Middlesbrough's reputation for healthcare continues to go from strength to strength. Middlesbrough is one of only 9 towns in the UK to be awarded a Healthy Towns award to promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

Key Facts

• 
  The Healthcare Commission rates the services provided by Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust as 'excellent', placing them among the best provided by England's 391 PCTs.
  
• The Captain James Cook University Hospital has received many accolades; its cardiac team is rated as being one of the top three in the world.
  
• Middlesbrough PCT has been selected from hundreds of organisations working with young people across the UK as an example of best practice for its work with local schools to improve the health of 2- 11 year olds by promoting and encouraging healthy eating.
  
• In 2007, South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust was judged both 'Large Trust of the Year' and England's top acute healthcare organisation
  
• The choice of hospitals available to patients in Middlesbrough is above the national average.
  
• There is a better chance of seeing an NHS dentist in Middlesbrough and the rest of the North East than anywhere else in the UK.
  
• Middlesbrough has the second best maternity delivery rate in the country.
  
• Middlesbrough has been awarded over £4m in additional funding as part of the 'Healthy Towns' award to deliver a programme of initiatives to take on issues surrounding obesity and lack of physical exercise. The aim of the Programme is to develop a sustainable, collaborative and multi-faceted town-wide approach to increase physical activity and healthy eating, focusing on the needs and demands of local people and communities.It is closely linked to the Government’s change4life campaign launched early in 2009 with the message, ‘eat well, move more, live longer.
  
• Middlesbrough runs an award-winning urban farming programme showing how great healthy food can be produced locally and sustainably. A Town Meal is celebrated in September with participants' contributions.
  
• Promoting cycling, the Middlesbrough Cycle Centre is conveniently located in the Bus Station. It is the only secure cycle parking facility in the Tees Valley and features free, secure, indoor cycle parking along with showers, changing facilities, lockers and an information centre.
  
• Middlesbrough Council's Sport and Leisure service has invested nearly £300,000 in state-of-the-art TechnoGym equipment throughout their X4 fitness clubs - so you can beat the credit crunch with an ab crunch in 2009.
  
• Youth Dance Middlesbrough is a new town-wide initiative aimed at getting young people involved in dance. Aimed at 8 - 24 year olds, high quality dance classes in a variety of styles will be held at five venues across Middlesbrough. For information on this program contact artsdevelopment@middlesbrough.gov.uk.

Becoming a member of James Cook University Hospital

The James Cook University Hospital and the Friarage Hospital are looking for people join as members and be a part of their future.

Members are essential to the future development of the hospitals and they want people – patients, staff and local people – who want to improve their local healthcare services to join. They currently have just over 4000 members from Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Hambleton & Richmondshire. Being a member is free, there is no commitment involved and you will receive the hospital’s quarterly newsletter keeping you in touch with news and areas of service development.

Please visit their website at www.southtees.nhs.uk and complete the online application form or email governors@stees.nhs.uk to request a paper application form. You can also contact Donna Wright at the membership office on 01642 854343.

Useful Links

Boro Healthy Town

Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust

Find a GP - General Practitioner (Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust website)

Find a Pharmacy (Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust website)

Find an Optician (Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust website)

Student health (Teesside University website)