North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust (NMUH) has announced that it has decided to join the Royal Free London (RFL) group as its first clinical partner.

The decision cements NMUH board’s commitment to improving the care it delivers to its patients.

The RFL is one of four trusts across the NHS to be chosen to develop a group model enabling it to share services and resources more effectively across hospitals in order to improve the experience of patients and staff.

As a clinical partner, NMUH will work alongside the RFL to ensure there are consistent approaches to designing and delivering care based on evidence and best practice – nationally and internationally.

Under the partnership, Sir David Sloman, RFL group chief executive, will become accountable officer at NMUH from Monday 18 September. Libby McManus, current NMUH chief executive, will return to the RFL in the coming weeks as group services director.

Dusty Amroliwala OBE, NMUH chairman, said: “This partnership is the culmination of nearly two years of close working between the Royal Free London and North Middlesex. Doctors and nurses from across the two trusts have been sharing their expertise to help transform the standards of care that our patients and local communities will receive in the months and years ahead.

“On behalf of the board I would like to thank Libby for her work since joining the North Middlesex. She has been instrumental in getting us to this position and we look forward very much to working with her in her new role.”

Dominic Dodd, chairman of the Royal Free London, said: “This is an important milestone for the Royal Free London group and something we have been working towards for a number of years. By creating this partnership we will be able to learn from the good practice at both trusts and jointly share expertise and learning to provide consistent, excellent care for the population of north London.”

Steve Russell, executive regional managing director (London), NHS Improvement, said:

“This is a significant step for the Royal Free’s group model. It is important that both organisations encourage patients, staff and partners across north London to engage openly and share in this next stage in the evolution of the group, to ensure that the benefits for patients continue to be the absolute priority for all those involved.”

NMUH will continue to have its own separate board. A hospital chief executive – similar to the roles at that level at Barnet Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital – will now be advertised.

 

Notes to editors

Media contacts: rf.mediaenquiries@nhs.net

About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.

The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver and kidney transplantation, haemophilia, renal care, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, Parkinson's disease, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.

In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London. 

For further information, visit www.royalfree.nhs.uk