A NEW manager at one of Teesside's private hospitals wants to build links with NHS hospitals in the region.

Phillippa Crowther comes to the Cleveland Nuffield Hospital in Stockton after four years at the Nuffield in Harrogate, where she oversaw a £3m investment programme.

Mrs Crowther said: "A major aim for me is to set up and develop partnerships with the four NHS Trusts which cover the same areas as the Cleveland Nuffield Hospital. By working together in public and private sector partnerships, I believe we can significantly improve the healthcare services available to local people."

As manager of the hospital, she is responsible for 130 staff and a base of more than 200 specialists. More than 2,500 patient procedures are carried out every year