Dear colleague,

This week we published our annual plan 2025/26 . Together with our six annual goals , they help us focus on what we want to achieve in the coming year to improve patient care, and to make our hospitals a better place to work for our staff.

To ensure we achieve these goals, they sit alongside our four executive priorities: cut waiting times for patient for A&E, cancer treatment and hospital appointments; make this a better place to work, as shown by better NHS staff survey results; don’t waste money - keep to headcount, cut agency use and carry out fewer unnecessary tests; and get ready for the EPR.

While the year ahead is undoubtably going to be a challenging one, there is lots to look forward to, including the introduction of our electronic patient record (EPR) which will help us to become a more streamlined and efficient organisation and reduce the c.4.6million pieces of paper we produce every month. Find out more in our latest news story . 

We’ve also been marking Leaning Disabilities (LD) Week. Maggie Watkinson grew up with a cousin who had a LD and was inspired to become a nurse after 14 years as a teacher. Maggie, one of nine LD nurses recently recruited to our Trust, is incredibly passionate about her role and said: “I want to raise awareness of LD across our hospitals and help develop a greater understanding, as well as advocate for patients and make sure there is no misdiagnosis or diagnostic overshadowing.”

Best wishes,

Matthew Trainer

Chief Executive