Switalskis’ specialist medical negligence solicitors in Northern Lincolnshire and Grimsby have expressed deep concern after news emerged that more than 70 consultants at a hospital trust in the region had signed a letter of no confidence in their senior management.

The comments from the Grimsby-based experts came after reports that more than three-quarters of the consultants at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust had signed the letter of no confidence in the chief executive and executive leadership at Humber Health Partnership.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust is one of two NHS trusts that make up the Humber Health Partnership alongside the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Our experts have previously raised concerns about patient safety at both trusts after the pair were ranked towards the bottom of the NHS rankings for acute hospitals in March 2026. Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was ranked last of all 134 trusts in the rankings while Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust was listed in 114th place.

‘Questions to be answered to restore patient trust’: our local expert view

Grimsby-born Chris Gresswell-Green, a Director at Switalskis and specialist medical negligence solicitor in the region, where Switalskis has an office in Grimsby, said the latest developments at the Humber Health Partnership and NLAG would be another blow for patient confidence.

“This is a very serious and very worrying development for anyone who uses the services that Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust provides and for all of those who work for the Trust as well.

“It begs a number of important questions which have to be answered if the Trust and the Partnership are to restore public trust in the services provided in this area. If the consultants who lead services at the Trust do not have confidence in their leadership, then the public who use the services and everyone else who works within the Partnership will undoubtedly have concerns too.

“Most importantly of all, we would have serious concerns about patient safety at the Trust and its hospitals in Grimsby, Goole and Scunthorpe if there is this level of disquiet amongst its more senior medical practitioners – and patient safety must always be the top priority.

“A letter of no confidence like this one is a remarkable and very worrying development which shows just how uncomfortable senior consultants are with the services and how they are being delivered. They have a right to express their view and the Humber Health Partnership has to listen to these concerns and act upon them urgently and at the very highest level.”

He added: “We already support a number of patients who have suffered avoidable harm and clinical negligence at the hospitals operated by NLAG and at those run by the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

“Those patients will be horrified to see this. They have brought their case in the hope of highlighting the failures in their care and to try and ensure that lessons are learned and that future, avoidable harm for others is prevented. It will be very hard for them to see this news and to realise that problems persist.”

Concerns for services – a show of no confidence in Humber Health Partnership leadership

BBC reports say that a letter seen by the news organisation ‘cited ongoing concerns about the future of local services’ and was signed by the vast majority of consultants at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG), which provides services from three hospitals in the area: the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, Goole and District Hospital and Scunthorpe General Hospital.

The letter, which the BBC said was sent to group chairman Alan Downey on 12 August 2026, the NLAG consultants said: "Many staff feel decisions affecting services on the south bank [of the Humber] are being made without sufficient local influence or engagement."

The consultants added that, in their view, concerns over ‘governance, local accountability, patient safety and workforce morale had not been adequately acknowledged or acted upon’.

The letter also said that the current management model had not delivered the "local accountability, leadership focus or responsiveness required for NLAG services".

The BBC report also says that the consultants said they had suggested alternative proposals for NLAG's future governance, with the preferred option being "the full restoration" of the trust as an independent organisation, with its own board and executive team, working in collaboration with the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which operates both the Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.

In June 2025, a police investigation began into the care of cardiac patients at Castle Hill Hospital who had undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures between 2019 and 2023. Concerns about patient safety also prompted a review by the Royal College of Physicians.

Expert medical negligence solicitors in Grimsby and Northern Lincolnshire – how we can help

At Switalskis, our specialist medical negligence team is available to support anyone who has experienced harm during their care at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.

We have an office in Grimsby , from where our experts can support you and your family. Switalskis already supports many other individuals and families across Northern Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and the Humber region with a wide range of issues - including medical negligence, inquests, serious injury and more.

As one of the leading specialist firms in medical negligence, we have the expertise and experience to support you and to get the answers you deserve.

If you have concerns about the care you or a loved one received from the Diana, princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, Goole and District Hospital and Scunthorpe General Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary or Castle Hospital, contact us today and ask to speak with Chris Gresswell-Green  or a member of his team.

How Switalskis medical negligence experts can support you

For compassionate advice from our experienced medical negligence team , contact us today. Call us on on our dedicated medical negligence support line on 0800 995 6068  or email help@switalskis.com .