HOSPITAL and council staff will take over adult community healthcare services from SEQOL in less than three weeks after the healthcare provider called time on its contract ahead of schedule.

Last month it was announced the Great Western Hospital would take over the running of the services as of February next year after SEQOL was given 12 months’ notice on their contract.

But yesterday Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group announced it has called on GWH to manage the services earlier than February 18, 2017, as previously agreed, in a "caretaking" role.

“This action is in response to SEQOL formally requesting to end their contract ahead of schedule, due to their challenging financial position and workforce challenges,” a CCG statement said. “This will provide the opportunity to transfer the services prior to winter and embed staff into the new organisation to minimise any unnecessary impact of service delivery.

“The CCG has been working closely with SEQOL to support the implementation of a quality improvement programme of work. The need to maintain the momentum of the improvement programme will be vitally important, therefore the CCG strongly believes GWH will be able to provide stability for both patients and staff. For the CCG, Swindon Borough Council, GWH and SEQOL, the safe and seamless transfer of services is paramount.”

Heather Mitchell, SEQOL chief executive, said: “SEQOL’s financial position has become more challenging since we formed in 2011, which is also true of similar organisations delivering health and social care services across the country. This national financial position has made it become clear recently that larger organisations are better placed to meet the growing cost efficiencies that are being required. "During our time delivering the contract, we have provided additional cost savings to the CCG whilst also expanding the provision delivered to the people of Swindon. “We are, and always have been, committed to the continual improvement of the quality of our services and recognise the importance of working alongside partners and Commissioners to achieve this. Our staff are experienced, committed and experts in what they do.

“The SEQOL health and social care teams have consistently exceeded year on year targets and this year alone we have continued to recruit quality staff ensuring our vacancy rate is below the national average – against a national picture of recruitment issues.

“For us, it was important to do what we could to make the transition of services as seamless as possible. We all know the pressures acute services, such as hospitals, face over the winter and adding extra service demand across the busiest point – the early months of the year – could have a very much unwanted knock-on effect to the care of people across Swindon, and so we asked the CCG to end the contract early, relieving some of our financial challenges, but also whilst ensuring consistent quality of care for the people of Swindon.”

The planned transfer date for services to GWH is October 1 and additional services currently provided by SEQOL will be transferring to Swindon Borough Council on the same day.

Councillor Brian Ford, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for adults’ health and social care said: “I would like to reassure everyone who currently receives care from SEQOL that they will not be affected by the transfer of services back to the council.

“They will still receive those services in the same way from the same people, and no-one should notice any change when services transfer at the end of this month. I would also like to welcome the staff who are coming to the council and say from the outset that myself and my colleagues value the excellent work that they do and we will support them fully.

“All their current employment rights and terms and conditions will be maintained.”

A spokesman for Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “For Swindon this next chapter is all about creating a more joined up service for patients, whether in hospital, in their own homes or elsewhere. While this won't happen overnight, this interim period is an opportunity to learn more about the opportunities and challenges ahead, prior to a longer term contract being agreed.”