THE running of Okehampton Community Hospital looks set to transfer to the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust in the near future.

The NHS NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group has been looking to transfer NHS community services in East Devon — which does include Okehampton Hospital — from the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (NDHT) to the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD and EFT). The decision has been made to ensure a closer integration of treatment for patients using the community hospitals and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

After the NEW Devon CCG originally revealed its intentions to do so, the NDHT made a complaint over the CCG’s decision to name the RD and EFT as its preferred provider of community services in the area. Sector regulator for health services in England Monitor launched an investigation in the CCG’s procurement process for the services in January following the complaint and has now exonerated the CCG.

All three NHS organisations involved will now work together to demonstrate this procurement presents value for money to the taxpayer through a due diligence process.

Doctors say the findings are good news and in the best interests of patients in the region. Monitor found the CCG took into account patient needs and the service improvements required and designed a process to select a provider from a number of proposals.

Rebecca Harriott, chief officer of NHS NEW Devon CCG, said: ‘Today’s report supports our approach to identify a provider who will improve the quality and efficiency of services, while also meeting the needs of the public who use those services.

‘We are extremely grateful to Monitor for producing such a thorough report, but at the same time we are delighted that what has been a long and arduous process has finally come to an end.

‘We now look forward to working with NDHT and the RD and EFT on the next steps and pressing ahead with the pre-planned work to ensure value for money – ahead of awarding the contract in November.’

Roger French, Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust chairman said: ‘We accept the findings of the Monitor report entirely.

‘Our main objective was to ensure that value for money was taken thoroughly into account before any decision to procure the Eastern community services.

‘These are health and social care community services that support 7,000 patients in their own homes as well as in our community hospitals.

‘That their future is clinically and financially sustainable is really important to the patients who rely on their support and the staff who work in them.

‘We are really pleased that the outcome of the Monitor report means there is now clear guidance as to what now needs to happen to ensure a robust way forward.’

James Brent, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust chairman said: ‘This outcome marks an important point in a process that will lead to much closer integration of acute and community services in East Devon to the benefit of our patients and communities.

‘We look forward to working with our NHS colleagues to complete the procurement process and then working with our communities and colleagues within the NHS and outwith to further develop integrated health and care services in a way that best meets our communities’ needs.’