New Somerset social enterprise sets 'marker in the sand'

Sirona Care & Health has taken on NHS Bath and North East Somerset’s provider arm and social care services from BANES council.

As well as informing NHS BANES it would like to take ownsership of two community hospitals, the social enterprise has also expressed an interest to BANES council regarding three community resource centres.

In a statement issued to HSJ, a Sirona spokesman said: “In August the DH issued guidance around the transfer of estate to NHS Bodies. By the end September, there was a requirement for PCTs to identify which NHS bodies were interested in taking ownership of any estate owned by the PCT. 

“Although the guidance did not allow for social enterprises to take any PCT estate, we decided to set a marker in the sand that should national policy change and this be allowed in the future, then Sirona Care & Health would be very interested in taking ownership of our two community hospitals.”