2024 - a momentous year of development in our local NHS

2024 has been a momentous year, both for those who work in our services and our patients who receive care.

In April, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) came together in a Group arrangement, and are now known collectively at Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG), with the goal of improving the care that is provided to patients both in the community and in hospitals across the county.

We have a lot of work to do, but in recent months we are particularly proud to have made huge progress in reducing ambulance handover times in our Emergency Departments which has freed up ambulance colleagues to serve our communities. Now our focus is on reducing waits for patients who are in our Emergency Departments, actively working together to get our patients the care and treatment they need in the most appropriate clinical setting. This is not going to happen overnight, but I am pleased to say that we are moving in the right direction and have amazing colleagues who strive every day to provide the best care for our patients.

In August, we received the brilliant news that ULHT had successfully applied for teaching hospital status. This is awarded by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. It will not only benefit our patients, but will further enhance our ability to attract top-tier talent to our hospitals, the Group and the wider NHS in Lincolnshire. 

It has also been a successful year for many colleagues who were shortlisted and often winners of awards at a national level. Everyone from our neonatal teams, to our staff networks, our doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare support workers, porters, advance nurse practitioners and many other colleagues should be proud of the recognition they have received for their hard work.

We’ve also made huge strides in enhancing our services, including the multi-million pound development of the new Scotter Ward at Gainsborough hospital, the expansion of our sexual health services to the greater Lincolnshire area, ward enhancements and the development of our exciting Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) in Grantham and Skegness. Not to mention the expansion of our amazing NHS charities which support our staff and patients.

2025 promises to be an exciting year as we work even closer as a Group and continue with capital projects across the county. From our new CDC in Lincoln, to the ongoing development of the Emergency Department at Pilgrim hospital, and at Lincoln County Hospital the opening of a new MRI suite and the building of our new Endoscopy Unit.

All of this hard work and investment demonstrates our commitment to providing the best care, in the right place for our patients across Lincolnshire

Column by Professor Karen Dunderdale, Group CEO, Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group.