Birmingham Children's Hospital unveils mental health bid alliance

The consortium is bidding to run a new joined up service for children, adolescents and young adults which was tendered by Birmingham South and Central Clinical Commissioning Group on behalf of the city’s CCGs last month.

Birmingham Children’s Hospital was unable to bid independently for the contract because it covers patients from birth to the age of 25.

The trust is currently responsible for child and adolescent mental health provision in the city, but only provides services for patients aged 18 and under.

In addition to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, the two other public organisations in the consortium are mental health trust Worcestershire Health and Care Trust and further education provider Birmingham Metropolitan College.

They are joined by two private companies – the Priory Healthcare Group and mental health consultancy Beacon UK – and by The Children’s Society, a charity.

Unveiling the consortium, Birmingham Children’s Hospital chief executive Sarah-Jane Marsh said: “We are totally energised to be leading this exciting new mental health partnership for a range of services that deserve to be given the highest priority.

“Using our collective strengths and expertise, we will create a world-class mental health care system for children and young adults in our city, delivered by one team, with one aim. United by our passion for delivering outstanding care, and the best possible outcomes, our bid is going to be something really special.”

Birmingham South and Central CCG kicked off the commissioning process in May by issuing a pre-qualification questionnaire soliciting bids for the contract, which will run for an initial five years with a possible two-year extension.

The tender is for both inpatient and outpatient services for people aged 18 to 25, but only covers community mental health services for children. Inpatient services for children are excluded as they will be reviewed separately by NHS England.

Although the PQQ papers do not place a value on the contract, the Birmingham system currently spends £22m a year on the services.

The winning bidder will be announced at the beginning of 2015, with the contract due to go live the following October.