Provider organisations to miss TCS deadline

Provider functions are supposed to be transferred from primary care trusts by 1 April.

But two trusts being formed within the West Midlands – in Shropshire and Telford and in Staffordshire - will not be established until 1 July.

In addition, Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership Trust’s plans to transfer services to a new Worcestershire Community and Mental Health Trust are at risk of delay due to recruitment problems.

Board papers say one of the “frustrations” has been the delay in advertising the chair and non executive director positions.

The delay was down to health secretary Andrew Lansley not signing the appropriate documentation for the Appointments Commission to proceed with these or other similar appointments elsewhere.

This was resolved in the middle of December and the adverts were placed on 20 December.

NHS West Midlands would prefer for everything to be in place by 1 April but “there remains a danger that if there is any further slippage in the timings of appointments - or if those appointed have a less than straightforward notice period - that the date would have to be put back.”

A final decision on this will be taken in early February once more details of the appointments are known.