that is reducing single-use plastics for families who rely on home enteral feeding. Marking Greener Allied Health Professionals Week earlier this year, we heard about how the project has brought together adult and paediatric dietitians, patients, carers and medical nutrition company Nutricia to reduce waste while maintaining safe and effective nutritional support. A key part of the initiative has been replacing single-use feeding containers with reusable Sterifeed bottles that can be used for up to a month. With support from dietitians, families have successfully made the switch, leading 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 […]
Reaching people where they are is a key part of delivering more accessible, proactive health and care. Across North East and North Cumbria, innovative approaches are helping to connect with communities who may not otherwise engage with traditional services. One powerful example of this in practice is Monty, Newcastle GP Services’ community health bus. Bringing care closer to people Monty is a purpose-built mobile clinic staffed by experienced nurses and healthcare professionals. It delivers a range of essential health and care services directly into communities, focusing on areas where need is greatest. Services include: Health checks Cervical screening Blood pressure monitoring Vaccinations Smoking cessation support Diabetes screening By bringing […]
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 […]
A powerful new resource has been developed to support people with learning disabilities across North Cumbria to have more open, informed conversations about death, dying and bereavement. Created through strong partnership working, the Death, Dying and Bereavement Resource Pack brings together easy‑read materials and practical activities designed to support individuals, families and professionals when navigating some of life’s most challenging moments. The pack aims to enable compassionate, accessible and person‑centred conversations, ensuring that people with learning disabilities are better supported to understand and express their wishes, feelings and experiences. A collaborative, co‑produced approach The resource has been co‑produced with more than 25 partners and led by Eden Valley Hospice, […]
