South Tyneside patients won't become 'second class citizens' after proposed health merger

Health bosses have promised patients from South Tyneside won’t be allowed to become ‘second class citizens’ following a proposed NHS merger. Plans are currently in motion which could see South Tyneside and City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trusts joined together by April. The proposals have prompted concerns that transferring some services to Sunderland could cause care standards to fall.