Private provider Care UK has sold off its NHS mental health services arm to Partnerships in Care, one of the country’s largest independent mental health providers.
The company signed the deal as part of a shake-up of its services in order to focus on providing primary, secondary and residential care services, a spokeswoman said.
She added that a “strategic review process” is ongoing to see if the company can also divest its domiciliary care and learning disabilities services.
Care UK, which operates 20 NHS commissioned mental health services across England, will transfer its contracts to Partnerships in Care on 1 June for an undisclosed sum.
In a statement the company said: “Service users and commissioners should not see any change in services and front line colleagues and operational leaders are expected to transfer to the new provider on their existing terms and conditions.”
Care UK chief executive Mike Parish said: “Care UK has developed market leading positions in health and social care and is well placed to further enhance services to the benefit of its customers, patients and service users.
“In services where Care UK is not currently the market leader or anticipating significant growth, these excellent organisations will benefit from being part of other specialist providers committed to market leadership in their respective sectors.
“Making these changes will not only improve the sustainability of individual services in exceptionally challenging times, but will strengthen the resilience of the sector as a whole.”
Care UK is the largest independent provider of NHS services. Its portfolio includes 10 elective treatment centres, 50 primary care services and 13 NHS 111 services.
1 Readers' comment