As an NHS Foundation Trust, we work for the people of South Tyneside and Sunderland. This means we have more freedom to plan local services and respond to what you need and want.

We are overseen by independent regulators like NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Around 14,000 people have joined us as Foundation Trust members, showing their support and interest in shaping local healthcare.

Our members hold us to account through the Council of Governors. This group works closely with our Board of Directors to guide and influence our plans and strategies. The Council includes elected public and staff governors, along with representatives from local councils, businesses, and voluntary organisations. Together, they make sure your voice helps shape the care we provide.

To contact a Trust governor email stsft.membershipoffice@nhs.net.

You can be a governor if you are:

  • A member of the Trust
  • 16 years old or over
  • A member of the constituency you want to represent (for example, if you want to represent South Tyneside you must live in South Tyneside)
  • Are asked by your organisation to be a governor

Governors represent the views of our patients, staff and partner organisations. They are our link to you.

They:

  • Make sure we answer to our members and the communities we serve
  • Represent our partner organisations
  • Talk to our members and help us build networks to reach the wider community
  • Help us plan by asking local people for their views
  • Help us change, develop and improve how we care for people

Public governors

  • Durham – Christine Bullmore
  • Gateshead - Vacancy
  • South Tyneside – Dilieep Deshpande, Allyson Stewart (lead governor), James Jameson Jordan, Gerry Fionda, Marion Langley, Karen White
  • Sunderland – Simon Ayre, Tara Burrell, Anita Hagon, Dave McNicholas, Ian Thurlbeck, Jess Moore
  • Rest of North East England – Upma Misra

Staff governors

  • Clinical acute – Sue Beattie, Sekinat Ojetola
  • Clinical community – Mark Tull
  • Medical and dental – Saeed Ahmed
  • Non clinical – Tim Burdett

Appointed governors

  • Local Authority, South Tyneside – Cllr Paul Dean
  • Local Authority, Sunderland – Cllr Dianne Snowdon
  • Higher Education, University of Sunderland Medical School – Prof Scott Wilkes
Lead Governor
Allyson Stewart