New care trust finally given the go-ahead

The Department of Health made the announcement today, claiming the new organisation would break down the traditional barriers between health and social care.

Bradford will be one of just four sites in the country to merge mental health and parts of social services under the umbrella organisation on April 1.

The NHS Trust will be responsible for mental health in Bradford and Craven plus learning disability services in the Bradford district.

Its chief executive Con Egan, who holds the post at Bradford Community Health NHS Trust which will now be abolished, said he was delighted at today's announcement.

"Joint working is what we've wanted for a long time," he said. "It's great to be up and running and to be one of the first four. It will put Bradford on the map and we will make it work."

The Department of Health plans to establish 14 Care Trusts by April 2003.

Approving the application, Health Minister Jacqui Smith said she had carefully weighed up the arguments for and against.

She said: "I have decided to approve the establishment of the new Trust on the expectation that it will improve the quality of health and social care services provided to the people of Bradford and Airedale. This represents an exciting new model of service delivery."

The formation of a Care Trust has been complicated by legalities over the employment rights of local authority staff transferring to an NHS Trust.

Bradford Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "This merger will strengthen the partnership which already exists between the Council and the NHS and offers an important opportunity to move forward."

The Bradford Care Trust will have a budget of £67 million and employ about 2,000 people.

Linda Pollard, chairman of the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Can... Cancer Research Appeal, has been appointed as chairman.

The three other chosen sites are Northumberland, Manchester and Camden and Islington in London.