North Yorkshire Council

Scrutiny of Health Committee

3 July 2026

University Hospitals Tees: Case for Change and Strategy

1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1       To set out the rationale and strategic approach for transforming and reconfiguring             hospital and community services across University Hospitals Tees to ensure      sustainable, high‑quality care for the future.

2.0       BACKGROUND

2.1       There are long‑standing pressures across Teesside and North Yorkshire health services, where high levels of deprivation and poor health outcomes have driven rising demand, while ageing hospital estates, workforce shortages, and performance variation have challenged sustainability

2.2       In response, North Tees and South Tees trusts have formed the University Hospitals Tees group to collaborate more closely and pursue system‑wide transformation, reflecting wider NHS policy to shift care towards prevention and community settings and ensure consistent, high‑quality services for a large and complex population.

3.0       SCRUTINY ISSUES IDENTIFIED

3.1       At the meeting in December 2025, the Committee received an update on the emerging University Hospitals Tees strategy, set out early proposals to expand community‑based care such as Hospital at Home, consolidate some specialist services, and develop elective hubs, alongside a phased approach to integration, with Members broadly supportive and raising concerns around travel, access, workforce capacity, and the reliance on community provision.

3.2       The Committee is therefore invited to consider this update in the context of a significant, system‑wide transformation programme which seeks to address longstanding sustainability, quality and access challenges across the Tees health economy, with potential implications for North Yorkshire residents in terms of how, where and at what scale services are delivered. 

4.0       FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1       There are no significant financial implications arising from this report.

5.0       LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1       There are no significant legal implications arising from this report.

6.0       EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

6.1       There are no significant equalities implications arising from this report.

7.0       CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

7.1       There are no significant climate change implications arising from this report.

8.0       RECOMMENDATIONS

8.1       It is recommended that the committee:

            a)    notes the report;

            b)    considers whether any items require further detailed specific scrutiny;

            c)    invites a further update from UHT in due course.

APPENDICES:

Appendix 1 – Presentation from UHT.

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:

None.

Barry Khan

Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Democratic Services

County Hall

Northallerton

25 June 2026

Report Author:       Edward Maxwell, Senior Democratic Services Officer.