Update on process to identify new partner

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust is progressing with its work to identify a new partner to run its services – but a final decision will not now be reached this month.

The process, which is being led by regulator NHS Improvement (NHSI), had been working to a timetable that was due to see a decision taken at the Shropcom Board meeting on 29 March.

But NHSI have now asked for more time to evaluate the submissions made by the two local organisations on the shortlist – The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) and South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (SSSFT).

Mike Ridley, Chairman of Shropcom, said: “We have always been clear that this was all about doing the right thing for the long-term – and that we need to be part of something bigger if we are to sustain, to develop and to grow community services in the future.

“We need to partner with an acquiring organisation that is robust financially as well as having a strong track record of quality and transformation.

“But we are not an organisation in any kind of distress. NHSI have stated their full confidence in us to go on delivering our services to the same high standard that we always have. Indeed, it is their confidence in us that makes them comfortable with taking more time over evaluating all the material they have collated.

“We look forward to agreeing a new timetable with them and bringing this process to a successful conclusion.”