In recent weeks we have been informed that the North East and North Cumbria Staff Wellbeing Hub will close at the end of September 2023.

National funding for system-wide staff wellbeing hubs was withdrawn at the end of the 2022/23 financial year. Following a review of the arrangements in place across our region, it has now been agreed that providers will fund the Hub until the end of September, at which point the staff wellbeing hub will close.

As part of preparations for closure, the NENC ICS Staff Wellbeing Hub will close referrals for therapy and team support immediately, enabling them to focus on their current waiting lists and work through any remaining referrals.

The Hub and its team have played a pivotal role in supporting staff wellbeing across the region and have supported staff at Gateshead through a number of different means, and at a time where staff came under new and increasing pressures.

It goes without saying that thanks and appreciation of the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team here at Gateshead lay firmly with Staff Wellbeing Hub colleagues, who have always worked tirelessly to help support our efforts here at Gateshead, providing a comprehensive and complementary range of services and offers to help strengthen our overall work.

While regional services will be winding down between now and September, a range of support is still available to access through the Staff Wellbeing Hub between now and then. For more information about these, please visit and browse their website. Over the coming months, we’ll begin to make changes here on balancegateshead.com to reflect the withdrawal of certain support.

Further Support:

Although the regional offer will now be winding down, colleagues are reminded of the range of national support that is also available to them through the NHS website.

Amongst the support offered nationally includes free premium memberships to popular apps such as Headspace and Unmind, as well as the Practitioner Health Service – which provides mental health treatment targeted at healthcare colleagues who might not be able or wish to access care more locally.

Of course, work will also continue to deliver support across a vast range of health and wellbeing areas locally here at Gateshead too – with this website being the best place to learn more about what is available. If you can’t find what you’re seeking, we always encourage you to drop us a line on [email protected] – we’re always happy to have a search around and see how we can expand our support to your benefit.