Responsibility for mental health and learning disability services in the Vale of York has transferred as planned to the new NHS provider.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) took over services from Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) on 1 October 2015, after being awarded the contract to provide these services earlier this year.

The Trust already provides mental health and learning disability services in other parts of North Yorkshire including Harrogate and Scarborough as well as across County Durham and the Tees Valley.

TEWV was rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission earlier this year and the Trust’s leadership was rated as outstanding.

The Trust’s Chief Executive, Martin Barkley, said: “We are looking forward to working with staff and local people to improve mental health and learning disability services for the people of the Vale of York.”

The transfer takes place as patient services are moved from Bootham Park Hospital in York following notification by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) that the hospital was not fit for purpose.

Mr Barkley added: “Since the CQC announced their decision we have been supporting our colleagues at LYPFT to make sure people in the Vale of York continue to receive the mental health care and treatment they need, when they need it.

“This remains our immediate priority and unfortunately this means that some people will need to be admitted to hospitals or receive their treatment outside of York. 

“This is far from ideal and we will do all we can to minimise the impact on service users, their families and staff.

“Our ultimate aim is to provide services locally for the people of the Vale of York and we will now work at pace and with purpose to achieve this.

“We are looking at all possible options and working hard to find a solution that will enable us to transfer services back to York as soon as possible.

“This will include working closely with a whole range of people and partner organisations as well as staff, service users and carers.”

Rachel Potts, the Chief Operating Officer at NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group said: “The CCG is confident that by working in partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust that patients will receive safe and high quality mental health and learning disability services.

“The specification for the new service contract was co-designed with local service users, members of the community and clinicians through an extensive engagement programme earlier in the year.

“These views have played an integral role in specifying the new contract and I’m looking forward to Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust delivering the care that the people of the Vale of York said they wanted.”

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