Our future

Since September 2017, our Trust Board and Council of Governors have been discussing the long term future direction and sustainability of the organisation, with recognition that, in coming years, growing financial challenges are likely to put the quality and safety of patient care at risk; which is something we will not allow to happen.

While our financial position is currently stable and patient care is being delivered safely, in order to prevent any potential impact on quality of patient care in the future, we are doing the sensible thing and taking action now. 

Having explored our options, in November 2019, our Trust Board and Council of Governors recommended to our regulator, NHS Improvement, that being acquired by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust would best support us to continue delivering high quality and safe care to our communities in the long term future.

We believe this will be positive for patients, service users and staff across both trusts.

In line with the NHS Improvement transaction guidance, the process involves development of a strategic case, followed by a more detailed business case. 

Having considered options for the future of the borough's mental health services, in July 2020, Wigan commissioners formally confirmed their intention to transfer the mental health services contract for Wigan to Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

This means, subject to due diligence processes, our Wigan staff and services will TUPE transfer to Greater Manchester Mental Health.

Commissioners of the remaining services we deliver in Bolton and Greater Manchester confirmed they will also transfer to Greater Manchester Mental Health.

Our Cheshire and Merseyside staff and services have a target transfer date to Mersey Care of 1 June 2021.

The additional time beyond the original target date of 1 April 2021 is needed to allow for formal governance arrangements and approvals in line with NHS England/Improvement’s transaction process. However, work to determine how finances will be split between Mersey Care and GMMH has been completed sooner than expected. This means it may be possible to achieve an earlier target date for transfer. This will not be before 1 April 2021.

We are awaiting a response from NHS England/Improvement to confirm whether they would support an earlier transfer date. As soon as we receive this, we will be able to confirm what the target date will be.

Our Wigan, Bolton and Greater Manchester staff and services have a target transfer date to Greater Manchester Mental Health of 1 April 2021.

We are committed to keeping you up-to-date with timely, open and honest communications and will create opportunities to engage with you along the way.

All communications sent to staff in relation to the future of our Trust are saved in this section for your reference.

As formal consultation concludes ahead of the transfer to Mersey Care and Greater Manchester Mental Health Trusts, we are developing a guide which highlights the additional support in place to help staff, managers and their teams, to support each other through this time of change and the transaction. For more information on the individual elements of the offer please visit the staff wellbeing hub.

We know you may have questions about the future of our Trust and what this means for you and our patients. As this is an ongoing process, we do not yet have all the answers, but we will do our best to tell you what we can.

Please click the link in the sidebar to access the staff questions and answers section.

Please email your questions to: ourfuture@nwbh.nhs.uk