Our vision: 'Delivering excellent care in hospital, home and community'

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest non-teaching trusts in the NHS and is proud of a long record of success.

Our 5,000 staff serve a population of around 500,000 people across County Durham and Darlington, and into North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley, and the South of Tyne area.

Our vision is to deliver excellent healthcare in hospital, home and community, and we have two strategic priorities to help us achieve this:

• To sustain and develop our position as the premier provider of healthcare to the people and communities of County Durham & Darlington
• To become the best Foundation Trust in the NHS

We provide general hospital services from three main sites:

• Bishop Auckland General Hospital
• Darlington Memorial Hospital
• University Hospital of North Durham

We also provide community hospital services from Shotley Bridge and Chester-le-Street community hospitals as well as a range of outpatient, community and outreach services from other sites.

From 1 April 2011, subject to due diligence, the Trust and County Durham and Darlington Community Health Services will form a new integrated foundation trust providing both hospital and community services.

Our values

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust's commitment to our patients and community is at the heart of our values.

Quality

Whether by setting ourselves challenging targets, or simply bettering our best in small ways, we are committed to continually improving standards and ensuring every penny spent provides maximum benefit to our patients and community.

Care

Our patients and community are at the centre of our every thought and every action.  Either through direct contact or by supporting our colleagues we do everything we can to make life better, easier and quicker for our patients.

Respect

Everyone who comes into contact with the Trust and community is treated with the same level of respect and dignity.  We are proud of our Trust and are loyal and supportive of its goals, progress and achievements.

Leadership

We take decisions and  act.  People follow through on commitments and take personal

ownership. Everyone has a critical role in our future and is aware of the part they have to play

Achievement

We value and encourage success and achievement.  Those who improve the patient experience and our performance are rewarded whilst those who create problems for their colleagues or patients are dealt with promptly.

Organisational Development

We have a clear vision for the future of the organisation based on provision of clinically sustainable services provided by a high quality workforce.  This vision is underpinned by our five core values listed above. Read more in Organisational Development.

Being a Foundation Trust

We were authorised as a Foundation Trust on 1 February 2007, under Section 6 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003.

As a Foundation Trust, the Board of Directors is accountable to the Governing Council. Local people can become members of the Foundation Trust and can vote in elections to the Governing Council. Currently, we have over 6000 public members and 6000 staff members who have joined the Trust and who, through our Governing Council, have a direct influence on service delivery. Become a member now.