In a bid to encourage local communities to ‘love their landscape’, we are working hard to transform their ageing estate on a limited budget.
Our two main hospital sites, University Hospital of North Tees and University Hospital of Hartlepool, both date back almost 50 years. In a bid to encourage staff, patients and other visitors to think kindly about the sites, the Trust is driving a green agenda with a focus on well-being.
Barbara Bright, Director of Corporate Affairs and Chief of Staff, explains: “We have been out with our partner organisation NTH Solutions to plant some trees close to our green energy centre. We recognise that our estate is getting older, and we need to look after it.”
The Trust will benefit from a government £3m investment ahead of the winter to ensure that essential services are maintained and the risks surrounding COVID-19 are reduced. For North Tees, this means a plan to create a single entrance at urgent and emergency care so patients are quickly directed to the right place.
Please look after our landscape
Barbara stresses that whilst investment is always welcome, those working and using the hospital facilities must also continue to take care of their surroundings. She said: “For those of us that work here, it’s important we have a place to work in that we are proud of, it helps to ensure that our patients also have a positive experience as a priority. We have worked so hard to drive home the message about littering and smoking on the premises. It simply is not acceptable.
“We will keep calling it out. We’re as tired as those members of the public and our patients that complain about walking through clouds of smoke at our entrances. We recognise the enormity of the challenge, and we will continue to try to eradicate the issue.”
The Trust also has ambitions for an outside space for staff and visitors to enjoy at both hospital sites.