Luton’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has awarded two contracts for local mental health care to a new provider, the East London Foundation Trust which will provide adult mental health services, and a contract for intermediate care services has been awarded to Virgin Care.
The East London Foundation Trust have been given a separate contract for children and adolescent community based mental health services, excluding inpatient care.
Both contracts begin in April, and run for five years.
The start date for Virgin Care to start providing intermediate care services in Luton is likely to be in the new year, but the date has not yet been agrees.
The contract involves mainly the community assessment and rehabilitation service working with patients in their own home and the therapy staff supporting adult patients in NHS-funded rehabilitation beds in Moorland Gardens Care Home in Luton.
Dr Nina Pearson, chair of the CCG, said: “This is good news for Luton. We look forward to working with the new organisations to develop and build on existing mental health services for both adults and children and for intermediate care.
“The providers have extensive knowledge of the diverse needs of our local community, as well as expertise in tailoring care plans in partnership with service users to help them achieve independent lives.”
Chief executive of East London NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Robert Dolan, said: “We are pleased to have been selected as the preferred provider for these services.
“We are looking forward to working with staff, patients and carers as part of the next stage of this process. We are keen to engage with local communities in Luton, as well as partner organisations, to ensure we take local views on board as we go forward.”