The hospital is arranged with specialist wards for surgery, trauma, cardiology, respiratory, stroke and gastrointestinal cases, and has an acute medical unit and a birthing centre.

[1][2][3][4] The intention of Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust is to consolidate the practise of emergency medicine at a single centre of excellence to improve patient outcomes.

[1][3] The trade-off between better facilities and consultant cover, versus longer drive-times to reach the hospital, has been the subject of some controversy and criticism.

[6] In February 2021 the trust launched a court case against Lendlease after significant structural defects were identified in the building.

The trust claims it will cost around £65 million to fully rectify them and they will need temporary facilities into which patients can be decanted while the remedial works are carried out.