Community and mental health services in Barnsley join the Trust

NHS community and mental health services provided by Care Services Direct (CSD) in Barnsley transferred to South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) on the 1 May 2011.

For patients who currently use these services it is business as usual. Services will continue to be provided in the same locations, by the same teams of staff, offering the same high standard of care. For staff, it means they will transfer to the Trust and join with colleagues across the organisation.

Last year NHS Barnsley agreed that their provider arm, CSD would join the Trust, in line with national policy on Transforming Community Services. The Trust and CSD have been working together since then to integrate the services CSD provided and the staff who deliver them with Trust services.

The Trust already provides mental health, learning disability and community services across Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield and some specialist services to the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber. This transfer of services means that from the 1 May the Trust will also provide community and mental health services throughout the Barnsley area.

Steven Michael, chief executive at the Trust said, "The transfer of services from Care Services Direct is very positive news for the Trust. It represents the bringing together of two similar and successful organisations. The Trust is committed to providing services in the local communities it serves and will continue to do this. We are delighted to be combining our expertise and experience with the staff who are joining our Trust, for the benefit of local people."

If local people have any queries about the transfer of services to the Trust they can contact the Trust’s customer services team on freephone 0800 587 2108 or visit www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk