City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

[3] All inpatient stroke services, obstetrics, inpatient gynaecology and specialist care for babies from South Tyneside District Hospital are to be centralised at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

[4] In 2017 the trust established a subsidiary company, City Hospitals Sunderland Commercial Enterprises Limited, to which 250 estates and facilities staff were transferred.

The intention was to achieve VAT benefits, as well as pay bill savings, by recruiting new staff on less expensive non-NHS contracts.

The Value Added Tax Act 1994 provides a mechanism through which NHS trusts can qualify for refunds on contracted out services.

[6] In September 2016, the trust was selected by NHS England as one of twelve Global Digital Exemplars.

Four-hour target in the emergency department quarterly figures from NHS England Data from https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/