Next week will see a number of changes to the way mental health services are delivered across Cumbria.

Mental health and learning disability services currently delivered by Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) will transfer to two large mental health providers on 1^st October. In north Cumbria services will transfer to Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (NTW) and in south Cumbria they will transfer to Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust (LCFT).

Professor Stephen Eames CBE, chief executive of CPFT, said:

“The transfer of mental health services to other providers will ensure services receive more specialist support from larger mental health trusts. We have been working closely with NTW and LCFT for some time to ensure this is the right thing for our patients and staff and to ensure that the transfer goes smoothly.

“After 1^st October, services will still be provided in Cumbria by the same staff and we will continue to work closely with mental health services as part of the health and care system in Cumbria.  Our close links with these services will mean that mental and physical health services are joined up and patients receive seamless care.”

To reflect the transfer of services from 1^st October NTW will be renamed Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW). Commenting on the transfer, John Lawlor, Chief Executive of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust said: “1^st October is an important day in the future of mental health and disability services across Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear.  We look forward to ensuring our staff and our services are fully involved in the exciting plans across the region to improve health and deliver high quality services.”

Caroline Donovan, CEO of Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are very pleased to welcome colleagues and service users from South Cumbria to our Trust. In recognition of the newer geographical area we now cover, we have changed our name to Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. There are some real strengths across the Trust and together we will build upon these to co-produce quality improvements and service transformation with service users, staff and partners. I feel very positive about the future and the progress we can make together with the input of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, an organisation that is currently rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC and is our improvement partner.”

At the same time as the transfer, CPFT will merge with North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust (NCUH) to become North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. NCUH delivers services from the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle and West Cumberland Hospital Whitehaven. The merger will build on recent work to join up hospital and community care and develop services that are fit for the future.

Stephen added:

“There is currently a lot of change underway for health services in Cumbria but we are confident that these changes will improve care for people in Cumbria and allow us to provide some unique development opportunities to staff.”