17.09.18
Local NHS trust to work with city council to provide new services for young people
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH) are to deliver new mental health services for young people after a city council pledge.
Leeds City Council has awarded the contract, meaning LCH will be delivering a Public Health Integrated Nursing Service for 0-19-year-olds from April 2019.
Services include health visiting, school nursing and oral health promotion being carried out in Children’s Centres and will “form part of an increasingly integrated provision of health and care in Leeds.”
Cllr Rebecca Charlwood, Leeds City Council executive member for adults and health, said: “I’m delighted that our NHS partners at LCH will be providing this service for children and young people in the city.
“We have been very keen to see innovative approaches which will deliver high quality results so it was positive to see the plans from LCH reflecting that.
“Investing in health and care with an organisation who know the city so well and have such a strong track record of supporting young people is a logical step as we link up to make Leeds the best city for health and wellbeing.”
In addition to the new support for local communities, there will be a new digital offer for young people which the trust says will create improved direct access to health professionals.
The council also said that economic analysis shows investment in early years gives the greatest return of any life stage, so this investment will impact on key outcomes such as emotional wellbeing, improved behaviour, school readiness and educational attainment.
Thea Stein, chief executive of Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “LCH is delighted to have been awarded this contract and we welcome the opportunity.
“We are looking forward to working with children, young people and their families to develop new, innovative and creative solutions in order to provide the best possible care.”
Health leaders set out the planned changes to support vulnerable young people as part of a programme of improvements launched in 2015.
In June, Simon Stevens said children’s mental health services were in need of “a major ramp-up” in order to cope with the growing demand of issues facing young people.
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