At South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, we place significant emphases on providing safe, effective, compassionate, and accessible services to children and young people. We recognise how valuable it is to get services right for our youngest communities to support their future wellbeing.
As the provider of Warwickshire’s Health Visiting, Infant Feeding, Stop Smoking in Pregnancy and Family Nurse Partnership since 2011, we have continually championed children and young people. Understanding the long term benefits these services can have for individuals and families, our Trust has invested significantly to enhance these services beyond what has been contractually funded.
In September 2024, a decision was made by the commissioners of the service, Warwickshire County Council (WCC), to re-tender for an Integrated Public Health Nursing Service for Warwickshire. This would create one Public Health Nursing Service, encompassing services for 0-19 years (up to 25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).
As the current provider for 0-19s services in Coventry and Solihull, our Trust was very passionate about being the providers of this service in Warwickshire.
As lead provider of children’s community nursing and therapy services across Warwickshire, and maternity and inpatient paediatrics in south Warwickshire. This pathway overview, combined with our specialist expertise and teams in safeguarding, paediatric care and dedicated support for vulnerable families, places us in a strong position to provide holistic care, which puts children and young people at its centre.
It is with huge disappointment that despite the demonstrable benefits of our Trust providing these services, WCC have awarded the contract to a provider outside of the NHS.
We remain firm in our belief that we are best placed to provide these services, but recognising the importance of maintaining a stable service will now be working with WCC to mobilise the new contract as quickly as possible to reduce any impact on Warwickshire’s children and families.
We would like to thank our extremely hard-working teams for the on-going support they provide to families across Warwickshire.