A specialist NHS mental health and learning disability trust has taken over responsibility for services in Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire.
Over 500 nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists and other support staff transferred to Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust on 1 June 2011.
The trust, which already provides these services across County Durham, the Tees Valley, Scarborough and Ryedale, was awarded the contract by NHS North Yorkshire and York in January this year.
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust (TEWV) was formed in April 2006 and was authorised as a foundation trust on 1 July 2008. The trust provides mental health services for the people of County Durham, Tees Valley and parts of North Yorkshire. It also provides a range of learning disability and addictive behaviour services in the area, as well specialist mental health and learning disability services to other parts of northern England.
Martin Barkley, chief executive of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As a specialist trust providing mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services we are committed to providing high quality care to the people who need our services.
“We are looking forward to working with staff and the people of Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire to build on the excellent services that are already in place.”
The foundation trust currently has over 5000 public members from across County Durham, the Tees Valley, Scarborough and Ryedale and it is now looking to sign up people from Harrogate and Wetherby, Hambleton and Richmondshire to give them more of a say in developing local services.
Jo Turnbull, chairman of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a great opportunity for people to help shape their local mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services.
“It’s free to join and people can be involved as much or as little as they wish. We have a council of governors who represent the views of members and we will be inviting members to stand for election for our new North Yorkshire constituencies in September.”
For more information on how to become a member of the trust log on to their website www.tewv.nhs.uk or visit one of their roadshows in Harrogate library on 8 June and Northallerton Civic Centre on 15 June.
