Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) and North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust (NCUH) will merge to become one trust – North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, on 1st October in a move that will see more seamless care for people in Cumbria.
Last week national regulator NHS Improvement gave their approval for the merger following extensive scrutiny 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.
Professor Stephen Eames, Chief Executive 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 1st 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 acute services from Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle and West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven. CPFT delivers community services in north Cumbria and children’s, specialist and mental health services across Cumbria. At the same time as the trusts plan to merge, mental health and learning disability services will be transferred to other providers as part of plans to strengthen these 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.
Stephen 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.”
