THE provider of mental healthcare services in Herefordshire is joining with another Gloucestershire-based trust.

2gether NHS Foundation Trust (2gether) and Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust (GCS) will join together under the leadership of one chairman and one chief executive.

After being appointed later this year, the joint chairman and chief executive will set plans in motion to bring the two organisations together, with the aim of providing 'seamless' mental and physical health services to patients, service users and carers.

The Trusts’ current chief executives, Shaun Clee (2gether) and Katie Norton (GCS), said: “We collectively employ more than 5,000 people, providing high quality healthcare services to people with physical and mental health conditions across Gloucestershire, and in 2gether’s case Herefordshire as well.

“The vast majority of our work is delivered in the community, but we also provide services from inpatient units, such as our community hospitals and specialist mental health units.

“It has become increasingly clear, both locally and nationally, that ‘there is no health without mental health’ and that a combined provider of mental and physical services could benefit many of the people we separately support.”

The new joint chairman and CEO will be appointed by the end of November, and will take up post in January 2018. Consultation will then begin with staff and partners about the next steps.

Both trusts will remain separate legal entities with independent boards until a full business case is completed and necessary approvals are received.

Staff within both organisations have been informed, and will be continuously updated in the weeks and months to come.