Trust name change to cost £20,000

It has been revealed that the decision to change the name of 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will cost £20,000.

Previously providing mental health care services only in Warrington, Halton, St Helens, Knowsley and Wigan, the trust began operating under the name of North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust at the beginning of April after it won contracts to deliver services outside of its five areas.

Now covering 15 boroughs, the name change was backed by 61 per cent of service users, staff and members of the public during a three-week consultation.

However, a freedom of information request by the Warrington Guardian has revealed that the change of name will cost the trust £20,000, when changes to signage, staff ID badges and consultation costs are considered.

Simon Barber, trust chief executive, said: “Our decision to change the trust’s name to North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation is about acknowledging the recent growth of the trust and ensuring our staff and service users in the additional boroughs we now serve are recognised in our organisation’s name.

“As a public body we fully recognise the importance of keeping any costs associated with these changes to a minimum - as such, we are prioritising any changes appropriately and will be spreading costs across the next 12 months in line with when branded materials would have routinely needed replacing or updating. One-off costs associated with the name change, covering consultation materials, signage, staff ID badges and some ID costs, have been identified and total £20,000.”