North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) are looking to work with three other local NHS trusts in an arrangement called the Great North Health Alliance.

Newcastle Hospitals, Northumbria Healthcare, Gateshead Health and NCIC are looking to work more closely than ever in an alliance which has ‘huge potential’ according to the local health trust.

Plans are at an early stage, but the idea is to build on existing collaborations and help the trusts 'work towards financial and operational sustainability'.

NCIC have said that their plan is to formally establish the alliance in the next financial.

The alliance is set to be discussed at NICI with executives there saying in board papers: "Collaboration with our partners is essential to deliver improvements to the benefit of our patients locally and across the region."

"The Trust, through the Chief Executive and Chair, is actively engaging and collaborating with system partners on early planning of the Great North Health Alliance."

NCIC have said that each trust would retain an ‘independent identity’ and that it could opt out if it so desired.

A spokesperson for NCIC said: “NCIC is one of four healthcare Trusts in the North of England who have agreed to work together to explore the opportunities that could arise from working together as a closer Alliance.

“The Newcastle upon Tyne NHS FT, Gateshead NHS FT, Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT and North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS FT are developing plans to work together as the Great North Healthcare Alliance.

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“The Trusts believe that there is huge potential to work together to deliver significant benefits to our patients and staff within our own organisations and in the wider region. Our plan is to work towards the possibility of formally establishing the Alliance early in the next financial year.

“The partners have agreed guiding principles, which include a recognition that each Trust will retain its independent identity as a separate entity, and each Trust has the right to opt in or out of proposals, or move at the pace, phasing and degree that is appropriate to their organisation and their communities.”