100 NHS staff from Hartlepool and North Tees hospital trust make pledges to improve patient care

The North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has launched the second phase of its 100 Leaders staff improvement programme to inspire them to lead.

Staff who showed their leadership skills during the pandemic have pledged to make changes to boost the organisation.

The trust says projects will improve staff experience and patient care across the trust including at Hartlepool.

Chief executive Julie Gillon said: “One of the truly significant effects of the [Covid] outbreak was that we immediately found we were unearthing leaders from a whole range of roles and departments, all resolute and determined in changing working practices so our population continued to get the care and support it needed.

“We as an organisation are absolutely committed to ensuring this continues and that our workforce feels empowered to be the leaders of change.”

A launch event for the programme’s second cohort was held at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield.

Trust medical director and deputy chief executive Deepak Dwarakanath told staff: “We can always improve and you have the ideas and the expertise to know how to make these improvements – for the benefit of the health of our whole population.”

The group of 100 leaders have been divided into 10 separate groups with each agreeing to one change they will strive to make with help Each group from a mentor from the Trust’s senior management team who will support them over the next few months.