Two Cumbrian NHS Trusts are holding their joint annual meeting next month to reflect on the past year and discuss plans for the future.

The annual meeting for Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) and North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust (NCUH) will take place on Thursday 19^th September. The event is open to all patients, foundation trust members, staff and the public. It is an opportunity to share views and questions about health care in Cumbria with CPFT’s Governors Council and members of the Board of Directors from both Trusts.

The meeting will cover:

• a review of the activities of both Trusts by the Boards of Directors
• how CPFT’s Governors Council has discharged its responsibilities
• an update on the merger of CPFT and NCUH and changes to health services in Cumbria to ensure they are fit for the future
• a vote on changes to the constitution regarding the Governors’ Council

Professor Robin Talbot, Chair of CPFT and NCUH, said:

“This is an exciting time for our trusts with some big changes ahead. The meeting will allow us to celebrate our achievements over the past year and talk about our vision and plans for the future. We have made huge progress in the way we work together across our trusts as well as with our partners and it is important to reflect on that.”

Closer working between NCUH and CPFT has already helped provide more seamless patient care, especially between hospital and community services. The trusts plan to merge on 1st October, subject to final approval from NHS Improvement, to become North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC).

At the same time, mental health and learning disability services in north Cumbria will transfer to Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and in south Cumbria they will transfer to Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust. They will continue to form a key part of the health and care system in Cumbria and continued close working will ensure mental and physical health services are joined up.

Robin added:

“North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust stands for working in a different way and much more collaboratively with all of our partners in the local community, including those who use our services. We know we don’t have all of the answers so I would encourage anyone with an interest in local health services to come along, share their views and hear about our plans for the future as we embark on these big changes in Cumbria.”

The meeting will take place at LEP Conference Centre, Redhills, Penrith, CA11 0DT. Registration is from 12.45 and the event will run from 13.30 to 16.00. Anyone who wishes to attend can book by contacting AskYourGovernor@cumbria.nhs.uk or telephone 01228 60 8815 by Friday 13^th September 2019. Free transport can be arranged from Penrith Bus Station and Penrith Rail Station when booking.