Health chief thanks Hartlepool teachers for their pandemic support

Those are the words of Julie Gillon, chief executive at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, in a letter sent to all of the schools in the Tees Valley this week.

The local health trust wants to thank school teachers for the incredible support given to children of its staff over the COVID-19 pandemic – as well as offer its good wishes to pupils waiting on exam results.

In part of the letter to headteachers, Mrs Gillon said: “This week and next will be a different kind of results day for many of you. For all of you at the school, the efforts you employ into encouraging your students to be their very best should be acknowledged.

“When the world ground to a halt, you and your colleagues worked to support our most vulnerable children, the children of key workers and of course children of our very own staff. You also had to re-shape your services, and will continue to have to do so.

“We cannot thank you enough.”

The Trust already carries out a number of initiatives to give young people opportunities to work in the NHS, including regular career fairs, apprenticeships and volunteering roles.

But it wants to create even closer working relationships with its schools so pupils find out more about careers in the health service.

Mrs Gillon continues in her letter: “Our Trust is one of the biggest employers in the region.

“The scope of careers we offer go so far beyond that of a doctor or nurse.

“As time moves forward and we work to stabilise the world at large again, I would welcome a closer working relationship with the Tees Valley education community.

“We want the children of Teesside to be our surgeons, consultants, technicians and so much more of tomorrow.

“I would like to once more offer you our thanks and best wishes. You have all been so very important, so very critical and we are proud of you.”

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