Mental health trusts to advise Bupa

The arrangement will see both South London and Maudsley, and Tavistock and Portman foundation trusts act as clinical advisers to the private healthcare firm.

A Bupa spokesman said the three year deal would help it to “develop new options for mental health treatment that are not readily available in the private market”.

He added: “Together, the organisations are keen to tackle the challenge presented by the complex relationship between mental and physical health, and to address the need to develop integrated services and support to respond to this issue and provide better outcomes to patients.”

Katrina Herren, medical director at Bupa Health Funding, said the work with the two trusts meant it was “looking forward to significantly improving and differentiating Bupa’s mental health services”.

Tavistock and Portman chief executive Matthew Patrick said the trust was keen to to look at “innovative opportunities to deliver better healthcare and real outcomes”.

Bupa says it now offers all members a dedicated mental health support team and has improved access to therapies by removing the need for patients to see a psychiatrist first.