Ten years as a Foundation Trust A decade of Quality and Excellence
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Celebrating ten years of Foundation Trust status in January 2015
This January QE Gateshead is celebrating a decade of success by marking the 10 year anniversary of becoming an NHS Foundation Trust. Foundation Trust status allows more local control and encourages people from the area to get more involved in the running of the hospital. Over the past ten years the QE has recruited more than 15,000 people as members and 79 as governors who have had a direct influence on the running and development of the hospital and how it provides services to local people. The last ten years have marked some major achievements for the QE, which has been consistently rated as a band 6 hospital – the highest possible grade - by the national regulator the CQC.
“It’s been an amazing ten years for the Trust and the improvements that we’ve been able to make for patients. All the achievements of the past ten years are testament to the hard work of our staff, members, governors and everyone involved in running the hospital.” Ian Renwick, chief executive of QE Gateshead
A decade of community partnership
QE Gateshead became a Foundation Trust on 5 January 2005 and ten years on we’re now celebrating the many achievements of the past decade. There have been many high points including: the development of a cutting edge surgery centre, a growing reputation for breast screening and excellence in women’s cancers, becoming a screening hub for AAA/Bowel Cancer, advances in laparoscopic surgery, a new clinical skills training centre and one of the best maternity units in the country. Trusts are accountable to staff and local people through members and an elected council of governors, that work closely with the Trust's board of directors to influence decision making and strategic planning.
“Our governors and members play such an important and active role in helping to make the NHS work so well for our patients in Gateshead. Having such a thriving local link with the community has been crucial in our success and I’d like to thank all the people who have played an important part over the past 10 years.” Julia Hickey, chairman of QE Gateshead
World class developments at the QE
Recent highlights include the construction of a pioneering, new emergency care centre and the development of a pathology centre of excellence based at the site. These innovative new facilities will not only provide state-of-the-art technology right here in Gateshead, but will also revolutionise the patient experience during medical emergencies. We are investing more than ÂŁ32m into a brand new emergency care centre which will mean we can see you quickly when you need us most. The Pathology Centre is our new cutting edge facility which provides a world class service to several Trusts in the North East.
The last ten years‌... The last decade has seen some amazing stories at the QE including:
In 2011, we were the first trust in the region to be awarded the Investors in People, Health and Wellbeing good practice award. We were rewarded for showing a commitment to help staff make healthy decisions and support well-being.
Look North newsreader Mike Neville officially opened the new state-of-the-art critical care department in September 2005. Mike was keen to open the department after he had been in our critical care department himself.
In 2011, the QE became the first breast screening unit in the region to use digital imagery to see women's breast screens in real time. Previously images were taken using film and then developed and analysed back at the hospital.
The last ten years‌... In 2012, the Rt Revd Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow officially opened the new St Bede's unit at the QE. St Bede's is our palliative care and end of life care unit, where people can come for short stays to help them manage their symptoms, or at the end of their life. The unit has a beautiful garden and includes rooms built especially for relatives and carers to have some quiet time.
Bob Moncur, ex Sunderland and Newcastle football player, and also a bowel cancer survivor opens the North East Bowel Cancer Screening Hub at the QE in February 2010.
In March 2009, we saw our first patient at QE Metro Riverside. This outpatients facility was launched to take healthcare into the community, closer to where patients lived.
'Hairy Biker' Simon King officially opens our clinical skills centre in 2011 after his wife gave birth at the QE.
The last ten years‌... In September 2005 we opened a new surgery centre. The £14 million facility was designed to revolutionise surgery for patients, particularly day case surgery where patients were back home in time for tea! In the centre are four operating theatres, 60 en suite bedrooms for patients, as well as space for support staff and a beautiful reception area including a cafe.
In March 2006 we launched our pharmacy robot who was able to locate medications for patients on its own and keep a better track of what medicines were in stock.
In 2013 we were named as a band six level trust by our regulator the Care Quality Commission. This means that we are one of the safest hospitals in the country and were one of only two trusts in the north east to achieve this status. Since then we have consistently maintained this rating.
The last ten years‌...
In 2013 we spent ÂŁ375,000 refurbishing our post natal ward in maternity. Baby Joseph Lane was the first to stay on the new unit.
In 2011 we launched our AAA screening service, in men over 65 going on to save lives by detecting this deadly condition.
We re-launched our charity, QE Gateshead Charitable Funds in 2013 to raise awareness of the ways in which people can help the hospital.
For more stories from the past ten years visit our photo board: www.pinterest.com/qegateshead