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Foundation Trust buys South Devon Trust

Foundation Trust buys South Devon Trust
1 October 2015



South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has acquired Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust, after the acquisition was approved by Monitor today.

This will mean thousands of patients in South Devon will receive more integrated health care, as the two trusts, which already worked closely and shared some back office functions, will jointly provide acute, community and social care services.

From today the trust will be called Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has acquired Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust, after the acquisition was approved by Monitor today.

This will mean thousands of patients in South Devon will receive more integrated health care, as the two trusts, which already worked closely and shared some back office functions, will jointly provide acute, community and social care services.

From today the trust will be called Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

However, while Monitor has approved the transaction, it said that the trust's plans to integrate care must be strengthened. The regulator has also asked the trust to continue making improvements to how it manages patient flow in both A&E and for routine procedures.

In response Miranda Carter, executive director of provider appraisal at Monitor, said: “South Devon Healthcare provides valued services for patients across South Devon and Torbay, including general, elective and emergency care. By integrating these services with Torbay and Southern Devon’s community and social care services it will be able to provide local people with care that is more convenient, closer to home, and with a greater focus on keeping people healthy and out of hospital.

“This is a good example of the kind of innovative change that will help trusts to improve care for patients, while also offering better value for money services and meeting the challenges faced by the NHS."

Carter added that from now on, Monitor expects the trust to "press on" with its plans and ensure that their services are integrated smoothly for patients and staff.

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