CCG first to put mental health out to tender

Bristol clinical commissioning group (CCG) has put mental health services out to tender, in the hopes of getting a “more responsive services”. 

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust will be competing against four other bidders to keep providing the community service. 

The mental health trust is competing against both NHS and private organisations for the £15 million contract. 

Dr David Soodeen, from Bristol CCG, told the BBC: "What we'd like is a more responsive service that meets the population of Bristol's needs.

"We have a large provider that focuses on a large area, when what we actually want is a service that looks at Bristol and Bristol's needs."

But mental health trust new chief executive Iain Tulley said he believed he could meet the commissioners needs. 

Tulley said: "I happen to believe that the partnership we've set up in Bristol, of local organisations working with a local trust, will see the day through and will provide the best possible solution and will meet the commissioner's needs."