05.08.2025
What do you think about vaping?
Better for you than smoking? More dangerous for your health than cigarettes? Or do you just not know?
The Public Health team at South Tyneside Council has launched a new online survey to try and find out more about what young people in the borough think about vaping.
It is estimated that 5% of teenagers in the North-East regularly use e-cigarettes, 15% higher than the national average. Girls are more likely to vape in the region, with 7% regularly vaping, compared to 4% of boys.
Youth vaping is on the rise too; recent research has shown that the proportion of 11 to 17-year-old e-cigarette users doubled from 3.3% in 2021 to 7.6% in 2023 nationally.
Read an article about this here: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/north-east-among-top-uk-hotspots-for-youth-vaping-according-to-data-4525429
The short questionnaire will only take a few minutes to complete and can be found here.
Please take part and help the team improve information for young people about the dangers of vaping.
As the NHS looks to a more digital future, healthcare leaders at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust say they are already leading the way.
The trust is using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software robots, known as ‘digital workers’ by their fellow NHS colleagues, to handle referrals made by GPs more efficiently.
The software automates repetitive, digital tasks which have previously taken people lots of time.
Now, following its launch, the project has become an international award winner. It has collected a Regional All-Star title in the Rising Star category in the SS&C Blue Prism Customer Excellence Awards 2025.
Every year, STSFT receives more than 136,000 referrals for people who need investigations or an outpatient appointment. This includes patients being seen both for routine care, and for suspected cancer.
Since bringing in its digital workers, the trust has saved more than 8,000 hours of staff time. This has greatly helped to improve staff morale and job satisfaction whilst also speeding up access to care.
Previously, it could take up to 10 minutes for a member of staff register a referral. This now takes just four minutes, as the digital workers can work overnight, when its systems are not as busy.
Referrals are now available for review by clinical teams within 48 hours of being made, and in many cases, within 24 hours. Referrals for suspected cancer diagnoses are also prioritised.
The digital workers also book patients for lung cancer screening tests as part of the national NHS screening prevention programme.
This invites 55 to 74-year-olds who are smokers or formerly smoked to be screened, as they are most likely to develop the disease in their lungs.
Across Sunderland and South Tyneside there are around 60,000 people eligible for a lung check. Now that a digital worker undertakes this work, around 2,000 people are being booked in each month.
The trust’s digital workers can each cover the workload of three administration roles, but they have not taken the jobs of any NHS staff.
Instead, the technology has freed up time for human employees to focus on more complex tasks such as talking to patients to organise other parts of their care.
The digital workers can also work around the clock. Because they never tire like humans, the digital workers do not make mistakes.
Michael Forrest, Outpatient Access and Booking Manager, is part of the trust’s team who worked alongside partners e18 Innovation and SS&C Blue Prism to introduce the digital workers.
He said: “We’re delighted about how the digital workers are making a difference so far by helping us to see patients sooner and reducing risk to them.
“It’s especially important for people to get answers quickly if they are waiting to find out if they have cancer or not, and to get an appointment when they are waiting for treatment to start.
“It’s also helped the team, because it’s eased the stress of having that backlog of patients and knowing people are now being seen sooner.
“Looking after our team is so important. They’re now able to concentrate on more fulfilling, interesting work, because they’re not doing these labour-intensive, administrative tasks.”
Helen Bone, Lung Cancer Screening Programme Manager for the trust, added: “Our admin team can now focus on other key aspects of the Lung Screening Pathway.
“It has saved us hours of time each week and the positive impact cannot be underestimated.”
Vicky Mitchell, Executive Director of Planning and Business Development, said: “Using robotic automation and artificial intelligence is a key part of our digital strategy for the Trust and will be a key to everything we do for the future.
“The newly published NHS 10 Year Health Plan focusses on how we need to use digital solutions much more. Our first digital workers here at STSFT are already showing the productivity and efficiency gains we can make.
“Using this technology has helped plug gaps in our workforce, while looking after our fantastic admin team, who are working hard to make sure we see patients as quickly as we can.
“We are now looking at where we can roll out more automated processes in other parts of our outpatient services and building on the success of the digital workers in our scheduling teams.”
Photo:
Rebecca Dempster, Directorate Manager for Outpatients and Clinical Administration, Olive Williams, Electronic Referrals System Manager, Michael Forrest, Outpatient Access and Booking Manager, Vicky Mitchell, Executive Director of Planning and Business Development, Louise Gustavson, Professional Services (EMEA) Head of Healthcare business for SS&C Blue Prism and Graeme Miller, Business Change Manager for the Trust.
Evidence suggests that transgender and non-binary people often experience poorer health outcomes than the general population. But what barriers do they face to high-quality care? And what would remove those barriers?
In Healthwatch’s latest research, we focused on trans and non-binary people’s experiences with GPs – often the gateway to the healthcare system – to learn some of the answers to those questions.
People told us about administrative hurdles and harmful assumptions about their experiences. The impact of poor care could be serious, with over half of respondents to our self-selecting survey, almost 1,400 people, only slightly confident or not at all confident about using their GP.
But people also shared stories of good care, in which staff treated them with respect and compassion, and took the time to understand the care they needed.
By following our recommendations, GP practices and healthcare decision-makers can take important steps towards ensuring good quality care is a reality for all.
What did people share about their experiences?
Trans and non-binary people can have negative experiences at the GP front door.
They may risk being outed or made to feel uncomfortable when they book, check in for, or are called in for appointments. Nearly a quarter of those who responded to our survey disagreed that GP receptionists treated them with respect.
They face administrative hurdles if they want to change their name, pronouns or gender markers on their GP record.
Nearly 30% of those who had changed their gender marker said they had lost access to their previous NHS record. There were disruptions to prescriptions, which 16% had experienced, and 18% were misgendered in NHS written communications. Changing gender markers also meant people risked making it harder to access to sex-specific care, such as cervical screening. Over one in five respondents (21%) who’d changed their gender marker said the NHS stopped offering them this sort of care.
They may have lower satisfaction with GP care than the general population.
Just over half (53%) of people answering our survey rated their GP as good or very good for the general care services they had sought. This is lower than the proportion of trans and non-binary respondents (68%) and overall respondents (74%) responding positively to a similar question in the most recent national GP Patient Survey. Less than a third of respondents (32%) rated their gender-affirming care from their GP as good or very good.
They experience problems accessing gender-affirming care via their GP due to different interpretations of various guidelines.
Less than a third of respondents who had tried to access hormone replacement therapy (HRT) via their GP told us they hadn’t experienced any delays, stops, or interruptions.
What would improve GP care?
Trans and non-binary people must be treated by their GP surgeries with respect, dignity and privacy, and without discrimination, in accordance with their rights.
GP surgeries should ensure staff understand and know how to act in accordance with relevant legislation, and that all patients feel welcomed and respected.
Trans and non-binary people should be protected from a loss of sex-specific healthcare (such as invitations for screening) if they change their gender.
The practice of giving people a new GP record and NHS number when people change their gender marker should end. Instead, a single NHS record should include details of both biological sex and any change to gender identity. This should be done in a way that ensures privacy, dignity and respect, and allows clinicians to provide the right clinical care. The Department of Health and Social Care should also improve IT and screening systems to ensure trans and non-binary people don’t miss out on sex-based healthcare.
The Government should develop a new LGBT+ strategy.
This should include steps to address the holistic needs of trans and non-binary adults. It should provide clarity on shared care arrangements and bridging prescriptions, and take action to cut long wait lists for gender dysphoria clinics and support people while they wait.
Healthwatch South Tyneside was one of ten local Healthwatch to help gather responses for the Healthwatch England report and 1,393 people aged 18+ who identified as trans, non-binary or another diverse gender identity, or considered themselves to a have a trans history, took part.
Download the report
Interested in learning more? You can download the full report below. If you require this report in a different format, please contact us by emailing enquiries@healthwatch.co.uk or calling us on 03000 683 000.
What trans and non-binary people told us about GP care
The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for resident doctors working in hospitals to take part in five days of industrial action from 7am tomorrow (Friday July 25) until 7am next Wednesday (July 30).
The strike will affect NHS services across the North East and North Cumbria and patients should expect some disruption and potential long waits during the strike, and during the following immediate days when patient attendance often peaks.
Dr Neil O’Brien, chief medical officer for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, (pictured) said:
“People can expect long delays and more disruption to NHS services during this latest period of industrial action. It is even more challenging to plan for this strike action due to staff summer holiday leave, meaning there are fewer staff available to help cover essential services.
“Emergency and urgent care services will be prioritised during this time, so we really need the public’s help to only call 999 and attend emergency departments if it is a genuine life-threatening injury or illness, as our emergency departments and Urgent Treatment Centres were extremely busy last time.
“For urgent health needs that are not life threatening, please use 111 online or by phone.
“GP practices and local pharmacies will still be open as usual during the industrial action to help with advice and treatments.”
The NHS is also reminding the public to keep their appointments unless they hear otherwise.
Dr O’Brien added: “People will be contacted directly if there are any changes to their planned appointment or surgery, and there is no need to contact the NHS about this.”
The public are reminded for urgent health needs, which are not life-threatening, www.111.nhs.uk is available 24 hours a day. Its symptom checker can be used to assess symptoms, and it will direct to a health professional if people need to be seen by someone. Also, self-care advice is available on NHS online.
Parents, carers and young people can also use the Healthier Together app or website which provides NHS healthcare advice and top tips on a range of child related illnesses along with information on local services.
Anyone needing mental health crisis support can phone NHS 111 and select the mental health option.
Thieves have targeted a care home, stealing prizes gifted to raise funds used to pay for extra activities and treats for its residents.
Haven Court in McAnany Avenue, South Shields, was broken into between Thursday, July 17, and the early hours of the next morning.
The care home is in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital and provides residential and nursing care, including for people with dementia. It also offers rehabilitation, helping people regain their independence following illness, accident or a disability.
Haven Court is a wholly owned subsidiary of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
The break-in happened when a window of an office was smashed. The thieves snatched prizes which had been donated by the loved ones of residents and staff.
They were due to be put in a tombola and raffle at the home’s summer fayre, which will be held on Saturday, August 2, from 10am until noon.
Money raised at the event will be used support those who live in the home. Funds are used to pay for visits by entertainers, fish and chip Fridays, ice creams, trips out and other activities.
The home is now busy rallying to collect more items for the raffle. Those who have heard about the burglary have asked how they can help. Anyone who would like to donate items can drop them off at the home.
A donation of £100 has been made by STS Charity, the Trust’s dedicated charity, to help kick start a new collection of items. Tesco in Simonside, Jarrow, and Asda Boldon have each donated gifts too.
The office which was broken into is in part of the building which is away from where residents live. That area can only be accessed with a staff ID card or visitor let in by a member of the team. A review of security has since taken place and further measures put in place.
Sarah Sasmazer, Director of Care, Quality and Safety and the Registered Manager of Haven Court, said: “To be broken into is upsetting in its own right, but to then have items stolen which had been kindly gifted to us raise money for our residents is utterly devastating.
“We work really hard to go above and beyond to provide extras for those we look after and make their days more enjoyable. We hope the person or people who did this realises the impact it has had and thinks long and hard about their actions.
“Someone will know who did this. Northumbria Police is investigating and we would encourage anyone with information to pass this on. Whoever is responsible should face the consequences for what they have done.
“We also need to foot the bill for repairs, which is another cost to our home when we really want to focus our time and funds on caring for our residents.”
Anyone with any information should contact Northumbria Police by sending a direct message on social media or using the live chat function on its website. For those who are unable to contact via those ways, call 101. Please quote crime reference 082132Q/25.
Set to open in summer 2026, work remains on track to welcome patients from across the North East and North Cumbria.
Work began on the development in December 2023 and over the past 18 months construction has gathered pace with the internal fit out of the hospital now well underway.
The new city centre location for the Eye Hospital has been warmly welcomed by patients who travel from far and wide across the region to use services in Sunderland.
Now a prominent landmark on the city centre skyline, the new Eye Hospital will house all the current clinical services offered from Queen Alexandra Road site when it opens next year. This includes the Cataract Treatment Centre which will continue to play a pivotal role in helping to reduce waiting lists across the region.
With just one year to go until the new Eye Hospital opens, a new time lapse video of the build has now been released. The footage shows the major progress made on site since the first spade was put in the ground 18 months ago.
Dr Ajay Kotagiri is Clinical Director of Ophthalmology Services at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. He said: “It was brilliant to visit the new hospital site and amazing to see the actual space we will be working in from next summer. The clinical areas are so spacious and well designed and we can’t wait to be able to see and treat patients in this fantastic new facility.”
Ophthalmology services are some of the busiest in the NHS with many people affected by sight problems at some point in their lives.
As construction work continues on the new Eye Hospital building, the Trust’s STS Charity has also launched the ‘Vision Appeal’. The appeal, which aims to raise £1 million, will support ongoing investment into state-of-the-art technology and equipment above and beyond what is included in the build. This will help the team to continue to provide world-class treatment and research and make sure the facility stays as the front of digital innovation in eye care for years to come.
The Vision Appeal aims to fund additional pieces of technology and equipment ranging from £1,000 to £200,000 by encouraging local people and businesses to support the appeal through fundraising and its new Visionaries Programme. Details of the programme as well as how to donate and get involved with events can be found via the Vision Appeal website.
Ajay added: “Our Vision Appeal is a great way for patients and local people to get involved with the new Eye Hospital and be part of something fantastic. We want to stay at the forefront of eye research and innovation in Sunderland and the STS Charity’s support will help us do that. It will help us to fund equipment and technology, over and above what we already have.”
The region’s new Eye Hospital is part of the Riverside Sunderland development and is being built by Kier in partnership with Sunderland City Council.
Cllr Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for business, housing and regeneration, said: “It’s fantastic to see work progressing apace on the new Eye Hospital at Riverside Sunderland.
“Once complete, this world-class facility will be one of the few standalone specialist eye hospitals anywhere in the UK and the region’s only dedicated specialist centre for ophthalmology care.
“This will not only position Sunderland as a national centre for innovation in ophthalmic care but will also provide a major boost to the city economy with thousands more people every month pouring into the city centre. It\s yet another fantastic development for our ever-transforming city.”
In addition to clinical spaces, once finished the new Eye Hospital will also have rooms dedicated for wellbeing. These include a breastfeeding space, a Changing Places room, baby changing facilities and a quiet and faith room. A café will overlook the side of the hospital which faces towards the River Wear.
The new Eye Hospital will also welcome the addition of a dedicated children’s area, with young patients benefitting from their own waiting area and rooms tailored to their care.
Once open, the new Eye Hospital will cement Sunderland’s global reputation for fantastic eye services.
Watch the new time lapse video here:
Source: https://www.stsft.nhs.uk/news/latest-news/one-year-go-countdown-begins-regions-new-eye-hospital
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