Guy’s and St Thomas' to take on community health services in Lambeth and Southwark

Last week the boards of NHS Lambeth and NHS Southwark held a joint meeting at Southwark Councils's Tooley Street offices to confirm the selection of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust as their preferred partner for the integration of community health services in the two boroughs.

Services including district nursing, health visiting, reproductive & sexual health, school nursing, specialist child health, elderly care and therapies such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy, currently provided by primary care trusts, will be brought under the umbrella of Guy's and St Thomas' as part of the deal.

NHS Lambeth and NHS Southwark agreed in December 2009 to work together to find a partner for their respective community services.

"In choosing Guy's and St Thomas' as our preferred partner we today pass a significant milestone in the development of the best possible health services for the communities we serve," says NHS Lambeth chair Caroline Hewitt.

"We believe that integration with Guy's and St Thomas' will help us deliver better patient care, achieve the vision and strategic objectives of our two PCTs and will be welcomed by staff.

NHS Southwark chair Mee Ling Ng added: "Guy's and St Thomas' has an international reputation for excellence, innovation, effective service delivery and sound financial management.

"It equally has a well-established record of service to our local communities, and strong links with key partners such as our local councils. As a large and ambitious organisation it will also offer significant opportunities for staff development, helping them meet their professional aspirations."

Guy's and St Thomas' chairman Patricia Moberly says: "We are delighted that NHS Lambeth and NHS Southwark have chosen us to be their preferred partner for the provision of many of the community health services used by local people.

"We firmly believe that closer integration between hospital and community services will bring many benefits to the many people who use our services."

The three parties will now work together to confirm the details before formal integration takes place by April 2011.