Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LTHTr) and L&M Healthcare have come to an agreement which will enable the creation of a new Lancashire Community Care Hub at Finney House - Flintoff Way, Preston.
As of Monday 14th November 2022, the Trust will take over the lease of the building and become the CQC registered provider of services.
The Trust will take on all 96 beds at the facility and intends to continue to provide care for both Local Authority and private residents within Finney House. The vacant beds (around 65) will then be used to accommodate patients who no longer need the specialist care provided in a hospital but do still need support before they are able to be discharged.
As the services that are currently provided to residents are continuing, staff working at Finney House will have the opportunity to become NHS employees under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE).
Anne Kirkham, Head of Community Services for Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, said:
“This is a really exciting development which secures the future of staff who wish to keep working at Finney House. We are always on the lookout for great people and are looking forward to welcoming Finney House colleagues into the LTHTr family.
“We are also pleased to be able to offer continuity of care to those residents who wish to continue to live there and are looking forward to discussing their care needs with them and their families.”
Faith Button Chief Operating Officer for Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust said: “The arrangement is also a benefit to our wider community as the additional beds will allow us to offer an alternative to those people who no longer need hospital care, but need some support before returning home. This will help us to reduce the waiting times and pressures within our Royal Preston Emergency Department giving both our staff and patients a much better environment and experience.”
Paul Fletcher, Commercial and Business Director at L&M Healthcare, added: “This is a positive step for all parties involved; residents and staff that choose to can remain in place with no disruption to the service and L&M Healthcare can now focus on the next phase of progression for the L&M Healthcare group.
“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our residents, their families, and our dedicated and hardworking staff for all their support. We hand over the reins knowing they will be in safe hands with the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in what will be a unique to the area hybrid service.”
