‘Mental health partnership’ launched in London

Three London mental health trusts have joined forces to boost nurse recruitment, following funding for a nursing development programme.

The South London Mental Health Partnership, consisting of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded £800,000 by Health Education England (HEE) in order to try to attract and recruit mental health nurses and address mental health nurse recruitment and retention challenges across South London.

The first of its kind in London, the trusts in the partnership will bring together the clinical expertise of NHS staff to help identify areas of best practice, committing to combine resources to improve the effectiveness of services, streamline processes and reduce costs, while maintaining excellent patient care.

David Bradley, South West and St George’s chief executive, said: “Work is already underway within the three trusts to address the recruitment and retention challenge.

“By coming together to focus on innovation and sharing we will be better able to protect our services and improve the lives of hundreds and thousands of people who live with mental illness across south London.”

Dr Matthew Patrick, South London and Maudsley chief executive, added: “I hope this programme will make a real difference, share learning, expertise and innovation to help us drive up quality,” he said. “Our organisations have much in common and by working together we will be able to make sure mental health services are sustainable.”

Oxleas chief executive Ben Travis added: “All trusts face the same challenge in trying to recruit and retain certain key staff. We’ll have more impact if we join forces to try to meet the challenge head on.”