A proposal to create a single NHS Trust providing specialist mental health services for people in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire was announced today.

Since 2004 Buckinghamshire Mental Health Trust and Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare Trust have been working in partnership to share expertise, reduce duplication and improve services for local people.

Today the Trusts’ Boards approved a proposal that aims to create a single Trust, subject to consultation with staff, service-users and the public, by April 2006

By sharing skills over the last year, both Trusts have made significant progress in a number of areas including:

• Improving financial stability by sharing administration services and cutting management costs
• Attracting and retaining permanent medical staff
• Creating shared specialist services in areas like eating disorders

Chairman of OMHT Janet Godden, said: “There will be no significant changes to how mental health services are operated in the two counties and the Trusts have no plans to reduce staff numbers as a result of these proposals.”

Julie Waldron, Chief Executive of both Trusts, said: “We have already shown over the last year that our partnership brings enormous benefits to staff and service users.

“By bringing the two Trusts together we can further reduce administration costs and ensure our resources are focused on providing high quality clinical care to service-users.”

“Chairman of BMHT Geoff Harris, said: “I welcome this natural development. For two small specialist mental health Trusts, working well in partnership, moving to a single organisation will further enhance the efficiency and scope of the service without reducing our sensitivity to local needs. This is an important step in sustaining safe, high quality and affordable services for all across Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.”

“We want to undertake this organisational move with the least possible disruption to our services and service-users,” concluded Julie Waldron.

The final decision rests with the Secretary of State.