The NHS review recommends a preferred option of £2.1m over three years to recruit and train specialist staff at University Hospital of North Tees. The 16‑bed critical care unit faces high turnover and rising sickness absence linked to stress, anxiety and depression, and is not meeting intensive care standards. Leaders say patient care has not been harmed to date, but retention is undermined by limited career progression at North Tees. The hospital’s ageing estate — described as "not fit for purpose" — also needs major investment, and board members have questioned where the capital will come from.
Report: North Tees critical care needs £2.1m for staff and training to meet standards
Report calls for £2.1m investment to stabilise North Tees critical care unit
An NHS review has concluded that the critical care unit at University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton requires around £2.1 million of investment in staffing, recruitment and training over three years to meet workforce standards.
The report warned the unit — funded for 16 beds — has one of the highest staff turnover rates in the region and rising sickness absence, largely attributed to stress, anxiety and depression. Board papers presented to the University Hospitals Tees group recommended the preferred option of targeted recruitment and development to improve retention and skills mix.
Workforce concerns and patient safety
Group chief executive Stacey Hunter told board members that, despite workforce pressures, patient care has so far not been compromised thanks to the efforts of existing staff. Chief nurse Emma Nunez said the unit is currently not meeting intensive care standards and highlighted a shortage of specialist skills at the North Tees site.
"I think part of the challenge around retention in these roles is because we haven't got the skill mix required for the North Tees site," Emma Nunez said. "Where staff become skilled in the critical care areas, they then move to a post that is available elsewhere so they can progress because we haven't got that option within the workforce model for North Tees."
Estate issues and funding questions
The board also discussed the hospital estate. Previous assessments described the ageing buildings as "not fit for purpose," with maintenance costs running into the hundreds of millions and an estimated eight years of usable life remaining (as of 2023).
Stacey Hunter described the estate and immediate environment as "less than optimum" and said leaders are pursuing capital investment for rebuilding. Director of estates Steven Turner said a group has prepared a first draft business case outlining a range of options.
"Some will address the estate issues, some of the options will address all of the issues we've got," Turner said.
Non-executive director David Redpath raised concerns about funding: "We have to find this money from somewhere. That's what I'm missing. Where's the money coming from? What are we stopping to fund this?"
The proposals and concerns affect both the North and South Tees NHS Foundation Trusts. The board will review the business case and consider how best to prioritise capital and workforce investment to ensure services meet national standards.
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