20.09.19
Two Cumbrian NHS Trusts approved for merger
Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) and North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust (NCUH) have had their plans to merge into one trust approved.
The trusts will officially join forces on 1 October and will form the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust that will see more unified care for people in Cumbria.
Last week national regulator NHS Improvement gave their approval for the merger following extensive inspection of work the trusts have done to prepare.
This decision was echoed by the trusts’ board and governors who gave the final go ahead today.
Chief executive Professor Stephen Eames said: “I am delighted that our plans to merge have been given the green light and we can now take the final steps to officially join together. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure we are ready for 1 October so I would like to thank all staff who have been involved.
“The official approval signals we are doing the right thing for people in Cumbria. We have been working very closely for some time now and this has already helped us to provide more seamless patient care, especially between hospital and community services. This is a big step for health and care in Cumbria as we develop more integrated services that are fit for the future.”
NCUH runs critical services from Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven. While CPFT delivers community services in north Cumbria and children’s, specialist and mental health services across Cumbria.
During the period of change, as the trusts are making the move, mental health and learning disability will be given to other providers as a strategy of strengthening those services.
In north Cumbria they will be delivered by Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust and in south Cumbria they will transfer to Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Eames went on to added: “There is currently a lot of change happening within the NHS in Cumbria. It is an exciting time for the future of our services and we have already been recognised nationally as a leading example for our work across the health and care system.”