A podcast hosted by a former regional journalist has been renewed for a second series after being listened to thousands of times.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust premiered the Our People Podcast last year, with more than 3,000 streams or downloads of its first 20 episodes.

The series, which tells the story ofthe NHS “heroes” who care for patients in hospital, is hosted by Trust communications officer Fiona Thompson, who spent 20 years with regional titles in Yorkshire and the North-East of England.

Fiona is joined by the Trust’s PR and social media assistant Harry Newhouse, a University of Sunderland sports journalism graduate.

Fiona Thompson and Harry Newhouse

Harry said: “The podcast is proving to be popular and it’s a great opportunity for patients to find out more about what our Trust does.

“It’s also a chance for our staff to find out more about the work of their colleagues.

“There are so many different parts to the Trust. The podcast is a great way to showcase the important and excellent work our teams do on a daily basis.”

Fiona started out at the Scarborough Evening News and then Malton and Pickering Mercury before moving on to the Sunderland Echo in 2005.

Her last role was as a live reporter, covering that title along with the Shields Gazette, Northumberland Gazette and Hartlepool Mail.  She moved on to the Trust in August 2021 as a communications officer.