Date published: 12 October 2026
The North East and North Cumbria Provider Collaborative (NENC Providers) has published its annual report for 2025/26. The report shows how the NHS across the region is working together to improve care for patients.
The region’s Provider Collaborative brings together all eleven NHS Foundation Trusts. Together, they employ around 80,000 staff who provide community, mental health, hospital and ambulance services for more than 3.2 million people across the North East and North Cumbria.
The collective focus over the past 12 months has been on the things that matter most to local people. The report shows strong progress to reduce waiting times and improve access to care with the region performing better than the rest of the NHS in many areas. Key achievements include:
- Over 70% of patients getting their planned operation or procedure within 18 weeks of talking to their GP, with 6 surgical hubs now open in the region. This compares to 62% nationally.
- Over 88% of patients getting their test or scan within 6 weeks of referral. This compares to 78% nationally. More than 306,000 of these tests and scans were delivered through new Community Diagnostic Centres.
- The region’s ambulance service was the best performing in the NHS for the whole of 2025/26 with the fastest response times in England in all categories.
- Over 78% of patients being seen within 4 hours of arriving at our Emergency Departments. This compares to 74% nationally.
A surgical hub operating theatre in the North East and North Cumbria. The region now has six surgical hubs, helping more than 70% of patients receive their planned operation or procedure within 18 weeks of referral.
Alongside addressing immediate priorities, the year also saw the launch of the Strategic Approach to Clinical Services (SACS). This is a 10-year forward plan which sets out how the region’s NHS will work together to create robust hospital services.
The programme is about more than sustainable hospital care. SACS will involve all health and care partners with a collective aim to provide more joined-up care, maximise technology and make sure all but essential care happens outside of hospital. The views of staff, patients and partners will shape work as it progresses and as the region’s NHS aims to make lasting change in line with the ambitions of the NHS 10-year plan.
Other key progress this year includes the flagship development to create a regional Medicines Manufacturing Centre. Set to open later next year in Seaton Delaval, this will serve all of the region’s hospitals, producing up to one million doses of medicine each year and helping protect drug supplies for the future. Bringing production back ‘in-house’ to the NHS will also create around 150 local jobs.
Matt Brown, Managing Director of NENC Providers, said:
"This report shows what can happen when organisations work together with a common goal. Staff across the region have worked hard to help patients get care more quickly with more people getting tests and treatment sooner. Teams are sharing skills, learning from each other and finding new ways to improve care.”
Ken Bremner MBE, Chair of NENC Providers and Chief Executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"The progress we have made reflects the hard work and commitment of staff across all our Foundation Trusts. The NHS is about people, and I want to thank all colleagues for the work they do, every day, caring for people at home, in our local communities and if they need hospital care.
“By working together in a more collaborative way, we are now starting to see a real difference, but we know there is still much more to do. It is vital that we continue our efforts together and working with patients and local communities to ensure we build services that are fit for the future and strong for the people who rely on them."
The Provider Collaborative annual report also sets out key priorities for the year ahead. These include expanding Community Diagnostic Centres, growing surgical hubs, developing shared workforce plans, moving forward with digital projects and preparing for the opening of the Medicines Manufacturing Centre. The full annual report is available here.
