Northumbria Healthcare is performing well compared to other NHS trusts across the country, but is still missing key targets.
Officials spoke at Northumberland County Council's health and wellbeing board on Thursday and explained that healthcare staff were feeling the pressure after what has been a "relentless" few years.
The trust led the way in the UK for A&E waiting times and referral to treatment times, as well as sitting sixth in the table for diagnostics.
